An overhead view of the reconstructed LaBelle
By Heather Rodriguez, Texas A&M University College of Liberal Arts
The Department of Anthropology will host “The Ships that Changed History” symposium beginning today through April 7 and “Shipwreck Weekend” Saturday (April 8).
The Ships symposium brings together four world-renowned scholars to present public lectures on some of the most significant and celebrated shipwreck finds of the last half-century.
Shipwreck Weekend is anthropology’s annual open house, featuring informative and interactive displays and workshops for all ages. The research laboratories of the Nautical Archaeology Program will be open to all visitors, and current students will present their research. Weekend activities include face-painting, learning how to tie sailors knots, learning how to operate a sail, watching 3D models being printed, a scavenger hunt, and more.
All events are free and open to the public.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017: The Ships that Changed History symposium, Reed Arena
9-11 a.m.
An overview of the wrecks of the Uluburum, the Mary Rose, the Vasa, and the La Belle
2-4 p.m.
Cemal Pulak from Texas A&M University presents the Uluburun shipwreck in the late Bronze Age
Thursday, April 6, 2017: The Ships that Changed History symposium, Reed Arena
9-11 a.m.
Christopher Dobbs from the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, United Kingdom presents the Mary Rose, King Henry VIII’s flagship
1-2:30 p.m.
Frederick Hooker from Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden presents Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus’ warship, the Vasa
3-5 p.m.
James Bruseth from the Texas Historical Commission presents French explorer Robert La Salle’s ship, the La Belle
Saturday, April 8, 2017
11 a.m.-5 p.m., Anthropology Building
Shipwreck Weekend Open House
Coinciding with the symposium and Shipwreck Weekend is Texas A&M University Press’ release of the book La Belle: The Archaeology of a Seventeenth-Century Ship of New World Colonization by James E. Bruseth, Amy A. Borgens, Bradford M. Jones, and Eric D. Ray.
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This story by Heather Rodriguez was originally posted on the College of Liberal Arts website.