At the Alwyn Allison Primary School in West End on September 3rd, nearly 40 4th, 5th, and 6th graders learned about Anguilla’s shipwrecks and maritime heritage. As a marine archaeologist, I was invited to the school and share information about the latest shipwreck discoveries off Anguilla. It was a fantastic learning experience for everyone.

Muslims in celebration at Mosque in Anguilla

I learned how Anguilla’s maritime culture is alive and strong with the island’s youngest generation and they reacted to information about the island’s heritage with ideas to develop the sites and bring visitors to dive the sites.
Roots inspire children to live to their fullest potential. Knowing where you come from and being proud of your ancestors can teach children to reach high and believe that anything is possible. History and archaeology are not only about learning about the past but also about being inspired for the future.

In 2008, when I interviewed a group of Anguilla Youth Ambassadors they responded with “Wow, we have that?” when they learned about Anguilla’s wrecks. Anguilla has so much to offer locals and visitors alike. As a researcher I am fascinated by Anguilla’s maritime traditions. Where else will you find a group of children who not only know how to fish, but whose families build and race sailing boats?
These lectures are part of my PhD research to build local awareness about heritage and are sponsored by the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society (AAHS). In addition to this discussion, Don Mitchell from the AAHS and I have had the pleasure of speaking to groups of young people at the Blowing Point Youth Development Centre and the Kids Connect Summer Camp in August. The experiences were truly inspiring and will hopefully mark the beginning of an outreach program where the AAHS and I can share information on Anguilla’s unique maritime heritage with the island’s youngest generation.

About the author- Lillian Azevedo is a Maritime Archaeologist from the University of Southampton currently writing her PhD thesis on the Underwater Cultural Heritage of Anguilla. She is documenting the resource and investigating methods how that heritage can be sustainably used to benefit Anguilla. Her research is sponsored by Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society. If you would like to reach her or learn more about her work and the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society, please contact AAHS at www.aahsanguilla.com or Lillian at maritimearcheology@gmail.com.

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