Pedal to the Metal: The Genesis of Magnetic Survey in Underwater Archeology and its Importance in Detecting Historical Shipwreck Sites

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The complexity of discovering buried shipwrecks has long-inspired archeologists to seek improved survey methods and data interpretation to increase detection of these archeological sites. Technological developments during the 1960s introduced the use of magnetometers into underwater environments, after successful demonstration in terrestrial settings. Towards this end, early underwater archeologists employed what is now considered more “analog” techniques often requiring great ingenuity in practice, as this work was commenced decades before the use of navigation software packages, positioning systems, and other computer programs. Since that time, technological advancements and increased understanding within the discipline have improved survey methodologies, led to changes in the graphic representation of shipwreck anomalies, and provided increased reliability of survey results and site discovery. This presentation serves as an introduction to the origins of underwater magnetic remote-sensing surveys and as a framework for better understanding session papers by early remote-sensing specialists.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2024   •
• Needle, Meet Haystack: The Role of Magnetometers in Underwater Archaeological Research and the Evolution of Interpreting Magnetic Data for Cultural Resource Investigations

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow