Established in 1976, the Nautical Archaeology Program (NAP) was the first academic program in the United States to offer a graduate degree in the archaeology of ships and history of seafaring. The NAP curriculum focuses on the history of wooden ship construction; seafaring through the ages; maritime commerce, cargoes, and ports; and the techniques used to record, analyze and conserve the archaeological remains of these activities.
Nautical Archaeology Program
The Nautical Archaeology Program (NAP) at Texas A&M University is the oldest academic degree-granting graduate program in the U.S. devoted to the study of boats and ships and the cultures that created and used them. NAP Faculty provide instruction in the history of seafaring and wooden ship construction; maritime commerce and cargoes; the skills needed to record, excavate, analyze, and conserve the archaeological remains of these activities.
Event
Calling All Nauties to NAP's 50th Birthday Party!
In May we celebrate the 50th birthday of the Nautical Archaeology Program, which coincides with the bittersweet retirement of Professor Kevin Crisman. Join us in College Station to connect with old NAP friends and make new ones! See the invitation for the schedule of events and links to RSVP and make hotel reservations. We hope to see many of you May 15-17, 2026!
Nautical archaeology is the study of the remains of boats and ships and the cultures who created and used them. The mission of the Nautical Archaeology Program is to acquire and disseminate knowledge about seafaring and maritime history around the world.
NAP was founded in 1976 as a graduate program. Students can earn an M.S. in Maritime Archaeology and Conservation or a Ph.D. in Anthropology with a specialization in Nautical Archaeology.
Undergraduates at Texas A&M University have the option of earning a minor in Nautical Archaeology, and non-degree-seeking students may choose to pursue a certificate in Archaeological Artifact Conservation.
RECENT NEWS
The Gunboat Philadelphia Preservation Project
We are proud to announce that the Nautical Archaeology Program is working with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History as part of “The Gunboat Philadelphia Preservation Project”. The new exhibit will allow members of the public to see the…
NAP at Conferences
Several NAP faculty and students are presenting at two different conferences this January: the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) conference and the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) conference. Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) Dr. Cemal Pulak and Dr. Deborah Carlson…
FORMER STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Toby Jones (M.A. 2004), Newport Medieval Ship Curator
“I credit NAP with providing me with an excellent grounding in nautical archaeological knowledge, method and theory. While a student in the early 2000s, my fieldwork experiences ranged from the silty and fast-flowing Red River in Oklahoma to the sparkling shores of Cyprus and even the gloomy depths of the Gulf of Mexico. There were so many opportunities to get real-world experience to compliment the rigorous coursework. The teaching was excellent across the board and life-long friendships were formed – both between classmates and also with the faculty.’”
