Tag: history

Lecture: Submerged NC: All Along the Waterfront – Archaeological Investigations of Chesapeake Bay Oyster Boats, February 20th, 2024

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4539089001211081820

Discover how maritime archaeology reveals a new understanding of North Carolina’s historic oyster industry, which remains a significant part of the state’s cultural, environmental, and maritime history. In this webinar, look back at the industry during the 19th and 20th centuries and learn how fishers from northern states changed the industry when they entered North Carolina sounds.

Join Patrick Boyle, a doctoral student in the Texas A&M University Nautical Archaeology Program, to gain insight into North Carolina’s historic oyster industry. Learn about the bugeye, a regional type of boat built in Maryland shipyards, and why its construction was perfect for North Carolina waters. Discover the influence of Chesapeake Bay oysterers on the industry, and explore several oyster boat shipwrecks in the region as he talks about his archaeological research. 

Patrick Boyle – Biography Patrick Boyle is a doctoral student in the Texas A&M University Nautical Archaeology Program researching the differing construction methods of the vernacular oyster boats of Chesapeake Bay. Having obtained an MPhil in Historical and Maritime Archaeology from the University of Bristol, UK, and an MA from the Program in Maritime Studies at East Carolina University, Patrick previously worked as the Assistant State Underwater Archaeologist for Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources. Patrick spends his free time hiking, reading, and is pursuing his divemaster certification.

Underwater Archaeologist

Job Announcement: 

The Maritime Research Division of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina, Columbia is seeking an Underwater Archaeologist (ARCH-I).  The position is full-time with benefits and will work on the main campus in Columbia.  Applications will be received until midnight Friday, 1 April 2024 or until the position is filled.  We hope to offer the position by the end of February with a start date at an agreed upon time shortly thereafter.  The successful candidate will work alongside two other Division staff members and complement efforts to preserve the maritime archaeological legacy in the lakes, rivers, and coastal waters of South Carolina. 

Underwater Archaeologist (ARCH-I): 

The incumbent reports directly to the State Underwater Archaeologist. The employee will work with the supervising archaeologist to meet the program’s goals, specifically relating to education and outreach. The employee will act as the administrator for the Hobby Licensing process and manage all databases relating to the program. The employee will support archaeological research and act as principal/co-principal investigator on Maritime Research Division (MRD) projects designated by the supervisor. The employee will also manage equipment and act as a dive safety officer for the MRD. This position requires periodic travel for fieldwork, presentations, and meetings. 

Link for additional information and to apply for the job:   

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/163518

For information about the MRD please visit:   

Maritime Research – SC Institute for Archeology and Anthropology | University of South Carolina 

For more information about the Hobby Licenses please visit: 

Hobby Licenses – SC Institute for Archeology and Anthropology | University of South Carolina 

For more information about employment at USC please visit: 

Division of Human Resources – Human Resources | University of South Carolina (sc.edu) 

For more information about this position and duties please contact: 

James D. Spirek 

State Underwater Archaeologist 

Maritime Research Division 

South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology 

University of South Carolina 

1321 Pendleton Street 

Columbia SC  29208 USA 

Office phone: (803) 576-6566 

Fax: (803) 254-1338 

E-mail: spirek@sc.edu 

SCIAA Web Site: http://www.cas.sc.edu/sciaa/ 

Maritime Research Division Website:  http://artsandsciences.sc.edu/sciaa/mrd/ 

Follow MRD on Facebook: @MaritimeResearchDivision 

Free Lecture:

Diving With a Purpose: Exploring Submerged Heritage Preservation and Conservation of the African Diaspora

New England Aquarium Lecture Series with Jay V. Haigler: Thursday, February 15

Diving With a Purpose: Exploring Submerged Heritage Preservation and Conservation of the African Diaspora

WHAT: In celebration of Black History Month, the New England Aquarium Lecture Series presents Jay Haigler, archaeologist and founding member of Diving With a Purpose (DWP), an international non-profit organization that documents and protects African slave-trade shipwrecks. DWP promotes maritime archaeology and ocean conservation through educational and training programs, mission leadership, and project support services for submerged heritage preservation and conservation projects worldwide, with a focus on the African Diaspora. In his talk, Haigler will share the powerful story of Clotilda—the last known slave ship to enter America.

The New England Aquarium Lecture Series is presented free to the public through the generosity of the Lowell Institute.

WHEN: Thursday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: In person at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre, 1 Central Wharf, Boston. The lecture will also be livestreamed via Zoom.

HOW: The public can register for the free event here.

WHO: Jay V. Haigler is a registered archaeologist, founding board member, and lead instructor of Diving With a Purpose. He is the principal investigator for a U.S. Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency mission to search, identify, and recover World War II soldiers and aircraft missing in action in the coastal waters of France. He engages his passion for science communication through authoring and co-authoring academic journals, mass media, and digital publications. Haigler has worked with National Geographic magazine, the Public Broadcast System, and CBS News and 60 Minutes. He is a guest lecturer at the University of California Los Angeles, Stanford University, and the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Center for Marine Archaeology. Haigler serves as a board member of several organizations including the American Anthropological Association, Archaeology Division, American Council on Underwater Archaeology, American Academy of Underwater Sciences, Society of Black Archaeologists, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary’s Advisory Council.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pam Bechtold Snyder, psnyder@neaq.org; 617-686-5068

Call for applications: Introductory Course on the Conservation and Restoration of Archaeological Finds from Underwater Environments

https://www.icua.hr/en/event/call-for-applications-introductory-course-on-the-conservation-and-restoration-of-archaeological-finds-from-underwater-environments/16?fbclid=IwAR3MW1Ni_-0FQ3NEYsV6yugiTKwUq2bHF2_nijBfpdFYMpWMz5Xruo4DZ5Q

The Introductory Course on the Conservation and Restoration of Archaeological Finds from Underwater Environments is being organized by the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA Zadar), and it will be held in Zadar, Croatia, 11-22 March 2024.

This course is designed to provide practical and theoretical training to candidates who wish to work independently in the restoration and conservation of underwater archaeological finds on an international level.

The course will consist of practical work under the supervision of a mentor at the workshops of the ICUA Zadar. At the three main workshops that specialize in metal, ceramic, glass, and organic finds, candidates will have the chance to work on a variety of materials. ICUA Zadar staff will provide training in accordance with the course programme manual and the standards that were applicable to the ICUA/UNESCO advanced course held in 2011.

We are planning a two-week Introductory Course that will involve work in all three workshops. Upon completion of the course, candidates will be required to take an exam that covers both theoretical and practical segments. If they pass the exam, they will receive a certificate from the Centre confirming their successful completion of the specialised course for conservators/restorers of underwater archaeological finds.

Participation costs:

Introductory Course on the Conservation and Restoration of Archaeological Finds from Underwater Environments

Duration: 10 working days, price: EUR 500,00

The price covers the cost of staying at the ICUA dormitory, as well as the restoration textbook, work smock, and shirt.

Applicants that do not require accommodation in our dormitory can attend the course at a discounted price.

Application process

Candidates applying are kindly requested to submit a request and their curriculum vitae (CV). Please direct applications and any questions you may have by e-mail to Martina Ćurković Madiraca at mcmadiraca@icua.hr. Deadline for application is 16th February 2024. Number of students is limited. Applications will be assessed and selected based on the professional and educational profiles as presented in the application documents. Priority will be given to experienced conservators-restorers, young professionals and students involved in conservation, safeguarding and management of cultural heritage. Letters of support from an institution that is competent in safeguarding cultural heritage will be considered an added value.

Course Programme

Introductory Course on the Conservation and Restoration of Archaeological Finds

The two-week course on the conservation and restoration of underwater archaeological finds provides an introduction to conservation-restoration. During the course participants will be acquainted with work on all materials and spend a few days in each of the workshops. The training consists of a theoretical and practical segment, with the possibility of placing greater focus on a given segment, depending on the wishes, capabilities and knowledge of the applicant. In the practical segment applicants will have the opportunity to try their hand on the phases of conservation-restoration work that can be executed in the available time. Within these time constraints conducting all phases of conservation-restoration work on a single object is impossible and participants will therefore have the opportunity to work on phases of conservation-restoration work on various smaller objects. The goal of this brief course is to either acquaint participants with conservation and restoration as a method of protecting archaeological finds or to acquaint more experienced conservators-restorers with the specifics pertaining to the treatment of archaeological finds originating from wet environments.

Researcher/Senior Researcher in Maritime History

https://www.ofir.dk/jobs/researchersenior-nationalmuseet-brede-lyngby-taarbaek-2484468/

The National Museum of Denmark is seeking a candidate to fill a position as Researcher/Senior Researcher within the field of Maritime History. The National Museum of Denmark has a strong track record of marine archaeological research and conservation. It is currently establishing an interdisciplinary and international Research Centre for Maritime and Submarine Cultural Heritage with a focus on the preservation of underwater cultural heritage and various aspects of the maritime history of Denmark from ancient times to the present. In addition to strengthening research within these areas, there will be a strong focus on communicating the results to a wider public and contributing to the inclusion of maritime history within the planned developments of the National Museum in Copenhagen.

We are looking for a candidate with a broad chronological approach to Danish maritime history or is willing to establish and work with such an approach and engage in cross-disciplinary research and wider academic cross-disciplinary discussions. Furthermore, it will be considered a plus if the candidate has an interest in the preservation of underwater cultural heritage.

Job description

For the first five years the position is financed by Dampskibsselskabet Orient´s Fond//NORDEN, and the Researcher/Senior Researcher will be part of the new Research Centre, headed by Professor David Gregory, and will contribute to the development and implementation of the research programme funded by the foundation. Current projects at the Centre for Maritime and Submarine Cultural Heritage include the documentation, conservation and dissemination of an early medieval shipwreck; various studies into the decay of archaeological materials in the marine environment; archival and physical investigation of Danish shipwrecks in international waters; and the study of the marine environment in relation to Denmark’s maritime economy.

During this five-year period, it will be possible for the successful applicant to develop their own research within the maritime area providing content and input for the Museum’s public dissemination on all relevant platforms. The aim is to make the Museum’s collections and the results of the Research Centre relevant and visible to a wider audience in relation to the development of the new National Museum in Copenhagen. Overall, the successful candidate must contribute to the museum’s general strategy 2019-2024 (https://natmus.dk/uploads/media/National_museum_of_denmark_strategy_2019_-_2024.pdf)

The Researcher/Senior Researcher will be organizationally embedded in one of our three research sections but will work closely with the head of the new Research Centre, Professor David Gregory.

Essential qualifications and experience

We are looking for a Researcher/Senior Researcher who

  • holds a PhD in history or a related discipline
  • has experience with high-level research within maritime cultural history
  • has a proven record of international publications
  • has experience with working with historical paper archives (primarily in Danish)
  • will apply for and obtain external funding for research projects and/or consultancy work in collaboration with internal and external partners
  • has an aptitude for collaboration and coordination across disciplinary boundaries, and innovative approaches to research in maritime cultural history and/or material culture
  • has an ability to engage in wider academic and comparative discussions of cross-disciplinary relevance
  • has a good national and international network
  • possesses good interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain good collaboration with colleagues and external partners
  • has a valid driver´s license

The applicants are expected to have obtained their experience from previous employment at an institute of higher education, a sector research institution, a museum or the equivalent.

Since the primary working language at the National Museum is Danish, a non-Danish-speaking employee is expected to acquire the necessary Danish language skills within a short period of time (max. two years).

The employment is associated with regular travel activity (total maximum of one month per year).

Terms of salary and employment

The working hours are 37 hours a week. Terms of pay and employment are determined in accordance with the collective agreement for academics employed by the Danish state and executive order of 30 October 2015 on the job structure for academic staff with research responsibilities in archives, libraries, museums etc. under the Danish Ministry of Culture.

The appointment of a Researcher is a part of a tenure track, where the candidate after no more than 4 years will be assessed by an expert assessment committee. If the evaluation is positive, the candidate will transfer to a position as Senior Researcher. In case of two non-positive evaluations, the Museum will proceed with a termination of employment.

The position as Senior Researcher is permanent.

The position as Researcher/Senior Researcher is expected to be filled by the 1st of June 2024 or as soon as possible hereafter.

The place of work will primarily be at the National Museum of Denmark in Brede, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, north of Copenhagen.

Application procedure

The National Museum is actively working to promote equality among employees and encourages all qualified, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

The application is to be submitted in English and must include the following:

  • Letter with motivation for the application (max. one page)
  • Curriculum vitae, incl. education, language skills, record of public dissemination and other skills relevant for the position
  • A description of current research and future research plans (max. 3 pages)
  • Complete list of publications (mark the publications sent in for evaluation)
  • Copies of 3 publications to be considered in the assessment. Full copies must be sent by post or uploaded as pdf (maximum size pr. file 2 mb) via the electronic recruitment system. Links to publications are not accepted
  • Copies of university exams, Master diploma and PhD certificates or equivalent
  • Transcript of university exams into English, if not written in English, Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish

If a publication to be considered in the evaluation has more than one author, or is the result of a collective effort, it must be clearly specified which part of the publication the applicant is responsible for. In the absence of a specification, the expert Assessment Committee will disregard that publication(s).

Applications must be sent via the electronic recruitment system on our website www.natmus.dk/job and must be uploaded by 1st March 2024.

Any publications to be included in the assessment must be received by the National Museum on 1st March 2024. Publications can either be uploaded to the recruitment system or sent to Nationalmuseet, Frederiksholms Kanal 12, DK-1220 København K, Denmark, marking the envelope ‘Personale’. Publications sent to the Museum must be submitted in 3 copies. Only books or similar will be returned.

The National Museum of Denmark will set up an expert Assessment Committee with external participation to evaluate the applications. When the Committee has completed its assessment, each applicant will receive the part of the overall assessment that specifically refers to her/him. Qualified applicants will be invited for interviews in a panel set up by the Museum.

For specific questions about the position, please contact Deputy Director Lars Højer, lars.hojer@natmus.dk, phone +45 41 20 69 05

Nationalmuseet er Danmarks kulturhistoriske hovedmuseum og et statsmuseum under Kulturministeriet. Nationalmuseet styrker historiebevidsthed og medborgerskab ved at belyse Danmarks og verdens kulturer og deres indbyrdes afhængighed. Ca. 655 medarbejdere er fordelt på 4 afdelinger: Forskning, Samling og Bevaring, Museer og Slotte, Nationalmuseet København samt Drift og Administration. Se mere om Nationalmuseet på www.natmus.dk

Lake Champlain Virtual Archaeology Conference

Lake Champlain Virtual Archaeology Conference

Each year, researchers and archaeologists with Lake Champlain Maritime Museum come together to share new research, developments, and discoveries from their work in Lake Champlain in a virtual summit that is open and free for all to attend. The third annual Virtual Archaeology Conference will be held February 15, 2024, from 1 until 4 pm.

As part of the 2024 conference, the Museum’s team will explore big questions through the lens of their ongoing archaeological work in Arnold’s Bay such as: how do archaeologists make the call on what to conserve and what not to conserve?

How can past looting and excavations impact a current project? What happened to Benedict Arnold’s 1776 flagship, the row galley Congress, after its abandonment?

What can we learn from artifacts that were looted or excavated by avocational archaeologists?

What can the hull of the Congress tell us about the construction of the colonial naval fleet on Lake Champlain and specifically row galleys?

A full schedule and list of presenters will be released soon. You can register for free in advance to receive the link to join this year’s event here.

This virtual conference will be presented on Zoom.

For accessibility requests contact info@lcmm.org or by phone at (802) 475-2022.

Charles Dana Gibson Award for the best article on North American Maritime History published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2023.

Charles Dana Gibson Award

For the best article on North American maritime history

published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2023

Honorarium: $1,000

Closing date for entries/nominations: March 1, 2024

Send copy and complete citation for the article to: NASOHGibsonaward@gmail.com

Selection: Articles will be evaluated by a three-person committee of NASOH members

Announcement of award recipient: TBD.

********The Recipient must be present at the NASOH conference to receive the award.********

NASOH presents the Charles Dana Gibson Award annually to the author of the most significant article on any aspect of North American maritime history published in a refereed journal during the previous year.

A longtime and beloved member of NASOH, Gibson was an authority on the history of the American merchant marine and with his wife, Kay, co-author of a unique three-volume history of the U.S. Army’s navy. Mr. Gibson was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army Transportation Corps, Water Division, and of the U.S. Merchant Marine. After the war, his pro-bono consulting work led to the Department of Defense awarding veteran status and benefits to more than 84,000 civilian seamen who served in the merchant marine between December 7, 1941, and August 15, 1945. He also authored the qualification brief for the civilian seamen of the Army Transportation Corps of World War II, which helped win veteran status for that group as well.

Gibson authored four books, and co-authored four others with his wife, on various aspects of maritime history. Their Assault and Logistics: Union Army Coastal and River Operations, 1861–1866 received the 1996 John Lyman Award for Naval History. Their last book, Over Seas: U.S. Army Maritime Operations, 1898 through the Fall of the Philippines, published in 2002, was selected by the American Library Association as an Outstanding Academic Title. In 2004, Charles Dana Gibson and E. Kay Gibson received the K. Jack Bauer Award for their contributions to maritime history. They are the only husband-and-wife team to have been so honored. For his work on behalf of World War II merchant seamen, Gibson received the Captain K. C. Torrens Award from the Council of American Master Mariners, the Distinguished Service Award from the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, and the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement from the Veteran Wireless Operators Association.

Gibson’s professional affiliations included membership in the Council of American Master Mariners, the Marine Society of the City of New York, the North American Society for Oceanic History, Steamship Historical Society, Army Historical Foundation, and the Council on America’s Military Past.

In retirement, Dana and Kay made numerous months-long cruises in the Bahamas, the Great Lakes, and the river system between Chicago and Mobile in the Hannah II, which he designed. They divided their time ashore between homes in Camden, Maine, and North Hutchinson Island, Florida.

One doctoral studentship in Archaeology within the research area of Historical Studies, affiliated with the Baltic and East European Graduate School (BEEGS)

https://academicpositions.com/ad/sodertorn-university/2024/one-doctoral-studentship-in-archaeology-within-the-research-area-of-historical-studies-affiliated-with-the-baltic-and-east-european-graduate-school-beegs/211406

One specialisation offered at Södertörn University is maritime archaeology, and the MARIS research institute is able to support new projects in a range of ways. For more information, please click here (English version) or click here (Swedish version).

Archaeology focuses on human beings and their culture and society, from ancient times to the present day. Using material remains as their primary source material, archaeologists interpret what life was like at different times and in different cultural contexts. Archaeology at Södertörn University also emphasises a critical perspective and the importance of relating archaeology to current societal issues. Archaeological research is thus not only about the past, but entails equal emphasis on the understanding of people as cultural beings. One specialisation offered at Södertörn University is maritime archaeology, and the MARIS research institute is able to support new projects in a range of ways. For more information, please click here (English version) or click here (Swedish version).

Historical Studies is a research area in the humanities in which aspects of society, culture and heritage are studied from different perspectives. The area is characterised by an empirical and theoretical focus on social and cultural change and long time perspectives. Historical Studies includes five subject areas for doctoral studies: Archaeology, Ethnology, History, History of Ideas, and the Study of Religions. For more information about Historical Studies, please click here (English version).

The planned research for this studentship must be relevant to the Baltic Sea region or Eastern Europe, since the position is affiliated with the Baltic and East European Graduate School (BEEGS), www.sh.se/beegs, which is financed by the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, and part of the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) www.sh.se/cbees, at Södertörn University. This region comprises the Baltic Sea, the states surrounding it, and post-Communist Central, South and East Europe. Research relating exclusively to Sweden or Swedish conditions cannot be funded. However, funding may be granted for research concerning Sweden or countries entirely outside the Baltic Sea Region and Eastern Europe, as part of comparative studies where there is a legitimate scholarly reason.

The Maryland Historical Trust (Trust) is seeking candidates for its 2024 Summer Internship in Archaeology.

Click to access 2024-Summer-Intern-Announcement.pdf

The intern will work under the general supervision of the Chief Archaeologist and time will be divided between office/laboratory and fieldwork in support of the Trust’s terrestrial and maritime archaeology programs. Fieldwork will
take place in a variety of settings and involve use of hand tools, electronic surveying equipment, and small boats, canoes, and/or kayaks. It will include support activities associated with the Annual Tyler Bastian Field Session in Maryland Archaeology, marine geophysical and remote sensing surveys, and archaeological site visits and inspections.

Office/laboratory work is expected to include artifact sorting, washing and cataloging, records processing and filing, GIS data manipulation, and general data organization and entry tasks. Opportunities will also be available related to other aspects of the Trust’s archaeology programs, such as project review and compliance, and outreach activities.

Interns serve a maximum of 400 hours over a period of 10 consecutive weeks to begin on or about May 20, 2024.

Fieldwork will require occasional work outside of normal business hours (early mornings, evenings, weekends, & holidays), extended days, overnight travel, and camping. Office/lab work will be conducted during normal business hours.

Interns will receive a total amount not to exceed $6,600.00 paid in bi-weekly increments based on the number of hours worked at a base rate of $16.50 per hour.

Funded MA Positions in Maritime Archaeology

Call for Applications: Funded MA Positions in Maritime Archaeology

The Koç University Mustafa V. Koç Maritime Archaeology Research Center (KUDAR) is seeking candidates for funded MA positions to begin in the Autumn of 2024.  We are seeking applicants who propose a research agenda that compliments the center’s strengths in maritime archaeology in the Mediterranean, which includes desk-based and field research, as well as topics in conservation science.

Interested individuals are encouraged to apply for this open call through the Koç University application system; the approximate deadline for applications will be May 1, 2024.  Successful candidates will begin in the Autumn of 2024, and will receive a full tuition waiver, a monthly stipend, and possible housing on campus.  Questions about the post may be directed to Dr. Matthew Harpster (mharpster@ku.edu.tr). 

In addition, we also seek applicants who are motivated to pursue the following topic:

Marine and coastal sites on the World Heritage List are found around the world.  Very commonly, these sites are valued for their environmental characteristics or terrestrial cultural heritage, whereas associated underwater cultural heritage is often coincidental or not considered at all.  As part of the ongoing efforts of a working group in the International Council on Museums and Sites (ICOMOS) presently investigating this imbalance between underwater cultural heritage (UCH) sites and the World Heritage List, we are seeking a pro-active, motivated individual to pursue MA research incorporating three elements:

  1. Identifying which marine or coastal sites on the World Heritage List may contain UCH, although this is not evident in either their inscription files or management plans;
  2. Identify the challenges of inscribing or inserting marine or coastal heritage sites into the World Heritage List;
  3. Based upon the results of 1 and 2, make recommendations regarding how UCH may be better integrated into the World Heritage List. 

Interested individuals are encouraged to apply for this position through the Koç University application system; the approximate deadline for applications will be May 1, 2024.  One successful candidate for this specific post will begin in the Autumn of 2024, and will receive a full tuition waiver, a monthly stipend, and possible housing on campus.  Questions about the post may be directed to Dr. Matthew Harpster (mharpster@ku.edu.tr).