back to index ofchapters1. Why did Australia have so many shipwrecks?
Ans. Australia has over 30, 000 kilometres of coastline which is dottedwith outlying reefs and islands. Because their skippers were unable to estimatelongitude, they were often blown far to the south of their intended routeto be wrecked on the coast of Western Australia.
2. Define the term 'maritime archaeology'.
Ans. Marine archaeology is any archaeology in a marine environment. This could just as easily be an ancient harbour (such as the excavations at Caesarea Maritima), a submerged settlement site (Tybrind Vig in Denmark), fish traps (many Roman sites) or submerged prehistoric landscapes (Bouldnor Cliff, Solent, UK).
Maritime archaeology includes the study of all of the above but could just well involve landsites like coastal settlements, whaling stations, ship yards, etc. In fact Maritime archaeology is the most inclusive term as it
incorporates much of what is meant by 'marine', 'nautical' and 'underwater' archaeologies. See the Routledge Dictionary of Historical Archaeology
(Orser, C, (ed.) 2002.
3. Discuss the statement "shipwrecks are like time capsules".
Ans. 'Shipwrecks contain many artifacts which gives us an idea of how the sailors lived and worked at that time.' but they don't have to come from a shipwreck to do that, neither does this necessarily relate to the basis of the term 'time capsule'.
Wrecks are catastrophe sites, hence it is the fact that they were all in use (or at least carried aboard) at the same time and lost in the same event that makes it a time capsule. This means we can see relationships and thus gain far more information from the artefacts as an assemblage than we would if we found them individually (again - look at the Mary Rose).
The more formal term used in archaeology is 'closed find' and a land equivalent would be a tomb. On a ship however, we find a wider cross section of material culture, preserved through accident and not funerary ritual as in the case of grave goods.
The Roman ships in Lake Nemi were not 'galleons'. The name galleon was given to variouis types of ship in the medieval and early modern period.
4. How is the development of diving techniques linked to an increasein the number of shipwrecks discovered?
Ans. Before the development of diving techniques, divers could not reachshipwrecks in the deeper waters.
5. Where could the Aboriginal people have migrated from?
Ans. The Aboriginals are thought to have migrated from central Asia.
6. Who was the great Chinese mariner who made many journeys to south-eastAsia?
Ans. Admiral Cheng Ho was the great Chinese mariner.
7. How were the roman galleons recovered from Lake Nemi?
Ans. The lake was drained to reach the Galleons.
8. Why are perishable materials not found on shipwrecks? (Please omot this question because ....
Ans. One of the reasons that shipwrecks (and underwater sites in general) are so fantastic archaeologically is precisely because they *do* preserve 'perishable' materials. All the organic artefacts of wood, leather, textile, etc. that are so rarely preserved on land are often found complete under water.
Just look at the Mary Rose or Vasa Museum web sites for examples! As for the sand mentioned in the answer, this is precisely why the perishable material survives - because it is covered up! Nor do ships always break up as Vasa shows.
9. List two mechanical forces that would move objects from a wreck site.
Ans. Mechanical forces such as wind, waves and currents take loose objectsaway from the wreck site. Heavy objects such as cannons, waterlogged timberor metal structures sink to the bottom whereas light, free structures suchas doors, sails or bottles may float free.
10. How was the wreck of the Batavia discovered?
Ans. Research was responsible for finding one of the most famous of WesternAustralia's shipwrecks the Batavia. Author Henrietta Drake-Brockman (1901-68)spent a lot of time researching the wreck of the Batavia in 1629 off Geraldton,WA.
11. How was the Pandora discovered?
Ans. Two private vessels and the RAAF, using magnetometers located thewreck of the Pandora in November 1977
12. Give example of two artifacts found on board the Pandora and explaintheir significance.
Ans. Maritime archaeologists working on the wreck found some artifactssuch as a crude syringe and medical bowl. These were thought to belong tothe ship's surgeon, George Hamilton. Close to where these objects were found,they recovered Hamilton's silver watch, complete with its intricate parts.
13. Where do some people think Victoria's mahogany ship came from?
Ans. Further speculation was muted that the wreck may have been froma ship from Portugal.
14. List (eight) search methods that have only been developed in the 20thcentury.
1. Water- and depth-proof video cameras can be housed in stainless steelcasings. They are towed behind the search craft, sending and/or recordingpictures of the seabed.
2. Aerial photography generally using some kind of grid photos of thesearch area are systematically taken from the air.
3. Bathyspheres are underwater vehicles which explore the ocean floor.They are built to withstand incredible pressure. No longer are shipwrecksin deep water beyond our reach.
4. Deep-sea diving suits can take divers to the sea bed without causingdecompression problems.
5. Robots which are controlled from the surface can do the things thata diver could not do without depth problems.
6. Towed waterproof metal detectors work exactly like the metal detectorsused on land except that they are constructed specifically to work underwater.
7. Sonar equipment is very much like radar. It enables a plan of theseabed to be relayed to the surface vessel.
8. Submersibles are basically manned mini-submarines.
15. Discuss how ferrous objects are preserved.
Ans. Once ferrous or iron material like iron cannons have been removedfrom the sea they must be treated for many years to reduce electrolyteswhich cause corrosion. Leaving the smallest residue of oxides or chloridesfrom salt water could start corrosive processes spreading through the entireobject.
The best way to preserve ferrous objects is in electrolysed tanks ofsodium hydroxide. The voltage and direct current should be adjusted so thathydrogen evolves at the metallic surface of the artefact. This allows fora gradual restoration of the metal. Tank treatments can take many monthsto many years.
Initially ferrous objects should be stored in the water they came fromor in fresh water. Leaving them in the open air with a damp surface willspeed up oxidation (rusting).
16. How is copper and its alloys conserved?
Ans. If copper artifacts are recovered in good condition, they can generallybe stored for short periods of time in a dry atmosphere. Smaller items canbe stored in dry air-tight containers. Some items like cast brass and bronzeobjects need to be handled carefully because they may have soft and weakenedsurfaces.
17. Where is conservation work done and what do conservers seek to doto artifacts from shipwrecks?
Ans. Conservation work is often done in a laboratory to restore itemsgathered from wrecks or other sites to a state close to the condition theywere in when they were lost. Conservators seek to reverse the processesof breakdown and degradation. This may involve many, many years of treatment.
18. What happens to wood when it under the sea for a long period of timeand what must be done if the timbers are to be displayed in a museum?
Ans. Wood, of which most 18th and 19th century ships were built, becomeswaterlogged when immersed in the sea. This means its natural resins arereplaced by the water it has been immersed in. When exposed to the atmosphere,the timbers may look the same yet can disintegrate into dust when dried.The timbers must therefore be treated carefully before being displayed ina museum.
Suggested answers to diving deeper questions
1. Research your library and gather information about
a. vessels used by primitive cultures
b. Portuguese maritime exploration
c. Dutch exploration
d. the English navigators
Suggestions:
See your librarian.
2. Collect information about a shipwreck. Describe how it is like a timecapsule? Give specific examples of how it represents people at that time.Use diagrams and pictures to illustrate your answer.
Suggestions:
Type shipwrecks into your Internet search engine.
3. Collect information about the protection of Australian, New Zealandor overseas shipwrecks. Conduct a debate on the advantages and disadvantagesof this.
Suggestions:
Contact your state library or local maritime museum.
4. Over 20 per cent of the gold that has ever been mined now lies beneaththe sea as sunken treasure. Use your library to find out about shipwrecksthat contain gold treasures.
Suggestions:
Contact your state library or local maritime museum.
5. The Batavia and Pandora are two examples of how a maritime museumhas preserved maritime history.
· Research the story of the Batavia or the Pandora in your localmuseum.
· Write a essay about the tragedy surrounding these wrecks.
Suggestions:
Contact your state library or local maritime museum.
6. Contact your local museum for information about a well documentedwreck and produce a information poster on it.
Suggestions:
Contact your state library or local maritime museum.
7. Collect information about an important historical find. Provide informationabout how the item or items were recovered, stored, transported and eventuallytreated. How did the object or objects reflect part of our heritage?
Suggestions:
Contact your state library or local maritime museum.
8. If wreck sites were allowed to be plundered what effect would thishave on our national heritage?
Suggestions:
Form a discussion group and brainstorm. Make a report.
9. If your school or college has work experience opportunities, ask fora placement in a maritime museum.
Suggestions:
Contact your local vocation education coordinator
10. Join a dive club or association that is involved with wreck sites.
Suggestions:
Contact your local dive club.
11. Imagine you are shipwrecked on an uninhabited island.
There is an abundance of fish and bird life, but the vegetation is lowlying scrub. Draw up a plan for how you would survive and how you couldprepare for your rescue.
Suggestions:
Form a discussion group
12. Make up your own time capsule of how people are living today.
Collect newspaper stories or any other relevant material that could gointo the capsule. Large bore PVC piping could be used to house the material.
Suggestions:
Form a discussion group, make up a list of time capsule objects and arrangefor a burial.
13. Make up your own sailing ship, the S.S. Mishap. Use what ever materialsyou can scrounge: icy pole sticks etc. then wreck the boat and see whathappens to its structure, etc.
Suggestions:
Collect the materials and simulate a wreck.
14. Collect information about the development of diving technology. Howit is related to maritime archaeology and salvage? Explain.
Suggestions:
Contact your local dive group. See your teacher librarian.
15. Why is it important to preserve shipwrecks around our coast and preventlooting? How do shipwrecks contribute to our national heritage?
Suggestions:
Form a discussion group, ask the curator of a maritime museum.
16. Snorkel around old jetties looking for any old discarded material.Make sure you follow safe diving procedures, for example dive with a buddy,use a dive flag and be aware of marine hazards.
Suggestions:
Work with your local dive club.
17. What other shipwreck sites exist in your home state? Give detailsof why you think these areas could contain material from past days thatcould be important.
Suggestions:
Contact your local maritime museum.
Chapter summary questions answers
1. shipwreck
2. aground
3. European
4. heritage
5. longitude
6. Western Australia
7. Perishable
8. evidence
9. Mechanical
10. Heavy
11. light
12. chemical
13. biological
14. compressed
15. Conservation
16. experts