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| Underwater Archaeology (Image Source: National Marine Sanctuaries) |
Archaeological investigations typically conjure up images of large scale site excavations in jungles or deserts, but archaeology is a much more dynamic field than just excavating a site. Archaeology involves several stages, and there a variety of different types of archaeological investigation. A previous blog post discussed zooarchaeological investigations and today’s blog post will address maritime archaeology.
Maritime archaeology is the study of prehistoric and historic archaeological cultural groups as to how they interacted with marine environments (e.g. oceans, lakes, and rivers). Maritime archaeology involves archaeological, marine, historic, anthropological, geological, forensic, oceanic, and naval architectural investigative techniques. These are used to study a variety of artifacts, including but not limited to ships, crews, cargoes, ports, shoreline villages, etc. Maritime archaeology is also known as nautical or underwater archaeology, but these are too narrow in their investigative scope for what is required for maritime archaeology.
Maritime archaeology is a newer subfield of archaeology. It began informally in the early 1900s by the accidental discovery of a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea by sponge divers. The sites artifacts were salvaged but not systematically excavated. The field of maritime archaeology did not become a formally defined subfield until the 1960s when George F. Bass conducted the first scientific excavations at the Cape Gelidonya Wreck.
As maritime archaeology involves investigations of archaeological sites in and/or near water the process of successfully excavating a site is quite tedious. These sites are considered time capsules due to the amazing preservation of the artifacts, particularly organic artifacts, that would typically degrade or not preserve at land sites. Unfortunately, these artifacts typically only remain preserved in water logged environments, so conservation is key and incredibly important in this field. Conservation is more complicated in maritime archaeology due to the required transition from water or land environments required for maritime artifacts. This hard work is beneficial given the information that is gained from these investigations, particularly concerning humans and their interactions with marine environments.
References Cited
Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology. No Date.
“What is Maritime Archaeology?” http://www.aima-underwater.org.au/what-is-maritime-archaeology/
Bass, G.F. 2016. “The Development of Techniques.” Institute of Nautical Archaeology. http://nauticalarch.org/learning-center/guide-to-underwater-archaeology/
Maritime Archaeology Trust. No Date. “What is Maritime Archaeology?” Maritime Archaeology Trust. http://www.maritimearchaeologytrust.org/whatismaritimearchaeology
National Ocean Service.
2013. “Maritime Archaeology.” National
Marine Sanctuaries. http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/maritime/arch.html
This was a very interesting article. I never knew that there was marine archaeology. That field of archaeology seems very frustrating, especially if you would like to excavate the sight but it's in water. - Adriana Warren
ReplyDeleteIt just floors me the total I don't consider such innumerable in this world. I never comprehended Maritime archaic exploration is the investigation of ancient and memorable archeological social gatherings in the matter of how they communicated with marine situations Also,that there was marine age-old examination.
DeleteA marine archaeologist and a regular archaeologist which one get more pay, and is there really a big difference between both, What if i am a regular archaeologist today and tomorrow decided to be a marine archaeologist could i do it without no extra training other than learning how to swim?
ReplyDeleteMarine archaeology does require specialized training that is both similar but also very different from terrestrial archaeology. Therefore a terrestrial archaeologist could not become a marine archaeologist without some additional training, which will vary based on the type of marine archaeology that is to be completed. As for differences in pay, I am not sure if and what differences may exist, so I cannot comment on that.
DeleteI know that the marine archaeology needs training, it is not something you can woke up in the morning and decide to join. They live in the sea and oceans for months and they are highly paid.
ReplyDeleteIn being a Maritime archaeology were there any fish that were found that are new or ever date back to when dinosaur were around?
ReplyDeleteAs you may recall in class archaeology is the study of human cultures. I provided the "We do not excavate dinosaurs" disclaimer on the first day. That's paleontology.
DeleteMaritime Archaeology is good study of prehistoric groups because artifacts deep in the ocean could be a lot of things that older civilizations once used. My question is do things disintegrate at the bottom of the ocean and if they do when does it occur?- Rickey Smith
ReplyDeleteThe cold waters of oceans, seas, and lakes provide a great deal of preservation for artifacts. These artifacts decay much more slowly and it ultimately depends on the material the artifacts is made up of. Generally, though, we see preservation decreasing if the artifacts are removed improperly from their maritime environments.
DeleteI dont think i cant do this job, is scary to me and so many things can go wrong.
ReplyDelete-Aaliyah Caldwell
I respect whoever does this because you could not pay me enough for doing that although it is one of the coolest fields in my opinion. When I was a kid I loved the titanic because it’s so interesting it was my introduction to hubris where we were so sure the ship would not sink but we wrecked it on our very first day of sailing. I would like to see the ruins first hand but that far under water is not for me.
ReplyDeleteI understand that water logged environments are more preferable for preservation, but I do have to wonder how many artifacts were indeed lost because fish took from the site.
ReplyDeleteThis field seems like it would be really cool seeing shipwrecks and the many different things deep in the ocean and with the level of preserving that the cold water provide I bet they find a lot of great artifacts.-Delmar
ReplyDeleteThere was a bunch of shipwrecks recently found in the Dead Sea through this method. I posted the article on my facebook page, which is another reason for those interested in learning more about anthropology to add it.
DeleteMaritime Archaeology seemed very interesting. One thing I was concerned with was if they took out the different things they found would they still last but my question was answered in the article. I wonder will this be covered in your spring semester archaeology classes.
ReplyDeleteIt will most likely be discussed briefly but it won't be the focus of the course, which will focus on traditional archaeological methods and analysis.
DeleteI'm not sure there rate of pay but I hope it's well above a typical careers' because it seems like a very dangerous job. Is it a similar career to marine biology or more complex?
ReplyDeleteYou're comparing apples and oranges there. :)
DeleteReading this blog on Maritime Archaeology has caught my attention because I've finally found a field of study I can go into after I graduate from college. Thanks for the information
ReplyDeleteRoney, if you are serious then I expect to see you in Anth 451: General Archaeology next semester.
DeleteThis seems like it would be a really interesting field to get into. You'd get to see things that the majority of people will never get to. It seems like a really amazing experience to dive down into seas and oceans and such to find these neat shipwrecks and artifacts. - Shannon
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, maritime archaeology sounds like a very interesting field of study to go in but I feel with this field of study that you have to be interested in being in the ocean and pools and other big bodies of water and that is something that i just can't find myself doing all the time. - Brianne Pickett
ReplyDeleteI found this post very interesting based on the fact that though it has nothing to do with my major it seems like a fun job to have and also seems like it ups the difficulty of finding and preserving artifacts. It almost reminds you of a treasure hunt.
ReplyDeletePersonally I feel like the ocean is a vast source for finding information about how humans lived and what type of creature s there are in the world since its so much still unknown to this day about the sea.
ReplyDelete- Arthur Holloway
I never heard of a marine archaeologist until I read this blog. Reading this blog has taught me what an archaeologist study. I think it's quite fascinating to be able to study oceans, and ships.
ReplyDeleteThis did not come to surprise me there are so many sub fields in archaeology its amazing. Marine archaeology seems fun and full of adventures that most people could only dream of doing.
ReplyDeleteTheir are a lot of archaeology fields I had no idea existed! that is cool!
ReplyDeleteWhy did it take so long for the maritime field to develop?
ReplyDeleteThe technology was not there to allow archaeologists to safely and effectively excavate underwater. Once it was then it involved someone taking the time to create the methods to do so. :)
DeleteMaritime archaeology is a very neat topic with the background of Maritime archaeology would these type of people work around the Bermuda Triangle with the crazy stories that have been released in that area on finding the lost?
ReplyDeleteMaritime archaeologists work across the globe, including outside of Bermuda and throughout the Caribbean. The Bermuda Triangle, however, is a myth and there is no scientifically credible evidence to support it. Sorry. :)
DeleteWould they be able to study older ocean and sea mysteries such as maybe the Titanic?
ReplyDeletePerhaps, although previous investigations of the Titanic have been undertaken by others.
DeleteI would've never thought that Marine archaeology would be a thing. It seems like a very cool field and I think that this field has taken my number 1 spot in anthropology jobs. I would would Marine archaeology study mermaids, if they were real.
ReplyDeleteThis blog immediately caught my eye. I had no idea marine archeology was a thing, but after reading this article I'm very interested to learn more. It would be so cool to do as a profession, but I think I would be to scared. I wonder how much they get paid? You would have to pay me a lot to be in the ocean where sharks could possibly be.
ReplyDeleteLogan Taylor
Jovie Black
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would never do this field of Archaeology. Things like this takes time, especially findings in the water. Could I tie this to the titanic? I would like to see what they found from that ship.
LaTroya "Trey" Jamison
ReplyDeleteIs dating artifacts in the sea harder than dating artifacts on land? Or are they about the same?
So for a marine archaeologist to date something that's been found in water, is the technique they use different than that used for something found on land?
ReplyDeleteSo when lost artifacts are found deep under water how are those artifacts restored from water damage?
ReplyDeleteI have seen the that they are now going to start transporting people to go down to the Titanic in 2018. But as for marine archaeologist I am more than sure that they get to explore some beautiful and most likely scary areas of the bodies of waters.
ReplyDeleteJust reading through and learning the number of different forms of archaeology. I like the oceans and the lakes so this would be a field I would look forward to learning more about . How the finding of the that boat is what started this field is amazing . My question though , is there any true purpose behind the marine archaeology in the real word ? Or is this something interesting to do? I ask because it doesn’t seem like it can have much impact.
ReplyDelete-Jazlyn Logan
I had no idea that there was a Marine archaeologist. Even though I'm a CJ major this sounds like it would be a fun job. It reminds you of like an easter egg hunt or treasure hunt.
ReplyDelete-Kyla Thomas
I never knew there was a such thing as marine archaeology. I wonder if they have a hard time getting the history of the things they find because they have been under water for so long?
ReplyDelete-jasmine busby
Sabthana R.
ReplyDeleteWhile I course knew archaeology is a field where you will go and visit many sites but I never thought to assume that archaeologist go into the water. Sites like ships, cargoes, etc come with different territory when it comes to the discoveries of artifacts.