A Canadian dive team exploring Lake Ontario may have discovered a shipwreck far older and more intact than originally expected, potentially predating the Rapid City by 50 years.

The vessel’s standing masts, rope rigging, and early windlass design suggest it could date to the first half of the 19th century, offering a rare look into an under-documented period of Great Lakes shipbuilding.

Archaeologist James Conolly and diver Heison Chak noted features such as the absence of a centreboard and metal rigging, hinting at a pre-steamboat design.

Experts say the wreck’s pristine condition is extraordinary, given the high loss rate and short lifespans of vessels in the region, and it could help fill gaps in historical shipbuilding records, CBC News has reported.

The team plans to return next season to survey the wreck and take wood samples to confirm its age.