Hurricanes Nicole and Ian brought more than just destruction to Florida earlier in 2022 — they also revealed a strange, enormous structure in the sand at Daytona Beach Shores.
The 80-foot archeological mystery is thought to be made out of wood and metal, and disappears under the waves when the tide rolls in, according to The New York Times. Beachgoers and Volusia County Beach safety officials first discovered the structure following beach erosion in the wake of the year’s hurricane season.
Before archaeologists were brought in to help determine what the structure is, theories about the nature of the object ranged from bits of an old pier, seating from former NASCAR races on the beach, or something geological, the NYT reported. Initial investigations suggest it may be a shipwreck from the 1800s, but the truth will remain unknown until comprehensive analysis is conducted.
State archaeologists are back in Daytona Beach Shores digging up what they believe is an old ship wreck. They say statistically it could be a 19th century ship. It was first revealed after the recent hurricanes and the erosion they caused. @news6wkmg pic.twitter.com/cTLmB2R0rS
— Molly Reed (@Mollyreednews) December 6, 2022
Depending on the age of the structure, isn’t it wild to think something so huge could be forgotten so quickly? If it really is an old pier or spectator seating, that would mean we’ve forgotten about it within living memory, a fact strange enough to cause an existential crisis over one’s impact on the world. Don’t even go down the rabbit hole of realizing that a huge portion of what we’ve recently created only exists within the digital realm, and so will one day be lost forever. (RELATED: Camera Catches Mysterious Beast Roaming In Texas, Officials Ask For Public’s Help)
The story reminds me so much of Graham Hancock’s “Ancient Apocalypse” series on Netflix. We as a species are far too quick to forget the lessons of our past, and at our own peril. If you haven’t seen the series, I highly recommend it.