PORT ROYAL - UNESCO - WORLD HERITAGE SITE

 

  TENTATIVE LISTING OF PORT ROYAL JAMAICA, AS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE

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The underwater city of Port Royal is a World Heritage Site contender

 

 

 

 

 

'UNESCO' operate a list of World Heritage Sites, comprising outstanding examples of cultural, historical, natural or technological significance. Port Royal is believed to be one of the most well-preserved underwater cities.

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Sir Henry Morgan was a pirate, and privateer, ending up as the Governor of Jamaica. He was buried at Palisadoes Cemetery, then Port Royal was washed into the Caribbean Sea, the result of an earthquake and tsunami in 1692. Not to be seen again for 300 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance. 

 

 

 

 

 



UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN PORT ROYAL

Underwater explorations and excavations have been conducted in Port Royal over the years. Here is a listing of such excavations. After the 1692 earthquake, people tried to salvage anything considered to be valuable from the area, which became known as the Sunken City.

1859: Jeremiah Murphy a naval diver, using a diving bell located the remains of Fort James.

1956 - 1959: Edwin Link dug test pits in the King's Warehouse and Fort James.

 

1960: Norman Scott explored Fort Carlisle.

1965 - 1968: Robert Marx excavated between twenty to thirty buildings in the Sunken City.

 

1969 - 1970: Philip Mayes Excavation. Mayes was hired by the Jamaican National Trust Commission to continue research. Mayes is accredited with uncovering St. Paul’s Church of Port Royal, the largest building of the 17th century city.


1981 - 1990: Institute of Nautical Archaeology of the Texas A&M (Agricultural & Mechanical) University in close cooperation with the Archaeology Division excavated buildings near the intersection of Queen and High Street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTACTS


UNESCO Headquarters
7 place Fontenoy, 
75007 Paris, France

 

Telephone: +33 (0)1 4568 1000

 

 

LINKS & REFERENCE

 

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