Institute of Nautical Archaeology

04/15/2026

Check out the Maine State Museum's Lunder Education Center's upcoming interactive display about Defence! Defence was a Revolutionary War privateer that was built in 1779 but was unfortunately scuttled to keep the ship out of British hands.

View the teaser trailer for Defence's upcoming interactive display on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GD6uxhdC5s&t=106s

The museum is currently closed for renovations and will reopen on October 24, 2026.

You can read more about Defence on INA's website here: https://nauticalarch.org/projects/revolutionary-war-privateer-defence-excavation/

Maine State Museum curator of archaeological collections, Dr. Andrew Beaupre, talks about what he is most looking forward to when the museum reopens in 2026.

12/10/2025

Listen to George F. Bass in his own words, and join us in celebrating his legacy on his birthday, INA’s Founders Day.

To make a gift and help bring history to light, please visit:

support.nauticalarch.org/give

To watch the full video:

nauticalarch.org/videos/

12/09/2025

A donor has offered to match up to $5,000 in donations to INA on Founders Day!

Double the impact of your gift and help INA bring historyto light through the science of shipwreck archaeology.

Your donation helps INA continue George’s mission, revealing shipwrecks and stories that deepen our connection to human history.

Scan the QR code on the image to donate or please visit INA's giving page:

support.nauticalarch.org/give

12/09/2025

On December 9, we remember the Father of Underwater Archaeology
George F. Bass and the groundbreaking path he opened beneath the waves.

Your donation helps INA continue George’s mission, revealing shipwrecks and stories that deepen our connection to human history.

Scan the QR code on the image to donate or please visit INA's giving page:
support.nauticalarch.org/give

12/08/2025

06/17/2025

After a successful survey in the summer of 2024, Texas A&M University’s Piotr and Katie Bojakowski and the University of Zadar’s Irena Radić Rossi renewed their investigation and excavation of a 17th century shipwreck in Croatia. The ship, which sank off Koločep island, was carrying a cargo primarily of Venetian glass, particularly square windowpanes and fine stemware. Other notable finds include several lead textile merchant seals, glass decorative elements, and ceramic wares. The find of the season were two bronze Ottoman bronze weights, each with a decorative face with the name of a sultan. Once these decorative faces are cleaned, the name of the sultan could provide a reasonable date for the time of the ship’s sinking.

The extensiveness of ship timbers are promising, and the ship seems to have been over 20 meters in length. The team has uncovered part of what is believed to be the keelson as well as the master-frame, a series of futtocks and rows of planking amidship near concreted guns, and parts of the keel, sternpost, and rudder. The team wrapped up this summer’s season after recording and then covering the visible timbers.

12/04/2023

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6
Attend via this Zoom link: https://tamu.zoom.us/j/97840117362