Re-inventing the Spatial Analysis of Shipwrecks

Author(s): Mike Moloney

Year: 2014

Summary

Investigation into underwater archaeology began, inevitably with the investigation of shipwrecks. As the discipline developed we sought to explore a greater variety of sites, and the investigation of shipwrecks experienced less prominence. But have we truly conquered shipwrecks? This paper examines the geospatial components of shipwreck sites in an effort to reconstruct the social dynamics of shipboard society. Shipwrecks are often the result of site formation processes that ‘spill’ the artifacts that are used to describe shipboard life. In order to adequately examine the nuances of shipboard society we must explore the ships themselves for answers to our questions. Through a spatial understanding of ship structures this paper will suggest connections between space and social relationships aboard ships, and shipboard culture as a whole.

Cite this Record

Re-inventing the Spatial Analysis of Shipwrecks. Mike Moloney. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. 2014 ( tDAR id: 436582)

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-5,01