The Maritime Research Division

The Maritime Research Division The Maritime Research Division of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina Columbia.

The Maritime Research Division of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina, Columbia has five legislated mandates:

(1) create and maintain a research database of state underwater archaeology sites;

(2) oversee and implement the Underwater Antiquities Act;

(3) act in concert with the State Historic Preservation Officer for ensuring the adeq

uacy of all underwater archaeological research and the resulting reports of underwater archaeological research carried on in the State by an individual, organization, or other entity whether private or public;

(4) shall conduct or cause to be conducted underwater archaeological field or laboratory investigations, or both, on behalf of and in the best interests of the State at prehistoric and historic sites, and;

(5) establish and maintain an educational program for the training of interested members of the public in the identification, recordation, and registration of submerged archaeological historic property and certify those who have successfully completed such training;

In addition to extensive public education and outreach initiatives, the MRD issues licenses to collect artifacts and fossils from State waters and functions as a custodian for all submerged cultural resources in South Carolina.

Every dugout canoe is a log, but not every log is a dugout canoe.An apt adage as we recently found out after arranging a...
09/02/2026

Every dugout canoe is a log, but not every log is a dugout canoe.

An apt adage as we recently found out after arranging a site visit with the folks who had reported their discovery of a possible cypress dugout canoe in the New River. Launching from a remote landing next to a historic cemetery, we boated downriver through former rice fields and marshes in search of the reported dugout canoe.

Using geotagged iPhone photos, we narrowed down the site location and soon found the object floating in a small embayment.

A closer inspection revealed burning in the middle and outward curvature at one end—evidence that it was actually the lower half of a cypress log, naturally eroded from the trunk of the tree, rather than a historic canoe. Rolling it over confirmed the conclusion: no shaping or tool marks were present.

Even without a canoe discovery, it was a nice day exploring the tannic, brackish waters of the New River and its rich local history.

Thanks to our new friends who made it such an enjoyable outing!

Brown’s Ferry Vessel Recovery—50th AnniversaryToday we celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of South Carolina’s most re...
08/28/2026

Brown’s Ferry Vessel Recovery—50th Anniversary

Today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of South Carolina’s most remarkable underwater archaeology milestones.

In 1976, thousands gathered along the Black River at Brown’s Ferry Landing—and many more watched on television—as an early Colonial sailing vessel was lifted from the river after centuries beneath its waters.

Discovered in the early 1970s by sport diver Hampton Shuping, the vessel lay entombed beneath approximately 10,000 handmade bricks, its final cargo. Built of local pine, live oak, and cypress, the small double-masted vessel is believed to date to the mid-1700s.

Under the direction of State Underwater Archaeologist Alan Albright and Ralph Wilbanks of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology’s Underwater Archaeology Division, the shipwreck emerged from the Black River in a specially constructed lifting cradle.

Its preservation journey was equally extraordinary: temporary storage near Columbia, transfer to a purpose-built USC facility, and two decades of conservation in polyethylene glycol (PEG). At one point, its conservation tank was the largest in the world.

Today, the Brown’s Ferry Vessel and several of its associated artifacts are preserved and displayed at the Rice Museum in Georgetown.

If you are walking along Georgetown’s waterfront, stop in to see this unique example of South Carolina’s maritime past—and visit the nearby South Carolina Maritime Museum for its model, bricks, and additional shipwreck history.

A nice post about our recent lecture about the search for a 1526 Spanish shipwreck off the coast of South Carolina. Tha...
08/20/2026

A nice post about our recent lecture about the search for a 1526 Spanish shipwreck off the coast of South Carolina. Thank you sponsors and those in attendance for your support and interest in this fascinating event in the development of the New World 500 years ago this month.

We spent a productive day in the Lowcountry supporting archaeological research from above. While Dr. Chester DePratter (...
06/12/2026

We spent a productive day in the Lowcountry supporting archaeological research from above. While Dr. Chester DePratter (SCIAA, retired) and Dr. Hannah Hoover (University of Tennessee) conducted excavations at a Yamasee Native American archaeological site, we collected LiDAR and aerial imagery to document the site and its broader setting.

A DJI Matrice 300 RTK carrying a Zenmuse L1 collected LiDAR data across two target areas, while a DJI Phantom 4 Pro (an oldie but goodie) captured aerial imagery of the excavation site.

The combination of the LiDAR and aerial photography provides a unique perspective that complements what is being uncovered on the ground at this culturally significant location.

A few photos and results from the day in the field.

🏝️ The MRD recently traveled to Pritchard’s Island to demonstrate drone-based LiDAR and magnetometry operations for a Un...
06/10/2026

🏝️ The MRD recently traveled to Pritchard’s Island to demonstrate drone-based LiDAR and magnetometry operations for a University of South Carolina Beaufort archaeology class.

Taught by Dr. Audrey Dawson and supported by Dr. Kim Cavanagh, the Maymester course focused on investigating archaeological sites using non-invasive methods. During the field excursion, students observed a magnetometer survey along the beach that identified a small ferromagnetic anomaly, possibly a discarded crab trap, or perhaps something more intriguing. A drone-mounted LiDAR survey also mapped an area of interest, though no obvious surface archaeological features were detected.

Beyond showcasing how drones can carry advanced remote-sensing payloads for archaeological research, the collected datasets will contribute to ongoing research efforts on the island.

We’re excited to support hands-on learning opportunities that connect emerging technologies with coastal and archaeological research.

📸 Check out a couple of photos from the field excursion and the follow-up classroom discussion!

06/05/2026

🚢 New Tech in the Field: Aquascan JetCam 3 Penetrating Camera 🌊

We recently added an Aquascan JetCam 3 penetrating camera to our toolkit, giving us the ability to view and investigate buried objects without excavation. Manufactured by , in the UK, the system uses a camera-equipped probe and live video feed to help divers “see” beneath the seafloor in real time.

We first deployed the JetCam while ground-truthing targets for the NOAA-OER Port Royal Sound Survey. At the “No Name Wreck,” the team used the device to search for evidence of ship structure several feet beneath the sediment. The probe successfully revealed coal lumps, squared timbers, planks, and iron fastener concretions—strong indicators of a shipwreck.

The second deployment focused on a buried magnetic anomaly hidden beneath 5–6 feet of sediment. Although the object’s identity remains unknown, the JetCam allowed us to directly view the target and overcome difficult conditions and constantly collapsing sand while excavating there the year before.

Overall, the JetCam performed admirably and will prove a valuable tool for future underwater archaeological investigations throughout the state.

Special thanks to Liam O’Brien, graduate student from East Carolina University’s Program in Maritime History, for assisting with this project.

🎥 Check out this short video of the team jetcaming at both sites!


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An impromptu interview while searching for a 1526 Spanish shipwreck off the Santee Rivers.
05/12/2026

An impromptu interview while searching for a 1526 Spanish shipwreck off the Santee Rivers.

This past month, the Division resumed drone magnetometry prospecting operations in partnership with the Jasper County 25...
04/17/2026

This past month, the Division resumed drone magnetometry prospecting operations in partnership with the Jasper County 250th Committee and the LAMAR Institute. Work focused on the Euhaw Creek tidal marshes along the waterfront of Old House Plantation near Ridgeland.

The site is the birth and burial place of Thomas Heyward, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and was also the location of extensive rice agriculture carried out by enslaved individuals.

The project aimed to identify archaeological structures, sites, and objects such as watercraft and rice production structures. LiDAR was flown over the study area at low tide to model marsh terrain and identify potential features, while aerial imagery was collected to produce a high-resolution orthomosaic.

Preliminary analysis identified several magnetic anomalies and visible features. These will be investigated further during an upcoming East Carolina University Program in Maritime Studies field school this summer.

Images:
Aerial view of Old House Plantation waterfront along Euhaw Creek.

Drone magnetometer ensemble: DJI Matrice 300 RTK, UgCS Skyhub 3, and Sensys MagDrone R4 magnetometer.

Drone flying over marsh and near remnants of a rice agricultural feature.

Overall magnetics in the OHP study area.

Magnetic anomaly detected in the marsh.

LiDAR Digital Surface Model of the OHP study area, note the rectangular ruins of a shrimp pond from the 1950s.

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1321 Pendleton Street
Columbia, SC
29208

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+18035766563

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