The Beeswax Wreck Project :: Powered by Naga Group

Beeswax Wreck Project Team

The Beeswax Wreck Project is a non-profit research project: we do not sell "shares" in the project or seek investors (although tax-deductible donations are always welcome!). We are a group of researchers and local community members dedicated to identifying, locating, and if possible, recovering items from the wreck for display in public museums in the state of Oregon. The wreck is located on Oregon State Parks property, and all associated artifacts and pieces of wreckage are the property of the state of Oregon and may not (and will not) be collected without the proper permits from those state agencies. The Beeswax Wreck Project is not affiliated with Oregon State Parks or the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, but in compliance with state law and Parks policy both agencies are consulted and regularly updated on our research.

Project Research Staff

Scott S. Williams, M.A., is the project's Principal Investigator. Scott is an archaeologist with the Washington State Department of Transportation in Olympia, WA.

He will be overseeing the project from the permitting process, through each stage of the project.

Please feel free to contact Scott at 360-485-5350 or paleoindy@hotmail.com

Robert Neyland, Ph.D., is the co-Principal Investigator and brings his extensive worldwide maritime archaeology experience to the project.

Julie Schablitsky, Ph.D., is a co-Principal Investigator affiliated with the University of Oregon who works in historical archaeology, forensics, and genetic archaeology.

Her studies have included western mining towns, Chinese American communities, and the Donner Party, among others.

Richard W. Rogers is the Project Manager. He has been the one coordinating the efforts of the variety of specialists involved in the project. You can contact him at 808-222-6824 or plialoha@hula.net

Eb Giesecke has been the historian most focused on the Beeswax wreck at Nehalem Oregon.

He has been investigating the site since the mid 1950s, and it is much of his research that is driving this project.

Ed Von der Porten has been involved in a number of early Spanish shipwreck projects along the west coast. He will be leading the study of the porcelain and other Asian artifacts that come to light.

Rodrigue Levesque is a well-known multi-lingual historian. In addition to consulting on 17th century Manila Galleon shipwrecks he has authored 48 volumes on the History of Micronesia of which 20 have been published.

Consulting Research Staff

Curt Peterson, Ph.D, of Portland State University, is a geologist specializing in Northwest Coastal dune systems and the effects of tsunamis on coastal beaches.

Dr. Peterson is interested in the effect of the AD 1700 tsunami on Nehalem Spit and how it relates to the Beeswax Wreck.

Sheldon Breiner, Ph.D., is one of the pioneers of magnetometer research and development, and will be conducting the magnetometer survey for the remote sensing phase of the project.

Support Staff and Project Team Members

David Chaffee is a founding member of both Scientific Consultant Services Inc., and the Naga Research Group and is the non-profit's Liaison with the Beeswax Shipwreck Project.

Jack Hunter is a veteran maritime archaeologist from California with experience in Manila Galleon shipwrecks.

Frank Bohannon, owner and operator of the finest research vessel in our fleet. The "Cape Falcon" is a 52' ocean going work boat of the highest caliper. Frank can be contacted at fbbohannon@charter.net

Dave Wellman of D. Wellman Surveying out of Eugene, Oregon has contributed his services in aerial photography, 3D laser scanning, survey grade GPS and other survey techniques.

Carol Chaffee is a practicing attorney and provides legal and archival research for the project.

Don Buford joins the Beeswax team as a lifelong aficionado of Pacific Rim Cultural Studies as well as bringing important mechanical and equipment acquisition and operational skills.

Ty Grabowski brings experience as an underwater investigator with discoveries such as the 18th century French vessels in Canadian waters.

Jack W. Peters is an author, adventurer, GPS specialist, photographer and
SCUBA diver, Jack has been involved in the project since 2005.

He is a resident of Springfield, Oregon. jack@jackwpeters.com

Russell Cameron owner of OMG Multi-Media produces award winning national outdoor adventure programing out of Portland, Oregon in High-Definition format.

Russ has also long had a research interest in the wreck and has worked with Jack on several projects. We will look to him when the time comes to document the project through his video production expertise.

Donna Shefcheck is an Archaeologist with Scientific Consultant Services Inc. Donna has her B.A. from the University of Oregon and is interested in the history and archaeology of the region.

Jacqueline Marcotte is a graduate student at East Carolina University who has worked closely with the National Park Service in submerged site survey at Fort Vancouver, Washington. Jacqueline brings along her skills as a researcher and surveyor in the field of maritime archaeology.

Lewis Scott Raised in Neahakane, well versed on the story of the "Beeswax Wreck", and local history, Lewis is also a registered professional geologist and engineer.

Craig Andes A Garabaldi fisherman, Craig has been collecting information of the "Beeswax Wreck" for years, and brings his maritime skills to the
project.

Lise Zimmerman A volunteer at the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, Lise has been instrumental in coordinating public relations with the local community.

Jeff Groth is with Integrated Desktop Solutions, specializing if mapping software, which will allow layered overlays and flyover technology to our mapping challenges.

He is also a member of our dive team.

Jessica Lally is a graduate student at Central Washington University. She is doing her Master’s Thesis on ceramics associated with the wreck.

Bill Spurlock is an archaeological diver, has lead dive teams on numerous excavations of Manila Galleons throughout the Pacicic.

Jim Hickey is a resident of Manzanita who has been a great asset in local logistics.

Curtis Ebbesmeyer is an oceanographer who specialized in surface drift patterns. He has offered some insight into the local sea currents.

Eric Gower is a marine Biologist with the State of Washington. He is a valuable member of our dive team.

Trisha Drennan M.SC. is a Specialist Adviser on Under Sea Archaeology.

You can get involved as well!

The Beeswax Wreck Project Group is made up entirely of volunteers: archaeologists, historians, geologists, divers, curators, students, and community members. If you would like to be involved in the project, please contact Scott Williams at paleoindy@hotmail.com and let him know.