Underwater Archaeology, White House Bay (St. Kitts)
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When: April 2-30, 2003
Who: Anglo-Danish Maritime Archaeological Team
Description: The Anglo~Danish Maritime Archaeological Team (ADMAT), directed by Simon Q. Spooner BSc, MRICS, MIFA, a final year PhD student in Maritime Archaeology at The Centre for Historical and Maritime Archaeology at University of Bristol, is leading a maritime archaeological field school to St Kitts this April. This is probably the largest maritime archaeological field school ever undertaken in the Caribbean.
ADMAT is setting up a base camp on site. Additional sponsorship has been given by; Geest Line for the provision of containers and the shipping of about 20 tons of equipment required for the project, Polypipe for the dredges, Kawasaki UK for assistance on the water pumps and generators, Abyss UK for a drop camera, Cable & Wireless for mobile communications, NIBCO for the grid parts, TDC for transportation as well as Aquascan International Ltd, who are providing the scientific equipment.
The aim is to record two pre 1760's shipwrecks uncovered in hurricanes in White House Bay off St Kitts. White House Bay has numerous historical mysteries, and with weather and looting, it is a race against time for the archaeological team to survey and record as much as possible. The team hopes to analyse the wrecks, possibly finding out if they were associated with the famous Battle of Frigate Bay in 1782. On January 25th-26th 1782, during the American War of Independence, the British fleet under rear-admiral Sir Samuel Hood took possession of Frigate Bay in a brilliantly planned and executed manoeuvre. This major reverse for the hitherto victorious French Admiral de Grasse, marked the decline of French fortunes in the West Indies. In addition it is hoped that the team will be able to piece the clues together to see if they can identify the type and origin of the ships, their purpose and how the ships got wrecked. If the team gets time the natural careening area will also be investigated as part of the project
Other Stuff: This project is open to all divers and students with spaces for up to 15. Students do not have to have archaeological training, as all training will be given. Other students are coming from France, America, Italy, Mexico and Canada.
Students can stay for either one, two, three or four weeks, from 2nd April till 30th April. The project aims to survey, record and devise plans to protect two wreck sites and one Careening site. The larger of the wrecks found so far is at the moment unidentified, but from initial examination of the ships construction it appears to be pre 1760's, with five cannons associated with it. The central section of the wreck stretches for over 10 metres. Basic training will be given in as many of the following subjects as time permits: Underwater Mapping & Surveys, Artifact In-Situ Recording, Hull Structure Interpretation, Artifact Registration, Excavation Techniques, Small Finds Photography. In addition it is hoped that courses on the following: Underwater Metal Detectors, Proton Magnetometers, Side Scan Sonar and ROV's; can be arranged as well as other diving courses.
Contact: For further information on how you can join the project, contact Simon Q. Spooner at: info@admat.org.uk
Elsewhere on the Web:
Anglo-Danish Maritime Archaeology Team
Home page of the project
