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Abstract: Abstract The Early and Middle Neolithic (3500–2300 [Before Current Era] BCE) Pitted Ware Culture (PWC) was a critical component of the historical trajectory of Scandinavia’s maritime history. The hunter-gatherer societies of the PWC were highly adapted to maritime environments, and they fished, hunted, travelled, and traded across great distances over water. Exactly what boat types they used, however, is still an open question. Understanding the maritime technologies used by the PWC is a critical research area as they had an important impact on subsequent maritime adaptations in Scandinavian prehistory. Unfortunately, finding intact boats from Neolithic contexts is extremely difficult. Here, we present indirect evidence for the use of skin boats by PWC people as a first step towards building a dialog on the types of boats that would have been used during this period. We argue that multiple lines of evidence suggest that skin boats were widely used for every-day activities and long-distance voyages by PWC peoples and will discuss the implications of possible complex boat use by Neolithic peoples for our understanding of early Scandinavian maritime societies. PubDate: 2024-08-26
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Abstract: Abstract This article critically reviews four decades of development of maritime and underwater archaeology in India (MUAI). Established in 1981, the first Marine Archaeology Centre at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research—National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, India, has conducted a series of maritime and underwater investigations. The country has also attracted international collaborations mainly focused on maritime ethnographic studies. As such, the discipline has seen steady growth, but its progress unfortunately remains slow and is struggling to keep pace with the developments happening within the discipline globally. A significant setback was in 2015 when the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India was defunct. Furthermore, India is not a signatory to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. This raises the question—what does the future hold for the MUAI' The government’s plan to establish the country’s first National Maritime Museum to display maritime past and its intention to revive the UAW to boost research indicates some optimism towards the survival of the field. Nonetheless, there exists gaps in research approaches and methodologies adopted so far and problems and challenges faced by the discipline that are hindering its growth. Along with discussing the aforementioned issues, this paper concludes with prospects for the future of MUAI. PubDate: 2024-08-14
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Abstract: Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of three bronze ring fragments with distinct corrosion patterns from the Nanhai No.1 shipwreck, employing optical microscopy, SEM–EDS, µ-RS, and µ-EDXRF techniques. The results exhibit that each bronze ring fragment displays unique corrosion characteristics but shares similarities in their patina structures: an outer layer composed of CuFeS2) and malachite, a subsurface layer of CuS) and/or Copper Tin Sulfide, and an inner copper-depleted layer rich in tin and lead. These layers indicate the artifacts experienced three distinct corrosion stages corresponding to aerobic, anaerobic, and re-aerobic conditions, aligned with the ship's sinking, sediment coverage, and post-recovery scenarios. The study reveals that the pre-anaerobic corrosion products significantly influenced the corrosion kinetics in subsequent environments, affecting the final composition and structure of the patina. Notably, the outer CuS layer, regardless of its compactness, is unable to prevent the selective dissolution of copper from the alloy. The formation of a cuprite layer beneath the copper-depleted layer post-recovery suggests a corrosion resumption due to changes in environmental oxygen levels. These insights emphasize the need for targeted conservation strategies for marine-recovered bronze artifacts, considering their complex corrosion history and environmental interactions. PubDate: 2024-07-24
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Abstract: Abstract The Bronze Age Harappan Civilisation thrived between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE in the northwestern part of the Indian Subcontinent. The Harappans established robust interregional trade networks, efficiently managing procurement and distribution across various regions. Water transport was crucial to these trade activities, offering a cost-effective and faster means of transportation. This was particularly important in the Kachchh region, where the unique geographical features favoured waterborne trade. Extensive maritime routes allowed the Harappans to expand their trade pursuits to distant regions such as Mesopotamia, the Persian Gulf, and the Arabian Peninsula. The intercultural trade and exchange were facilitated by a series of settlements on the Kachchh coast, prominent among them being Dholavira, Shikarpur, Bagasra, Kanmer, Surkotada and sites on the Makran coast. By incorporating satellite data, on-site observations and existing literature, the present study reinvestigates Lothal, an important Harappan port town and production hub, including its adjoining region. This paper explores the contemporary and historical geography of the region, focusing on the Harappan maritime routes that were once active but have become entirely defunct due to geomorphic and climatic changes. The analysis identifies three major navigable waterways: the shallow inland water route through the Nal Corridor connecting Lothal to the Little Rann of Kachchh, offering a much shorter and safer path to Harappan sites north of Lothal; the riverine route through the Sabarmati River, leading to Aravalli and the eastern hinterland; and the sea route through the Gulf of Khambhat to the south, providing access to the Ratanpur-Rajpipla mines. This suggested that Lothal was strategically positioned at the intersection of these routes during the Harappan Period, demonstrating the Harappans' advanced geographic knowledge. The results highlight the dynamic nature of procurement and distribution networks and the pivotal role of Lothal and its surrounding landscape in facilitating direct or indirect interregional and intercultural economic exchanges. PubDate: 2024-07-15
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Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract An early to mid-nineteenth century wreck off the Atlantic seaboard of the United States, discovered during deep-sea research in 2015 and subsequently documented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Okeanos Explorer, is likely a wet-well smack employed in Atlantic seaboard fisheries from New England to the southern coast of the United States. This article describes the site, the historical and archaeological context of early American fishing craft, and the African American context of fishing and the fisheries of the period. PubDate: 2024-07-08
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Abstract: Abstract The archaeological evidence from the Nanhai No.1 shipwreck provides tangible evidence for the study of maritime trade during the Song Dynasty, revealing the presence of a significant amount of smuggled metal in the cargo, suggesting possible involvement in smuggling activities. Merchants may have used tactics such as under-reporting and clandestine transportation of prohibited items to evade supervision, thus engaging in the illicit trade of metal materials and artifacts banned by the Song government on the international market. Valuations of the goods recovered from Nanhai No.1 indicate that the value of iron and silver exceeds that of porcelain, while the value of gold objects and currency exceeds that of porcelain by one-third. Research also suggests a possible shift in the model of maritime trade during the Song Dynasty, from government-led to merchant-led, with a gradual weakening of government supervision and control over trade. This change may be related to reforms in trade organization and the government leniency toward prohibited activities. Despite repeated government bans, smuggling of metal goods continued throughout the Song Dynasty, with no significant reduction in the scale of the metal trade due to the profit-seeking behavior of private merchants, highlighting the inadequacy of government control over illegal smuggling activities. This complex interplay between economic gain, national security, private interests and government control had profound implications for China, the broader South China Sea region and beyond, while the outflow of metal artifacts also facilitated the exchange of goods, technology and culture between China and the aforementioned regions. PubDate: 2024-07-02
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Abstract: Abstract The study of the origin of underwater artefacts is a crucial and relevant topic to be highlighted, especially in the Southeast Asia Region, due to the active trading route during the Age of Sail. In the present study, we aim to discover the ship type and sailing route of the Bidong shipwreck using both relative and absolute analysis. The team analysed the wood samples collected at the Bidong shipwreck site during the second excavation phase. The analysis of wood anatomy and Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) was performed on five wood fragments at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). Based on the conducted analyses, two types of trees were identified in the construction of Bidong shipwrecks, namely Giam (Hopea spp.) and Meranti Temak Nipis (Shorea roxburghii). Both types of trees are commonly discovered in tropical climate regimes and the area of the Malay Archipelago. In addition, the team also compared the selected artefacts from the first phase of excavation with some published references of Southeast Asian Ceramic and live records from National Maritime Museums, Chanthaburi, and Southeast Asian Ceramic Museum, Bangkok University, Thailand. Significantly, the comparison analysis suggests that the artefacts rescued from the Bidong shipwreck were Thai ceramics of the Maenam Noi (Singburi) and Si Satchanalai (Sawankhalok) types. The result from these studies suggests that the Bidong shipwreck stopped loading Siamese ceramics or even repairing in Southeast Asia and sailing along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia for some destination in the sixteenth century during the Age of Monsoonal Civilisation. PubDate: 2024-06-21
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Abstract: Abstract This article represents the first historical study of the port site of Genoa Fortress located on the coast of the city of Annaba (عنابة) in Algeria. In it, we sought to highlight this coastal maritime cultural heritage and introduce it by showcasing its role, commercial activity, and the events that the port experienced during various historical periods, along with the sequence and origin of its name over these periods. We also provided a brief historical overview of the city of Annaba (عنابة). Additionally, we explored its relationship with ports on other shores of the Mediterranean Sea, particularly Genoa in Italy, by extracting ideal Genoese maritime routes between Genoa and Annaba (عنابة), utilizing various new methodologies. Therefore, our main objective in this study was to highlight new and significant historical aspects of the Algerian city of Annaba (عنابة), especially during the Middle Ages, through the intensive application of various methodologies, including Google Earth Pro 2023 and geographic information systems. This aimed to provide a comprehensive and clear understanding of how sailors, in general, and Genoese sailors, in particular, selected ideal maritime routes during ancient and medieval historical periods (The maritime route between the port of Genoa in Annaba (عنابة) and the port of Genoa in Genoa as a case study.). PubDate: 2024-06-18 DOI: 10.1007/s11457-024-09397-4
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Abstract: Abstract Following Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941, the Pacific was inundated with war-related infrastructure, as well as military hardware and munitions. Consequently, tons of unexploded munition from wartime activities litter the Pacific seafloor. Additionally, after the end of the Pacific conflict in August 1945, many of the chemical and conventional weapons belonging to the Allies and the Imperial Japanese Army were dumped into the ocean. Sea dumping has left a legacy of underwater munition dumpsites off the coast of Japan and in the waters surrounding former Japanese occupied Pacific islands. The focus of this paper is on the large amounts of poisonous gas and munitions that were manufactured on Okunoshima and subsequently dumped off the coast of Japan pursuant to ‘Operation Lewisite’. It also examines Australia’s contribution to the demilitarisation of Japan within the broader context of the 1945 MacArthur-Northcott Agreement, which established the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). Under the agreement, Australian soldiers were responsible for locating and disposing of thousands of tons of munitions and cannisters of poisonous gas hidden in a labyrinth of underground caves located in the Hiroshima prefecture, the site of the first atomic attack in history. Some eighty years later, these discarded weapons of war pose a profound threat to the marine environment and to human health. Apart from the added risk of explosion due to their age as well as an increased danger of accidental disturbance arising from increased industrial activities on the ocean floor, seafloor relic munitions are a potential source of mercury leakage within the marine environment. PubDate: 2024-05-23 DOI: 10.1007/s11457-024-09393-8
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Abstract: Abstract In 2022 and 2023, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) partnered with Marine Imaging Technologies to conduct remote sensing survey operations in Guam to search for and possibly confirm the locations of four separate B-29 Superfortress wreck sites. The reported locations for these sites are in challenging environments; high seas, fast currents, and strong winds pose hazardous conditions for survey teams and equipment. Additionally, the bathymetry of the areas consists of dynamic changes in depths with sudden valleys, rises, and seamounts, mirroring the rocky coastline which poses threats to successful, strategic surveying and quality results. Marine Imaging Technologies worked with Eastern Search and Survey to develop an innovative survey system that allowed flexibility and pliability for small boat, deeper water, and limited crew operations. This paper discusses the goals, challenges, and results of this project and looks at ways forward on similar missions partnering with DPAA to account for MIA service members. PubDate: 2024-05-23 DOI: 10.1007/s11457-024-09396-5
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Abstract: Abstract The Central American region, comprised of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, has a rich and diverse cultural heritage. This heritage has endured through various contexts, showcasing resilience over time. Despite the increasing interest in underwater cultural heritage in recent decades, there has been limited headway in the conservation, protection, and dissemination of his invaluable legacy. Given this scenario, Central American underwater archaeologists are embarking on a comprehensive review of the evolution of underwater archaeology. This undertaking will address significant events that have shaped the political, academic, and social landscape. Each participating country will contribute to this exploration through three crucial stages, highlighting the progression of this discipline. The goal is to identify commonalities at the regional level. By employing this comparative approach, the objective is to identify strategies that can effectively promote the implementation of underwater archaeology in the region. The ultimate aim is to foster increased commitment and support for preserving underwater cultural heritage. PubDate: 2024-05-20 DOI: 10.1007/s11457-024-09395-6
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Abstract: Abstract One of the great recent discoveries in maritime archaeology was the discovery, in 2015, of a hitherto unknown shipyard in the Cilicia Region. Approximately 294 slipways/shipsheds were found on Dana Island (Pitusu-Pityoussa) in eastern Rough Cilicia (Cilicia Trachea), on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Recent studies carried out in 2023 on the island have added to our knowledge of the techniques of landing and servicing vessels, while also uncovering an additional small slipway at this location. Some of the rock-cut slipways for the ships have modestly sized rock-cut constructions behind or between them, and these have been interpreted as service areas for the tenders to the mother ships. These features may indicate that maintenance of both the ship and tender was carried out simultaneously. The rock-cut slipways on Dana Island have different characteristics and range considerably in type and size, implying the use of different slipping techniques at various periods. A number of these features are present on other known ancient slipways in the Mediterranean, such as Rhtymna, Eulimna and Matalon (Crete), Tell Dor (Israel), and Apollonia (Cyrenaica-Libya). PubDate: 2024-04-29 DOI: 10.1007/s11457-024-09394-7
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Abstract: Abstract This article seeks to complement efforts to summarize information on the exceptional natural significance of the Emperor Seamounts. The human history of the Emperor Seamounts is culturally diverse and spans thousands of years. This ranges from indigenous cultures to the period of European colonial exploration and expansion to the rise of the modern global economy and its impact on the area through the hunting of marine mammals, fishing, and the transportation of commodities across these remote waters on ships. Some of these vessels were wrecked or disappeared, and may rest on the seabed of the Emperor Seamounts. Understanding this human history is critical in approaching the assessment, ongoing study, public outreach and management of this remote region, which has been highlighted as one of the most important areas beyond national jurisdiction to protect globally. PubDate: 2024-04-05 DOI: 10.1007/s11457-024-09389-4
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