Sound Methods: The Necessity of High-resolution Geophysical Data for Planning Deepwater Archaeological Projects

The availability of deepwater survey technology allows researchers to work more readily in waters beyond conventional diving limits and makes possible an increased number of historical shipwreck projects. Several deepwater historical wreck sites are being investigated, some are being archaeologically mapped, and a few are even being excavated. Conducting a deepwater archaeological project to acceptable archaeological standards requires extensive and complex pre-investigation planning; otherwise, valuable data could be lost, as well as expensive ship and sub time wasted. High-resolution geophysical survey data must be a part of this planning process. Utilization of this type of data gives the planning scientists a better overall understanding of the site, which is essential in formulating valid field methodology. Drawing on examples from actual deepwater projects, this article discusses why high-resolution geophysical data is essential to the planning process, the means and methods used to collect the data, and how this data is integrated into the planning process to produce a feasible field project plan.     

The 2004 Deepwrecks Project: Analysis of World War II Era Shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico

In July and August 2004, C & C Technologies, Inc. of Lafayette, LA, USA partnered with scientists and film makers from across the United States and Canada to assess and document archaeological and biological aspects of six World War II shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. The depth of the shipwrecks ranged from 285–6,444 ft (87–1,964 m) below sea level. All six shipwrecks were found during oil and gas related surveys. The United States Department of the Interior, Mineral Management Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Ocean Exploration under the auspices of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program sponsored this multidisciplinary study.     

Between Paralysis and Practice: Theorizing the Political Liminality of Palestinian Cultural Heritage

The Israeli military occupation of Palestine since 1967 coupled with the introduction of limited autonomy in 1993 has positioned the yet-to-be formed nation-state in political liminality—neither completely sovereign nor entirely subjugated. While this ambiguity has obvious ramifications for Palestine as a political entity, it also places the cultural heritage of Palestine in potential jeopardy. This paper examines the legal and historical construction of liminality for Palestine and explores how its ambiguous political status impacts the preservation, protection and management of cultural heritage in Palestine and influences the construction of cultural heritage narratives by Palestinians.

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Résumé  L’occupation militaire israélienne de la Palestine depuis 1967 associée à l’introduction d’une autonomie limitée en 1993 a positionné l’état national encore à venir en liminalité politique—ni complètement souveraine, ni complètement soumise. Tandis que cette ambigüité possède des ramifications évidentes pour la Palestine en tant qu’entité politique, il pose également la question de l’héritage culturel de la Palestine potentiellement en péril. Cet article examine la construction légale et historique de la liminalité concernant la Palestine et explore combien son statut politique ambigu a un effet négatif sur la préservation, la protection et la gestion de l’héritage culturel de la Palestine et influence la construction de récits de l’héritage culturel par les palestiniens.

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Resumen  La ocupación militar israelí de Palestina en 1967, unida a la introducción de un autonomía limitada en 1993, ha colocado a esta nación estado aún sin constituir en una especie de tierra de nadie política: ni es un estado totalmente soberano ni enteramente sometido. Si bien es cierto que esta ambigüedad tiene consecuencias obvias para Palestina como entidad política, también pone en serio riesgo su patrimonio cultural. En este trabajo se analiza la interpretación de esta tierra de nadie palestina desde un punto de vista jurídico e histórico, y se explora la repercusión de este ambiguo estado político en la preservación, protección y gestión del patrimonio cultural de Palestina y su influencia en la elaboración de obras literarias sobre patrimonio cultural por parte de los palestinos.