A shipwreck has been discovered off the coast of Kenya, and archaeologists believe it may be the legendary vessel of Vasco da Gama.

Researchers assert that the ship is da Gama’s Sao Jorge, which sank in 1524, just a year before the famed explorer died in India.

Discoveries from the sea can piece together exploration from the past, even some of the earliest explorers in human history.  

Archaeologists have recently begun to explore the identity of the wreckage, which was discovered in 2013.

A new study published in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology states, “The recent find of a Portuguese shipwreck in Malindi, Kenya, may potentially be a galleon from Vasco da Gama’s final voyage.”

If the shipwreck is confirmed to be the São Jorge, it would mark one of the earliest known shipwrecks in the Indian Ocean that researchers have located and examined.

The vessel was lost near Malindi and is now believed to have possibly been discovered. Archaeologists are eager to conduct further studies on the wreck, which rests six meters underwater and is safeguarded by residents.

Moreover, recent research indicates that the ship might be the Nossa Senhora da Graça, which sank in the area in 1544.

Researchers assert that the discovery and confirmation of the Sao Jorge would carry “significant historical and symbolic value as a tangible reminder of Vasco da Gama’s third armada navigating Kenyan waters.”

The next steps for the researchers involve conducting a survey of the coral reefs that extend from Malindi to Ras Ngomeni, covering approximately 15 miles.

Vasco da Gama, a famed explorer hailing from Portugal, sailed on various ships equipped with three or four masts, setting a standard for the types of vessels employed in exploration.