Maritime Archaeology through Visual Representation Personal Project Written and Photographed by Debra Shefi ARCH 8103 February 2006 Field School
Background The following project contains various elements of maritime archaeology. Each photo will a contain a combination of information on the site and how the photo relates to the site, what the photo represents and a basic critique of the image. The following elements were considered when choosing these photos: relation to the site, archaeological significiance, aesthetic value and quality of photo. The photos terrestrial photographs were taken with a Nikon D70S SLR-Digital camera and the underwater photographs were taken with an Olympus C-5050 digital camera
Table of Contents Visual Reference: 1. Sleaford Bay Whaling Station 2. Mount Dutton Bay Jetty Flora and Fauna 3. Octopus 4. Jellyfish Technology 5. Air-probe 6. Dredge 7. Total Station Mount Dutton Bay 8. Total Station Sleaford Bay 9. Metal Detector 10. Magnetometer Structural Elements 11. Lodging Knee Mary Ellis 12. Modified Wood Mary Ellis 13. Gunwhale Boucher Farmhouse Oyster Cutter 14. Frames and Futtocks Boucher Farmhouse Oyster Cutter 15. Western end of Caprice Underwater Arcahaeologists 16. Archaeology at practice I1
Slide 3 I1 a Injun, 14/02/2006
Visual References 1. Sleaford Bay Whaling Station (Photo: D. Shefi 12/02/2006) The photo looks south, towards the mouth of the bay. The photo was taken upon the sand from the northwest cliff overlooking the bay. Directly below the cliff are the structural remains from the previous whaling station. Static visual references are important to locate sites and provide future researchers with a visual transect. The photo would be more beneficial if the image included visual reference to where the shot was taken from.
Visual References 2. Mount Dutton Bay Jetty, west side. (Photo: D. Shefi 05/02/2006) The profile view of the jetty shows the distribution of pylons from approximately the mid-point of the jetty to the southern end. The photograph illustrates the spatial relationship between the cross beams and between the pylons. The photo lacks a reference to the point to where the photo was taken from.
Flora and Fauna There are many environmental considerations to take into account when conducting underwater archaeology, in this case fauna. There is a large population of various species of octopi living under and around the jetty, one species, the blue- ringed octopus, can kill you. It is important to document the surrounding environment for future study of the area, not just for archaeological purposes (site formation processes) but biological as well. 3. Octopus under Mount Dutton Bay Jetty (Photo taken Feb. 04 2006 with the Olympus C-5050 digital camera and underwater housing)
Flora and Fauna 4. Jelly Fish. Under Mount Dutton Bay Jetty. (Photo taken Feb. 02 2006 with Olympus C-5050 digital camera and underwater housing) Archaeologically insignificant however, documenting the flora and fauna can help future research by understanding environmental conditions effecting the site. Critique: The photo appeals more aesthetically than archaeologically.
Technology 5. (left) Air-probe and compressor on the Mount Dutton Bay Jetty, surveying the Caprice. (right) Air probe under water. (Photo: D. Shefi 07/12/2006) The air-probe was used to survey below the silt, until it hit limestone at approximately 20 cm below the surface. The purpose of the tool is to try and locate any remaining timber from the wrecked Caprice. Due to environmental conditions and the silt blown from the air-probe, underwater visibility was greatly diminished.
Technology 6. (left) D. Zwart dredging the Caprice, Mount Dutton Bay. (center) Hand fanning into the dredge head. (right) The underwater dredge components (Photo: D. Shefi 13/02/2006) The dredge is used to assist in hand fanning. The pump sucks the silt and any other loose material from the site. It is important to maintain proper safety when using the dredge, because it is a powerful tool. The dredge is used mainly help facilitate clean and efficient clearing of a site which help maintain a certain level of visibility. The photos are taken in poor visibility but they demonstrate the various underwater components of the dredge.
Technology 7. (Left) A. Hale looking south with the total station towards Z. Woodford (right) holding the theodolite. (Photo taken Feb. 05 2006 with Nikon D70S SLR-digital camera) Photo taken from the survey marker located to the west of the jetty. The composition shows the relationship between the two pieces of equipment required to complete a total station survey: the total station and the theodolite. The photo on the left shows the view from the total station while the image on the right depicts the environment for the
Technology A total station survey was conducted at Sleaford Bay. The photo provides a perspective of the total station itself and it s line of sight to the theodolite. The picture provides both an archaeological and aesthetic perspective 8. Total Station, Sleaford Bay (Photo: D. Shefi 12/02/06)
Technology An anomaly appeared east of the Mary Ellis, on Wrecked Beach when a previous team conducted a magnatometer survey. T. Massey, Z. Woodford, and K. Hutchinson investigated the anomaly however it proved to be a pile of rocks. The photograph demonstrates the tools necessary for the search and exposure of the located anomaly. The photograph does not capture the faces of the individuals however, it does provide a relationship to the surrounding environment, the technique for properly using the metal detector and a team effort for the survey. 9. Metal detector survey of anomolies found by magnatometer survey on Wrecked Beach, Sleaford Bay (Photo taken Feb. 10 2006 with Nikon D70S SLR-digitial Camera)
Technology 10. Magnetometer Survey, Sleaford Bay. (from left) A. Hale, D. Zwart, Z. Woodford) (Photo: D. Shefi 12/02/06) The photo depicts a magnetometer survey at Sleaford Bay. The photo was chosen because it combines a view of the site, the magnetometer, and shows the importance of holding the censor facing north (Hale points north and Woodford points to the censor)
Structural Elements 11. Detail. Lodging knee + wooden plank from the Mary Ellis. (Photo: D.Shefi 11/02006) - Detail of the furthest northwestern corner of the site. - Archaeologically, details of structural elements with the scale bar and north arrow are important because they provide the viewer with spatial perspective and a clarity of the site. - To improve the photo one would remove the tarp in the NW corner and get lower to the ground in order to provide better depth of the structural elements.
Structural Elements 12. Detail of outer planks on the Mary Ellis, Wrecked Beach (Photo: D. Shefi 10/02/2006) The photograph depicts a possible modification in the vessel, the change in color suggests replaced timbers. The photo is taken from the southern end of section two.
Structural Elements The gunwhale on the starboard side of the Boucher Oyster cutter. The photo provides a scale as well as a spacial relaitonship to the cutter The photo was chosen for its archaeological aspect as well as its aesthetic value 13. Detail. Gunwhlae, starboard side, Boucher Farmhouse Oyster Cutter (Photo: D. Shefi 03/02/06)
Structural Elements The frames and futtocks found on the Boucher Farmhouse Oyster Cutter are document. Though the image does not contain any scale, it does however show how the structure is joined. 14. Boucher Oyster Cutter, detail of frames and futtocks (Photo: D. Shefi 03/02/06)
Structural Elements 15. Detail. Western end of the keel, Caprice (Photo: D. Shefi 07/02/06) The western end of the Caprice, Mount Dutton Bay Most likely a part of the keel The photograph demonstrates the beginnings of a photo mosaic. The intent was to create a photo mosaic however, due to poor visibility it was not possible to complete.
Underwater Archaeologists 16. (left) D. Zwart drawing the Caprice (mid.) M. Staniforth surveying the Caprice (right) Z. Woodford laying the baseline under the Mount Dutton Bay Jetty (Photo: D. Shefi Feb. 2006) Underwater archaeologists use various techniques to survey a site including drawing a mud map, nondisturbance survey and laying baseline for measurements