Archaeological Findings From The 2013 Survey of the Soviet Tanker Ashkhabad

Summary

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 encountered in conducting the survey, and the key archaeological findings from the project. Finally, one of the more significant products resulting from the survey - a map of the Ashkhabad archaeological site ‘ will be examined and discussed from the overall context of the sport diving and maritime archaeological perspectives and the Battle of the Atlantic maritime campaigns.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014   •
• Community Archaeology in the 21st Century: New Partnerships in Battle of the Atlantic Research

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-20,05