The Archaeology of Watercraft Abandonment

The historical importance and archaeological potential of deliberately discarded watercraft has not been a major feature of maritime archaeological enquiry. While research on the topic has appeared since the 1970s as books, chapters, and articles, most examples have been limited in focus and distribution, and in most cases disseminated as unpublished archaeological reports (i.e. the “gray literature”.) So, too, has there been a lack of a single source representing the diversity of geographical, historic, thematic, and theoretical contexts that ships’ graveyard sites and deliberately abandoned vessels represent.

In contrast with much of the theoretical or case-specific literature on the theme of watercraft discard, this volume communicates to the reader the common heritage and global themes that ships’ graveyard sites represent. It serves as a blueprint to illustrate how the remains of abandoned vessels in ships' graveyards are sites of considerable research value. Moreover, the case studies in this volume assist researchers in understanding the evolution of maritime technologies, economies, and societies. This volume is intended to expose research potential, create discussion, and reinforce the significance of a prevalent cultural resource that is often overlooked.

• abandoned ships in Australia
• archaeology of abandoned ships
• cultural resource management and abandoned watercraft
• maritime archaeology and ships
• site management of abandoned watercraft
• site significance and abandoned watercraft
• site significance and discarded ships
• tourism and maritime archaeology
• underwater exploration of abandoned ships

• Program in Maritime Studies, History and Coastal Resources Management, East Carolina University, Greenville, USA

  Nathan Richards

• , Submerged Resources Center, National Park Service, Lakewood, USA

  Sami Kay Seeb

Policies and ethics