Maritime archaeology in schools
The Hampshire & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology (HWTMA) have been running educational sessions within and beyond schools for many years. Maritime archaeology is a broad subject incorporating submerged prehistoric landscapes that tell us about long-term climate change, shipwrecks, coastal and foreshore sites which show historic trade routes, international links and conflicts and cutting-edge science that helps archaeologists extract clues from the past.
Archaeology is a subject and profession that requires a diverse range of subject knowledge and skills. It incorporates desk-based research, field work (e.g. survey, recording and excavation), post-excavation work such as finds-recording (photography, video, illustration), interpretation, conservation, archiving, display and dissemination.
As such it provides an excellent example of a cross-curricular approach in practice, with an extensive and varied range of case-studies, drawing on science, geography, maths, English, history and cross-curricular themes such as exploration and investigation and sustainable management of the environment.
Maritime archaeology offers further opportunities for work in all subject areas due to the additional physical and logistical limits and opportunities presented by archaeology in wet, damp and submerged environments. The physics of diving, marine geophysical survey, shipwrecks as time-capsule, submerged prehistoric landscapes being a few examples.
The Trust has been working with schools for some years now, delivering lessons and workshops for primary, secondary school and college pupils. This can involve a general introduction to the subject or bespoke sessions to support a topic or theme that the school is following. The Trust is a strong supporter of the Learning Outside the Classroom manifesto and runs educational workshops both within and outside of the school environment. Such sessions have included:
Archaeologist for an hour - using basic archaeological survey equipment and techniques to survey hulks ('shipwrecks' on the foreshore) or artificial sites. An excellent opportunity to apply maths in the field.
After-school club - What is archaeology? What clothes and tools do maritime archaeologists need and why? Mini-fieldtrip: beachcombing. Archaeological recording (drawing and with cameras).
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) - have a go at being an ROV pilot with our mini-ROVs. Learn how they're used in maritime archaeology.
Stone Age People - how a site 12m under water is helping archaeologists learn about stone age people. With real and replica artefacts, samples and a stone age man in costume.
Science afloat - on the National Oceanography Centre's (University of Southampton) Research Vessel Callista, which looks at Oceanography and Maritime Archaeology - showing the 'sexier' side to science.
Looking at technological development through historic ships.
Looking at Southampton's maritime past through buildings and other evidence remaining today.
An archaeologist's work-bag. What do they need and why?
Incredible Hulks! 'Shipwrecks' on the foreshore: remains of past industries, ways of life and home to a myriad of species! Shipwrecks as time-capsules: when a large ship sets sail, it contains everything a ship's population needs to survive. As such, it is like a time-capsule and can tell us amazing stories about the past and the people who lived at that time.
The Trust has developed a range of resources for use within schools, these include:
Secrets of the Solent Resource Pack
"Secrets of the Solent, a resource pack for pupils at key stage 2, explores the challenges and excitements of marine archaeology. We learn about how divers operate, why shipwrecks are an important source of evidence as time capsules and how artefacts can be described and identified. We are also introduced to some fascinating submerged landscapes and the effect of changes in sea level." Times Educational Supplement (TES) Tom Deveson (October 2005).
Aggregates to Outreach Teaching Pack and Handling Collection
This resource opens up a window into the subjects of maritime archaeology, marine aggregate extraction and marine biology. It highlights their importance and the relationships between them. The pack is linked to national curriculum targets and themes. Teachers are able to use them in schools to teach science, history and geography. Aggregates to Outreach Teaching Pack and Handling Collection
There is also a range of for children and young people.
The Trust's new 'tool' for education and outreach is a Community Outreach Van (see below) for further information, see our HLF Engaging New Audiences pages.
In addition to the above, HWTMA host work experience placements. For further information, please click here.
Bringing maritime archaeology to your school
The most recent addition to our education ‘toolkit' is a fantastic unique mobile outreach facility generously funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This is a large exhibition-style vehicle which can be driven to a site and opened up into a fully-accessible laboratory come research centre with an emphasis on ‘hands-on' and ‘please DO touch!' The contents are an inspiring cocktail of the ancient and futuristic. A custom-built storage unit, holding a selection of real and replica artefacts for visitors to examine, sits alongside interactive touch-screen computer terminals, a large LCD wall-mounted television and an audio system for playing soundtracks, oral histories and podcasts. The height-adjustable table has been cunningly designed so that visitors of all sizes can peer down for a bird's eye view (or hovering diver's view) onto interchangeable models of ships, wrecks, planes, sunken landscapes and artefacts. Click here for further information about the van.
The van provides an excellent focus for school visits and strategic positioning and timing at the school, can provide a rare opportunity to engage parents and carers on the ‘school-run' who can be shown around the van by their excited and enthused children.
Teachers' Workshops
In April 2010 (Easter holidays for some) HWTMA will be running a workshop for teachers looking at how maritime archaeology can support and enhance the national curriculum at primary and secondary level. It will explore a range of resources and activity ideas and demonstrate how maritime archaeology can provide a stimulating and engaging focus for cross-curricular topics and themes. Thanks to funding from English Heritage, this 2-day residential workshop is entirely free to teachers. For further information, please see http://www.hwtma.org.uk/training-workshops or contact christin.heamagi@hwtma.org.uk . If you are unable to make the April workshop but would otherwise be interested, please let us know as further workshops may be arranged in the future.