What Comes Next? Training & Technology in Underwater Archaeology

Summary

An archaeological field school is a professional learning experience that, for most students in the field, is one of the first steps towards officially beginning a career. For nautical archaeologists in particular, this critical component of their training and development is especially important. In addition to documentation skills and methodology, there is another level of competencies and techniques required to ensure safety in a challenging occupational environment. There has been a steady increase in both public and academic interest in the practice of underwater archaeology, resulting in a renewed demand and focused effort on providing more of this traditional terrestrial training opportunity for divers as well. Moreover, rapidly evolving improvements in deployable technology are supplementing, and in some cases supplanting, standardized manual methods of recording currently employed. This paper will examine a number of case studies involving field school-style training, outline their best practices, and present suggestions for incorporating common elements and themes moving forward, as the next generation of nautical archaeologists explore their own educational options.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Applying Contemporary Perspectives to New England Historical Archaeology   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-17,05