Conference Agenda

Life along a river involves a symbiotic relationship between land dwellers and waterway navigators. It bolsters an ideology that the beings who produce on land support those who deliver the exports throughout the world through not only product but vessels as well. This dynamic was prevalent at the West Shipyard/Vine Street Lot in Philadelphia where mercantilism was just taking off and trade skills were the main source of activity along the waterfront. Excavations revealed several occupation layers related to life on the river. One building complex, known as Structural Complex F, was significant due to its orientation on the wharf when compared to other structures. This suggests earlier use when compared to the rest of the site. What was this structure used for? Through the analysis of several features within the complex a possible explanation was reached and could reveal a window into Philadelphia’s maritime economy in the eighteenth century.

This poster delves into the concept of banalization in the context of maritime heritage, spotlighting overlooked yet culturally significant sites that, despite local visibility, lack formal documentation. Emphasizing the urgency of recording these resources before eventual loss, the study focuses on S.S. Contra Costa, a 433-foot rail ferry that rests in a cove, adjacent to the California State University, Maritime Academy. Launched in 1914 and hailed as an engineering feat, the ferry became obsolete and was repurposed as a fishing pier in 1930, then deliberately burned to the waterline and dynamited 15 years later. What remains of the vessel is rapidly disappearing. By examining Contra Costa, the poster showcases the endangered maritime heritage of the San Francisco Bay Area and stresses the importance of formally documenting these seemingly mundane resources to preserve the region's rich maritime history.

In 1917, to offset a rise in merchant shipping losses from German U-boats, the U.S. Congress established the United States Shipping Board (USSB) and the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC) to oversee the rapid construction of wooden ships. Several variations of ship designs were adopted throughout the construction effort, with the two leading designs being the Ferris type and the Hough type. The Hough type primarily differed from the widely used Ferris type, using a hard chine rather than curved frames. This work outlines the methodology of utilizing Rhinoceros 8 modeling software to generate a three-dimensional model of Northbend (the first Hough type vessel in the Emergency Fleet) to assist a 2024 archaeological investigation of the site (located in NOAA’s Mallows Bay Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary).

This poster aims to discuss changing landscapes and the adaptations employed by the coastal community in a historic town on the Mullica River in New Jersey. During the colonial period, privateers used this landscape along with local knowledge to evade capture by British vessels. Leading up to the Battle of Chestnut Neck an earthen breastwork was built by colonists in 1778. In the 19th century, the remains of the earthen fort were used as a foundation for a home to protect it from shifting water levels. Post Super Storm Sandy, homes in the area were placed on stilts to protect them from future severe weather events. Remote sensing, archival research, and oral histories can provide insight into the adaptations implemented by the community both past and present.

The mid-16th century Punta Espada Shipwreck is being investigated by Indiana University as a unique Iberian merchant vessel incoming to the Americas. As excavation and examination of previously recovered artifacts continues, several types of organics are currently under study and conservation, ranging from carved ivory to foodstuffs. Most significantly, these include two unique ivory horizontal writing tablet sundials. Additional ivory from the shipwreck includes lice combs, a pendant, and possible textile work implements. Almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachios onboard could have been for direct consumption or planting. Bones recovered from the site indicate the presence of pigs, chickens, and cod, which likely served as shipboard provisions. Additionally, an artifact believed to be ambergris is undergoing analysis. Overall, these biological remains represent a wide array of taxa, suggesting the Spanish relied on a diverse set of animal and plant materials from around the world to support the early colonization of the Americas.

The product of archaeology is information. Archaeologists share that information through various means; at academic institutions the most common method is through peer reviewed publications while smaller institutions largely rely on more generally accessible modes of public outreach to educate and engage. Not only is this a moral obligation but it is also a means for museums to fund further projects to preserve history. This study aims to demonstrate the importance of public outreach, common issues, and solutions for smaller institutions in the field of maritime archaeology.

Between 1400 and 1600 C.E., close-combat handheld weapons were widespread and often found on ships. Although naval battles are often associated with cannon fire, blunt weapons were used to strike an opponent while bladed weapons were useful for slashing or thrusting. This poster will discuss the use of close-combat handheld weapons on ships from 1400 to 1600 C.E. by analyzing historical documents, including military writings about Zheng He’s fleet, and archaeological evidence: specifically the three shipwrecks San Pedro, Santa Clara, and Mary Rose. By examining this evidence, this study aims to better understand the role these weapons play within the context of naval technology, intercontinental interactions, class distinctions, and warfare practices.

The Battle of the Atlantic Research & Expedition Group (BAREG) has supported underwater archaeology since 2013, first with NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and recently with the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). The Group supports the increase and diffusion of knowledge of the Battles of the Atlantic, including their significance in the two world wars of the Twentieth century, and the protection of underwater cultural resources. BAREG is a not-for-profit organization of technical divers trained as avocational underwater archaeologists. The Group conducts underwater archaeology training as an International Training Partner with the Nautical Archaeology Society and also conducts diver training that supports the Group’s mission as a Technical Diving International (TDI) training facility. BAREG’s recent efforts include the MHT-funded survey of the U-1105 in the Potomac River and mapping of the SS Atlas site, a tanker sunk in 1942 off Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

Stone tools have served invaluable purposes throughout history and prehistory. During the historic period, the use of flint as the sparking instrument in firearms revolutionized warfare and reshaped life. When commercially made flint tools were unavailable or otherwise inaccessible, opportunistic individuals were known to source raw material for gunflints and tinderflints from ballast often found in abundance at maritime ports along the east coast of North America. Excavations at the West Shipyard site in Philadelphia revealed evidence of a cottage flint tool industry that capitalized on the abundant and likely free ballast raw material deposited by ships. This poster will detail the flint assemblage recovered at this late 17th and early 18th-century shipyard and discuss what it can reveal about life in early Philadelphia.

The process of 3D scanning improves archaeologists’ ability to curate and share archaeological evidence by using photos to create 3D images of excavation units, features, and artifacts. This technology lets archeologists and museum staff capture these intricate details in a digital composition that can be displayed in exhibits, uploaded to websites, or simply stored in digital archives. Small finds displayed in exhibits can also be used in outreach programs, signifying the need to produce 3D images and printed items in order to increase the accessibility of these objects to the general public. This is true for the artifacts recovered from the historic site of Fort St. Joseph- located in present-day Niles, Michigan. To investigate the effects of reproducing artifacts as 3D images and printed items, photogrammetry and structured light will be examined in terms of their potential for accessibility against the time and funding required to employ the methods.