South Carolina Archeologist to Discuss H.L. Hunley
Submarine Recovery

Dr. Christopher F. Amer

Christopher F. Amer, co-principal investigator of the H.L. Hunley project, will discuss the excavation and recovery of the H.L. Hunley, the most dramatic naval weapon introduced during the Civil War. His talk, "The H.L. Hunley Project: Dedication in Three Centuries," will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at UNCA's Owen Conference Center. The event is free and open to the public.

The Confederate submersible H.L. Hunley was built in Alabama in 1863 from a custom-designed and fitted iron boiler plate. The submarine was then moved to Charleston, S.C. to operate against the northern blockading fleet anchored off the Charleston Harbor. In February 1864, the Hunley made a late night attack on U.S.S. Houstatonic and the resulting explosion sunk both vessels. By this final action, the Hunley became the first submarine to successfully sink an enemy vessel.

Using audio-visuals, Amer will discuss the history of the Hunley as well as the highlights of the excavation and recovery of the boat in 2000. He will explain the use of innovative technology used to record the submarine and its contents. Amer will conclude with a description of future plans for the vessel.

Amer was co-principal investigator of the H.L. Hunley 1996 Assessment Project and the 1999 U.S.S. Housatonic Survey, was a diving member of the Hunley Recovery Project and is a founding member of the Lasch International Institute for Underwater Archaeology and Conservation. He is the state of South Carolina's underwater archaeologist and head of the underwater archaeology division of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina. A graduate of the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University, Amer has extensive experience in the excavation and analysis of maritime archaeological sites and post medieval watercraft.

The talk is co-sponsored by the American Institute of Archaeology and UNCA's Classics Department, Humanities Program, History Department and the Cultural and Special Events Committee.

For more information, call Dorothy Dvorsky Rohner, UNCA assistant classics professor, at 828/251-6295.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Dorothy Dvorsky Rohner, UNCA Associate Classics Professor, 828/251-6295
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526