Site Formation Processes of Submerged Shipwrecks

Download or read book Site Formation Processes of Submerged Shipwrecks written by Matthew E. Keith and published by University Press of Florida. This book was released on 2016-01-30 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many factors influence the formation of shipwreck sites: the materials from which the ship was built, the underwater environment, and subsequent events such as human activity, storms, and chemical reactions. In this first volume to comprehensively catalogue the physical and cultural processes affecting submerged ships, Matthew Keith brings together experts in diverse fields such as geology, soil and wood chemistry, micro- and marine biology, and sediment dynamics. The case studies identify and examine the natural and anthropogenic processes--corrosion and degradation on one hand, fishing and trawling on the other--that contribute to the present condition of shipwreck sites. The contributors also discuss how these varied and often overlapping events influence the archaeological record. Offering an in-depth analysis of emerging technologies and methods—acoustic positioning, computer modeling, and site reconstruction--this is an essential study for the research and preservation of submerged heritage sites.