The 1704 Wreck of the Henrietta Marie: Slave Ship Archaeology

The Atlantic Slave Trade: Empire Built on Human Suffering — Fexingo History · May 31, 2026 · 10m · transcript

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the story of the Henrietta Marie, a slave ship that sank off the Florida Keys in 1704 after delivering its human cargo to Jamaica. Discovered in 1972 by treasure hunters, the wreck became one of the most important underwater archaeological sites for understanding the slave trade. Lucas walks us through the ship's history: built in London, it made multiple voyages to West Africa and the Caribbean, carrying iron bars, beads, and copper manillas to trade for enslaved people. We explore the artifacts recovered—shackles, pewter spoons, a Dutch gin…