Brenna Thornley is a Maritime Archaeologist, Researcher, and Licensed USCG Captain with a background in both professional maritime operations and underwater cultural heritage.
Brenna holds a Master of Arts in Global Maritime Archaeology from the University of Malta. Her research combines archaeological fieldwork, archival investigation, ethnographic study, digital documentation, and photography to examine maritime cultural landscapes and the relationships between coastal communities and the sea.
Her primary research interests include maritime cultural landscapes, maritime memorialization, coastal communities, maritime folklore, and digital documentation. Her master's research explored the memorialization of foreign seafarers and the intersection between maritime heritage, memory, and ritual within coastal communities.
Her field experience includes archaeological projects in the Mediterranean, including excavation, underwater surveys, photogrammetry, and the documentation of submerged cultural heritage. Prior to archaeology, she worked professionally aboard private and commercial vessels in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Northwest.
This website serves as a portfolio of her research, archaeological fieldwork, photography, publications, and podcast appearances, documenting ongoing projects and professional work in various aspects of the maritime field.