Community Archaeology in the 21st Century: New Partnerships in Battle of the Atlantic Research
Part of: Society for Historical Archaeology 2014
The naval campaigns waged in the Atlantic during 1914-18 and 1939-45 comprise two of the largest, longest, and most complex naval battles in history, resulting in nearly 100 vessel losses. Professional archaeologists and avocational divers are collaborating to research and document these shipwreck remains off the North Carolina coast. During the 2013 field season, the Battle of the Atlantic Research and Expedition Group led by William Chadwell supported NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries archaeologists in researching the events surrounding U-402’s sinking of Soviet tanker Ashkhabad, including preparing a detailed drawing of the tanker’’s wreck site. Simultaneously, a group of avocational and professional archaeologists led by William McDermott of the Outer Banks Dive Center recorded the remains of United States Coast Guard Cutter Jackson. This symposium will present the results of each of these expeditions, highlighting the numerous benefits of professional and avocational partnerships, with emphasis on how each project demonstrates the important role that recreational divers fill in creating a sense of community stewardship of North Carolina’s underwater cultural heritage.
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- Documents (8)
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Archaeological Findings From The 2013 Survey of the Soviet Tanker Ashkhabad (2014)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
Between May 25 and June 1, 2013, NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary collaborated with the Battle of the Atlantic Research and Expedition Group to survey the wreck of the Ashkhabad, a Soviet tanker sunk in 1942 by the German submarine U-402. Over this 8-day period, 17 divers spent over 270 man-hours underwater, mapping the roughly 400-foot-by-150-foot debris field, all that currently remains of the vessel. This paper will outline the methodology undertaken by the group, the challenges...
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Ashkhabad: Video Documentation of the 2013 Field Season (2014)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
During the May-June 2013 maritime archeological survey of the Soviet tanker Ashkhabad, three Battle of the Atlantic Research and Expedition Group videographers took over eight hours of high-definition video of the wreck site. This video documentary will combine historical photographs; wartime newsreel footage; photographic stills and video of the wreck; and interviews with key participants to provide a general overview of the Battle of the Atlantic on the North American East Coast, the attack...
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Diving Into History: Professional and Avocational Archaeologists Partner to Document Historical Shipwrecks Around North Carolina’s Outer Banks (2014)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
In May of 2013 a group of avocational divers and archaeologists began a series of archaeological research expeditions off North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Facilitated by the Outer Banks Dive Center, the project focuses upon documentation of historic shipwrecks in the area north of Cape Hatteras. By partnering with avocationally trained recreational divers, archaeologists are able to collect valuable information and benefit from the expertise and knowledge of engaged and enthusiastic researchers...
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Examining identity and personhood in the archaeological record: A case study from the Chief Richardville House (12AL1887) (2014)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
Anthropologists address identity and personhood in order to understand how people engage in social relations with one another. Identity is an amalgamation of personal characteristics; some inherent, some chosen and some imposed, that allow for inclusion or exclusion in various social arenas. In this paper, notions of identity and personhood are examined to test the utility of this theoretical framework to inform us about the pluralistic society of 18th and 19th century frontier life, and is...
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Historical Research In Support of Maritime Archaeological Projects: A Case Study of the Sinking of the Ashkhabad by the U-402 (2014)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
In May-June 2013, the Battle of the Atlantic Research and Expedition Group partnered with NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary to conduct a maritime archaeological survey of the Soviet tanker Ashkhabad, torpedoed and sunk in April 1942 by the German submarine U-402. Before any in-water work commenced, however, a considerable amount of archival research and photographic interpretation was conducted to provide historical context for the survey. This paper will present key findings of this...
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Perspectives on Sport Divers and Maritime Archaeology: A Roundtable Discussion (2014)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
The 2013 field season has seen at least two underwater archaeological projects undertaken by avocational sport divers under the guidance of professional archaeologists. In this roundtable discussion, professional archaeologists and avocational divers who participated in these projects will provide their views on the potential contribution of the sport diving community to underwater archaeological endeavors.
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The Second Battle of the Atlantic (1939 and 1945): a Context for Understanding the Archaeological Remains of a Battleground at Sea (2014)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
The Second Battle of the Atlantic spanned from 1939 to 1945 and ranged from the North Cape of Norway to the Cape of Good Hope. In 1942, the battle arrived off North America’s Atlantic coast and U-boats took a heavy toll on allied shipping. War at sea leaves no traces at the surface, but the seabed off the Outer Banks of North Carolina contains the wrecks of the battle’s hunted and hunters. Many of these wrecks lie at depths within the range of sport divers, and in this time of limited...
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Sport Divers and Maritime Archaeology: An Instructor’s Perspective (2014)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
The large pool of sport divers willing to participate in underwater archaeological projects presents a potentially rich pool of available labor. However, employing sport divers in underwater projects also presents potential safety and liability issues for the professional archaeologist. This presentation is intended to inform terrestrial archaeologists who may lead or participate in underwater archaeological projects in the future - or underwater archaeologists who have only a basic...