Underwater Archaeology Part II Recovery of Submerged Sites

Underwater ArchaeologyUnderwater Archaeology

Part IIPart IIRecovery of Submerged Sites Recovery of Submerged Sites

History beneath the waves…

…and sometimes above the waves.

According to legend, Alexander the Great was the first to go underwater to view and salvage shipwrecks.

Depicted here in a medieval illuminated manuscript.

Not all underwater sites are Not all underwater sites are shipwrecksshipwrecks

Scientific underwater archaeologyScientific underwater archaeology– 1961 George Bass at Cape Gelidonia1961 George Bass at Cape Gelidonia

History of underwater archaeologyHistory of underwater archaeology– roots in treasure huntingroots in treasure hunting(bastard child of archaeology)(bastard child of archaeology)– 1959 Robert Marx, Mel fisher, Bobby 1959 Robert Marx, Mel fisher, Bobby

Tucker, etc...Tucker, etc...

Submerged sitesSubmerged sites

Inundated Inundated terrestrialterrestrial– coastal sites, coastal sites,

cenotes, rivers, cenotes, rivers, lakes…lakes…

Maritime Maritime – Harbors, portsHarbors, ports– townstowns

NauticalNautical– shipwrecksshipwrecks

Irish crannog

Mayan site. Cenote of sacred water, Yucatan.

Dos Ojos.

19th century salvage technology

Modern approach not much different.

Maritime historyMaritime history

For many there is a romantic For many there is a romantic conception of maritime history.conception of maritime history.

Romance of the sea often interferes Romance of the sea often interferes with efforts to conduct scientific with efforts to conduct scientific research.research.

Admiralty LawAdmiralty Law– principle of finders/keepersprinciple of finders/keepers

Shipwreck Law 1989Shipwreck Law 1989

JurisdictionJurisdiction In CaliforniaIn California

– State Lands CommissionState Lands Commission State ParksState Parks

– NOAANOAA

Management of submerged Management of submerged cultural resourcescultural resources

Ships represent the most Ships represent the most sophisticated expression and sophisticated expression and

greatest integration of greatest integration of a society’s technology a society’s technology

Focus on maritime technologyFocus on maritime technology Evolution of ship buildingEvolution of ship building Reconstructing trade routes and Reconstructing trade routes and

interactions between culturesinteractions between cultures

Insights into Insights into

Social relationshipsSocial relationships Marginalized communitiesMarginalized communities EthnicityEthnicity Labor relationsLabor relations Maritime communitiesMaritime communities GlobalizationGlobalization Vectors of trade, ideas, diseaseVectors of trade, ideas, disease

Scientific Study Scientific Study UnderwaterUnderwater

new methods devisednew methods devised modification of terrestrial methods modification of terrestrial methods

to underwater sitesto underwater sites provenience controlprovenience control stereo-mappingstereo-mapping Recovery practicesRecovery practices

Major problemsMajor problems

ConservationConservation PreservationPreservation ExpenseExpense DangersDangers Skills of Skills of

excavatorsexcavators

Pool training

ShipwrecksShipwrecks

In the New World all shipwrecks In the New World all shipwrecks come under the umbrella of come under the umbrella of historical archaeologyhistorical archaeology

Focus: exploration history, nautical Focus: exploration history, nautical technology, ship design, local technology, ship design, local histories, famous voyageshistories, famous voyages

New slant: Diaspora, trade New slant: Diaspora, trade

Scientific techniquesScientific techniques

Recovery of organic materialsRecovery of organic materials Stereo mappingStereo mapping in-situin-situ recording recording RecoveryRecovery

– StandardStandard– Saturation divingSaturation diving– Platform divingPlatform diving– Coffer damCoffer dam

Key questions from Chapter 24Key questions from Chapter 24

What US laws govern archaeology What US laws govern archaeology and salvage work?and salvage work?

What kinds of information can we What kinds of information can we expect to recover from careful expect to recover from careful excavation of underwater sites?excavation of underwater sites?

How are the ethics for underwater How are the ethics for underwater archaeology different from those of archaeology different from those of land-based archaeology?land-based archaeology?

Shipwreck Simulations Shipwreck Simulations Task ITask I

Documentary SearchDocumentary Search

What can we learn before What can we learn before going underwater?going underwater?

stopstop

Using historical primary source material as preparation for fieldwork.

BackgroundBackground

Most archaeological research about Most archaeological research about shipwrecks takes place in the library or shipwrecks takes place in the library or the archives.the archives.

In this assignment you will examine In this assignment you will examine documents related to a wreck with the documents related to a wreck with the intent of understanding the vessel, its intent of understanding the vessel, its role, and the wrecking event.role, and the wrecking event.

The vessel in question has never been The vessel in question has never been found.found.

ProceduresProcedures

Mine the various documents for Mine the various documents for data about the wreck and the data about the wreck and the event.event.

Data may include any factors Data may include any factors relevant to locating the vessel, the relevant to locating the vessel, the fate of crew, cargo, possible fate of crew, cargo, possible sources for more information. sources for more information.

SortSort

What data allows you to What data allows you to reconstruct events?reconstruct events?

What reveals potential sources for What reveals potential sources for more information?more information?

Describe at least three steps you Describe at least three steps you would take next before planning an would take next before planning an expedition.expedition.