Shipwrecks
Overview
UNESCO estimates that over three million undiscovered shipwrecks are spread around the world's oceans. From the small fraction of shipwrecks we have found, under 10% have been explored. While an estimated $60B in treasures is supposedly awaiting us at the bottom of the sea, cost and labor-intensive efforts stand in the way of extensive exploration.
Colder, darker, low-oxygen waters can preserve some materials for centuries, allowing wrecks to serve as time capsules and offer a look into the engineering, economies, and personalities of the period when they crashed. Famous losses include the Titanic in 1912, the Mary Rose in 1545, and Endurance in 1915—with each ship's artifacts leaving behind lessons about the technology and ambition of their eras.
Advancements in technology, including sonar, satellite imaging, autonomous underwater vehicles, and more, have helped increase the frequency of new shipwreck discoveries. Once a shipwreck is discovered, debates arise about who gets to claim a wreck's contents, how to respect those who passed, and how to consider the environment surrounding the vessel.
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