1. Underwater Archaeology
Part II
Recovery of Submerged Sites

3. History beneath the waves…

4. …and sometimes above the waves.

5. According to legend, Alexander the Great was the first to go underwater to view and salvage shipwrecks.
Depicted here in a medieval illuminated manuscript.

6. Not all underwater sites are shipwrecks
Scientific underwater archaeology
1961 George Bass at Cape Gelidonia
History of underwater archaeology
roots in treasure hunting
(bastard child of archaeology)
1959 Robert Marx, Mel fisher, Bobby Tucker, etc...

7. Submerged sites Inundated terrestrial Maritime Nautical
coastal sites, cenotes, rivers, lakes…
Maritime
Harbors, ports
towns
Nautical
shipwrecks

9. Irish crannog

10. Mayan site. Cenote of sacred water, Yucatan.
Dos Ojos.

11. 19th century salvage technology

12. Modern approach not much different.

13. Maritime history
For many there is a romantic conception of maritime history.
Romance of the sea often interferes with efforts to conduct scientific research.
Admiralty Law
principle of finders/keepers
Shipwreck Law 1989

14. Management of submerged cultural resources
Jurisdiction
In California
State Lands Commission
State Parks
NOAA
Management of submerged cultural resources

16. Ships represent the most sophisticated expression and greatest integration of a society’s technology
Focus on maritime technology
Evolution of ship building
Reconstructing trade routes and interactions between cultures

18. Insights into Social relationships Marginalized communities Ethnicity
Labor relations
Maritime communities
Globalization
Vectors of trade, ideas, disease

19. Scientific Study Underwater
new methods devised
modification of terrestrial methods to underwater sites
provenience control
stereo-mapping
Recovery practices

21. Major problems Conservation Preservation Expense Dangers
Skills of excavators
Pool training

23. Shipwrecks
In the New World all shipwrecks come under the umbrella of historical archaeology
Focus: exploration history, nautical technology, ship design, local histories, famous voyages
New slant: Diaspora, trade

24. Scientific techniques
Recovery of organic materials
Stereo mapping
in-situ recording
Recovery
Standard
Saturation diving
Platform diving
Coffer dam

25. Key questions from Chapter 24
What US laws govern archaeology and salvage work?
What kinds of information can we expect to recover from careful excavation of underwater sites?
How are the ethics for underwater archaeology different from those of land-based archaeology?

26. Shipwreck Simulations Task I
Documentary Search
What can we learn before going underwater?

27. stop

28. Using historical primary source material as preparation for fieldwork.

29. Background
Most archaeological research about shipwrecks takes place in the library or the archives.
In this assignment you will examine documents related to a wreck with the intent of understanding the vessel, its role, and the wrecking event.
The vessel in question has never been found.

30. Procedures
Mine the various documents for data about the wreck and the event.
Data may include any factors relevant to locating the vessel, the fate of crew, cargo, possible sources for more information.

31. Sort What data allows you to reconstruct events?
What reveals potential sources for more information?
Describe at least three steps you would take next before planning an expedition.