Michael Arbuthnot holds a Master's Degree in Anthropology from Florida State University where he specialized in underwater archaeology and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara where he studied Philosophy and Anthropology. Michael is a member active member in many professional organizations, including: the Registry of Professional Archaeologists (RPA); the Florida Archaeological Council (FAC); the Southeastern Archaeological Conference (SEAC); the Florida Anthropological Society (FAS); the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS); the Western Dredging Association (WEDA); and the St. Augustine Archaeological Association (SAAA). He is the author of many published articles and papers, and is considered an authority on the topic of submerged prehistoric sites. In June 2001, Michael was a featured expert on ABC's prime-time documentary, Voyage to Atlantis: The Lost Empire, (Brad Lochman Productions) that aired in conjunction
with the release of Disney's feature animation about Atlantis. Later that Summer, Michael appeared on Film Garden Entertainment's The Ultimate 10 Mysterious Places. He has been interviewed and featured in many publications both in the United States and abroad, as well as on various talk radio shows, including Coast-to-Coast and the BBC's Science in Action. In 1996, Michael founded Team Atlantis Productions and since then has traveled to exotic locations worldwide (Egypt, Japan, Yucatan, Bahamas, etc.) exploring archaeological enigmas. As a professional, Michael has worked on underwater archaeology projects in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and the Caribbean since 1997. He has surveyed, mapped, excavated, interpreted and analyzed artifacts, and
published reports on a variety of diverse archaeological sites. Michael has experience gathering and interpreting remote sensing data, assessing and evaluating sites, and has overseen numerous terrestrial and underwater projects and tasks.
The focus of Michael’s Thesis was paleo-environmental change and its impacts on archaeological sites in the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, he has particular understanding of the unique geological circumstances that produced the area’s offshore environment and influenced its geo-archaeological character. His research has been presented at many conferences, including the annual meeting of the Florida Anthropological Society, the Southeastern Archaeological Conference, and at Rutgers University. Additionally, the results of research he undertook in the Caribbean are now exhibited at the George Town Museum on Grand Cayman Island. He periodically works as an Adjunct Professor teaching Archaeology, Archaeology of the Incas, and Mesoamerican Civilizations at an accredited four-year, liberal arts college in Florida. Michael presently serves as Senior Archaeologist, Dive Supervisor, and Principal Investigator for underwater archaeological projects at a major cultural resource company in Florida.
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