The

Nautical Archaeology of the Azores

 

The Azorean Archipelago

 
1 - Shipwrecks in the Azores
by Paulo Monteiro
A carta arqueológica subaquática dos Açores
  16th Century Shipwrecks
  17th Century Shipwrecks
  18th Century Shipwrecks
  19th Century Shipwrecks
 
 
2 - Terceira Island: Report on the Underwater Archaeological Activity, 1996-1998
by Paulo Monteiro
With Azores's extensive maritime history and abundant coastline, shipwrecks are an important component of the region's underwater heritage. The vast majority of shipwrecks in Azorean waters do not contain gold, silver, jewelry or other precious metals. So-called "treasure" galleons that wrecked in the Azores were salvaged soon after the event whenever possible, since economic effects of so great a loss were profoundly felt throughout Europe. More than 900 ships are recorded as lost in the Azores; only 142 - circa 15% - of these ever carried treasure, of which 22 were wrecked inside Angra bay, in depths that go as deep as 60 meters.
The real treasure of the Angra bay shipwrecks is their potential to help us reconstruct a picture of the past. They represent time capsules left to us by the people who designed, built, loaded, and sailed the vessels. Shipwreck sites,
in contrast to most archaeological sites on land, often reflect the results of sudden cataclysmic events. existing by themselves, isolated in time and space, providing what the archaeologists call a closed context view of the past.
As such, all water craft found in the Azores reflect the history of the region and, quite often, its relationships with
other parts of the world. Each has a particular story to add to our knowledge of the island's history. This site intends
to share with you some of what we have been doing, in the Azores, since 1996.
 
Project Design
Historical background
Phoenicians in the Azores (by Patricia M. and Pierre M. Bikai)
Setting the Stage for Columbus (by Lionel Casson)
Underwater Team
Shipwrecks
  Angra A
  Angra B
  Angra C
  Angra D
  Run'Her
  Lidador
  French Bronze Culverin
Relatorio Angra '98 (in Portuguese)
  Introdução
  Arqueologia de dois naufrágios
  Angra C
  Angra D
  Bibliografia
 Revenge, 1591
  Batalhas e Naufrágios nos Açores, 1591
  Last Fight of the Revenge at Sea (by Sir Walter Raleigh)
  The Revenge, A Ballad of The Fleet (by Alfred, Lord Tennyson)
 
 
3 - Faial Island Shipwrecks
by Paulo Monteiro
  Naufrágios na Horta
  1858 - Tempestade no Faial
  Nossa Senhora da Luz, 1615 (I)
  Nossa Senhora da Luz, 1615 (II)
  Nossa Senhora da Luz, 1615 (III)
  Nossa Senhora da Luz, 1615 (IV)
  Nossa Senhora da Luz, 1615 (V)
  General Armstrong, 1814
 
 
4 - S. Jorge Island Shipwrecks
by Paulo Monteiro
 
  Naufrágios no Porto da Calheta, ilha de São Jorge, e suas cercanias
  A HMS Pallas, um navio experimental
  O naufrágio da Pallas, São Jorge, 1782 (I)
  O naufrágio do lugre Spindrift , São Jorge, 1870
   
 
 
5 - Pico Island Shipwrecks
by Paulo Monteiro
  O naufrágio da fragata l'Astrée, 1796 (I)
  O naufrágio da fragata l'Astrée, 1796 (II)
  O naufrágio da fragata l'Astrée, 1796 (III)
  O naufrágio da fragata l'Astrée, 1796 (IV)
  O naufrágio da fragata l'Astrée, 1796 (V)
  O naufrágio da fragata l'Astrée, 1796 (VI)
  O naufrágio da fragata l'Astrée, 1796 (VII)
  O naufrágio da fragata l'Astrée, 1796 (VIII)
  O naufrágio da barca Caroline, 1901
  O naufrágio do Lakeside Bridge, 1920
 
 
6 - Flores Island Shipwrecks
by Paulo Monteiro
  O naufrágio do Nuestra Señora de las Angustias y San José, 1727
  Brillant, 1899
  Slavonia, 1909
  Bidart, 1915
 
 
7 - S. Miguel Island Shipwrecks
by Paulo Monteiro
  O naufrágio da Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, 1779 (I)
  O naufrágio da Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, 1779 (II)
 
 
 

Citation Information:

Paulo Monteiro,
2002, Underwater Archaeology in the Azores, World Wide Web, URL, http://nautarch.tamu.edu/shiplab/, Nautical Archaeology Program, Texas A&M University.