Ocean Research Environmental Studies Program

The BOEMRE is required to ensure that activities it permits, such as the drilling of oil and gas wells, the placement of pipelines, and the installation of wind facilities, do not adversely affect significant archaeological sites on the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). To determine if there is a potential to affect archaeological resources on the OCS by proposed oil and gas activities, the BOEMRE has funded archaeology studies to ascertain where on the OCS these sites are likely to occur.

In the Gulf of Mexico, numerous archaeological sites have been discovered and evaluated as a result of the exploration for oil and gas. Some of the exciting discoveries include a German U-boat, a paddle wheel, and early sailing vessels. Some of these shipwrecks are now listed as potential historic sites.

The Alaska coast is a location for historic shipwrecks. The BOEMRE maintains a database of their locations dating back to the mid-1700s.

Posters and teacher resource manuals are available for some of these locations including:

The Politkofsky Poster and Teacher’s resource from Alaska.