Famed archaeologist Robert Grenier, who discovered the San Juan in Labrador, dead at 88

Robert Grenier, an archaeologist known for pioneering underwater exploration, has died.

In the 1970s he led the discovery of the Basque whaling ship San Juan in Red Bay, Labrador, which had sunk in the area around 1565.

In a previous interview with the CBC Radio's The Broadcast, he said exploring the wreck was an exciting experience.

“I felt with my hands like a magician just opening up a picture of the 16th century in Red Bay,” he said at the time.

Born in Trois-Rivières, Que. in 1937, Grenier completed a master's degree in classics at Laval University and later joined Parks Canada. He would go on to become a pioneer in the nascent world of underwater archaeology.

According to his obituary, he died on Jan. 3 in Gatineau, Que. He was 88 years old.

Grenier said he first heard of the San Juan in 1974 after receiving a note from Selma Barkham who was doing archival research in Spain and believed the vessel had sunk somewhere in Red Bay's harbour.

It was several years before Grenier acted on the tip, as he was in the middle of researching the British ship the HMS Sapphire in Bay Bulls, N.L.

But in 1978 his team headed to Red Bay and found the wreck of the San Juan, after only a few days of searching.

"It was not the Titanic, and there was no DiCaprio and his girlfriend on it, no name on it. People have a strange idea of shipwrecks, especially of that period. The wreck was in 25, 30 feet of water. It was on the slope near the shoreline of Saddle Island in Red Bay,” said Grenier.

Grenier said the vessel was well-preserved due to the cold, icy water of the North, with ice also pushing it into the mud.

Red Bay town manager Keith Pike was 11 years old when the ship was found, and said he can remember Memorial University and Parks Canada officials “flooding” the community along with Grenier and his team.

“Not only did Robert do, you know, the … phenomenal work that he did here on that project, he was just a good person. He was a good human being, a kind person that treated everyone with respect,” said Pike.

The town held a moment of silence Tuesday night.