CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A historical discovery after a hurricane might not be as old as initially thought, and it might not even be what archaeologists thought it was.
Seven years ago, as Hurricane Irma caused widespread destruction, what was believed to be a canoe that was hundreds of years old washed up from the Indian River.
Then on Saturday, Cape Canaveral held the ribbon-cutting on its new Cape Center, a building for arts and culture, and a new display of the dugout reads it might only be about 100 years old, or even less, and it might have actually been a utility pole.
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Archaeologists came to those conclusions based on nails and paint found on the dugout.
“The canoe is kind of interesting because it started off with a little bit of history, and the more science that we got behind it, it became a little more folk art than it was actually history,” Molly Thomas with the city’s community affairs said.
Photographer Randy Lathrop discovered the canoe near his Cocoa house by the river.
Since 2017, Lathrop wrote about his discovery in his book, A Treasured Life.
“And it’s a great story,” Lathrop said. “I’m not sure that we’ve ever come to the final chapter, as far as where the dugout did originate from, but that’s for anybody to guess.”
Thomas said there could be even more discoveries.
“The research isn’t over yet so we should be able to know more as technology develops,” she said.
Lathrop acknowledged the differences in opinion on the origins of the dugout.
“I mean, I know a lot of people have different thoughts, but it’s a great part of local lore,” he said. “I would encourage people, go out there and see it.”
The Cape Center is open Monday through Friday from 10 until 4 and it’s free to get in.
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