Marine Archaeologist

Become: Marine Archaeologist

To become a marine archaeologist you will need to have studied for a relevant degree at University, such as Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton. Additional skills such as diving and powerboat qualifications are likely to improve your chances of employment. Of course, a real interest in the marine world and particularly history are crucial.

About: Marine Archaeologist

Maritime archaeology is the study of past human cultures with an emphasis on how humans interacted with the world's oceans, lakes and river systems. It is used to interpret the material remains of these cultures including ships and small craft, their crews and cargoes, and their shore-based facilities. While maritime archaeology is best known for its focus on shipwrecks, it is really the study of everything connected to seafaring. It is concerned with all aspects of maritime culture including technological, social, economic, political, and religious topics.

The discipline of archaeology has been recognized as a science for nearly one hundred and fifty years, but maritime archaeology is a relative newcomer. In the early 1900's, sponge divers in the Mediterranean discovered spectacular marble and bronze statues on the seafloor. These finds were much publicized, but resulted in salvage operations rather than systematic documentation. The artifacts were recovered, but for the most part the shipwrecks themselves were ignored. It was not until 1960 that maritime archaeology became a science. That summer, George Bass was invited by the Turkish government to lead an excavation on what became known as the Cape Gelidonya Wreck. This was the first excavation where the supervising archaeologist both dove and excavated. More importantly, this was also the first time where proven land archaeological techniques were adapted for the underwater environment. Using these methods, the Cape Gelidonya Wreck became the first shipwreck to be entirely excavated on the seafloor. A detailed report was published and artifacts from the site are on public display.

Source: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/maritime/arch.html