Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations

Part of: Society for Historical Archaeology 2024

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations," at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The magnetometer is an essential tool in underwater archaeological surveys allowing for the identification of submerged archaeological sites. Magnetometers are able to detect magnetic anomalies caused by the presence of ferrous materials, which can be used to locate shipwrecks, submerged structures, and other archaeological sites. In areas that experience pronounced sedimentation and shoreline migration, the magnetometer is often the most decisive tool for identifying submerged cultural resources.

This symposium will provide a comprehensive overview of the early use of magnetometers in underwater archaeology and shed light on the significant contributions made by archaeologists in the field. Participants will share case studies and best practices for using magnetometers in different underwater environments, including rivers, lakes, bays, and oceans. The symposium aims to highlight not only the early development of archaeological interpretation of magnetic data, but also to showcase newer methodologies such as the use of autonomous vehicles and aerial drones.

Other Keywords
Magnetometer • Shipwreck • Survey • Gradiometer • Remote Sensing • Interpretation • Computers • Geophysics • Cultural Resource Management • Geophysical

Geographic Keywords
Southeastern United States • United States • Gulf of Mexico • East Coast, USA

Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-9 of 9)

Documents

Commodore Barney and the Flying Magnetometers (2024)
DOCUMENT Citation Only George Schwarz.
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Commodore Joshua Barney’s Chesapeake Flotilla was composed of a collection of shallow drafted gunboats and barges designed to stave off British invasions into the Chesapeake during the American-British War...
Evolution of the North-Alignment Model for Archaeological Interpretation of Marine Magnetic Data (2024)
DOCUMENT Citation Only Robert Gearhart.
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. This paper traces the arc of the author’s experience from 1985 to the present, interpreting marine magnetometer surveys in search of shipwrecks. During that period, technological advancements in positioning...
Examining the Use of Gradiometers in Maritime Archaeology (2024)
DOCUMENT Citation Only William Wilson.
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Marine magnetometers are a powerful and proven tool for detecting shipwrecks during archaeological reconnaissance surveys. Marine gradiometers, composed of two or more magnetometer sensors in a towed array,...
From Idea to Artifact: Magnetic Sensing Technology for the Detection and Location of Manmade Targets in Marine Environments (2024)
DOCUMENT Citation Only Doug Hrvoic.
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Magnetic sensors continue to be primary tools for the detection and mapping of near-surface manmade objects, as they have a unique ability to detect items that are buried, and that would otherwise be missed...
Jean Lafitte’s Dorada or the U.S.S. Firebrand: A Remote-Sensing Survey with an Autonomous Surface Vehicle and a Towed Magnetometer (2024)
DOCUMENT Citation Only Hunter W. Whitehead. Ryan Dodd.
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. An archaeological remote-sensing survey was conducted in search of the U.S.S. Firebrand, formerly known as the Dorada, situated on or near Square Handkerchief Shoal offshore Pass Christian, Mississippi....
Magnetometry In The Search For And Identification Of Submerged Archaeological Resources (2024)
DOCUMENT Citation Only Gordon P Watts.
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. As a consequence of professional acknowledgement of the historical importance and archaeological value of submerged cultural resources the role of magnetic remote sensing has increased significantly....
Pedal to the Metal: The Genesis of Magnetic Survey in Underwater Archeology and its Importance in Detecting Historical Shipwreck Sites (2024)
DOCUMENT Citation Only Amy A. Borgens. Hunter W. Whitehead. J. Barto Arnold. Ervan Garrison. Robert L. Gearhart. Jack B. Irion.
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. The complexity of discovering buried shipwrecks has long-inspired archeologists to seek improved survey methods and data interpretation to increase detection of these archeological sites. Technological...
Understanding How To Interpret UW Riverine And Marine Magnetic Targets For Site Identification And Protection - Early Examples. (2024)
DOCUMENT Citation Only Ervan Garrison.
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. The use of magnetometers in terrestrial archaeology began as early as post-Second World War. It wasn't until the 1970s that these instruments were increasingly adapted for use in underwater (UW)...
UXO Surveys or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Find the Bombs. (2024)
DOCUMENT Citation Only Eric A. Swanson.
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. An ongoing common practice in the development of offshore wind projects along the coastal areas of the United States includes the study and derisking of UneXploded Ordinance (UXO) present in the surrounding...