A Dutch ship called the Tyger, captained by explorer Adriaen Block, arrived in what is now New York Harbor in 1613 but was destroyed by fire months later.

In 1916, subway construction workers in Manhattan uncovered charred ship timbers believed to be remains of the Tyger, which later became part of the Museum of the City of New York’s collection.

Researchers are now launching a new investigation using dendrochronology to analyze the wood’s age, type, and geographic origin to confirm or rule out the ship’s identity.

The study will also examine associated artifacts, including tools, trade goods, and weaponry, to better understand the vessel and its historical context, Smithsonian Magazine has reported.

Confirming the Tyger would offer rare insight into the earliest days of Dutch exploration and settlement in New York.