Academia, Consultancy and Government (I): An Introspective Look at Underwater Archaeology in Practice

Underwater archaeology as a discipline is changing as new university Master’s and Doctoral programs generate trained professional archaeologists working for universities, consulting firms and government bodies. After 50 years of underwater archaeology, these sectors have created reciprocal relationships with one another, so that research practices and questions are influenced by a host of different factors. The papers presented in this session will examine expectations, roles, and best (realistic) practice to create a dialogue between academia, managers, and consultancies. Underwater archaeology is being shaped by these myriad influences, and these relationships will continue to have an impact on the future of professional archaeology underwater in different countries/regions.