A Multi-Agency Archeological Survey In Search Of Evidence Of The Pirate Slave Trader Guerrero Along The Boundary Of Biscayne National Park And The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

While often overshadowed by the slave revolt aboard the schooner Amistad in 1839, the saga of the pirate-slaver Guerrero and HMS Nimble provide an equally epic display of the horrors, dangers, and reality of suppressing the then-illegal slave trade in the perilous Florida Straits. While the vessels’ conflict only reflects a small portion of the crews’ and captive cargo’s struggles, the historical record provides vital clues to the engagement’s archeological signature, as well as the final resting place of Guerrero and the 41 captured Africans who were entombed within its wreckage. Archeological remains of Guerrero have not yet been conclusively identified although a promising candidate exists along the boundary of Biscayne National Park and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This symposium will discuss the recent multi-agency effort to locate the wreck as well as avocational training opportunities, education, interpretation, and outreach efforts associated with the current survey.