Historians have spent considerable time diving into the narratives of enslaved Africans throughout the diaspora, but until recently, stories of Africans lost at sea haven’t been explored. The financial cost of underwater exploration is steep, and historically, most funding has been attached to the thrill of treasure hunting and the promise of gold. The history and consequences of slavery have often been ignored, disregarded, and purposely hidden in the United States, and funding research to bring these crimes to light was unimaginable for decades. Factoring in cost, accessibility, and the uncomfortable nature of slavery, we may start to see why these ships were not prioritized for funding or exploration in the past. 

The first slave ship to be identified and documented was the São José in 2015, and the Smithsonian estimates there are over 1,000 slave ships lost at sea in the Middle Passage.^[1]

Because of the high cost of underwater exploration and excavation, many historic wrecks were first found by professional salvage companies or private salvors searching for the remains of Spanish treasure fleets.^[2] Due to the time sensitive nature of these shipwreck sites, research and education in this field are vital for historical preservation and to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Threats from climate change, looting, pollution, and the passage of time make it essential to document these wrecks and the histories they carry before it becomes too late. 

The transatlantic scale of the slave trade provides unique opportunities for collaboration and education within the United States and abroad. The Slave Wrecks Project, hosted by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C. is a growing network of international partnerships and collaborations. In Senegal, for example, Washington D.C.’s Smithsonian Institute and George Washington University have partnered with Ibrahima Thiaw, a Senegalese archaeologist at Cheikh Anta Diop University to start the Slave Wrecks Project Academy, to educate and train Africans and those of African descent in marine archaeology and historic preservation. ^[3]

Research and discovery of these sunken slave ships has been made possible through the international collaboration of museums, historians, marine archaeologists, volunteer SCUBA divers, and young adults who are being trained in the field. 

This case study will provide background information on four sunken slave ships that have been documented in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, offering insight into the material culture and experience of those living aboard slave ships. We will explore the oldest sunken slave ship discovered in North America followed by three more recent sunken slave ships which operated illegally, after the slave trade had been banned. Together, these ships span a 160-year history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, helping us form a more complete picture of slavery, and the politics and economics of the time. This case study will also highlight the interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships that made this research and documentation possible.  

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[1] “Slave Wrecks Project.” Smithsonian Global. Accessed October 9, 2024. https://global.si.edu/projects/slave-wrecks-project.

[2] Jane Webster, “Slave Ships and Maritime Archaeology: An Overview,” International Journal of Historical Archaeology 12, no. 1 (January 3, 2008): 6–19, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-007-0040-8.

[3] Chason, Rachel. “African Scuba Divers Rewrite a ‘Settlers’ Narrative’ of the Slave Trade.” The Washington Post, November 17, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/17/slave-ship-wrecks-smithsonian-senegal/.