Deep Blue Marine (DPBE)

[dominicanmike]

artifacts do not determine the provence of a shipwreck alone
unless something is of such a unique nature it can only be linked to one wreck
Like an inscribed bell a builders plaque or a unique artifact that was manifested.
Since colonial era ships very rarely had inscribed bells and did not have builders plagues and manifests very rarely survived, ships of this era are the toughest to positively identify.

Yes I believe that European man could very well have preceded Columbus into the Western Hemisphere

But what the hell would they be doing in the midwest United States?
What would possess a person to walk 2000 miles from the ocean? In search of what?
The Hudson Valley would be more likely.