What is Maritime Archaeology?

Maritime archaeology is a sub-discipline of archaeology and can be defined as the systematic study of the material remains of people and their activities on, under, near or associated with the sea. A variety of names have been given to studies in this general area of archaeology, including underwater archaeology, marine archaeology, archaeology under water, nautical archaeology, and coastal archaeology. Archaeological sites can include the remains of ships (shipwrecks), boats (boat finds), other watercraft, aircraft underwater, as well as cultural material dropped, lost or deliberately deposited in the water. Other sites or archaeological evidence includes the remains of structures that were built in, on or near the water, such as fishtraps, crannongs, bridges, piers, jetties and wharves. Maritime archaeology can also examine sites or remains that are completely dry, like lighthouses, harbour constructions, shore-based maritime industries (sealing and whaling), shipwreck shelter huts, houses of refuge, and lifesaving stations.

There are only a handful of universities worldwide that offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the study of maritime archaeology.  The Department of Archaeology at Flinders University has taught maritime archaeology at undergraduate level since 1996 and at postgraduate level since 2002.  The Graduate Program in Maritime Archaeology was established in 2002 and is now the largest, most successful and currently the only active program of its kind in Australia. The program draws students from all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Japan.

Dedicated topics in maritime archaeology at Flinders include:
ARCH2004: Australian Maritime Archaeology
ARCH3005: Underwater and Caostal Archaeology
ARCH3304: Maritime Archaeology Field School

Flinders University Diving Requirements

For more information about studying maritime archaeology at Flinders please contact the lecturers in maritime archaeology, Associate Professor Mark Staniforth or Jennifer McKinnon.

Click image to see movie clip of students communicating underwater.	Click image to see movie clip of students mapping underwater.
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Current/Ongoing Projects

Archaeology of Whaling in Southern Australia and New Zealand
Australian Shipbuilding Project
Kangaroo Island shipwreck shelter huts
Oystertown
Independence construction site, Kangaroo Island

Past Projects

Divett Street
Port Adelaide Historical Archaeology Project (PAHA)
Old Port Willunga Jetty (Maritime Survey conducted by Aidan Ash: photos - Matt Schlitz)
The Abandoned Ships Project (ASP), and the Australian National Abandoned Vessel Database (ANAVD)