A detailed introduction to the research methods and the field equipment currently employed in maritime archaeology. This course is a prerequisite for participation at the Summer Field School. For most of the course, each week is separated into two sections; a theory component where the method is explained and illustrated with appropriate case studies in a formal lecture, and a practical component where students are taken into the field where they get a chance to use the equipment.
HIST6820 2015 Outline:
- Introduction to HIST 6820
- Archaeology underwater: Difficulties, budgets & logistics overview
- The importance of “research first”: Lessons from case studies
- Research methods: Introduction to sources
- Charts and maps theory
- Visual search techniques theory
- Low-tech position fixing theory: Line of sight transits; photo transits; compass transits; sextant use
- Low-tech position fixing exercises
- High tech position fixing theory: Geographical Positioning Systems
- High tech position fixing practice
- Terrestrial survey theory
- Underwater survey and mapping theory
- Underwater survey mapping method practice: Not to scale sketches
- Underwater survey mapping method practice: Scaled systems
- Drafting
- Site photography theory
- Artifact photography theory
- Artifact illustration theory
- Artifact illustration practical
- Excavation theory: Probing and Sampling
- Post-project practices: Methods
- Introduction to high-tech methods