Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation

Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation
Name	Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation
Established	1990s
Type	Research centre
Location	Swansea, United Kingdom
Parent	University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation

The Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation is a research and teaching centre focused on maritime archaeology, underwater cultural heritage, and conservation science based in Swansea, Wales. The Centre engages with archaeological projects across the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean, collaborating with institutions such as the British Museum, National Museum Wales, and the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Its work intersects with legal frameworks including the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and partnerships with maritime museums like the Mary Rose Museum.

History

The Centre traces roots to university departments active during the 1990s and early 2000s, influenced by fieldwork traditions associated with Flinders University, University of Southampton, and University of Oxford. Early projects were inspired by discoveries linked to HMS Victory (1765), Spanish Armada wreck studies near Galicia, and excavations comparable to those at Portus Julius and Alexandria. The Centre developed after funding initiatives similar to awards from the Leverhulme Trust and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, expanding research programmes alongside institutions such as the National Oceanography Centre and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology.

Research and Projects

Research themes include site formation processes comparable to studies at Pompeii for terrestrial taphonomy, artefact conservation akin to work on the Mary Rose (ship), and maritime landscape analysis like projects in the Doggerland area. Major projects have examined shipwrecks from periods including Age of Discovery, Industrial Revolution, and World War II sinkings such as Bismarck (ship), alongside coastal archaeology in regions like Gower Peninsula and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The Centre conducts dendrochronology and dendroprovenance studies related to timbers similar to analyses used at Viking Age Ribe and collaborates on geoarchaeological surveys employing techniques used by the Geological Survey of Ireland and British Geological Survey.

Facilities and Collections

Facilities include wet laboratories modelled on conservation suites at the British Museum Conservation and Scientific Research, climate-controlled stores comparable to those at National Museum of Scotland, and a conservation workshop equipped for electrolytic reduction and polyethylene glycol treatments used for artefacts like those conserved from the Vasa (ship). The Centre curates collections of finds from local and international excavations similar to holdings at the Maritime Museum Rotterdam and maintains archives that interface with repositories such as the National Archives (UK) and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.

Education and Training

The Centre offers postgraduate programmes aligned with curricula at the University of Southampton School of Archaeology, professional training akin to courses run by the Institute for Archaeologists and short courses similar to those offered by the Archaeological Institute of America. Training covers underwater survey methods comparable to technologies used by Ocean Infinity, remote sensing techniques used in NOAA projects, and conservation approaches paralleling work at the Smithsonian Institution. Students undertake fieldwork on expeditions resembling those conducted by Wessex Archaeology and internships with partners like the National Maritime Museum.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Collaborative networks include partnerships with the British Antarctic Survey for polar maritime heritage, cooperation with the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies for Mediterranean projects, and joint programmes with the Commonwealth Heritage Forum. The Centre works with statutory authorities such as Cadw and international bodies like ICOMOS and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to align research with policy instruments including the Nairobi Convention. It has engaged in multidisciplinary projects alongside the Natural History Museum, London, the Centre for Remote Sensing and Processing (CRISP), and commercial firms such as Fugro.

Outreach and Public Engagement

Public engagement includes exhibitions modelled on displays at the Maritime Museum, Barcelona, lecture series similar to programming by the Royal Geographical Society, and citizen science initiatives comparable to those promoted by Heritage Lottery Fund projects. Educational outreach extends to schools through programmes inspired by the STEM Ambassadors scheme and public events held in collaboration with venues like the Swansea Grand Theatre and National Waterfront Museum. The Centre disseminates findings via journals such as International Journal of Nautical Archaeology and conferences including the European Association of Archaeologists and Underwater Archaeology Proceedings.

Category:Maritime archaeology