Sidescan Sonar Technology Helps Researchers Locate 1837 Shipwreck in Lake Erie

The Cleveland Underwater Explorers (CLUE) have posted sidescan sonar images they used to find the historic shipwreck of the steamship Anthony Wayne in 50 feet of water in Lake Erie. CLUE had a busy year and has posted about their discoveries. You’ll find a link to their page under the NEW Entries section at the top of the MUA Home Page.

http://www.uri.edu/mua

Also…

The popular World War Two Saipan Beach Invasion Project Journal is almost complete. View the most recent entries with underwater video and photos of submerged landing craft, tanks, sub chasers, and air planes here:

http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/saipan/saipan_intro.shtml

Want to contribute?

The MUA is seeking exhibits editors for Europe, South America, and Africa. If you’re in touch with underwater archaeologists in those areas and would like to help them share their research with the public and numerous schools online send us an email.

`Jones’: Real archaeologists don’t have whips

Well, most don’t anyway. I’m not saying I have one mind you, at least not publicly. Anyway here’s a link to the article…

Click here.

Ohio Launches Shipwreck Website

On the bottom of Lake Erie lie tales of drama, history and commerce. Now the state is bringing these shipwreck stories to the surface in an effort to attract divers and educate the masses.

The state just launched a Web site, www. ohioshipwrecks.org, that details 28 of the 277 known shipwrecks in Lake Erie.

Read the article…

Underwater Archaeology of World War 2 Invasion Beaches in Saipan

On June 15, 1944 US Marines stormed ashore beginning the Battle for Saipan. World War II tanks, landing craft, barges, ships, and material litters the waters. Today the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on the Island of Saipan has brought in underwater archaeologists Jason Burns and Michael Krivor to inventory their submerged cultural resources. As part of their public outreach program Jason and Michael will post updates on how the project is proceeding.

You can read their first entry on the MUA here:
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/saipan/saipan_intro.shtml

Best regards,

T Kurt Knoerl

Zoom in for a Closer Look at the Lake Ontario Maritime Cultural Landscape Project

Last July Texas A & M graduate student Ben Ford asked, “What lies between terrestrial and submerged archaeology?” His reply: “The archeology of the shore.” Today Ben offers some preliminary results from last summer’s maritime cultural landscape field work.

This latest entry utilizes a flash based zoom-in map. It’s the first time we’ve used this particular technology so let us know how you like it.

You can view this latest post here:
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/bf/bf_3-19.shtml

In other news….

Additional education kits are now available for teaching underwater archaeology in the classroom. To request a kit or more information send an email to the address listed below.

education@themua.org

 

Learning Underwater Archaeology in Thailand

University Student Warang Petch has given the MUA its first post from Thailand. Ms Petch describes how students in Thailand gain underwater archaeological training in a country that has no formal university programs in underwater archaeology. You can read about her experiences at the Hin Bush wreck site in Thailand by visiting the “In The Field” section of the MUA here: http://www.uri.edu/mua

In other news…

Flinders University in Australia has completed their 2008 field school. Underwater Archaeologist Mark Staniforth has posted a wrap up entry for their project Journal. Select the entry dated February 24th from the left menu here: http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/flinders08/flinders08_intro.shtml

This spring is shaping up to be a busy one for the MUA with projects coming in from around the world. Don’t forget to check back for future posts.

Flinders University Offers Practicum in St. Augustine, Florida

Flinders University in Australia will be offering an underwater archaeology practicum in St. Augustine, FL from June 30th to July 18th. This course will be hosted in partnership with the Lighthouse Archaeology and Maritime Program. Don’t miss this opportunity to work with a great bunch of instructors in a fantastic setting. See their announcement for enrollment options here.

The 2008 North East Florida Symposium on Maritime Archaeology

The second Annual Northeast Florida Symposium on Maritime Archaeology, sponsored by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) and the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM-NERR), will be held in St. Augustine, Florida from March 12th through the 15th, 2008. The Symposium includes three days of presentations by invited speakers covering a host of topics including prehistoric underwater archaeology, conservation of artifacts from underwater sites, the archaeology of shipwreck sites in Florida and around the world, management of submerged cultural resources, and graduate student archaeological research projects.

Read more… 

In the News

Storms, shifting sands give Oregon new look at history

PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — The storms that have lashed Oregon’s scenic coast this winter have dredged up an unusual array of secrets: old shipwrecks, historic cannons, ghost forests — even strangely shaped iron deposits.  Read more…

New Discoveries and a New Entry for the Lake Ontario Maritime Cultural Landscape Journal

Folks:

Texas A&M PhD student Ben Ford reports in his latest journal entry that last summers work on Lake Ontario identified 21 sites, the vast majority of which were not previously recorded. These sites ranged from the Middle Archaic Period (at least 5000 years ago) to the late 19th century. Ben is now gearing up for the upcoming season. Check out his latest entry here: http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/bf/bf_2-26.shtml

Call for MUA volunteers:
The MUA is currently looking for volunteers interested in expanding our coverage of underwater projects from around the world. We are looking for project coordinators for Africa, South America, and Europe. If you’re interested in working with us to help underwater archaeologists bring their projects (and your own) to the public’s attention please contact us at: research@themua.org

We are also looking for educators that are interested in helping us continue to develop our education kits and programs. Interested individuals can contact us at education@themua.org

Best regards,

T Kurt Knoerl