WTC 18th Century Mystery Ship Traced Back To Philadelphia

A few years ago, an 18th-century ship was discovered at the former World Trade Center site in New York City. Researchers had suspected at the time that the ship was a Hudson River merchant vessel, and over the years have worked towards learning more about the discovery — something that has recently proven a success.

Scientists working for Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory were tapped to investigate the discovery, analyzing the ship's remains in an effort to find out more about it — where it came from, what it did during its time on the water, and more.

Their findings have been revealed in the Tree Ring Research journal, where their published study announce that the ship was constructed from white oak harvested from an "old growth forest" in Philadelphia, likely gathered in 1773 or sometime around that date. This was determined, in part, using wood samples from the Philadelphia Independence Hall, which showed the same growth rings.

The theory that the vessel is a Hudson River "Sloop" is still in play, with it being believed the ship was Dutch-designed for use with both cargo and passengers. Construction probably took place in Philadelphia, which was a common source of ships during that time period.

SOURCE: Maritime Explorer