The long-awaited, new and improved second edition of Beneath the Inland Seas: Michigan's Underwater Archaeological Heritage, edited by State Archaeologist John R. Halsey and State Maritime Archaeologist Wayne R. Lusardi, is now available.

"Forty percent of Michigan's territory lies under the Great Lakes. Under that water are some of the best-preserved shipwrecks in the world," says State Archaeologist John Halsey, who has been involved with Michigan's underwater archaeology for the past three decades. "There are no blue prints, no plans, no models available for many of these ships for us to study. A lot of our state's maritime history sits at the bottom of our lakes, just waiting to be explored and analyzed."

In addition to historical background material, this 112-page volume provides information on new discoveries, new ideas and new facilities regarding underwater archaeology over the last twenty years.

A major addition are vignettes of 19 shipwrecks, including at least one from each of 11 Michigan bottomland preserves--the areas where there are the greatest concentration of shipwrecks and are protected by the state--written by the archaeologists, historians and sport divers who know them best.

Beneath the Inland Seas will be unveiled at the Thunder Bay Maritime Festival at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena on July 4th. Copies can be purchased at the festival for $19.95. Call (800) 366-3703 to purchase a copy and have it shipped.

Beneath the Inland Seas was produced by Michigan History magazine. Michigan History is published by the Michigan Historical Center, part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy, the department also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).