As an archaeologist, how do you view compromise?
First, let me make a clarification - A lot of what we are talking about are metal wrecks (of one form or another) with substantial remains. Not including the Great Lakes or other cold fresh water environments, most historic wrecks are almost completely buried. The wrecks I am mostly interested in are wooden hulled ships that don't last long in an oxygen environment. They become more protected once they are sealed off. Remember the 1685 wreck I talked about - 1.5 million artifacts with 1/3 of the hull which were all recovered.
OK, the compromise - Here in Texas we have included the dive community by training several to become archaeological stewards. There are 6-7 people, each with a particular area along the Texas coast that are called into service when needed. So, if someone reports a shipwreck, the state marine archaeologist will notify the appropriate person for that area and that person will organize a small team to go investigate and report back.
No, their expenses are not covered. The state just does not have the money.
They are not authorized to remove anything however. Again, if they start digging into the remains and open up the 'time capsule,' deterioration will start again jeopardizing what remains are there. These teams will do a preliminary survey, sometimes with the state marine archaeologist and sometimes without. They will take whatever photos they can and then report back their findings.
If appropriate, the state marine archaeologist will then go visit the site with the same team member and other archaeologists to investigate further and possibly remove artifacts (Yes, I know the site is now open) for diagnostic analysis. The site will also be reburied if no further action is required. The artifacts removed will have their provenance recorded as well as be completely conserved for future study.
Also, I do and will continue to work with and for Private organizations to help survey, excavate and conserve shipwreck remains. There will always be private groups doing this kind of work and I would like to be there to give whatever advice I can. And, we do use a lot of divers (wreck divers, tech divers and recreational divers) depending on the site and conditions. If a private group wants to do all the work, there has to be a plan to conserve and protect everything that is removed. I think to many times people just pull stuff without any kind of real plan.
I teach underwater archaeological workshops as a agency (SSI/ NAUI) specialty course in central Texas. I provide divers with avenues to volunteer. I educate them on the need for keeping a shipwreck site intact. I teach about provenance which to me is extremely important.
I don't want anyone to be afraid of reporting a shipwreck. I just want to make sure everyone know the seriousness of removing artifacts and I feel that many simply take things because they want it without knowing the implications.
Lastly, back to your art analogy. You said it was the same if someone sold a painting vs someone who filed an admiralty claim. That is not what I was talking about. If you file a claim and are awarded the claim in court, then by all mean, do what you do. My comment was related more toward shipwrecks that are unknown and no claim made....
Layne
