Remains of three 400-year-old shipwrecks were discovered off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Divers from Global Marine Exploration, an underwater exploration company, said they found the bronze canons and other artifacts in May but waited until July to announce their find, citing “security reasons.”
The company said the artifacts likely came from 16th century French colonial ships.
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“We’re looking at ships that were basically here trying to colonize and explore what to them was the New World in the shadow of an area where human beings were reaching out to explore a whole different sort of new world,” archaeologist Jim Sinclair told WESH TV.
Some of the findings included two 10-feet-long bronze canons and another slightly smaller canon. They also discovered a marble monument with France’s coat of arms.
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One of the cannons is described to have markings that link the weapon back to the reign of King Henry II.
“The historical and archaeological significance of these artifacts cannot be overstated,” said Sinclair.
State officials are working with the company to remove the artifacts from the water for conservation.
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