What Projects and Research Does the Institute of Nautical Archaeology Carry Out?

The Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) at nauticalarch.org carries out shipwreck excavation and nautical archaeological research — locating, excavating, preserving, and publishing shipwrecks and other sites of nautical significance. Its project work is organized by year on the site (for example, 2025 Projects and 2026 Projects), so the Projects section is the place to see both current and historical fieldwork. INA describes itself as a non-profit, international research organization founded in 1972 by Dr. George F. Bass, who pioneered the science of archaeological excavation under water.

What INA actually does

INA's stated scope is the location, excavation, preservation, and publication of shipwrecks and other sites of nautical significance. That four-part sequence is the practical shape of its research:

• Location — finding wreck sites and other submerged archaeological material
• Excavation — controlled archaeological work under water
• Preservation — conserving what is recovered
• Publication — turning fieldwork into published research

The organization frames its purpose as shedding light on human interaction with the sea, and its fieldwork is conducted by INA archaeologists.

How the projects are organized

The site presents projects by year rather than as one flat list. The visible categories are:

If you want to know what INA is doing now, start with the most recent year; if you want the full record, use the general Projects section.

Research outputs beyond fieldwork

INA's research reaches readers through several publication and media channels listed on the site:

• INA Quarterly — the organization's periodical, including a special commemorative 50th volume
• INA Quarterly Archive — back issues
• INA Books — book-length publications
• INA Archives — archival material
• Videos and INA Webinars — recorded talks, including the INA Wednesday Webinar series

Funding for this work is split into two stated categories: Project Funding and Publication Funding.

Scale and track record

INA states that for half a century its archaeologists have conducted fieldwork and research leading to the location, excavation, preservation, and publication of dozens of shipwrecks and other sites of nautical significance. The organization marked its 50th year in 2023, and its first field school was organized in 1973 by founder George F. Bass.

How to follow or take part

• Browse the Projects pages for current and past fieldwork
• Attend an INA Wednesday Webinar for research presented directly by the organization
• Read the INA Quarterly or its archive for published results
• Support a specific effort through Project Funding or Publication Funding, or through donation and membership options listed on the site

INA does not publish prices, membership rates, or login requirements in the material available here, so check the relevant page directly before assuming cost or access terms.