From the National Post article dizzy posted, a local junker on the island seems to have found many items that potentially could have been from the wreck, but since he is a junker all the items were burned. Imagine had the full suitcases that washed up been properly examined, instead of burned, this discovery could have been revealed much sooner.
Source:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/wo...jet-wing-found
“I found a couple of suitcases, too, around the same time, full of things,” he said, almost in passing.
“I burnt them,” he said, pointing to the pile of ashes lying on the boulders. “That’s my job. I collect rubbish, and burn it.
“I could have found many things that belonged to the plane, and burnt them, without realizing.”
He also saw the wing that washed up on Wednesday – although in May, the barnacles encrusting its side were still alive. “Like the seat, I didn’t know what it was. I sat on it. I was fishing for macabi (bonefish) and used it as a table. I really didn’t pay it much attention – until I saw it on the news.”