underwater archaeology

[tfohl]

I am interested in underwater archaeology, particularly as it pertains to precolumbian America. I would welcome comments and info on any activity in this area. Methods and technology are of special interest.

Tim Fohl
Carlisle, MA

 

[DandyDon]

Howdy!

Welcome to SB!! :happywave Put us in your computer's favorites and check in often. This is a great place to learn, compare, argue Look around our various forums - everything from New-To-Scuba to Instructors-Only.

don

 

[Diver0001]

Tim,

I'm no expert but a quick Google search turned up this website
http://archaeology.about.com/gi/dyn...ww.indiana.edu/~r317doc/dr/cenote/cenote.html

The website has the name of someone at the University of Indiana you might want to talk to. At least it's a start.

Good luck
R..

 

[charmygirl]

I am interested in underwater archaeology, particularly as it pertains to precolumbian America. I would welcome comments and info on any activity in this area. Methods and technology are of special interest.

Tim Fohl
Carlisle, MA

Wow, that is an interesting specialty. Good for you.

You are going to be so glad you found this board. I have been diving for 15 years, yet have learned so much in the short time I have been on SB.

Welcome to SB!

K

 

[archman]

Your best bet is to run a search of universities with nautical archaeology programs (there's very few in fact). From there, see what sorts of "digs" they have ongoing. Underwater archaeology is far more restrictive than the on-land type; as such there are very few field activities taking place throughout the world... like two orders of magnitude less.
Unless you're a professional, it'll be very hard to participate in ANY underwater archaeology. Spaces are highly limited and experience is almost always required. I don't mean to poo-poo you here, but this is the way these things go down. Having someone on the "inside" refer you is the single biggest plus, like most endeavors.
I would seek out any local programs, if there are any, and talk to a graduate student or faculty member. You never know, sometimes great opportunities are offered! Our own department at Texas A&M is first-rate, and they've used volunteers extensively in the past.

 

[tfohl]

Your best bet is to run a search of universities with nautical archaeology programs (there's very few in fact). From there, see what sorts of "digs" they have ongoing. Underwater archaeology is far more restrictive than the on-land type; as such there are very few field activities taking place throughout the world... like two orders of magnitude less.
Unless you're a professional, it'll be very hard to participate in ANY underwater archaeology. Spaces are highly limited and experience is almost always required. I don't mean to poo-poo you here, but this is the way these things go down. Having someone on the "inside" refer you is the single biggest plus, like most endeavors.
I would seek out any local programs, if there are any, and talk to a graduate student or faculty member. You never know, sometimes great opportunities are offered! Our own department at Texas A&M is first-rate, and they've used volunteers extensively in the past.

Thanks for the comments and I quite agree. However, the activity that I am contemplating is a little unusual. I have the hypothesis that the shallow streams, ponds and estuaries of eastern Massachusetts contain Indian artifacts. This is supported by massive retrievals of points (and perhaps other stuff) from the Sudbury River during low water. Although I am not an archaeologist, I am working with several archaeologists and representatives of federally recognized tribes on identifying and preserving ceremonial sites in this area.

I would like to develop methods of locating and surveying artifacts in these relatively unexplored locations. By artifacts I mean structures as well as such removable items as points and tools. My son took part in a salvage dig in and around a lake in Switzerland about 15 years ago so there is some history of such activity. I am aware of extensive deeper water work in the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the areas that I am contemplating are probably less than six meters deep. Hopefully some of the methods can be implemented by people who are not highly trained divers.

Any pointers on methods, equipment, techniques and previous work in this area would be appreciated.

Tim Fohl
978 369 5649

 

[Mako Mark]

I am aware of extensive deeper water work in the Gulf of Mexico.

You are right, there is plenty of deep wreck work going on out of Veracruz. I was involved a couple of years ago in teaching some of the students the extended range that they needed to dive there. I cant remember which university it was, but you could try UNAM or IT de Monterey.

 

[archman]

You'd be pleased to know that most underwater archaeology takes place in shallow water. You'd be less pleased to know that a lot of it is zero-vis type diving. For instance we had a civil war blockade runner being salvaged off of a muddy beach in Texas (<9 feet of water), and there's some 19th century paddlewheel steamer being recovered out of the Red River. The deeper water stuff just gets more media attention.

Being as you're already working with archaeologists, you already have your foot in the door. Those folks should at least have a crude idea about who to contact for local information. I KNOW there are nautical archaeology programs out of at least one school in the NE United States.

Most methodologies have to be tailored for each excavation, so you want trained people on-site to consult with at the very least. The state antiquities agency often requires this in fact. Those people should be the ones that recommend which protocols to use, not folks on the internet like me.

Underwater excavations in ponds and rivers can be quite hazardous, and that's a major component as to why highly trained divers are needed. It's not just that they should be trained (and PERMITTED) on the task at hand, but they must have the necessary skills and surface support to get out of potentially hairy situations (entanglement, silt-outs, snakes, sharp objects, etc.) that often arise in this sort of work. Some folks have likened it to "one step above golf ball diving".

You can GREATLY simplify matters by confining your interest to a single site that is amenable to diver excavations (rocky bottom, fairly clear, few obstructions). It saves a great deal of time on bureaucratic red tape too.

Also factor in the much greater amount of time underwater archaeology takes. Multiply the time required for a similar-sized terrestrial site a few times, and that's just diver bottom time. So a single small site can take a dedicated "weekend group" up to several months of straight work.

When in doubt and diving, keep it simple.

 

[DivingGal]

There are u/w archeology sites "sprinkled" all over the Internet. Each providing information from their neck of the woods. (I've got about 40 bookmarked, as it's an interest of mine)

The Nautical Archeological Society is a good organization to get training from. I received my training from the organization up here in Canada.

There are number of universities in the USA that also have courses on this subject

 

[desksgt]

Welcome to the Scuba Board!