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William Wilson

Biography

William Wilson, maritime archaeologist, assists with UWF underwater investigations. Specializing in geophysical survey methods, he uses new technology to locate shipwrecks and inundated archaeological sites. He is currently helping to characterize the magnetic signatures of the Emanuel Point Shipwrecks, with the hopes of aiding in the discovery of similar vessels.
Prior to joining the Archaeology Institute, William worked in the cultural resource management industry, and conducted numerous archaeological investigations across the U.S., Caribbean, and West Africa. He is listed on the Register of Professional Archaeologist (RPA), and is trained in surface-supplied, hard-hat diving in addition to his SCUBA diving certifications. Over his career he has led numerous geophysical surveys and diver investigations, including the recent recovery of an 18th-century British vessel (HMB Savannah) from the Savannah River. 

Education

William Wilson holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Kennesaw State University, and completed his master's degree in anthropology at the University of West Florida in 2015.

Publications

Wilson, William J. and Gregory D. Cook 2025 Magnetic Detection of the Emanuel Point Shipwrecks, Pensacola, Florida, United States. Archaeological Prospection. https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1989.
Wilson, William J.* n.d. Examining the Use of Gradiometers in Maritime Archaeology. In Needle, Meet Haystack: the Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research, Amy A. Borgens and Hunter W. Whitehead, editors. The Society for Historical Archaeology, Germantown, MD.
Wilson, William J.*, Stephen R. James, Jr., and Gordon P. Watts 2021 Submerged Cultural Resources Survey and Diver Identification, Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP), Savannah, Georgia. Prepared for the USACE, Jacksonville District by Commonwealth Heritage Group, Inc., Pensacola, FL.
James, Stephen R., Jr., and William J. Wilson* 2016 CSS Georgia Archaeological Data Recovery and Mitigation for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP), Chatham County, Georgia and Jasper County, South Carolina. Prepared for the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Savannah District by Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Memphis, TN.