Brendan Foley

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

367

H-Index

About

Brendan Foley is a pioneering figure in deep-water archaeology, merging marine robotics with historical inquiry to explore humanity’s submerged past. His key research areas include autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology, deep-sea survey methodology, and the archaeology of ancient shipwrecks. Foley’s major contributions center on demonstrating that robots can conduct precise, non-invasive archaeological surveys at depths far beyond the reach of SCUBA divers. His most-cited work, “Robotic tools for deep water archaeology: Surveying an ancient shipwreck with an autonomous underwater vehicle” (2010, 244 citations), details the landmark 2005 Chios survey—an international collaboration that successfully mapped an ancient wreck using AUVs, proving the viability of robotic archaeology. Earlier foundational papers, such as “The discovery of ancient history in the deep sea using advanced deep submergence technology” (2000, 91 citations) and “Precision Survey and Archaeological Methodology in Deep Water” (2002, 32 citations), helped establish the field by adapting marine science tools for social science research. Foley’s work has fundamentally expanded the boundaries of maritime archaeology, enabling the study of sites once considered inaccessible and opening new frontiers in the exploration of our shared cultural heritage.