08/25/2026
UTC's underwater archaeology program is making discoveries FAR beyond the classroom. πβ
Led by archaeologist Andrew J. (AJ) Van Slyke, a visiting lecturer at UTC, students traveled to Port Royal, Jamaica, to support research featured on Discovery Channel's Expedition Unknown. Before ever entering the water, students spent months transcribing 18th-century documents that helped narrow the search area and guided the expedition's fieldwork.
The experience was made possible in part through the generosity of UTC alumnus Vann Cunningham ('74). Through the Vann Cunningham Internship Fund, students gained hands-on research experience, and support for fieldwork logistics helped make the Jamaica expedition a reality.
As Cunningham noted, donor support can turn "an expedition students can actually experience" into a transformative learning opportunity.
Read more: https://blog.utc.edu/news/2026/08/discovery-channels-expedition-unknown-features-utc-underwater-archaeology-research-in-jamaica/