Archaeologists at ground zero have uncovered the remains of a wooden vessel estimated to be more than 200 years old.
The historic vessel was discovered when workers excavating the site hit a row of wooden timbers.
Those who examined the find described it as 'significant'.
It's hoped the artefact can be retrieved by the end of the day, said archaeologist Molly McDonald. A boat specialist was going to the site to take a look at it.
McDonald said she wanted to at least salvage some timbers; it was unclear if any large portions could be lifted intact.
The archaeologists have been working on the site - scene of the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 - to document historical material uncovered during construction.
They estimated that the vessel could date from the mid to late 1700s.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries wooden cribbing was used to extend lower Manhattan further into the Hudson River.
The vessel was discovered about 20 to 30 feet below street level on the World Trade Centre site.
The area under excavation had not been dug out when the original Twin Towers were built in the 1960s and 1970s.
The whole vessel may have been two or three times longer than the portion found.
A 45kg anchor was found a few yards from the ship hull, but they're not sure if it belongs to the ship.
