Australian shipwreck could pre-date Cook

Archaelogists in Australia say a recently discovered shipwreck could pre-date the arrival of the British explorer, Captain James Cook, in 1770.

The archaeological team found the 30-metre-long wreck on Fraser Island, off the coast of the eastern state of Queensland.

The team leader, Greg Jeffreys, says four cannon on the ship suggest it was a European, but not English, vessel from the 17th century.

Captain Cook is credited with being the first European to find and chart Australia's east coast, which was subsequently colonised by Britain.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service