Shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico Possibly Involved in the War for Texas' Independence

Researchers returned Thursday from a week-long study of a shipwreck located 150 miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas, with an array of artifacts they believe place the find as old as the early 1800s -- a time when the coastal city was ruled by the notorious French pirate Jean Lafitte.

First discovered in April 2012, the wreck is located some 4,300 feet below the surface, scientists speculate that the ship was possibly transporting arms and soldiers to either the Mexican army or Texans during the fight for Texas independence when it sailed.

"It's really a mystery being put together," William Kiene, associated science coordinator for NOAA's Office of Marine Sanctuaries told local news station KHOU.com, calling their work to "a CSI adventure."

Among the items identified on the ship, according to Houston's 92.FM, were a leather bound book, pottery and dishes, liquor bottles and medicine -- including a still-unopened bottle of ginger, which was and is still used to treat sea sickness.

Muskets, swords, cannons and clothing were also among the debris.

The site was first spotted during an oil and gas survey by Shell, which reported it to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. And while researchers briefly examined it soon after it was reported, it was a full year before they were able to study it thoroughly, which they did using a remotely operated vehicle to carefully document, map, video and photograph the area.

According to the Houston Chronicle, during the week-long trip the researchers visited two other wrecked ships in the area as well. At roughly just five miles from one another, the scientists speculate that the three may have been sailing as a convoy.

Though, as Jack Irion, an archaeologist with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, told the news outlet: "We can't think of another single site of deep water like this that has possibility of three vessels in convoy sinking at the same time. It's extremely unusual."