Teenagers stumble upon 1,000-year-old boat buried in Waccamaw lake

Local American media reports that the teenagers discovered the sunken boat in 2021. Three boys - Eli Hill, Jackson Holcomb, and Creek Hyatt - were carefreely spending their time playing when, at some point, one of them tripped over a hard object protruding from the bottom of the lake.

"We were playing in the water. I stepped on something and thought it was a log," recalled Hill, quoted by Native News Online. "I tried to lift it, but couldn't," he added. The boys then informed the adults about their discovery, and subsequently, the Hill family contacted the North Carolina State Architectural Office. That was when the excavation work began on the nearly 1,000-year-old canoe.

Only two years after the teenagers' discovery, a team of specialized divers managed to salvage the canoe and bring it ashore. When archaeologists unearthed the boat last week, it was placed in a chamber, covered with wet towels, and wrapped in plastic to prevent any damage. Afterwards, the artifact was transported to a laboratory in Greenville to be preserved with chemicals. Measurements revealed that the boat measures a considerable 28 feet (9 meters) in length.

"Throughout the years, we have always been asked about our history, where we come from and who we are," said Jacobs. "Finally, our history has been undoubtedly confirmed," the man added.

"We can't wait to examine it," a member of the Waccamaw Siouan indigenous tribe emphasized. "Conduct further tests and learn more about our ancestors."

Source: North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission/Native News Online