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An Introduction to Maritime Archaeology

An Introduction to Maritime Archaeology. Case study: Tassie II Byron Bay. Overview. What is Maritime Archaeology? Why studying and preserve underwater heritage? Historical shipwreck conservation and management in Australia Role of the volunteer

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An Introduction to Maritime Archaeology

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  1. An Introduction to Maritime Archaeology Case study: Tassie II Byron Bay

  2. Overview • What is Maritime Archaeology? • Why studying and preserve underwater heritage? • Historical shipwreck conservation and management in Australia • Role of the volunteer • Case study: The Tassie II, main beach Byron Bay

  3. What is Archaeology? • Identification and interpretation of physical traces of past life (Dean et al. 2000) • Aims to explain, putting artefacts into a cultural context • Provides insights into past lives, choices, motivations • Develops a framework for future endeavour

  4. What is Maritime Archaeology? • The scientific study of the material remains of human activity on the sea, lakes and rivers (McCarthy 1998; Delgado (ed) 1997) • The primary object of study is man, not the physical remains which the researcher is immediately confronted with (Muckelroy 1978)

  5. What is Maritime Archaeology? • Artefacts are not always submerged (eg. dry river bank sites) • Underwater archaeology is not always Maritime Archaeology (submerged dwellings) • Nautical Archaeology - vessel construction and use

  6. Why study underwater heritage? • Physical link with the past • Understand lifestyles and choices of the distant past (easy to justify) • Archaeology of the recent past • Poor record keeping • Conflicting accounts • Secrecy • Context is everything (site integrity)

  7. Need for protection and research • Advent of SCUBA in the 1940 and 50’s • Looting of WA Dutch wrecks in the 1960’s • Need to develop maritime archaeology in Australia • Need to document and study sites • Need for understanding of site processes • Site management plans • Cultural and scientific value

  8. Heritage legislation • Commonwealth Navigation Act (1912) • Requires reporting wrecks to the Receiver of Wrecks (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) • No brief to protect archaeological significance • West Australian Museums Act (amended) • Maritime Archaeology Act (1973) • Successful challenge to WA legislation • Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) (C’wealth) • Complementary state legislation

  9. Protective measures • Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) • Administered by delegates in each state (Director, NSW Heritage office) • 75 years (known or unknown) • Conservation orders/protection zones • Large fines and imprisonment • State legislation • Heritage Act (1977) (50 years) • Other state and Commonwealth acts

  10. Responsible agencies • Enforcement by State, Territory or Commonwealth Police • Heritage Office • Administration of State and Commonwealth acts • Development and implementation of public programs (ANMM) • Disseminating information to the public (ANMM) • Access (permits)

  11. Non-government organisations • Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA) • Assists state agencies with programs • Conferences and publications (AIMA Bulletin/newsletters) • National Shipwreck database • Code of ethics • Training of volunteers (AIMA/NAS courses)

  12. Non-government organisations • Other national bodies • Australian Association for Maritime History • Maritime Museums Association of Australia • National trust • Amateur groups and historical societies (Richmond River Historical Society) • Private museums and other interest groups

  13. Community involvement • Documenting maritime heritage is a massive job • Cooperative involvement of divers vital for successful management of sites • Brochures and information displays • Heritage trails • Wrecks alive program • NAS/AIMA training • Volunteer work with archaeologists

  14. AIMA/NAS training • Raise awareness of underwater heritage and significance • Introduce principles of Maritime Archaeology • Provide training in: • Search techniques (remote sensing) • Position fixing • Basic site survey • Non-destructive sampling

  15. Case study: Tassie IIBackground • Diving wreck for 10 years + • Surveyed with Clegg (1997) • AIMA/NAS Part 1 • AIMA/NAS Part 2/Field School

  16. Case study: Tassie IIRationale • Priority to artefacts that provide new insights into the past or are particularly representative of the technology of an era

  17. Case study: Tassie IIRationale • Little known/recorded about the role of merchant vessels in WWII • Limited documentary evidence • Conflicting oral history • Crew blamed for loss of vessel • Easy shore access • Need for site management? • Potential for heritage trail?

  18. Case study: Tassie IIThe paper trail • Biggest part is the background research • The oral history • Pre-war service • Wartime service • The wreck event

  19. Case study: Tassie II Research priorities • Relationship with jetty remains • Vessel type and construction • Engine room • crane pulley • Site conservation • Heritage trail? • Site management plan?

  20. Artefact conservation • What is an artefact? • Object no longer in it’s functional context • Why salvage and preserve artefacts? • Available to general public • Preserve representative examples of a particular technology • Prevent loss/destruction • Much more information can be obtained

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