Do you spend long hours in the office, dreaming about diving that next wreck? Do you ever find yourself searching for obscure information about ancient civilizations, or even wishing you had better information about more recent history? If so, then a career as an underwater archaeologist might be for you. Whether you’re looking for a career change or if you’re simply curious about what these professional divers do each day, you’ll love this peek into what is both an exciting and fulfilling career.
The History of Underwater Archaeology
Underwater archaeology as we know it today is a relatively new field, but humans have always been interested in the mysteries of the underwater world. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed in a lost golden age, and during the first centuries of the common era, people felt the same way about those lost Mediterranean cultures. During the 15thcentury, Egypt’s famous Nemi Ships were hunted and finally discovered. Free divers went to a depth of 10 fathoms to see them, and finally, lake Nemi was drained and the ships were excavated. In 1836, the Dean Brothers salvaged a few objects from the Mary Rose, and in 1837 Augustus Siebe invented helmets for diving, and ever since, people have been making greater strides into investigating underwater historic sites.
While shipwrecks might be the first thing to come to mind when you think of underwater archaeology, there are thousands of research sites that represent civilizations both ancient and modern. The famous Zurich Lake settlement was first investigated in 1856, and more recent discoveries include Florida’s Windover Pond, Haifa’s Atlit-Yam, Egyptian ruins at Alexandria, and more.
Areas of Interest
Historians interested in everything from sea level changes to WWII aircraft have been able to find plenty of sites to study. Often, archaeologists who specialize in investigating terrestrial sites learn to dive just so they can study wells, bridges, harbors, crannogs, and debris sites, along with submerged cities and ruins. This multidisciplinary approach takes these professionals to a variety of sites the world over, where they can study prehistoric and historic artifacts, learning more about everything from anthropology to cultural variance in different areas.
While many of the sites studied by maritime and underwater archaeologists represent major catastrophes and massive loss of life, they also act as time capsules, capturing moments from everyday life hundreds or thousands of years ago for today’s scholars to study. Commonly used tools and other objects, including woven cloth thousands of years old have been discovered at a variety of sites, burial sites provide insight into ancient beliefs, and ancient sunken cities challenge commonly held beliefs about early civilizations.
Daily Life as an Underwater Archaeologist
Just as other historians and archaeologists spend a substantial amount of time conducting research and studying, then writing about their finds, so do maritime and underwater archaeologists. Preserving information is as essential as is preserving physical artifacts, and photography is a vital part of excavating, as many sites and artifacts cannot be preserved in situ. Scale drawing is used, as well, depending on the site.
Often, nautical archaeologists eat and sleep aboard research vessels, often in cramped conditions. They are exposed to the elements – sometimes cold, sometimes hot, and nearly always wet!
Diving operations and logistics are a key part of underwater excavation – just as sport divers are limited by bottom time and available air supply, along with various underwater conditions, so are archaeological professionals. For this reason, investigating underwater sites often takes much longer than excavating terrestrial sites. Specialized tools and techniques like water dredges and airlifts have been developed to assist in delicate operations, and new technology has made underwater historic sites easier to locate.
Not only do underwater archaeologists specialize in excavating the sites they study, they use archaeological sciences like dendochronology to date wooden timbers, and archaeobotany and achaeozoology to identify plant and animal matter preserved underwater. Concretions can be x-rayed to provide details about metal artifacts, and geology provides important insight into the evolution of a site over time.
Finally, artifacts that are recovered from underwater sites must be stabilized and preserved. In some cases, objects are dried, and in others, as in the case of Portsmouth’s Mary Rose, objects are preserved in an inert medium. Metals and glass have often absorbed salt or leached metals, and sometimes, wooden structures have been mostly consumed by marine worms. Long hours are spent ensuring each artifact recovered undergoes an appropriate conservation process.
Studying to Become an Underwater Archaeologist
Incredibly, almost anyone with a desire to learn more about the field of underwater archaeology can take a hands-on approach to learning. Just as terrestrial digs rely on many people to make work move along, so do underwater sites. Often, divers can simply research sites they are interested in studying, find out which university or agency is handling the conservation efforts, and then sign up to help with the process. For those who find they have a true affinity for studying underwater antiquities, formal study programs are available.
A strong interest in history, and an eye for detail, along with a passion for learning can take you from interested dabbler to professional nautical archaeologist in about four years, although these professionals never stop learning. Many colleges and universities have specialized nautical archaeology degree programs, and various institutes worldwide are dedicated to the study of underwater archaeology. Whether you have time to pursue full time studies, or if you simply wish to take classes one at a time, this is a compelling career that is easy to pursue. You’ll travel to amazing places and see things unseen by human eyes for hundreds or even thousands of years; more importantly, you will have the opportunity to help preserve historic sites and artifacts for the benefit of mankind as a whole.
As a hobby or as a full time profession, underwater archaeology is one of the most fantastic things any diver can partake in. Whether you participate by photographing the wrecks you dive and sharing those pictures with the world, or if you decide to jump into full time study with a giant stride, you’ll find fulfillment, adventure, and good company all over the world.