Skip to Content

SC Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology

  • Banner Image

H.L. Hunley


On the night of February 17, 1863, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley departed Breach Inlet near Charleston and sank the Union blockader the USS Housatonic. The Hunley became the first successful attack submarine in history. However, it's failure to return to port remained a source of mystery and speculation for over 130 years.  In 1995, during a joint project between SCIAA and Clive Cussler and his organization NUMA (National Underwater Marine Agency), the submarine was located approximately 310 meters (330 yards) seaward of the Housatonic wreck site. From 1996 to 2000, SCIAA, along with a number of other federal and state agencies, participated in the investigation and recovery of the submarine. Today, the submarine and related artifacts are undergoing conservation at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston.

Related Information
www.hunley.org

2005. Leader, Jonathan M. "Lt. Dixon's Tintype: A Certainty Becomes a Mystery." Legacy. Vol. 9, Nos. 1-2, March. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. pp. 36-37.

2003. Amer, Christopher F. "SCIAA Staff Recognized by National Preservation Award." Legacy. Vol. 8, No. 1, July. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. p. 7.

2002. Rice Powell, Nena. "SCIAA Staff Honored with National Park Service Partnership Award." Legacy. Vol. 7, No. 1, July. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. pp. 23.

2001. Amer, Christopher F. "SCIAA Conducts Hunley Lectures." Legacy. Vol. 6, No. 1, July. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. pp. 22-23.

2000. Leader, Jonathan M. & Burbage, Randy. "Humanitarian Exhumation at the Citadel's Johnson Hagood Stadium." Legacy. Vol. 5, No. 1, July. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. pp. 1, 4-7.

2000. Amer, Christopher F. "H. L. Hunley Completes the Journey Home." Legacy. Vol. 5, No. 2, December. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. pp. 1, 4-9.

1999. Amer, Christopher F. "H.L. Hunley Update." Legacy. Vol. 4, Nos. 1-3, December. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. p. 27.

1999. Amer, Christopher F. "Underwater Warriors: Exploring the Wreck of the Confederacy's 'Submarine Boat.'" Discovering Archaeology. Vol. 1, No. 6. The Leach Publishing Group, Ltd., & Scientific American, Inc.

1998. Amer, Christopher F. "H.L. Hunley Featured at Seabrook Island." Legacy. Vol. 3, No. 2, July. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. p. 26.

1998. Murphy, Larry (ed) w. Lenihan, Daniel J., Amer, Christopher F., Russel, Matthew A., Neyland, Robert S., Wills, Richard, Harris, M. Scott, Askins, Adriane, Smith, Timothy, Shope, Steven. "1996 Assessment of the H.L. Hunley." Cultural Resource Management Professional Papers, Number 62. National Park Service. Santa Fe, New Mexico.

1997. Amer, Christopher F., Leader, Jonathan M., Smith, Steven D. "H.L. Hunley." Underwater Archaeology, an Encyclopedia. Delgado, J.P. (ed). British Museum Press. London, UK.

1997. Amer, Christopher F. "Hunley Update." Legacy. Vol. 2, No. 3, December. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. pp. 22-23.

1997. Amer, Christopher F., Leader, Jonathan M. Smith, Steven D. "Hunley Update." Legacy. Vol. 2, No. 1, March. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina. p. 17.

1996. Amer, Christopher F. "South Carolina Receives H.L. Hunley Custody." Legacy. Vol. 1, No. 2, November. South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina.

SC Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology


Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

©