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Q. What is Underwater Archaeology in Florida?
A. Underwater archaeology anywhere is simply archaeology done underwater. In general, archaeology gathers data from artifacts and remains left behind by people. Archaeologists then try to connect that data to past behaviors. Ultimately, archaeology helps us understand how past peoples and cultures lived.
The techniques in underwater archaeology are the same as archaeology on land. In some cases, however, tasks essential to archaeological excavation underwater are greater due to the high cost of obtaining and maintaining equipment and the treatments that waterlogged artifacts require. Once brought to the surface waterlogged artifacts must be immediately taken care of in order to survive in the dry air. This treatment, known as conservation, can sometimes take years to complete and can be very expensive.
The products of archaeology on land and underwater are always the same and always exciting. Every site has something new to offer. Just as on land, underwater archaeology is made up of many different and interesting types of sites. Examples of archaeological sites discovered in Florida waters include:
A. Yes, but they aren't permits. They are performance-based contracts and are administered by Rule 1A-31 of the Florida Administrative Code. The State of Florida will enter into a contract with Florida corporations that are interested in searching for historic shipwrecks in Florida waters under some pretty stringent requirements. In order for the contract to become executed by the Director of the Division of Historical Resources, the contractor must assure the contract manager that the contracting company can uphold the archaeological guidelines that are set forth by Rule 1A-31 and are written into every contract.
Treasure hunting in Florida has been popularized to the point where many people think that every shipwreck in Florida waters has treasure or provides clues to where treasure may be located. This just isn't true. Florida shipwrecks range in time and use, from the Colonial Era through the Early American and Civil War periods to the modern era. A shipwreck's true "treasure" is derived through public participation and recreation.
Q. What should I do when I find an underwater archaeological site?
A. The best thing to do when you find a site is to not disturb it. Archaeological sites, especially underwater, are fragile and once destroyed they are gone for good. We promote the same best practices put forth by all marine resource managers, "take only pictures; leave only bubbles." If you have a camera handy or a way to record the location of the site do so immediately.
As the "discoverer" of a site, you should make some important decisions that will help to determine the site's future. This includes giving us a call or sending us an email reporting the discovery. We can help you in determining what you have found, and whether it has already been reported, recorded, or investigated.
If it's a new site, you can help with the documentation. If it's a previously known site, you can help to provide updated information on its condition. Either way, get ready to do some underwater archaeology!
Q. How do I get involved in Underwater Archaeology in Florida?
A. The best way to get involved in underwater archaeology as a hobby is to seek out local archaeological and historical societies, whose members (while not necessarily concerned with diving) share the same interest in Florida's past. You may want to join a local chapter of the Florida Anthropological Society and become part of the growing network of amateurs throughout the state. When projects come up, you'll have an opportunity to participate. Many university- or government-sponsored field projects accept and count on volunteers to help conduct research.
With thousands of miles of coastlines, hundreds of rivers and streams, and millions of acres of lakes and ponds, Florida waters contain more underwater archaeological sites than any other part of the United States. In response, the Bureau of Archaeological Research has sponsored a number of Shipwreck Preserves and Trails. These products are dedicated to provide opportunities for Florida citizens and tourists to visit and become involved in the unique underwater or marine-related archaeological sites Florida has to offer.
Q. Are training courses available?
In Florida, there are several academic institutions that offer regular undergraduate courses in Underwater Archaeology. These include: University of West Florida, Florida State University, and the University of Miami. UWF also offers graduate seminars in nautical archaeology. Field schools are offered to train students on Florida sites; they last several weeks, and one must be enrolled either as a regular or special student.
Occasionally, the Bureau of Archaeological Research offers underwater archaeological training in response to requests from various sport diving groups and associations. Also, training courses are part of the process in the nomination of new Florida Shipwreck Preserves. A great way to get some training is to nominate a shipwreck for Florida Preserve status and get your fellow local divers involved to learn what it takes to maintain and preserve a shipwreck in you own waters.
Underwater Archaeology in Florida is usually open for public participation. Give us a call or send us an email stating your interest to somehow or someway get involved. There might be a current project already underway in your area. We can help you find out!
It may be a public misconception of diving adventure and intrigue but underwater archaeology requires more time spent in the laboratory, library, museum, or at a desk than it does in the water. In the past twenty years, underwater archaeology has really come into its own as a profession. Many underwater archaeologists began their careers as terrestrial archaeologists and adapted techniques used on land to suit the underwater environment.
Florida academic institutions excel in archaeological research. Many colleges and universities offer Bachelor degree programs in anthropology with a specialization in archaeology. Institutions in Florida that offer undergraduate courses in underwater archaeology include the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida State University, and the University of Miami. UWF also offers graduate seminars. In pursuit of advanced degrees, students generally are required to take courses in cultural resource management, ship construction and architecture, seafaring cultures, maritime history, archaeological theory, underwater excavation methods, and conservation of materials, among others.
Master's degrees generally are necessary to obtain a job in underwater archaeology and many employers require a Ph.D.; graduate degrees in underwater archaeology may be pursued at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Universities in Scotland, England, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, and Australia also offer graduate programs in underwater archaeology.
Q. Once I get a degree, where will I find employment?
As coastal and riverine development in Florida and the importance of preserving and understanding Florida's maritime past continues, the need for more underwater archaeologists will also continue. Some will find employment in a variety of venues, maybe state government, generally within the section that is responsible for the state's historical and cultural resources. Others find jobs in the Federal government within agencies such as the National Park Service the Minerals Management Service, NOAA, and the National Marine Sanctuaries. Universities and colleges employ many archaeologists, both underwater and terrestrial, to teach and to perform research. Museums, particularly those with a maritime emphasis, often have underwater archaeologists on their staffs to research sites, curate collections, design exhibits, interpret the findings, and educate the public. Firms that specialize in contract archaeology often employ those with underwater skills to conduct research and surveys of proposed construction areas.
Q. My family and I love to metal detect on Florida beaches, is it legal?
A. Metal detecting is legal on certain areas of Florida beaches. On the beach, you may detect from the high water mark to the toe of the dune. The high water mark or high tide line is usually identified by a weed line or a break in the surface of the beach. The toe of the dune is the bottommost elevation of where the dune visibly begins to rise. Seaward (surf/inter-tidal zone) of the high water mark is state-owned bottomlands. Metal detecting on state-owned bottomlands without authorization from the Division of Historical Resources is a violation of Chapter 267 and is punishable by law.
Q. Do fossils fall under the same regulations as artifacts?
A. In order to protect and preserve fossils and paleontology sites, the State of Florida has declared that all vertebrate fossils found on state-owned lands belong to the state with title vested in the Florida Museum of Natural History. The Museum administers a permitting program intended to regulate the buying, selling, or trading of vertebrate fossils found on state-owned land, or the systematic and continued collection from a paleontological site. Application for a permit can be made to the Florida Program of Vertebrate Paleontology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl 32611. A permit is not required for happenstance or casual retrieval of vertebrate fossils, or for the collection of invertebrate fossils (such as shellfish, coral, and sponges) and fossil shark teeth.