ARCHAEOLOGY UNDERWATER FIELD SCHOOL > Staff

Fernando Contreras Rodrigo. (Lleida, 1967). Director of the excavations at Sanitja and of the Ecomuseum de Cap de Cavalleria since 1997. President of the association “Sa Nitja. Gestión del Patrimonio Mediterráneo” founded in 1993. He obtained the Prize Fundació “la Caixa” in 1992: “Revalorització Ciutats Romanes de Catalunya i Illes Balears”. FPI U.A.B. Internship 1991-95. His research fields are: Romanization in Minorca; Archaeological software; Cultural management; Museum development for the heritage of Sanitja and the Cap de Cavalleria. Director of the excavations in Mago (Pla Mirall, 2000-2002), Iamo (Correos, 1999), and Sanisera (Prospection 1993-1995, Excavation 1996-1998). His projects involving Minorca’s cultural heritage include: Defense Tower in Fornells (CIM – 1996), Ecomuseum de Cap de Cavalleria (Leader II – 1997), Cavalleria Lighthouse (Futures – 1998).

Rex Benedict Bangerter (Suffolk, 1977). Co-director of the underwater archaeology season at Sanitja. BA Archaeology, specializing in Mesoamerican Archaeology (Institute of Archaeology and Classical Civilization, UCL, London) and MA Maritime Archaeology (University of Southampton). Commercial Diver and Licensed Archaeological Director (DoELG, Ireland) undertaking both terrestrial and underwater projects within the commercial sector. Specialist in underwater survey, excavation, and post-excavation recording of submerged archaeological material. Accomplished archaeological illustrator, specializing in the recording of ships' timbers. Recent underwater excavations include: a Cromwellian shipwreck at Duncannon Bar (Waterford Estuary), a prehistoric Crannóg at Lough Scur (Co. Leitrim), and a sixteenth century wreck in the Thames Estuary (Princess Channel wreck).

Jens Auer. (Aachen, Germany, 1975). Co-director of underwater archaeology at Sanitja. MA in Archaeology (University of Greifswald). Commercial diver and Senior Project Officer with an archaeological diving unit in the United Kingdom. Tutor for the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS). Specialises in 16th to 18th Century shipbuilding and timber recording as well as underwater surveys and excavations. Directed several underwater surveys and excavations in Germany as well as the United Kingdom, including the Mynden, an 18th Century Danish Frigate, the Ahrenshoop wreck, a 19th Century English merchant brig and the Princes Channel Wreck, a 16th Century merchant vessel.

Frank Mallon (Armagh, Ireland, 1975). Co-director of underwater archaeology at Sanitja. BA in Archaeology (Queen's University of Belfast). Previously worked as a commercial diver and commercial dive supervisor then Senior Project Officer with an archaeological diving unit in the United Kingdom. Currently senior archaeologist with a large archaeological consultancy firm in Ireland, responsible for all maritime archaeological fieldwork. Specialises in 19th and early 20th century shipbuilding as well as underwater surveys and excavations. Directed several underwater surveys and excavations in United Kingdom, including the early submarines Resurgam, Holland V, and A1. Assisted in the underwater excavation of a medieval merchant vessel in the River Boyne, Ireland and the and the Princes Channel Wreck, a 16th Century merchant vessel in the River Thames.

Lana Johnson. (Red Bluff, California, USA, 1980). Secretary of the association “Sa Nitja. Gestión del Patrimonio Mediterráneo” and of the Ecomuseum de Cap de Cavalleria. B.A. in psychology (highest honors), University of California Santa Cruz, 2004. Assistant to the theory lectures and Archaeology practice and translator in the ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD SCHOOL. Course coordinator and student counselor.