Christopher Columbus landed in what is now the Bahamas in 1492. But was he the first non-indigenous person to reach the Americas?

Over the years several radical theories have emerged that the Vikings, the Polynesians and the Chinese, arrived before Columbus.

Now, a new group of researchers has come up with another controversial theory; they say the Romans set foot in the New World more than a thousand years earlier.

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A group of researchers has come up with a controversial theory that the Romans set foot in the New World more than a thousand years earlier than Columbus. Their theory centres on the discovery of what they believe to be a Roman sword on Oak Island, off Nova Scotia

Researchers, led by Jovan Hutton Pulitzer, claim they have evidence that Roman ships visited North America 'during the first century or earlier.'

Their theory centres on the discovery of what they believe to be a Roman sword on Oak Island, off Nova Scotia.

Mainstream historians usually dismiss these finds as inaccurate, claiming artefacts such as this can be dropped by collectors in modern times, according to theThe Boston Standard.

Scientists are currently unable to rule this out as a possibility, shedding doubt on these claims.

Pictured on the left is the Roman shield 'boss' found in Nova Scotia. On the right is Jovan Hutton Pulitzer, who led the research

Pulitzer's report also details a number of Mi'kmaq carved images by indigenous people drawn on cave walls in Nova Scotia. Some of these images show what Pulitzer believes to be Roman legionnaires marching (pictured)

ROMAN 'FINDS' IN OAK ISLAND The researchers are basing their claims on a number of Roman discoveries in Oak Island . Mainstream historians usually say such finds are inaccurate as artefacts such as this can be dropped by collectors in modern times. As well as the stone, they found carved stones on Oak Island also 'possess a language from the ancient Levant' according to Pulitzer. Other findings include a Roman legionnaire's whistle found on Oak Island in 1901, a Roman shield 'boss' and a small Roman head sculpture found in Mexico City in 1933. Another clue, in his report, is the presence of an invasive species of plant which was once used by Romans. Advertisement

Oak Island has been at the centre of one of the biggest treasure hunts in history, which began in in 1795.

The History Channel's series 'Curse of Oak Island' reveals how researchers are attempting to discover the island's long-held secret.

Jovan Hutton Pulitzer, who has featured on the show, has now put together a paper detailing his discovery.

The paper has been exclusively seen by Johnston Press, and was written with the help of researchers from the Ancient Artifact Preservation Society.

Pulitzer claims the sword is '100 per cent confirmed' and described it as the 'smoking gun' to his theory.

'The ceremonial sword came out of that shipwreck,' he told The Boston Standard. 'It is one incredible Roman artefact.'

He bases this on studies of his the artefacts metallic properties which match those of other ancient Roman artefacts.

The researchers are basing their claims on a number of Roman discoveries in Oak Island . Mainstream historians usually say such finds are inaccurate as artefacts such as this can be dropped by collectors in modern times. This may be the case with the sword, pictured on the right

Gold Carthage coins have also been discovered on the mainland near Oak Island, according to the report

'It has the same arsenic and lead signature in it. We've been able to test this sword against another one like it and it matches,' he said.

Pulitzer's report also details a number of Mi'kmaq carved images by indigenous people drawn on cave walls in Nova Scotia.

Some of these images show what Pulitzer believes to be Roman legionnaires.

Carved stones on Oak Island also 'possess a language from the ancient Levant' according to Pulitzer.

Other findings include a Roman legionnaire's whistle found on Oak Island in 1901, a Roman shield 'boss' and a small Roman head sculpture found in Mexico City in 1933.

Gold Carthage coins have also been discovered on the mainland near Oak Island.

Another clue, in his report, is the presence of an invasive species of plant which was once used by Romans.

The team plans to publish its report early next year.

Some historians believe that it wasn't the Romans, but the Vikings that arrived before Columbus.

They point to historical documents indicating that Lief Erikson, a famous Viking explorer, discovered America first.