The Maine Coast Book Shop, 158 Main Street, in Damariscotta is looking forward to hosting the Maine book launch for Warren Riess on Friday, Nov. 28 at 11 a.m.

The Walpole resident is a research associate professor of history, anthropology and marine sciences at the University of Maine.

During the past 35 years, he has focused on the maritime history and archaeology of the Americas. He has been widely published, including in the International Journals of Nautical Archaeology and the British Museum Encyclopedia of Maritime and Underwater Archaeology.

His underwater archaeological accomplishments have been the subject of a one-hour special for the Maine Public Broadcasting System and of articles in Archaeology Magazine, the New York Times and the Washington Post.

A former curator at the Mariners' Museum, he has also been a consulting curator for the Peabody Museum and the Smithsonian Institution, as well as consulting archaeology editor for National Geographic Magazine.

Riess presently serves as president of the North American Society for Oceanic History. In 2001, Riess published his first book, "Angel Gabriel: The Elusive English Galleon," presenting the fascinating history of and search for the remains of a 17th century ship built for Sir Walter Raleigh's last expedition to America in 1617, traveling across the Atlantic for 18 years and was wrecked by a hurricane at Pemaquid, Maine in 1635.

Riess is internationally known as co-director of the archaeological investigation of an 18th Century British merchant ship discovered below ground in 1982 during an otherwise typical building construction.

His just released book, "The Ship That Held Up Wall Street," is the story of the problematic excavation, in which Warren and his team were given only one month to unearth it, followed by decades of research and analysis. It is the only example of any ship ever found from the period.

The author will discuss the discovery and painstaking research and explain how and why the process took 30 years to complete. 

He lives in Walpole with his wife, artist Kathleen Galligan. Refreshments will be served and his books will be available for purchase and signing. The event is free and open to the public.