Friends and colleagues: On the Caribbean coast of Panama, disputing parties
soon may reach agreement on archaeological exploration of a shipwreck that
might have been abandoned there by Christopher Columbus on his last voyage
in 1503.  A video documentary about the shipwreck was prepared in 2001
showing the recovery of some artifacts by non-archaeologists.  This video,
The Shipwreck at Playa Damas, is the latest video offering on our public
education website, The Archaeology Channel
(http://www.archaeologychannel.org).

Some evidence, not yet confirmed by archaeological analysis, suggests that
the shipwreck at Playa Damas is that of La Vizcaina, a ship abandoned in
1503 by Christopher Columbus on his fourth and final voyage.  Whatever its
identity, it may be the oldest shipwreck yet found in the Western Hemisphere
and a unique opportunity to examine early 16th Century shipbuilding methods.
  This opportunity might have been lost in the controversy surrounding
salvage and research rights, but now it seems likely that the Institute of
Nautical Archaeology will undertake a fully professional research effort.
The dispute and its impending resolution are described in an ALI news
release at
http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/newsrelease/releaseVizcaina.shtml
and in the latest edition of the Audio News from Archaeologica
(http://www.archaeologychannel.org/AudioNews.asp).

This and other programs are available on TAC for your use and enjoyment.  If
you feel that this project is a worthy endeavor, please participate in our
Membership (http://www.archaeologychannel.org/member.html) and Underwriting
(http://www.archaeologychannel.org/sponsor.html) programs.  Only with your
help can we continue and enhance this nonprofit public-education and
visitor-supported service.  We also welcome new content partners as we reach
out to the world community.

Please forward this message to others who may be interested.

Richard M. Pettigrew, Ph.D., RPA
President and Executive Director
Archaeological Legacy Institute
http://www.archaeologychannel.org

_________________________________________________________________
Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online
http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963