The first frame of the replica of the Revolutionary War era brig Galveztown has been erected and was celebrated with pomp and circumstance at the ceremony held in May 2008 at the Astilleros Nereo shipyard in Malaga, Spain. In attendance were LAMP archaeologists Dr. Sam Turner and Brendan Burke, along with the St. Augustine Historical Society's Dr. Susan Parker.

Our partnership with the Spanish shipyard and maritime museum Astilleros Nereo in Malaga continues to gain interest in local and international media outlets.

Continue reading "LAMP International Partnership in the News: Construction of the Replica Ship Galveztown in Malaga, Spain" »

Updated! Letter by Professor George R. Fischer describing the events of the public meeting is included below . . .

We were hoping there would be an overwhelming response to our recent call to action to let the state know that we are against legally sanctioned treasure hunting in Florida waters. The opportunity was a proposed change--the first in 30 years--in the rules currently governing this practice, and a call for public comments and public meeting in Tallahassee.

Well, this early it hard to judge numbers of comments but they are a matter of public record, and so eventually we'll have this data. We do know that our message got out there and spread fast.

Continue reading "UPDATED: State-wide reaction to our treasure hunting Action Alert" »

The June 2008 LAMP maritime archaeology field school, accredited by Plymouth State University, is currently underway in St. Augustine, Florida. Here students Ben Siegel and Ryan Flory are in the background with LAMP intern Renee Post. PSU Professor Dave Switzer is in the foreground.

Continue reading "LAMP/Plymouth State University Maritime Archaeology Field School is Underway!" »

I recently traveled to Traverse City, Michigan for the Great Lakes Lighthouse Conference presented by the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance. I was pretty excited since it had been four years since I last set foot in the north woods.

Continue reading "Great Lakes Lighthouse Conference in Traverse City, Michigan" »

ACTION ALERT!!! LET OUR STATE LAWMAKERS KNOW THAT TREASURE HUNTING IS NOT GOOD FOR FLORIDA ARCHAEOLOGY OR THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA!!!

Word is spreading about an opportunity that might lead to the end of state-sanctioned treasure hunting in Florida waters, but the time to act is now!. We encourage everyone who cares about Florida history and archaeology to visit a public comment webpage the state has established in conjunction with their proposed new 1A-31 regulations for treasure hunting. While these rules are a step in the right direction, they do not go far enough. We’d like to send the message to Tallahassee loud and clear that treasure hunting is detrimental to our state’s great archaeological heritage and that it should be banned outright.

Continue reading "ACTION ALERT!!! Help Stop Treasure Hunting in Florida Waters!" »

When: 14-28 June 2008
Where: St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum
Instructors: Dr. David Switzer, professor emeritus PSU; Chuck Meide, Director, LAMP; Dr. Sam Turner, Director of Archaeology, LAMP

LAMP, in conjunction with Plymouth State University, will be hosting a maritime archaeological field school practicum from 15-28 June 2008. Three undergraduate-level credit hours are available through PSU. Fieldwork will focus on a 19th century shipwreck offshore St. Augustine but will also include a variety of research activities above and below the water.

For more information click here.

UPDATED: Click here to read the blog entry describing the 2008 Field School!

As the summer camp counselors, we are discovering the world of blogging so that we can let the families of our summer campers know what our campers did everyday. So here goes our first entry. My name is Erin Wilson, I'm the head camp counselor for Days of Discovery. After being out of high school for six years, I've just graduated from Flagler College and I am looking forward to a fun filled summer of hikes, sword fights, and schooner rides!

Continue reading "Blogging for the first time! " »