A dugout canoe that washed ashore in Florida after Hurricane Ian is leaving experts puzzled about its origins and age, according to officials.
This unique Indigenous canoe was found in Fort Myers back in 2022 after a storm, and researchers believe it traveled a considerable distance to reach Florida hundreds of years ago.
“This type of canoe is quite rare in Florida, and research is ongoing to uncover its background,” the Florida Department of Historic Resources noted in a recent post.
Although conservators have finished restoration on the 9-foot canoe, they still haven’t established its age or where it originated. Some have speculated it might be linked to the Caribbean.
Comparisons with similar canoes from the Caribbean suggest possible connections to that region. If confirmed, this canoe could be categorized as kayuko—a term used in Hispanic cultures to describe small dugout canoes designed for navigating rivers or coastal waters.
The canoe was first uncovered after Hurricane Ian caused significant flooding along the southwest Gulf Coast, where it was ultimately taken into custody by Florida conservators in September 2024, as they shared on social media at the time.
Experts have yet to conduct radiocarbon dating on the canoe, but they mentioned that the oldest similar canoe found near Fort Myers dates back to the time of the Calusa and their ancestors.
Across Florida, over 450 canoes have been unearthed at around 200 different sites, some dating back thousands of years. The oldest examples are estimated to be from 6,000 to 7,000 years ago, and they include those made by Indigenous Americans, Europeans, and early American settlers.
Experts emphasize that all canoes retrieved from underwater settings are extremely fragile, deteriorating quickly when exposed to air without proper care.
