Submerged Archaeological Conservancy International

07/30/2021

Check this out!

The wreck was found at a depth of 85 metres and appears from engravings to have been built in 1636.

03/11/2021

SACI is sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. George Bass on March 2nd, 2021. Dr. Bass, a pioneer in the field of Underwater Archaeology helped train and influence generations of underwater archaeologists. His contributions, scholarship, and wisdom will be greatly missed. SACI would like to extend their deepest condolences to Dr. Bass’s family, friends, students, and colleagues.

In a storied career spanning decades, the archaeologist led excavations of ancient shipwrecks and inspired a generation of scientific adventurers.

10/21/2020

SACI was thrilled to participate with this group of fellow maritime history aficionados in reciting The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Check out SACI’s own Melanie Damour reciting her stanza at around the 17-minute mark. Thanks to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum for putting this together!

02/27/2020

Clive Cussler was an author whose amazing real life exploits intertwined with his fantastical fiction. His passion for shipwrecks and underwater exploration inspired countless divers, explorers, and underwater archaeologists. RIP, Clive, you’ll be missed but your spirit dives on.

02/24/2020

Dive boat goals. This is the research dive platform used by Parks Canada for their survey and artifact recovery on the wreck of HMS Erebus off the coast of Nunavut. Now if anyone’s got a spare barge we can borrow this summer... 📷: .canada

02/22/2020

Some of the ongoing research that SACI VP Melanie Damour is involved in during her “day job” at BOEM.

Distinct microbiomes flourish around sunken ships as they become artificial reefs, new research in the Gulf of Mexico reveals.

02/11/2020

“The Arrival of Cortés at Veracruz and the Reception by Moctezuma’s Ambassadors”, a 17th century painting from the Jay I. Kislak Collection at the Library of Congress. The painting depicts a show of military strength by the Spanish to impress Moctezuma’s ambassadors.

01/27/2020

On the slopes high above our search area for the lost ships of Cortés is the ancient Totonac settlement of Quiahuitzlán, with its ball court, grave sites and dramatic views over the sea. Imagine the sight, 500 years ago, of a fleet of sailing ships on the horizon. Who could have known how it would change the world?

01/24/2020

Check out this article that details the work that several well known archaeologists (colleagues and good friends of ours) who are working to document the remains of one of Jean Ribault’s vessels, La Trinité. This article clearly describes the the dichotomy that exists between treasure hunters and archaeologists.

The discovery of a legendary, lost shipwreck in North America has pitted treasure hunters and archaeologists against each other, raising questions about who should control sunken riches.

01/13/2020

Searching for the lost ships of Cortés has never been a treasure hunt but this still gets us excited.

A scientific analysis of a gold ingot found beneath a Mexico City street almost 40 years ago has confirmed that it was part of Spanish plunder.