Similar situation. I found an intact American Indian dug-out canoe once when a local natural pond developed a sink hole and drained. You could still see the burn marks inside where it had been shaped.

I offered it to the University of Florida but they said they had about 40 of them sunk in ponds all over the campus for preservation and study. That was during a drought period when lakes all over North Florida were draining out. Finally gave it to the local historical society...Geo