Archaeological research and heritage management of a British shipwreck in Argentina - the legacy of HMS Swift (1770)

Abstract

SUMMARY HMS Swift was a British sloop of war which sank in Patagonia - South Atlantic Ocean - in 1770. The wrecksite was discovered in 1982 by local divers from Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, and this find originated the development of underwater archaeology in the country. The article presents a comprehensive review of the various research strands addressed throughout many years, and it also reflects on the legacy that the site and the project represents for topics other than archaeology, such as heritage management, museology, and cultural industries.