Underwater Survey Methods in Low to Zero Visibility

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "The King's Shipyard Surveys, 2019: Submerged Cultural Heritage Near Fort Ticonderoga" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The King’s Shipyard Survey was conducted over four weeks in spring 2019. The team surveyed a nearly 63,000 square-foot area of Lake Champlain near Fort Ticonderoga in New York for shipwreck and harbor remains. Divers faced a challenging environment. Although water depths ranged from ten to thirteen feet, the majority of archaeological remains were located beneath three-plus feet of sediment. In addition, higher than normal water levels, a bottom of loose silt, and inflow from the nearby La Chute River reduced visibility to between zero and twelve inches. Other impediments to the survey's efforts included thick layers of 19th century steamboat clinker and dense growth of invasive Eurasian watermilfoil. Historic records in combination with ground penetrating radar and magnetometer data indicated potential high-interest targets. This presentation will discuss the methodology used in a challenging, low to zero visibility environment, including survey coverage, archaeological recording, equipment, communication, and diver safety.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020   •
• The King's Shipyard Surveys, 2019: Submerged Cultural Heritage Near Fort Ticonderoga

Keywords

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 591