Artefacts from Wrecks

Artefacts from Wrecks
Author: Mark Redknap
Publisher: Oxbow Books Limited
Total Pages: 252
Release: 1997
Genre: History
ISBN:

The study of artefacts found on wrecks was the subject of an international conference held at the National Musuem of Wales in 1994. Concentrating on the period of transition in Europe, from the end of the Middle Ages to 1785, these essays describe some of the most important recent results. Contents include: Ships as integrated artefacts: the archaeological potential (Colin J M Martin); The IJsselmeer-polders: a 'source book' for late medieval and early post-medieval wreck inventories (Karel Vlierman); Material culture research of Canadian historical shipwrecks: the Machault legacy (Stephen Davis); The material culture of the Mary Rose as a fighting vessel (Alex Hildred); Reconstructing 16th centruy ship culture: the Cattewater wreck (Mark Redknap); A study of chests from Henry VIIIs warship Mary Rose, 1545 (Maggie Richards); Arms and armour from wrecks (Ruth R Brown); Footwear and other Artefacts from a 16th century Spanish Basque Galleon (Stephen Davis); Rhenish stoneware frpm shipwrecks: ceramic function and lifespan (David Gaimster);The identification, analysis and interpretation of tobacco pipes from wrecks (David Higgins); Coinage from Post-Medieval Wrecks (Edward Besly); Metal ingots from dated wrecks (Paul Craddock and Duncan Hook); The galley, utensils and cooking, eating and drinking vessels from a wreck on the Zuiderzee in 1673 (Karel Vlierman); The Cromwellian shipwreck off Duart Point, Mull (Colin J M Martin); Identifying a ship's place of departure with the help of artefacts (Piet Kleij);Wreck de Mer and the dispersed wreck sites: the case of the Ann Francis (1583) (Mark Redknap and Edward Besly); Artefacts from the Kronan (1676): preservation and social structure (Lars Einarsson); Family life on board: Dutch boat people 1600-1900 (A F L van Holk); Conclusion (Alan Aberg).

International Handbook of Historical Archaeology

International Handbook of Historical Archaeology
Author: Teresita Majewski
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 689
Release: 2009-06-07
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0387720715

In studying the past, archaeologists have focused on the material remains of our ancestors. Prehistorians generally have only artifacts to study and rely on the diverse material record for their understanding of past societies and their behavior. Those involved in studying historically documented cultures not only have extensive material remains but also contemporary texts, images, and a range of investigative technologies to enable them to build a broader and more reflexive picture of how past societies, communities, and individuals operated and behaved. Increasingly, historical archaeology refers not to a particular period, place, or a method, but rather an approach that interrogates the tensions between artifacts and texts irrespective of context. In short, historical archaeology provides direct evidence for how humans have shaped the world we live in today. Historical archaeology is a branch of global archaeology that has grown in the last 40 years from its North American base into an increasingly global community of archaeologists each studying their area of the world in a historical context. Where historical archaeology started as part of the study of the post-Columbian societies of the United States and Canada, it has now expanded to interface with the post-medieval archaeologies of Europe and the diverse post-imperial experiences of Africa, Latin America, and Australasia. The 36 essays in the International Handbook of Historical Archaeology have been specially commissioned from the leading researchers in their fields, creating a wide-ranging digest of the increasingly global field of historical archaeology. The volume is divided into two sections, the first reviewing the key themes, issues, and approaches of historical archaeology today, and the second containing a series of case studies charting the development and current state of historical archaeological practice around the world. This key reference work captures the energy and diversity of this global discipline today.

The Wanli Shipwreck and Its Ceramic Cargo

The Wanli Shipwreck and Its Ceramic Cargo
Author: Sten Sjostrand
Publisher:
Total Pages: 366
Release: 2007
Genre: Blue and white ware
ISBN:

Contains a report on the Wanli shipwreck excavation and a catalogue of the excavated artefacts. Details the process of onboard artefact recording, dive planning and artefact preservation and following research.

The Archaeological Excavation of the 10th Century

The Archaeological Excavation of the 10th Century
Author: Michael Flecker
Publisher: British Archaeological Reports Oxford Limited
Total Pages: 180
Release: 2002
Genre: History
ISBN:

In 1997 Michael Flecker investigated a shipwreck in the north Java sea. The wreck comprised the remains of a mid 10th-century ship with its cargo of thousands of ceramic and non-ceramic artefacts. This report describes the methodology and aims of the underwater operation, discusses the finds that were recovered and places these within the context of maritime archaeology in southeast Asia. Flecker evaluates the evidence from the Intan shipwreck alongside contemporary historical information about sea travel, ports, trade routes and cargoes.

Shipwrecks and Provenance: in-situ timber sampling protocols with a focus on wrecks of the Iberian shipbuilding tradition

Shipwrecks and Provenance: in-situ timber sampling protocols with a focus on wrecks of the Iberian shipbuilding tradition
Author: Sara A. Rich
Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 74
Release: 2018-02-28
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1784917184

This book presents a set of protocols to establish the need for wood samples from shipwrecks and to guide archaeologists in the removal of samples for a suite of archaeometric techniques currently available to provenance the timbers used to construct wooden ships and boats. Case studies presented use Iberian ships of the 16th to 18th centuries.

The Wrecks of HM Frigates Assurance (1753) and Pomone (1811)

The Wrecks of HM Frigates Assurance (1753) and Pomone (1811)
Author: John Bingeman
Publisher: Oxbow Books
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2021-03-23
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1789256402

With the thought of treasure, Isle of Wight islander, Derek Williams researched ancient local wreck records. Top of his extensive wreck list was the 40-gun frigate Assurance lost in 1753 while returning from Jamaica with Governor Trelawny on board, whose story possibly inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write Treasure Island. Derek’s first dive at the western point of the Isle of Wight called “The Needles” put him on top of cannons, various wreckage and Spanish-American “Pieces of Eight”, all scattered at the foot of the rock face. He reported this astonishing discovery to the authorities which resulted in the site being designated the 6th British historic protected wreck site. When the authorities decided that further professional help was needed, author and diver John Bingeman supplied his Portsmouth Royal Naval diving team, and together with David Tomalin, County Archaeologist, developed the full potential of this important site. Over the next nine years John Bingeman’s team conducted annual visits to excavate the site; they successfully recovered 3,471 artifacts including cannon weighing 1½ tons. Some of these cannon post-dated the Assurance, leading to the identification of a second 38-gun frigate, the Pomone, lost in 1811. Her Captain, Robert Barrie’s extensive correspondence was discovered by Paul Simpson to have been archived by Duke University, North Carolina. It features Pomone’s continuous actions during the French Napoleonic wars, followed by his appointment to the 74-gun Dragon when he saw action in Chesapeake Bay during the 1812-15 war with the USA. Returning to North America as Senior Naval Officer Canada, Commodore Barrie made quite a name for himself improving the political relationship between the USA and Canada; he is remembered by the Canadian City named Barrie. Previously unresearched archaeological finds are featured, including the development of rigging blocks, gunlocks, military buttons and ship’s chain pumps, all superbly illustrated, as well as the results of research into numerous other artifacts of the period. Appendices contain the transcripts of the two ship’s court martials and make fascinating reading. Captains seem to be blameless while their navigating officers are held responsible even going to prison. Perhaps not surprising when tried by fellow Captains!

The Shipwreck Hunter

The Shipwreck Hunter
Author: David L Mearns
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Total Pages: 524
Release: 2017-07-26
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1925576337

David Mearns, the man who discovered the wreck of HMAS Sydney, takes us on an extraordinary voyage through his amazing career as one of the world's most successful shipwreck hunters. 'The underwater worlds of past and present collide in the depths of the ocean in this gripping and suspenseful narrative by David Mearns, a true expert on the mysteries of the deep sea.' CLIVE CUSSLER David Mearns has found some of the world's most fascinating and elusive shipwrecks. His deep-water searches have solved the 66-year mystery of HMAS Sydney, discovered the final resting place of the mighty battlecruiser HMS Hood and revealed the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur in the narrow underwater canyon that served as its grave. His painstaking historical detective work has led to the shallow reefs of a remote island that hid the crumbling wooden skeletons of Vasco da Gama's sixteenth century fleet. The Shipwreck Hunter is the compelling story of David's life and work on the seas, focusing on some of his most intriguing discoveries. It details the extraordinary techniques used, the research and the mid-ocean stamina and courage needed to find a wreck kilometres beneath the sea, as well as the moving human stories that lie behind each of these oceanic tragedies. Part detective story, part history and part deep ocean adventure, The Shipwreck Hunter is a unique insight into a hidden, underwater world.

Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects

Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects
Author: Colin Pearson
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 310
Release: 2014-05-20
Genre: Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN: 148329465X

Over the past twenty years there has been a significant increase in underwater activities such as scuba diving which, coupled with the adventure andromance always associated with shipwrecks, has led to rapid developments in the discovery and excavation of shipwrecked material. These shipwrecks are invaluable archaeological 'time capsules', which in themajoriety of cases have come to an equilibrium with their environment. As soon as artefacts on the wreck site are moved, this equilibrium is disturbed, and the artefacts may commence to deteriorate, sometimes in a rapid and devastating fashion. In fact excavation without having conservation facilities available is vandalism--the artefacts are much safer being left on the sea bed. Such famous shipwrecks as the Mary Rose (1545), the Wasa (1628) and the Batabia (1629) have not only brought the world's attention to these unique finds, but have also produced tremendous conservation problems. The treatment of a 30 metre waterlogged wooden hull or large cast iron cannon is still causing headaches to conservators.

Shipwreck

Shipwreck
Author: Sam Willis
Publisher: Quercus
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2013-12-05
Genre: History
ISBN: 1782065229

Shipwrecks have captured our imagination for centuries. Here acclaimed historian Sam Willis traces the astonishing tales of ships that have met with disastrous ends, along with the ensuing acts of courage, moments of sacrifice and episodes of villainy that inevitably occurred in the extreme conditions. Many were freak accidents, and their circumstances so extraordinary that they inspired literature: the ramming of the Essex by a sperm whale was immortalized in Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Some symbolize colossal human tragedy: including the legendary Titanic whose maiden voyage famously went from pleasure cruise to epic catastrophe. From the Kyrenia ship of 300 BC to the Mary Rose, through to the Kursk submarine tragedy of 2000, this is a thrilling work of narrative history from one of our most talented young historians.