American Naval Archaeology

Abstract

During recent years, several U.S. Navy shipwrecks have been found, rediscovered, explored, and exploited under varying conditions and for different reasons. The ships involved were the USS Somers, USS Kearsarge, USS Tecumseh, and USS Cumberland. The French discovery and exploration of the wreck of the Confederate States Navy steam sloop of war Alabama in the English Channel off Cherbourg has become a subject of international contention. The facts differ but the issues are similar. These valuable historical artifacts are in danger of being exploited, looted, and ruined because of the increasing numbers of human scavengers (sport divers, commercial fishermen, and treasure hunters) who have begun to strip the wrecks.