A methodology for studying shipwreck sites formation processes

Luana Batista Goulart

Federal University of Sergipe, BrazilMaster Degree Student Advisor: Gilson Rambelli

luanabg@gmail.com

EAA - 2013 - Student Session

1. Introduction

2. Previous works

3. Discussion

4. Methodology

Image: UNESCO

1. IntroductionArchaeological recordCultural and natural

agents

Archaeological formation processes“The total sum of processes, natural and cultural,

acting individually or in concert, that results in the

archaeological record as it exist today” (BAHN,

2001: 65).3

1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

The Archaeological Formation Processes act in a unique way in each site.

4

Archaeological research underwater: adaptation of the methods and techniques.

Image: UNESCO 4

1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

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Justification: few embracing studies about the theme

Goal: to propose a methodology for investigating the influence of archaeological formation processes at shipwreck sites

1. Theoretical review2. How this problem was approached at previous

works3. Methodology

Motivation: the importance of the subject to obtain solidly grounded information about an archaeological site

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1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

2. Previous works

1. The objectives of the research2. The possibility of asking other questions related

to the site3. Approach employed at the pre-depositional,

depositional and post-depositional periods4. Whether natural and cultural archaeological

processes were considered5. Whether sources other than the archaeological

record were taken into account

Study how previous works were conducted.

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1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

● Studied a region, not a single vessel

● Shallow water

● Stranded ships

O’SHEA, J. 2002: The archaeology of scattered wreck-sites: formation processes and shallow water archaeology in western Lake Huron. The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 32, 211-227.

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1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

● Discusses natural and cultural formation processes at deposition and post-deposition

● Other possibilities:○ Verify the action of the fauna and flora on the

artifacts○ Pre-deposition

● Site preservation

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1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

● HSM Swift, a british sloop-of-war wrecked at Patagonia, Argentina

● Reports the archaeological work done at the site

● Archaeological formation processes were only studied at the post-depositional period

● Only natural formation processes were considered 9

ELKIN, D.; ARGÜESO, A; et al. 2007: Archaeological Research on HMS Swift: a British Sloop-of-War lost off Patagonia, Southern Argentina, in 1770. The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 36, 32-58.

1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

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● Other possibilities:○ Analyse the causes of the shipwreck

○ Analyse the characteristics of the construction of the vessel

● Experimental Archaeology

1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

● Dutch merchant vessel, wrecked in Finland’s coast

● Reports the conclusions of the biological survey and new data about the physical effects of the currents

LEINO, Minna; RUUSKANEN, Ari T; et al. 2011: The Natural Environment of the Shipwreck Vrouw Maria (1771) in the Northern Baltic Sea: an assessment of her state of preservation. The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 40 133-150.

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1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

● Experimental Archaeology

● Other possibilities:

○ How the ship sank

○ Witch cultural formations processes acted on pre-deposition and deposition

● Only natural formation processes that act on the post-deposition were considered

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1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

3. Discussion

Monitoring environmental factors

Establishing embracing goals for the research;

The preservation of the site is important for future researches

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1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

1. Introduction 2. AFP 3. Previews works

● Planning the trip○ Preparing the crew and the structure○ Actions when the possibility of the disaster is

identified

Deposition and post-deposition

● Identify the position of the vessel by the time of the impact

● Analyse how the ship sank● The role of natural and cultural agents at the

deposition and post-deposition.

Pre-deposition

GIBBS, 2006 14

1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

5. Methodology

● Bibliographical research○ Cultural agents○ Natural agents

● Oral sources

● Fieldwork

Data analysis

Collection of data

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1. Introduction 2. Previous works 3. Discussion 4. Methodology

Luana Batista Goulartluanabg@gmail.com

Further ReadingSTEWART, D. 1999: Formation Processes Affecting Submerged Archaeological Sites: An Overview. Geoarchaeology: An International Journal 14, 565–587.

GIBBS, M. 2006: Cultural Site Formation Processes in Maritime Archaeology: Disaster Response, Salvage and Muckelroy 30 Years on. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 35, 4-19.