Conservation at the Intersection of the Archaeological and Historical Records

Summary

As the process of conserving USS Monitor artifacts continues, the Batten Conservation Complex staff at the Mariners’ Museum and Park constantly witness the intersection of the archaeological and historical records. There is an abundance of material to consult. Numerous documents related to Monitor survive, including newspaper articles, survivors’ accounts of the sinking, and ship plans. Additionally, NOAA’s excavations and continued study of the shipwreck combined with the on-going conservation of the raised material provide a wealth of archaeological information. By utilizing the archaeological and historical records to interpret the history, several surprising discoveries have come to light.  This paper presents Monitor as a case study of the importance of critically examining all the evidence related to a site and the role conservation plays in protecting and preserving vital information which will help with archaeological and historical interpretation.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• From Excavation to Display – Research and Projects from the USS Monitor Center   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 1104