Dr. Ruud Stelten

Ruud Stelten is a maritime archaeologist. Born in the Netherlands in 1986, Ruud obtained bachelors and masters degrees in archaeology from Leiden University in 2009 and 2010, focusing on maritime archaeology in the Dutch Caribbean. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2019, focusing on the maritime cultural landscape of St. Eustatius.

For the past fourteen years, Ruud has directed numerous terrestrial and marine archaeological projects throughout the Caribbean and Indian Ocean. His research is published in a number of books and peer-reviewed journals and featured in several National Geographic documentaries. He is currently an associate lecturer at Flinders University in Australia.

Ruud is also the founder and director of The Shipwreck Survey, an organization dedicated to teaching underwater archaeology to students and enthusiasts. This is achieved by organizing hands-on research and expeditions to shipwreck sites all over the world.

• 2024 Mishaps in the Land van Eendracht: Exploring the cause of Zuytdorp’s wrecking. International Journal of Maritime Archaeology. DOI: 10.1007/s11457-024-09424-4
• 2023 The Caribbean’s Mythical Aves Bank. International Journal of Cartography. DOI: 10.1080/23729333.2022.2154137
• 2022 Life at the Salty Edge of Empire: The maritime cultural landscape at the ‘orange’ salt pan on Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean, 1821-1960. International Journal of Historical Archaeology.
• 2021 Alexander Hamilton’s missing years: New discoveries and insights into the Little Lion’s Caribbean childhood. Journal of the American Revolution 2021, Annual Volume.
• 2020 Het onzichtbare verleden van St. Eustatius. Tijdschrift voor Historische Geografie, Vol. 5, Issue 3., pp. 197-206.
• 2019 From Golden Rock to Historic Gem: A historical archaeological analysis of the maritime cultural landscape of St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean. Sidestone Press.