Down, Down, Down in the Depths: A Critical Look at Deepwater Archaeology and Public Outreach in the Gulf of Mexico

Summary

Deepwater archaeologists are fortunate to work on some of the most well-preserved submerged archaeological sites in the world. Undisturbed features and rarely-recovered artifacts, which can tell us much about maritime activity, often survive in the extremely cold, nearly inaccessible depths of deepwater. In the Gulf of Mexico, in particular, partnerships between the private and public sectors have resulted in investigations of deepwater shipwrecks dating from the colonial period to World War II. These efforts have been broadcast to the public through dynamic web content, live streaming video feed, and published texts. All of these efforts are laudable, but are marine archaeologists doing enough to bring the wonders of deepwater archaeology to the general public? What opportunities have we not yet identified and explored? In keeping with the theme of SHA 2014, this paper takes a critical look at public outreach and deepwater archaeology. What are we doing right, what are we doing wrong, and what can we do better?

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014   •
• Deepwater Archaeology: Advancements, Opportunities, and Limitations

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-69,04