Tropical cyclone activity has long played a significant role in shaping the coastal landscapes of Puerto Rico, as strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge flooding have altered the physical coastline and influenced past and contemporary settlement patterns. Tropical cyclones and their related phenomena leave discernible physical and geochemical signatures within the stratigraphic record that can convey the history of these events. Sedimentary sequences—when examined alongside archaeological data—can contribute to our understanding of past decision-making strategies and conceptualizations of risk. This study presents a 4,000-year record of hurricane activity for the north-central coast of Puerto Rico using six 1-meter sediment cores analyzed through geoarchaeological methods and high-resolution X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) scanning. Our findings are then discussed within the broader archaeological context of the region to infer how past settlement patterns were informed and shaped by the changing frequency and intensity of past storms.

The application of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in archaeology has been overwhelmingly restricted to terrestrial environments. Similarly, the use of sonar in nearshore and offshore environments for classifying sediment stratigraphy is well established. What we are missing is the connection between these environments in the areas too shallow for efficient marine geophysical survey but too wet for traditional terrestrial methods. The now-submerged cave entrances in Quintana Roo offer an ideal environment for testing the use of GPR in shallow water settings as there is little water movement and low sediment transport across the peninsula. Understanding the sedimentation timeline of these entrances is crucial to determining human and faunal access to the caves when they were dry during the Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene. In this paper we present the preliminary results of the use of GPR in the shallow entrances associated with archaeological and paleontological features documented deeper in the caves.

Underwater robotics competitions for middle and high school students are popular; programs like Sea Perch and MATE ROV have thousands of entries and international teams. Competitions spark innovation and teach teamwork, critical thinking, and other essential skills – but they have a fixed timeline, each year a new challenge is posted, and new robots are made. These challenges often involve underwater archaeology themes but how much do the students really engage in the field? How can we take student-built remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to the next level and actively engage students and their designs in research? This partnership between underwater archaeologists and a middle and high school teacher has developed a new model for collaboration and education. Nibi, the pink ROV designed and built by middle and high school students will go beyond the pool and be used in archaeological investigations in the Great Lakes.

Bouldnor Cliff is a prominent site in the UK, known for its worked wood, lithics, and as the only submerged Mesolithic archaeological site in the country. The late Pleistocene included a glacial period that forced populations to the south of Europe (Barlow et al., 2017). Preliminary data shows that northern latitudes, such as Bouldnor Cliff, could have been a refuge in the north. The maximum glacial advance of the period would have left much of south Britain ice-free (Evans et al., 2021), with temperate deciduous trees possible (Allen et al., 2010). By utilizing various archaeological techniques including sedimentary XRF scanning, sediments from the areas have been investigated to uncover whether Bouldnor could have been a refuge, decreasing the mobility needs during environmentally strenuous periods. This study’s aim is to investigate sediments to showcase potential for mobility between regions during this period.

Harbours construction on high energy coastlines alters sediment dynamics impacting ecological communities which is a growing concern. Caesarea Maritima, a large, artificially constructed harbour (end of the 1^st c. BCE), provides an opportunity to address these impacts over 2000 years. Sediment samples were analyzed (geochemistry - μXRF, microfossils - foraminifera) from two cores, and an excavated trench. Results show increased heavy mineral contributions (Zircon) after the construction and following tsunami events, which would have eroded and redeposited sediments. Foraminifera data show the appearance Pararotalia calcariformata which is an epiphyte living on algae covering the harbor structure. As the harbor degraded there was an increase in surface area and algae resulting in higher abundance of P. calcariformata. P. calcariformata (and other epiphytes) are cost-effective biostratigraphic indicators for future geoarchaeological studies to assess site chronologies and site formation. A similar approach could be applied to shipwrecks in terms of timing and site-formation processes.

Marine sediment cores from the Taiwan Strait preserve fish otoliths—fish ear stones—that serve as localized ecological proxies for reconstructing long-term human–fish interactions in nearshore settings. This study analyzes otolith assemblages spanning the past ~150 years, examining shifts in fish populations associated with subsistence, colonial, and industrial phases. Variations in otolith accumulation rates and species composition provide high-resolution ecological baselines prior to intensive exploitation, offering critical insights into anthropogenic and climatic impacts. Developed in a high-sedimentation setting of the Taiwan Strait (~0.4 cm/yr), this replicable method enhances archaeological visibility in nearshore shelf regions where conventional material evidence is scarce. This novel method holds strong potential for future application to deeper stratigraphic layers of buried continental shelves, aiming to overcome data scarcity and limited archaeological visibility in submerged landscapes shaped by sea-level fluctuations and high sedimentation.

Debate remains as to when the Lucayan peoples first colonized the Bahamian archipelago, with archeological sites indicating initial occupation around 700 CE until ~1500 CE. Previous works indicate links between climate and archaeological findings, although hindered by lack of detailed climate records spanning the last 2000 years. Here we present new paleoclimate data produced via ITRAX-μXRF from two ponds on San Salvador that offer a high-resolution record of paleo-salinity which correlates with freshwater availability. Our results display wet periods between 700-800 CE, 900-1000 CE, 1100-1250 CE, 1350-1550 CE and 1750-1850 CE, corresponding with the initial colonization of Lucayans, MWP, peaks in Lucayan populations and early plantations, respectively. Furthermore, increases of paleo-salinity (decline in available freshwater) is associated with Columbus landfall and the proposed date of Lucayan depopulation. These findings support the application of chloride records produced via μXRF as a robust paleo-salinity proxy, reflected by its correspondence with archeological indicators.

The submerged cave systems of Quintana Roo contain abundant evidence of human activity – with the skeletal remains of several Paleoamerican individuals already well documented under the auspices of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). Also present in the caves are diverse and well-preserved assemblages of extinct megafauna. Many of the caves were intensively mined for ochre, and deposits, features, and tools associated with this extractive activity – such as charcoal, cairns, and hammerstones – are commonly found. Humans shared these subterranean spaces with animals, many of whom ventured deep into caves and met their demise. Recent research has focused on how humans and megafauna entered and navigated through these complex environments. Comprehensive survey and photogrammetry efforts enable us to examine the relationships between cave morphology and animal anatomy and physiology. Computer simulation of these movements and interactions can reveal new insights into human and faunal cave use.

Submerged landscapes investigations are being conducted with greater frequency by archaeologists who often employ a standard kit of marine survey tools. Survey methods broadly follow universal best practices of geophysical survey followed by ground truthing of potential targets/sediment horizons. This approach varies based on the project area’s specific geological or oceanographic conditions and instrumentation used, but there is growing evidence that the data being collected as part of development-led projects doesn’t satisfy the information needs of traditional owners, particularly the emphasis on the potential presence of tangible remains. Cultural heritage laws require identification and avoidance of any potentially significant resources, but avoiding or investigating an entire paleolandscape is often unfeasible. This paper will explore the theoretical foundations for interpreting submerged landscape data with respect to cultural research questions, emphasizing the need for fundamental skills, and ways in which novel approaches can expand this field of inquiry to become more relevant.

The Slave Wrecks Project (SWP) is an international network of institutions and individuals that investigates the global history and enduring legacies of enslavement across the African diaspora. Hosted by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture, the SWP engages in local, national, and international collaborations designed to simultaneously build partner capacity, protect heritage, foster public dialogue, advance research, and promote greater access in scholarship as it relates to the history of the global trafficking of enslaved Africans. Through several research and public engagement initiatives, SWP has spent the last decade developing models for engaging descendant communities, citizen scientists, and academic partners to reckon with the past and develop stragetgies for building freer futures. This presentation will examine what the scope of the SWP's global work, and what the future holds as it looks toward the next decade of maritime archaeological research and restorative justice initiatives.

The submerged continental shelves contain invaluable information about human responses to the last period during which our species adapted to rapid climate changes and relative sea level rise. They are also some of the most vulnerable components of offshore cultural heritage. Development initiatives threaten to impact them due to their relatively small sizes and comparatively ephemeral nature compared to other marine cultural heritage such as shipwrecks. These characteristics also make them much more difficult to detect. We present here results from the Life on the Edge project at the Submerged Landscapes Research Centre at the University of Bradford to pioneer new methods in submerged landscape prospection, innovate more accessible means for public engagement, collaborate with more stakeholders, and improve the overall state of the art and science of submerged landscape studies across multiple regions with diverse archaeological cultures, from the North Sea to the Adriatic to Japan, among others.