Diver-Archaeological Reconnaissance Cooperative (DivARC): Veterans working with Nautical Archaeological Society-New England

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Citizen Science in Maritime Archaeology: The Power of Public Engagement for Heritage Monitoring and Protection" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The process of returning to civilian life after departing military service presents a series of significant challenges to veterans. Often missing from life once back home are opportunities to engage in challenging and meaningful activities of purpose with trusted others. However, many veterans have been able to achieve such states of meaning and connection with others through demanding cooperative sports such as scuba diving, immersed in the natural environment. Further, by focusing the application of such special skillsets into scientific methods applied to missions of maritime archaeological exploration and environmental restoration, increasing numbers of veterans are rediscovering a sense of self and purpose as civilians. This presentation discusses the first year of a cooperative partnership between the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) – New England Region and the Diver-Archaeological Reconnaissance Cooperative (DivARC) program which has brought military veterans and civilians together in a shared mission in the ocean.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020   •
• Citizen Science in Maritime Archaeology: The Power of Public Engagement for Heritage Monitoring and Protection

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Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 744