The Archaeology of American Shipwrecks highlights the essential role of watercraft in United States history and demonstrates how the study of submerged sites contributes to a deeper understanding of the nation’s past. Combining evidence from shipwreck excavations with historical documentation, this volume reveals how maritime archaeologists locate, document, and preserve these important sites.

This book examines a variety of vessels through time, including Indigenous-built dugout canoes, colonial ships that brought Europeans to the Americas, ships created for the whaling industry, and modern ships built for coastal defense. By tracing the role of watercraft in exploration, commerce, warfare, and expansion, it underscores the pivotal influence of maritime transport well into the twentieth century. Providing an overview of major discoveries along with little-known and previously unpublished research and discussing technological advances, new and evolving methodologies, and ethical issues relevant to the field, this book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the dynamic story of America’s waterways.