Research, Writing, and Website Design, Sunken Histories

Researched and designed an interactive Wordpress website to accompany graduate school research on maritime archaeology of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This project aims to explain how the interdisciplinary nature of marine archaeology has expanded the interpretation of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

My research begins with background information on four sunken slave ships that have been documented in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, offering insight into the material culture and experience of those living aboard slave ships. We will explore the oldest sunken slave ship discovered in North America followed by three more recent sunken slave ships which operated illegally, after the slave trade had been banned. Together, these ships span a 160-year history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, helping us form a more complete picture of slavery, and the politics and economics of the time. This case study also highlights collaborations and partnerships that made this research and documentation possible.  

Due to the time sensitive nature of these shipwreck sites, research and education in this field are vital for historical preservation and to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Of the estimated 1,000 sunken slave ships in the Atlantic, only a small number have been documented. The rest lie beneath the surface at various depths and along different coasts throughout the Atlantic Ocean, waiting to be remembered.