By Cheryl Wood

IT IS a tale of American treasure hunters, an unidentified shipwreck with coins worth an estimated $500 million, and a court battle with the Spanish government—and it involves an archaeologist who lives in St Andrews.

Neil Dobson is principal marine archaeologist for Odyssey Marine Explorer, the Florida-based underwater salvage company which is in dispute with Spain over ownership of a shipwreck which has yielded 500,000 silver coins.

The discovery of the wreck, code-named Black Swan, was announced in May. Odyssey insists it was found in international waters.

However the Spanish government has contended that if the colonial era ship belonged to Spain—or was, as it believes, found in territorial waters—it is entitled to the haul.

Due to the legal proceedings Mr Dobson refused to discuss the row over the Black Swan, which is making headlines worldwide, but he told The Courier about his pioneering work in reclaiming pieces of history from the bottom of the sea.

Working from the Odyssey research vessel M/V Odyssey Explorer—which was detained in a Spanish port a couple of months ago—Mr Dobson works with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) similar to those used in the oil and exploration industry.

“The ROV is my eyes and hands and enables me to investigate and excavate deep-water shipwrecks,” he said. “Fitted with specialised tooling and state-of-the-art HD cameras and lighting I am able to conduct archaeology to acceptable standards of my profession...

“My challenge was to see if robotic technology can do the job of an archaeologist in the depths of the oceans.

“Odyssey now has equipment and systems that can recover artefacts and cargo from deep-water shipwrecks in an archaeologically sound manner.”

Discovery of the Black Swan was announced shortly after Odyssey was given consent by the British and Spanish governments to dig up the HMS Sussex, a warship lost off the coast of Gibraltar in 1694.

The Sussex project has been delayed due to the issues around the Black Swan, but it is one Mr Dobson has been involved in for six years.

He previously worked on the recovery of coins and artefacts from a paddle steamer from the American Civil War era, the SS Republic, which sank off the coast of Georgia.

While it is the haul of coins from the Black Swan which is causing most excitement, Mr Dobson says it is the everyday objects found on shipwrecks which fuel his interest.

“Every shipwreck is a time capsule, and the artefacts reflect the technology of that era and of the people who worked and travelled on that ship,” he said.

“In my time with Odyssey I have looked at hundreds of shipwrecks from all periods of history, and it is simple everyday objects such as personal items and tools from the general cargo that I still get most excited about.”

However, he often has to defend himself against criticism from academics and accusations of treasure-hunting and selling out.

Mr Dobson said his work with Odyssey was very important in preserving historical artefacts.

He said, “The artefacts and cargo recovered from the SS Republic project have brought to the world significant insight into life in the post American Civil War period, when the nation was getting back on its feet both socially and economically.”

Mr Dobson, who has 30 years of experience in the marine industry and a masters degree from St Andrews University behind him, said, “I think I am sufficiently qualified to judge and apply good archaeological practices, and would not have my name and reputation associated with anything less than excellent standards.”

While the academic world refuses to publish findings or reports of Odyssey’s work, Mr Dobson said that its projects had featured in the likes of National Geographic and History Channel documentaries, and been published through industry and scientific deep-ocean conferences and journals worldwide.

Although Mr Dobson spends most of his time at sea, he spends a month in every three back in St Andrews.

Some of his land time is spent conducting research, writing reports, speaking at conferences and working on television documentaries.

However he finds time to continue his work with the local Coastguard rescue team.

Mr Dobson also sits on the management committee of the Cosmos Community Centre in St Andrews.