Horry County Museum Lecture Series: "More than a Treasure Chest: SC’s Underwater Archaeology Program”

The Horry County Museum and the AVX Foundation present a lecture by James Spirek on South Carolina’s Underwater Archaeology Program on Saturday, August 28 at 1 p.m.

A variety of sunken watercraft comprised of prehistoric and historic canoes, sailing vessels, warships and blockade runners, among other types of archaeological sites, provide testimony to the vibrant maritime heritage in South Carolina. Since 1968, the recovery of underwater archaeological remains in the lakes, rivers and coastal waters have been regulated by state legislation. In 1973, the first state underwater archaeologist was hired and inaugurated a sustained program to manage and study the maritime archaeological legacy in state waterways. This illustrated presentation will focus on the various endeavors undertaken by the Maritime Research Division and other individuals and organizations to advance our knowledge of the maritime archaeological heritage in the waterways of South Carolina.

James Spirek, the State Underwater Archaeologist for South Carolina, works at the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Employed there since 1996 and holding his current position since 2012, Spirek's responsibilities include managing and studying the maritime archaeological legacy residing in the lakes, rivers and coastal waters of South Carolina.

He has participated in numerous projects documenting a diverse range of sunken prehistoric and historic watercraft, Colonial and Native American sites, Civil War warships and blockade runners and other underwater archaeological remains in state waters. He is co-editor of Submerged Cultural Resource Management: Preserving and Interpreting Our Sunken Maritime Heritage, and a co-contributor to Archaeology in South Carolina: Exploring the Hidden Heritage of the Palmetto State, Florida’s Lost Galleon: The Emanuel Point Shipwreck, and Guns of the Pee Dee: The Cannon Recovery. Spirek received his bachelor of arts in History from George Mason University in 1987 and his master's of arts in Maritime History and Nautical Archaeology from East Carolina University in 1993.

The program will be held in the McCown Auditorium located at 805 Main Street in Conway. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (843) 915-5320 or email hcgmuseum@horrycounty.org.

To view a full list of programs, visit our website.