Underwater archeology - Papers from 2015 to 2019
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13 - Underwater Photogrammetric Mapping of an Intact Standing Steel Wreck with ROV.
Authors: Stein M. Nornes, Martin Ludvigsen, Øyvind Ødegard, Asgeir J. Sørensen. This paper presents the results of an underwater photogrammetric survey of an intact standing steel wreck with high vertical profiles from the seabed at 60 meters depth. The survey was conducted in Trondheim Harbour in August 2014 using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) equipped with a stereo camera rig.
16 - Undersea drones: Explorations of the S.S. Tahoe (1896-1940).
Authors: John W. Foster & Denise Jaffke. In June 2016 the authors participated in an expedition by OpenROV to test their mini-Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in Lake Tahoe at extreme depth and to capture images of the S.S. Tahoe in her resting place at 350-475 feet beneath the surface. The project was carried out by a multi-disciplinary team, including an online community, using a vehicle modified for deeper dive operations. The mini- ROV (or drone) is emerging as a popular vehicle worldwide for underwater exploration.
35 - Royal Navy Wooden Shipwrecks Database  (V1.3  07 Jul 2018).
Author: Peter Holt Peter Holt Peter Holt spent 20 years with Sonardyne International Ltd. designing subsea navigation systems for the oil industry and military. Between 2010 and 2016 Peter directed the SHIPS Project, a wide ranging study of the maritime history of Plymouth funded by the US research foundation ProMare. Since 1989 Peter has worked on maritime archaeology projects. He was a visiting research fellow at Plymouth University from 2010 to 2016, supervising numerous MSc Hydrography projects each year. Peter is a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, a Member of the Hydrographic Society, a NAS Senior Tutor, he is the NAS south-west regional co- ordinator and is on the International Shipwreck Conference organising committee.
09 - SBSA 14. International Symposium on Boat and Ship Archaeology Baltic and beyond - 2015
Book of Abstracts of ISBSA 14. International Symposium on Boat and Ship Archaeology Baltic and beyond - Change and continuity in shipbuilding 21–25 September 2015 Symposium organizer: National Maritime Museum in Gdansk
11 - Technology and Empire: Comparing the Dutch and British Maritime Technologies during the Napoleonic Era (1792–1815)
Author: Ivor Mollema The two ships, Bato (1806) and Brunswick (1805) wrecked in Simons Bay, South Africa, provide an opportunity to compare British and Dutch maritime technologies during the Napoleonic Era (1792–1815). The former was a Dutch 74-gun ship of the line and the latter a British East Indiaman. Their remains reveal pertinent information about the maritime technologies available to each European power.
31 - Kieran Hosty & Dr James Hunter: HMAS Perth Project 2017, Sunda Strait, Republic of Indonesia.
This document relates a joint maritime archaeological project between the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney, Australia, and Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional, Jakarta Selatan 12510, Republik Indonesia.
05 - UNESCO: Underwater heritage of the world war one
Published in 2015 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France Authors: Innes McCartney, Selçuk Kolay, Augusto Salgado, Jorge Russo, Herni Legoherel, Akifumi Iwabuchi, Guido Demerre, Gino Deceuninck, Cynrik De Decker, Nathalie De Hauwere, Ine Demerre, Johan Devolder, Frank Janssens, Tomas Termote, Patrick Tiersoone, Sven Van Haelst, Marnix Pieters, John Gribble, Jonathan Sharfman, Robert Anthony Yorke, Michel L’Hour, James Delgado, Ole Varmer, Ulrike Guérin, Craig Forrest, Antony Firth, Mark Dunkley, Andrew Viduka, Michel Huet, Dirk Timmermans, Pierre Yves- Lepage, Garry Momber, Amanda Bowens, Franca Cibecchini, Olivia Hulot, Ingeborg , Svennevig, and Will Brouwers.
08 - Bridging the gap in maritime archaeology: Working with professional and public communities
Authors: Katy Bell, Andrea T. Hamel, Toby Gane, Mark Beattie Edwards, Peta Knott, Paola Palma, Jessica Berry, Kevin Stratford, Steve Brown, Robert Lenfert, A. Liddell, M. Skelhorn, Terence Newman, Peter B. Campbell, Peter B. Campbell, Derek M. Smith, Jeffrey G. Royal, Christopher T. Begley, Petra Zdravkovic, Derek Irwin. This volume came about as a result of a session run at the (then) IfA conference in Glasgow in 2014 by the Maritime Affairs Group. The focus of the conference was ‘research in practice’, in particular, the challenges that are posed to heritage professionals regarding value, quality, dissemination, and accessibility of the archaeological resource. In maritime archaeology, this can be a particular issue with the additional practical considerations of allowing access to what is often underwater or inaccessible.
01 - Protection and management of autralia’s second war underwater cultural heritage.
Author: Andrew Viduka Most, if not all, Australian states have limited human and financial resources to protect, document, or practically manage UCH on a day-by-day basis. Recognizing these constraints in Australia, early UCH management activities focused on developing community groups within each jurisdiction as one of a series of public engagement mechanisms to protect UCH sites. In many jurisdictions, successful site management and protection are directly related to local community groups’ active engagement and knowledge. Recognizing that facilitating safe public access is best practice in UCH management, a focus of management activity should be on fostering the development of community-based advocacy groups who become knowledgable ‘archaeologists’ capable of supporting heritage management agencies in their activities.
03 - Treasures of the deep
Authors: Bill Jeffery, K.Y. Chan, L.H. Li, P.K. Wong, B. Jeffery, S.M. Chow, W.C. Ho, S.M. Chan. With contributions from: P. Harrison, S. Heaver, D. Riach This book results from a project Recording and Documenting the Underwater Heritage of Hong Kong. It was implemented by a small group of Hong Kong residents (the authors) interested in revealing underwater cultural heritage sites and histories. It is the first time Hong Kong’s underwater cultural heritage has been written up in a manner that is aimed at informing the Hong Kong community.
14 - Australian historic shipwreck preservation project: Escavation & monitoring programme report.
Authors: Peter Veth, Vicki Richards, Cassandra Philippou, Jennifer Rodrigues, Mark Staniforth, Amer Khan, Andrew Viduka, Adele Zubrzycka, Peter Harvey, James Parkinson, Ian MacLeod, Debra Shefi, Anthony Barham and Dudley Creagh. Contributions by: Brad Duncan, Cosmos Coroneos, Michael Nash and Kevin Edwards. The Australian Historic Shipwreck Preservation Project (AHSPP) has focussed on the reburial and in-situ preservation of shipwrecks and colonial shipbuilding. In 2011 researchers identified a number of criteria that a research site should meet in addressing these topics, including 1. the shipwreck must be identified as ‘at-risk’; 2. the site should be logistically accessible; 3. the site has been extensively researched, monitored, and perhaps partially excavated previously; and 4. the current managing agency must support the AHSPP and have the capacity to carry out the long-term monitoring of the site.
28 - Project Samphire - Crowd sourcing maritime archaeology data off Scotland’s west coast.
Authors: John McCarthy and Jonathan Benjamin Project SAMPHIRE (the Scottish Atlantic Maritime Past: Heritage, Investigation, Research, and Education Project) was geographically focused on the west coast of the Scottish mainland and was undertaken between 2013 and 2015, resulting in a large number of new archaeological discoveries, including ship-wrecks, aircraft, and other material of a much more varied nature than what is typically found through large-scale hydrographic surveys.
30 - Submerged Second World War Sites in Chuuk, Guam, Pohnpei and Yap
Author: Bill Jeffery This chapter is primarily focused on the submerged WWII sites in Chuuk Lagoon (formerly Truk Lagoon), which represents the largest number of sites in Micronesia (in addition to those in Palau). Other significant sites in Micronesia including Pohnpei, Yap, and Guam are addressed briefly.
39 - Death by a Thousand Cuts: an archaeological assessment of souveniring and salvage on the Australian cruiser HMAS Perth.
Authors: Kieran Hosty, J& ames Hunter. In 2014, the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) received reports from recreational divers that the shipwreck site of HMAS Perth was being systematically salvaged by commercial divers. After extensive discussions with Indonesian government departments and agencies the ANMM led the first Australian/Indonesian remote sensing survey of Perth in December 2016. This was followed by an in-water survey in May 2017. These investigations revealed Perth has been devastated by systematic, large-scale unauthorized salvage.
06 - A fine wreck in shallow water: Investigation into, and concervation of, a heavily disturbed 18th century British west Indiaman, the soldier key wreck.
Author: Allen Donald Wilson A fine wreck in shallow water” is how W. A. Cockrell described the Soldier Key Wreck (8DA416, BISC-22) during the first professional survey of the site in September 1976. Since that time, three archaeology field schools and numerous looters have visited the site. Unfortunately, divers have displaced the ballast from atop the hull, removed many portable artifacts, and left the wreck exposed to storms and shipworms….
25 - Cultural Site Formation Processes Affecting Shipwrecks and Shipping Mishap Sites
Authors: JMartin Gibbs & Brad Duncan Most studies of maritime site formation processes have concentrated upon the various natural and, to a lesser extent, cultural processes physically impacting the remnants of the vessel (the shipwreck) and closely associated artifacts while ignoring wider influences that have resulted in the current archaeological record. This paper explores how cultural processes not only affect the transformation of a ship into a shipwreck site but also how continuing human interactions can produce other archaeological sites that are equally important for understanding the archaeology of shipwrecks.
38 - Maritime Archaeological and Historical Society - vol 29
Authors: Steven Anthony and James Smailes The Maritime Archaeological and Historical Society (MAHS) is organized for the purpose of enhancing public awareness and fostering appreciation for the significance of historic shipwrecks and other underwater cultural heritage. Our mission is to preserve our maritime heritage, and our members volunteer to participate in underwater archaeology expeditions around the world.
17 - New information from old timbers? A re-analysis of wreck LHL-81 from Osterby harbor, Laeso Denmark
Authors: Sarah Madden On March 20, 1980, a local fisherman discovered a wreck in Østerby Harbor on the island of Læsø, Denmark. Along with timbers from two separate shipwrecks, two cannons were also lifted from the harbor. Investigation showed that one set of timbers belonged to a fishing ship from the 1930s. However, the other timbers were far older, and there were no recollections in the collective town memory of an older ship having sunk there.
45 - Lost at sea: Utilizing photogrammetry to monitor two submerged f8f Bearcats.
Authors: Hunter Weatherly Whitehead Two F8F Bearcat wreck sites are discussed here, including the methods involved in aircraft investigation and the historical documents referenced for their identification. Utilizing photogrammetric modeling techniques, the author tests the applicability of photogrammetry as an in situ site- monitoring tool.
07 - Formation processes of ship sites in the Blackwater river Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa country, Florida
Author: William Joseph Wilson Nautical archaeologists emphasize the study of formation processes and understanding the natural environments of the sites they are studying. Most notably, this approach has been used to understand the spatial relationships and presence or absence of artifacts (Muckelroy 1977). Although very useful for the interpretation of wreck sites, this approach leads to a focus on the end-product attributes of site formation rather than the processes, thus acting as mere descriptions of formation processes for use as explanatory devices (Ward et al. 1999:561).
43 - Shipwrecked in situ: Saving the sunken past or scapegoat archeology ?
Authors: Sean A Kingsley Under the banner of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, current management embraces the in situ preservation of wrecks as optimum practice. This article addresses what the UNESCO protocol intends, highlights inconsistencies and suggests the concept of in situ preservation needs to evolve to maintain relevance.
29 - Second campaign of excavation on the Saintes Bay Wreck, Guadeloupe
Authors: Jean-Sébasien Guibert, Franck Bigot, Magali Lachèvre, Jean- Jacques Maréchal, Marine Sadania, Noémie Tomadini, Magali Veyrat In 2015, an initial archaeological campaign tentatively identified the Saintes Bay Wreck as the Anémone, a French schooner built in 1823 in Bayonne. The Anémone was used as a customs ship in Guadeloupe before it was lost in Saintes Bay in September 1824 during a hurricane (Guibert 2013). The authors returned in July 2016 as part of the French West Indies University research program. Our goal was to gain a thorough understanding of the site in hope of confirming the wreck’s identity.
36 - Ship, Navire, Navío, Nave, Buque: Creating a Multi-Language Glossary for Early Modern Ships
Authors: Marijo Gauthier-Bérubé For the past ten years, a group of international scholars has been working on a multi-language glossary for early modern Iberian ships, a preliminary version of which was recently published on the Academia website. The project was conducted under Dr. Filipe Castro's supervision of the J. Richard Steffy Ship Reconstruction laboratory at Texas A&M University originated from the Nautical Archaeology Digital Library (NADL) Project 1. A multilingual glossary was a central tool in the NADL that allowed the collection and interpretation of archaeological data stored in different formats.
21 - Vladimir Cherniavsky – a pioneer of marine biology and underwater archeology of the Black Sea, the first scientist of Ab khazi
Authors: Shadrin N. V. This essay gives brief preliminary overview of his contribution in marine biology and underwater archeology of the Black Sea, study of nature and people of Abkhazia in the 19th century.
23 - Prospects for using sonar for underwater archeology on the Yenisei: surveying a 19th century shipwreck
Authors: A E Goncharov, D M Mednikov, N M Karelin, I R Nasyrov Current progress in underwater archeology is based on a rich arsenal of high-tech appliances, among which sonar technology plays a key role; it enables scientists not only to detect submerged archeological objects, but to examine them in high definition without having to conduct diving operations or use expensive underwater unmanned vehicles.
44 - Model Code of Practice for Safe Diving Operations
Publisher: UNESCO This model code of practice has been drafted by the UNESCO UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology, following on from the Network’s annual meeting in 2016 at UNESCO in Paris. The Network identified a lack of consistent practices and a need for common language related to scientific archaeological diving by its members as a way to reduce barriers to international partnerships working. This document is non-prescriptive, and its use is voluntary. It does not supersede any national, local or institutional policy related to scientific archaeological diving.
12 - Target definition for shipwreck hunting
Author: Kim Kisner This article defines the long and complex research implemented to find the locations of two World War II shipwrecks: The German raider Kormoran and the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney.
37 - Rebreather fundamentals
Publisher: Avon Protection Rebreathers are increasingly used by sportive divers involved in archeological campaigns. For this reason, it is essential to provide guidelines allowing them to understand this type of equipment. It is the case of this paper that gives information on the fundamental properties that govern a rebreather design: 1. The resistive work of breathing (WOB) within the rebreather. 2. The hydrostatic WOB of the unit when submerged. 3. The absorbent duration. 4. The oxygen control dynamics.
33 - Wreck divers and the management of underwater cultural heritage.
Author: Joanne Lynette Edney The purpose of this research is to address gaps in the literature the behaviour, motivations, and attitudes of wreck divers, and to identify opportunities for better integration of divers and management of underwater cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific region.
34 - Detection and characterization of an archaeological wreck site in Sunda Strait, Indonesia.
Authors: Hendra Kurnia Febriawan, Omar Moefti, Dwi Haryanto, Taufan Wiguna Shipwreck sites worldwide highlight the importance of locating wrecks resulting from accidents. The shipwreck of MV Bahuga Jaya in the Sunda Strait, Indonesia, serves as an example of possible causes. Using a multibeam swath survey, the authors can accurately map the wreck's location by creating a detailed Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and backscatter images. Analyzing the slope of the bathymetry DEM and the texture of the backscatter imagery through morphometric and texture analysis, along with machine learning classification, enhances the detection and monitoring of shipwrecks.
27 - Prospects for using sonar for underwater archeology on the Yenisei: surveying a 19th century shipwreck
Authors: A E Goncharov, D M Mednikov, N M Karelin, I R Nasyrov The text aims to inform readers about the advancements and applications of sonar technology in underwater archaeology, specifically highlighting its use in detecting and examining submerged archaeological objects without the need for diving operations or expensive underwater vehicles. It also aims to draw attention to the underexplored potential of freshwater environments, particularly the Yenisei River in central Siberia, for archaeological discoveries. It uses the example of a 2016 expedition that located the wreck of the 19th-century British steam schooner Thames to illustrate these points..
42 - Corrosion and Conservation Management of the Submarine HMAS AE2 (1915) in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey
Author: Ian D. MacLeod This document reports on the condition and preservation efforts of the Australian First World War submarine HMAS AE2, which is located in the Sea of Marmara. It describes the environmental conditions at the wreck site, including salinity and oxygen levels, the state of the vessel's concretion and silt coverage, and the results of various analyses and experiments conducted to understand the impact of the environment on the submarine. Additionally, it outlines the conservation measures taken, such as the use of zinc anodes, to preserve the historic submarine in situ.
02 - Archeological Assessment and Inventory of the English China Wreck (BISC-2, 8Da9996) - 2010 and 2011 field seasons, BISC Accession Number 283
Authors: Charles Lawson, Dr. Stephen Lubkemann, Justine Benanty, John Bright, Daniel M. Brown, Joshua Marano, Sean H. Reid, Madeline Roth, & Tara Van Niekerk This document is a detailed report on the archeological activities, findings, and challenges associated with the English China Wreck site (BISC-2) in Biscayne National Park (Florida, USA). It documents the historical significance of the site, the ongoing issues with looting, and the measures taken by the National Park Service (NPS) to protect and preserve the site. It also outlines the research conducted, the results obtained, and the future plans for the site, including the decision to bury it to prevent further damage.
20 - Arrêté du 21 avril 2016 définissant les procédures d'accès, de séjour et de secours des activités hyperbares exécutées avec immersion dans le cadrede la mention B « archéologie sous- marine et subaquatique »
The French law "Arrêté du 21 Avril 2016" is designed to regulate the procedures for hyperbaric activities within the context of underwater and subaquatic archaeology. Its purpose is to ensure such activities' safety and proper management, providing a legal framework that addresses the unique challenges and risks associated with underwater archaeological work. This document is published only in French.
24 - Full-face Masks for Diving Applications: An Overview
Author: Giorgio Caramanna, Jouni Leinikki This presentation intends to inform the reader about full- face masks used in diving. It explains the benefits, features, and applications of these masks, such as enhanced protection, thermal insulation, and communication capabilities. It also highlights the importance of proper training and knowledge for safe use and mentions the availability of different models.
04 - Rebreathers and Scientific Diving - Workshop Proceedings
Authors: National Park Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Divers Alert Network, American Academy of Underwater Science The Rebreathers and Scientific Diving workshop aimed to improve communication between agencies and create a template for the scientific diving community. It included 18 hours of sessions over three days with additional interaction time. The recommendations were for the scientific diving community and may not suit every situation. Therefore, institutions have the final say on user authorization and equipment. The discussed issues are significant but not exhaustive, and the guidelines should be seen as ongoing, requiring regular review.
10 - Target definition for shipwreck hunting.
Author: Kim Kirsner The article discusses the research on locating two World War II shipwrecks: the German raider Kormoran and the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney. It outlines the process from inefficient predictions to accurate locations based on survivor reports, with the Kormoran's wreck found just 2. 7 NM from its predicted position. It highlights cognitive analysis and the challenges in distinguishing expertise during the search for these wrecks. A key question addresses the model of expertise and the complexities of trans-disciplinary research.
19 - In-situ Corrosion Measurements of WWII Shipwrecks in Chuuk Lagoon, Quantification of Decay Mechanisms and Rates of Deterioration.
Author: Ian D. MacLeod This paper discusses measurements taken on WWII shipwrecks from Operation Hailstone in February 1944, which affected the Japanese merchant fleet in Chuuk lagoon. Over 65 shipwrecks and 250 aircraft were lost. The study examines corrosion rates affected by water depth, wreck topography, oxygen levels, temperature, and salinity.
22 - Enhanced Decision Making through Probabilistic Shipwreck Risk Assessment: Focusing on the Situation in Greece.
Authors: Nikolaos P. Ventikos, Konstantinos Louzis, Alexandros Koimtzoglou and Pantelis Delikanidis The potential leakage of oil from shipwrecks is a rising concern due to environmental risks and uncertainties. High costs of preventing or responding to oil spills require risk analysis to identify and prioritize the most dangerous situations. This study aims to present a probabilistic risk assessment method that accounts for uncertainties, especially the corrosion of the shipwreck's steel structure over time. The focus is on Greece, where numerous islands make oil spill responses difficult and costly, potentially harming local economies.
41 - Deep-Sea Biofilms, Historic Shipwreck Preservation and the Deepwater Horizon Spill.
Author: Rachel L. Mugge, Melissa L. Brock, Jennifer L. Salerno, Melanie Damour, Robert A. Church, Jason S. Lee, and Leila J. Hamdan Exposure to oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill may harm the preservation of historic shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. Shipwrecks act as artificial reefs, supporting marine life. Oil spills can disrupt the biofilms on these wrecks, which help protect against corrosion. To study this, carbon steel disks were placed at various shipwreck sites, and biofilms were analyzed. Results showed that impacted sites had less diverse biofilm communities and higher metal loss, indicating that spill residues may harm these underwater structures.
15 - Underwater Photogrammetry and Object Modeling: A Case Study of Xlendi Wreck in Maltak
Authors: Pierre Drap, Djamal Merad, Bilal Hijazi, Lamia Gaoua, Mohamad Motasem Nawaf, Mauro Saccone, Bertrand Chemisky, Julien Seinturier, Jean-Christophe Sourisseau, Timmy Gambin, and Filipe Castro This paper presents a photogrammetry-based approach for deep-sea underwater surveys using a submarine to obtain images covering a selected site, get a low-resolution 3D model in real-time, and produce a high-resolution model in the laboratory. The research also focuses on extracting known artefacts on the site using systematic reasoning.
18 - Manuel des procedures de securite en milieu hyperbare applicables aux activitees placees sous le controle du DRASSM
Authors: Michel L’Hour The French Department of Underwater and Submarine Archaeological Research (Drassm) has been subject to various decrees and regulations related to health and safety at work, medical prevention, and the protection of pregnant or breastfeeding workers. These decrees have been amended by various decrees, resulting in the creation of this new manual.
26 - Shallow Off-Shore Archaeological Prospection with 3-D Electrical Resistivity Tomography: The Case of Olous (Modern Elounda), Greece
Authors: Kleanthis Simyrdanis, Nikos Papadopoulos, and Gianluca Cantoro This study investigates the use of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in mapping onshore buried archaeological remains in the Hellenistic to Byzantine submerged archaeological site of Olous, Greece. The authors conclude that despite its limited application in shallow marine environments, ERT provides a robust method for mapping ancient built structures and vertical stratigraphy.
32 - Thematic wreck diving - A premilinary study of underwater tours at the area of southern pelion and northern evia, greece
Author: Kimon Papadimitriou, Nikolaos Sidiropoulos, Stavros Tsioumas, Anastasios Ktistis, Panagiotis Tokmakidis This presentation focuses on identifying and categorizing shipwrecks in the maritime area between southern Pelion and northern Euboea. The authors combined data from the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) with information from other sources to analyze the location, chronology, and causes of shipwrecks in the area, contributing to the understanding of maritime history in the region. They suggest that each wreck site can be used as a criterion for thematic underwater tours to enhance the potential for tourism and educational activities centered around these historical sites.
40 - Archeology: Just add water
Author: Bartosz Kontny, Maegorzata Mileszczyk, and Macdalena Nowakowska In August 2020, an interdisciplinary survey of twelve wrecks was conducted as part of the project Underwater Ethnoarchaeology of the Lower Oder. Hydrographers from the Maritime University of Szczecin and an ethnologist from the University of Szczecin collaborated to study underwater objects based on magnetic anomaly maps. The survey provided new datasets and previously unknown bottom objects, contributing to a better understanding of underwater cultural heritage resources.