Project Summary
Securing a Future for Maritime Archaeological Archives
At present there is a critical lack of long-term, accessible and secure homes for maritime archaeological archives (the artefacts, samples and documentary and digital records from the many investigations undertaken in the marine zone around the UK). There is a severe lack of capacity in our museums and archives to curate maritime archaeological archives and there is a parallel lack of knowledge about the scale and extent of the problem. Many maritime archaeological investigations have been on-going for a number of years, during which there has been no available support in archiving standards and facilities. This has lead to a situation where some of the most important maritime archaeological archives have no available facilities for their long-term care and sustained public access. They remain at risk of dispersal, physical deterioration, and even private sale.
The ‘Securing a Future for Maritime Archaeological Archives’ project aims to gather data in three key areas to establish:
Current geographical remits of museums and archives in the offshore zone
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The extent of the current situation regarding maritime archives
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Gauge future demand for maritime archaeological archive capacity
The results will provide a baseline data survey that will allow heritage agencies and government departments to assess the most appropriate way to deliver increased support for those creating archaeological archives. It will also help inform the development of future archive management capacity on a national level to ensure these important collections have a publicly accessible home and are properly curated for current and future generations of researchers, school children and members of the public interested in their maritime heritage.
The project aims to gather data in order to quantify the problem. It does not aim, and has no remit, to take archaeological archives into public ownership, where there is no desire from the owner to do this. Instead the project seeks to reach a large and diverse range of individuals and organisations who may hold, or are producing, archaeological archives, so that a clear view of the situation is established. These will include:
Public museums
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Private collections, exhibitions and non-public ‘museums’
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Archaeological Contractors
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Research Sector
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Designated Wreck Site Licensees and Nominated Archaeologists; and
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Other individuals e.g. Divers reporting recovery through the Receiver of Wreck.
Archaeologists work on the Hazardous Maritime Archive
For the purpose of the project a maritime archaeological archive will be defined as:
Material relating to shipwrecks and associated artefacts (whether single finds or collections), aircraft remains, now-submerged prehistoric landscapes and terrestrial sites, and any other archaeological sites or finds lying below the high water mark.
Archaeological archive material might be documentary including field notes, reports (including grey literature), photographs, drawings and slides, objects (both artefactual and environmental samples) or digital.
Records of investigations, or archaeological interventions, which have produced any of the above types of archive including desk based assessments, survey (direct and remote), evaluation, excavation and artefact-recovery.
Maritime Archaeological Archive Survey
The project scope includes England and Scotland, where a comprehensive maritime archaeological archive survey will be carried out. The primary data-gathering phase will be undertaken through questionnaires. These have been designed to be as clear and brief as possible and can be completed on-line.
For more information and to complete the questionnaires:
Click here if you are a Public Museum or Archive
Click here if you are an Archaeologist, Diver, private exhibition or collection
This project is being undertaken by the Hampshire & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology and the Institute of Field Archaeologists with support from the Archaeology Data Service, after recognition through the Archaeological Archives Forum that the situation in relation to maritime archives was one of urgent national importance. This project has been made possible through funding from:
English Heritage, Historic Scotland, the Royal Commission for the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland and the Society of Museum Archaeologists.
Downloads and links
Full Project Design for ‘Securing a Future for Maritime Archives’
Tightening the Net
SMA Mapping Museum Collection Areas
