- The Washington Times - Tuesday, May 13, 2014

A sunken ship off the coast of Haiti is the long-lost wreckage of the Santa Maria, one of Christopher Columbus’ ships, one underwater explorer insisted.

If confirmed, the find would prove one of the most historically significant archeologist discoveries, CNN reported.

Barry Clifford, the explorer who found the wreckage, said he discovered it in the exact spot that Columbus said his Santa Maria ran aground, CNN reported. The shipwreck has been found on a reef nearly 15 feet deep.

Mr. Clifford said he’s found a “smoking gun” at the site that proves beyond a shadow a doubt that the ship if the Santa Maria — a cannon with a 15th century design, CNN said.

“It is the Mount Everest of shipwrecks for me,” Mr. Clifford told CNN. “This ship changed the course of human history.

The Santa Maria set sail from Spain in August 1492.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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