Archaeology Underwater: The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice

v

List of Figures viii

List of Plates xi

Foreword xiii

Acknowledgements xiv

1 The NAS Handbook – Why It Was

Written 1

2 Underwater Archaeology 2

What Is Archaeology? 2

What Is Archaeology Under Water? 5

What Is NotArchaeology Under Water? 6

Closely Related and Complementary

Approaches (Ethnography and

Experimental Archaeology) 8

Further Information 10

3 Getting Involved in Underwater and

Foreshore Archaeology 11

Further Information 13

4 Basic Principles – Making the Most

of the Clues 15

The Importance of Underwater Sites 15

Site Types 17

The Range of Evidence on an

Archaeological Site 19

Links Between Categories of Evidence 22

Using the Evidence 22

Dating 24

Environment and Site-Formation

Processes 28

The Deterioration of Wood 30

Culture and Site-Formation Processes 31

Further Information 33

5 Project Planning 34

The Project Design 34

Further Information 37

6 Safety on Archaeological Sites Under

Water and on the Foreshore 38

Risk Assessments 38

Diving Project Plan 39

Codes of Practice 39

Control of Diving Operations 40

Working Under Water 40

Potential Diving Problems and Solutions 40

Safety During Excavation 42

Inter-Tidal Site Safety 43

Further Information 44

7 International and National Laws Relating

to Archaeology Under Water 45

Jurisdiction – Where Do the Laws

Apply? 45

The Regime in International Waters 46

International Salvage Law 47

Underwater Cultural Heritage and

Salvage Law 47

Ownership of Underwater

Cultural Heritage 48

Abandonment of Ownership 48

National Legislation 48

International Conventions 49

Case Studies 50

Further Information 52

8 Archaeological Recording 53

The Need for Recording 53

Recording Systems 54

Planning the Recording: What to Record 54

Contents

9781405175913_1_pre.qxd 5/7/08 6:24 PM Page v