The Australian National Maritime Museum has released its final report confirming that the shipwreck site RI 2394 in Newport Harbor, is the remains of HM Bark Endeavour, the vessel made famous by Captain James Cook’s voyage of discovery to Australia and New Zealand.
The report, released June 4, represents the culmination of 25 years of archaeological research and serves as the museum’s definitive statement on the identification of Cook’s vessel.
Ms Daryl Karp AM, Director and CEO of the museum, said, “This Final Report is the culmination of 25 years of detailed and meticulous archaeological study on this important vessel. It has involved underwater investigation in the US and extensive research in institutions across the globe. This Final Report marks our definitive statement on the project. We want to acknowledge the work of the museum’s archaeological team over the past 25 years, the work of Dr Kathy Abass in Rhode Island, the Rhode Island authorities, and the many subject specialists who have provided expert information and guidance over the years.”
The museum first announced the identification in February 2022 based on what it called “a preponderance of evidence.” The final report confirms and strengthens this identification with additional research conducted over the past three years.
The report includes final archaeological site plans and comparisons between the shipwreck site and historical plans of Endeavour. It also presents data from numerous 18th-century shipwreck sites of British and American-built vessels.
This comparative analysis reveals distinctive patterns in shipbuilding practices, with British-built vessels comprised almost exclusively of European oak and elm timber components, while colonial American ships typically used a variety of timbers native to North America.
The museum’s research also demonstrates that the timber measurements (scantlings) from site RI 2394 are comparable to those found on shipwreck sites of vessels of 350 tons or larger, consistent with Endeavour’s specifications.
The report acknowledges the November 2024 findings from the Rhode Island Maritime Archaeological Project (RIMAP), crediting their “fine historical analysis and detailed artifact recording.” While RIMAP continues to consider RI 2394 as a possible Endeavour site, they have not ruled out other candidate shipwreck locations.
However, the museum notes that in the three years since releasing its preliminary report, and after numerous presentations at domestic and international archaeological forums, “no substantive responses have refuted the identification of RI 2394 as HM Bark Endeavour.”
The museum acknowledges the USA Bicentennial Gift Fund, which supported the fieldwork and generation of the final report.
HM Bark Endeavour has significant historical importance, particularly for Australia and New Zealand. Initially launched in 1764 as the Earl of Pembroke, the vessel was renamed Endeavour by the British Royal Navy in 1768 and prepared for a scientific voyage to the Pacific.
Between 1768 and 1771, Endeavour voyaged to the South Pacific, primarily to record the Transit of Venus in Tahiti. Following that astronomical mission, the bark sailed around the South Pacific searching for the Great Southern Land, charting the coast of New Zealand and the east coast of Australia (then called New Holland) in 1770.
After its famous voyage, Endeavour was used by the Royal Navy as a transport vessel. In 1775, found to be in poor condition, it was sold to a private owner who renamed it Lord Sandwich. The vessel carried goods to the Baltic before being hired by the British Admiralty as a troop transport.
In 1776, Lord Sandwich transported soldiers to fight against American colonists during the American War of Independence. By early 1778, it was moored in Newport Harbor and used as a prison hulk for captured American patriots.
When a French fleet of warships sailed into Newport Harbor in support of American forces in August 1778, the British deliberately sank Lord Sandwich and four other vessels—Earl of Orford, Mayflower, Peggy and Yowart—to create a blockade at the northern end of Newport’s Inner Harbor.
This occurred one year before Cook died in Hawaii while on his third Pacific voyage, and 10 years before the First Fleet arrived in New South Wales.
The final report can be downloaded from the museum’s website at www.sea.museum/endeavour-report. Additional information on the discovery is available on the museum’s Deep Dive webpage at www.sea.museum/explore/maritime-archaeology/deep-dive/evidence.
The museum’s announcement marks the culmination of a quarter-century search for one of the most significant vessels in Australian and New Zealand history, bringing closure to a long-standing archaeological investigation.
