Deep-Water Shipwreck Site Distribution: The Equation of Site Formation

Summary

In 2007, archaeologists with C & C Technologies published a debris distribution model from data collected during a Deep Shipwreck Project with the former U.S. Minerals Management Service.  The researchers have continued to refine the formula with additional shipwreck information.  Studying the Gulfoil site at a depth of 534 meters BSL, as part of the Reefs, Rigs and Wrecks Program illustrated that a large portion of associated wreck debris fell outside the predictive distribution model and more information was needed to account for all the debris associated with catastrophic sinking events.  Using additional standard equations in combination with the distribution model provided a greater understanding of the site formation.  The information learned was then applied to other deep-water sites such as the passenger freighter Robert E. Lee and German U-boat, U-166 (both 1,400 meters BSL) to help draw a clearer picture of the site formation process for other deep-water sites.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Southampton Dock: Vessels of Conflict and War   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2013

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 223