Nr. 2 www.machuproject.eu

A A MARITIME MARITIME RESEARCH RESEARCH PROPROJECJECT T FUNDED FUNDED BY BY THETHE EUROPEAN EUROPEAN UNION UNION CULCULTURE TURE 2000 2000 PROGRAMMEPROGRAMME

Managing Cultural Heritage Underwater

PHOTO FRONT COVER:

Björns Wreck, wooden 18th century wreck,

Stockholm archipelago, Sweden

Photo: Patrik Höglund, SMM

ISBN 978-90-76046-58-7

AMERSFOORT – JANUARY 2009

3 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

CONTENTS4 Machu

5 Foreword

THE MACHU TEST AREAS

6 THE NETHERLANDS WILL BROUWERS

8 BELGIUM INE DEMERRE & INGE ZEEBROEK

11 GERMANY RGK PROJECT TEAM

12 ENGLAND CHRIS PATER

14 POLAND IWONA POMIAN

16 PORTUGAL FRANCISCO ALVES & PAULO MONTEIRO

18 SWEDEN NINA EKLÖF & JIM HANSSON

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

20 A prototype WEB GIS application for MACHU HERMAN HOOTSEN & WIM DIJKMAN

24 The concept of decision Support Systems (DSS) CHRIS PATER & MARTIJN MANDERS

26 Historic maritime maps in MACHU-GIS MENNE KOSIAN

STAKEHOLDERS

29 Introduction

30 Cooperation with non-archaeological scientific INE DEMERRE

institutes, organisations and individuals

32 The Greifswald ship barrier FRIEDRICH LÜTH & KATHRIN STAUDE

34 MACHU GIS as a planning tool? VANESSA LOUREIRO & JOAO GACHET ALVES

36 MACHU and the avocational divers community WILL BROUWERS

37 MACHU - an outreach initiative ANGELA MANDERS

38 Legislative Matters in Underwater ANDREA OTTE

Cultural Hertitage Management

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO ASSES AND MONITOR

39 Introduction

40 Investigating sediment dynamics MARTIJN MANDERS, BERTIL VAN OS &

in and around shipwrecks JAKOB WALLINGA

43 Hydrodynamics in the Gulf of Gdansk MALGORZATA ROBAKIEWICZ

46 Modelling sediment mobility JUSTIN DIX, DAVID LAMBKIN & TIM RANGECROFT

MANAGING CULTURAL HERITAGE UNDERWATER

47 MACHU website news WILL BROUWERS

48 Some reflections of Underwater ANDREAS OLSSON

Cultural Heritage Management

50 The future of MACHU MARTIJN MANDERS

4 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

MACHU (Managing Cultural Heritage Underwater) is a three year projectbetween 7 countries (see above) sponsored by the Culture 2000 programme ofthe European Union.The primary goal of the MACHU project is to find new and better ways for aneffective management of our underwater cultural heritage and to makeinformation about our common underwater cultural heritage accessible foracademic purposes, policy makers and for the general public (see also Report Nr.1). This is going to be achieved through the construction of a Web based GISapplication (for management and research) and an interactive website that has toincrease access of our underwater cultural heritage to the general public, thecitizens of Europe. Through this, it aims to engender a greater public commitmentto the protection of sites underwater. Further, by tackling the issues through amulti-country approach MACHU will inherently promote greater mobility of bothdata and researchers working in the field of common underwater culturalheritage. The project will therefore also contribute to a cultural dialogue betweenand mutual knowledge of the culture and history of the countries involved.MACHU project will run from September 2006 until August 2009.

5 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

FOREWORDM A R T I J N M A N D E R S

On behalf of the MACHU-project team I here-by present you the second MACHU report. In

the previous one, which was presented inJanuary 2008, the project and its goals and thepartners involved have been presented. In thisissue the project will be presented in moredetail, focussing on the products we areproducing and the use of those products in theEuropean management of underwater culturalheritage (UCH).For example, what can we do with the MACHU

Geographic Information System (GIS)? What isde use of it for archaeologists? And for heritagemanagement officers? The MACHU-GIS is animportant product of MACHU, but certainly notthe only one. The MACHU website is not just anassemblage of information on UCH. It has thepurpose to specifically address several groups

of stakeholders. Thé general public doesn’texist. To be able to address people well, we haveto define them and to define their needs. In thisissue the ways to address certain groups of stake-holders are being pointed out and explained.MACHU is also investigating new ways to assessand monitor the UCH: Sedimentation Models arebeing developed and within MACHU the firstattempts to date the seabed through OpticalStimulated Luminescence (OSL) are beingexecuted.

The second MACHU report keeps you updated onwhat is going on in the MACHU project. But asyou will notice, it is more than that. It containsinformation that is informative and can be ofuse for all involved in underwater culturalheritage. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it.

Dear reader,

The National Service for Archaeology, Cultural Landscape

and Built Heritage (RACM)

Rijksdienst voor Archeologie Cultuurlandschap en Monumenten

P.O. Box 1600, 3800 BP Amersfoort – THE NETHERLANDST +31 (0)33 42 17 421 F +31 (0)33 42 17 799 E info@racm.nl www.racm.nl

Representatives of the National Service for Archaeology, Cultural

Landscape and Built Heritage involved in the MACHU project:

Martijn Manders, Will Brouwers, Paul Boekenoogen, Rob Oosting, Andrea Otte,

Wendy van der Wens-Poulich, Aise van Dijk, Bertil van Os, Menne Kosian

CO-ORGANISOR Directorate IJsselmeer

Region Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) IJsselmeergebied

Rijkswaterstaat IJsselmeergebied, Meet- en Informatiedienst, Zuiderwagenplein 2, PO Box 600, 8200 AP Lelystad – THE NETHERLANDST +31 (0)320 29 89 98 / 320 29 76 63 F +31 (0)320 23 43 00 / 320 29 71 75 E wim.dijkman@rws.nl / herman.hootsen@rws.nl

Representatives of the Institute involved in the MACHU project:

Wim Dijkman, Herman Hootsen, Harry Koks

The test area in the Wadden Sea consisting of4 wrecks (BZN 3, 8, 10 and 11) is actually asmall part of a larger area that is calledBurgzand Noord with 12 known sites (figure2) of which five (BZN 2, BZN 3, BZN 4,BZN 8, BZN 10) are physically protected.The BZN 10 was subject to an optical stimu-lated luminescence (OSL) dating researchprogramme: for the underwater archaeologya new method. The method and some pre-liminary results will be discussed in lengthelsewhere in this Report (see page 40).The test area is being monitored each year– since 2002 – by means of Multibeamsurvey. Through this repeated survey wehave built up a lot of know how on seabedchange over the last 7 years, especiallyaround the shipwrecks. It gives a good over-view on the severe erosion of the seabedwhich is backed up with visual check ups bydivers. The work has also shown the impor-tance of ongoing monitoring and maintenanceprogrammes on (protected) sites.

The Multibeam data is currently being incor-porated in a sediment erosion model for thearea around the BZN 10 which is going to bea detailed model complementary to the largescale sediment erosion model for the NorthSea and beyond. This model is being develo-ped for the MACHU project by the team ofJ. Dix of the National Oceanography Centrein Southampton (see page 40). The RACM has also focussed on interpretingold historic maps.Information on historic maps about coasts,currents, buoying and routing is of extremeimportance for the MACHU project. This

P R OJ E C T L E A D E R T H E N E T H E R L A N D S

6 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 1

THE TEST AREAS

BURGZAND

NOORD AND

THE BANJAARDW I L L B R O U W E R S

The two MACHU test areas, the Burgzand Noord at the

Texel Roads in the Wadden Sea (figure 1) and the

Banjaard in Zeeland, were introduced in the first MACHU

report. Assessments on wrecks and investigation on the

two sites have continued in 2008.

chart information can help to predict the dis-position of (unknown) wrecks, the changingof coast and seabed during the centuries. Dutch mapmakers were well known in the16th and 17th century. One of the mostsignificant marine cartographers was LucasWaghenaer who in 1584 published TheSpieghel der Zeevaert. His way of workingwas the standard for centuries (as a matter offact a sea chart is still called a Wagonaer inEnglish) The first part of the Spieghel der Zeevaert– the chart of Holland and the Waddenzee –has been digitalized and projected in theMACHU GIS. From that same area, threeother maps from different periods (1598,1666 and 1773) are being digitalized as well,giving a good overview of changes of searoutes, gullies, sandbanks, etc. through time.More about the digitalisation of the sea mapscan be found on page 26.

One of the sites in the Burgzand Test Area:BZN 3, was in 1988 the first shipwreckunderwater ever being designated as anarchaeological monument in the Nether-lands. Around the wreck is a protected areawith a diameter of 600 m was established,especially to avoid looting. In 2009 the pro-tected area will be enlarged to a square zoneof about 70 hectares. With this enlargementimmediately twelve historic wrecks on theBurgzand will be protected by law.In the other Dutch testarea – the Banjaard inZeeland – the working strategy is different. Itwas from the start of the project a relativelyunknown area. One thing we did know wasthe high dynamics of the seabed. Researchon seabed changes are very interesting forthe sediment erosion models of the SouthernNorth Sea made for MACHU by the Univer-sity of Southampton (see page). Thanks tothe avocational diving community there are alot of reported coordinates of wreck points

inventoried. Several of these wreck locationshave been validated and according toMACHU standards incorporated in theMACHU GIS. There are two avocationaldiving organisations who work closely withMACHU to validate more of these points inthe near future (see also article avocationaldiving community and MACHU). In thesummer of 2008 three locations have beensurveyed with multibeam recordings whichyield new information about the wrecks andthe seabed around them. The multibeamrecordings reveal two iron wrecks and onewooden vessel.

A particularly interesting case in which archa-eologically skilled amateur divers from the

Nehalennia Archeologisch Duikteam (NAD)contributed largely is the investigation to awell known wreck; The Rotterdam*. Diversfrom the NAD discovered wooden parts andceramics (Beardman jugs) of another wreckunderneath the Rotterdam. In other words:there were two wrecks lying on top of eachother! Tree-ring analyses and ceramics foundsuggest a preliminary date somewherewithin the 16th century.

*A steamer sunk 1888: see www.machuproject.eu: wrecks page �

7 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

T H E N E T H E R L A N D S

FIGURE 2:The Battle of theDowns 1639 (paintingby Reinier Nooms).The vessel shown isthe Aemilia, Tromp'sflagship. Source: NMM London

FIGURE 3: The TexelRoads in 1725. Wallpainting by JohanReydon (1983). Can be viewed in theMaritime Museum in Oudeschild, Texel.

History of BZN 3

It is not always possible to date or identifya wreck or say something about thehistory of a ship. However, the BZN 3(www.machuproject.eu: wrecks page) wasidentified as the Dutch East Indiaman Robthat sank in 1640. The Rob is very wellpreserved with inventory, canons andeven the ships galley (oven) still in place.The ship was approximately 35-40 meterslong. We know quite a bit of her actualhistory. The Dutch Republic was still atwar with Spain (80 years war: 1568-1648).

In 1639 the Commander of the DutchAdmiralty Maarten Tromp was commis-sioned to prevent a large Spanish fleet (theSecond Spanish Armada) from re-supply-ing the Spanish troops in Flanders. In thefirst encounter on 26th September Trompdeployed a new tactic: the line-of-battle ina leeward position. His flotilla of 17 shipsdestroyed or damage many ships from theSpanish fleet (in total 67 ships). The batte-red Armada was pinpointed at the Downsin English waters. The commander summoned every armedmerchant vessel in Dutch harbours to

come and help destroy the Spanish fleet.And it is at this point we hear of The Robbeing assigned to the flotilla of AdmiralMaarten Harmsz. Tromp. We know it tookpart at the battle of the Downs in whichon 31 October 1639 the entire Spanisharmada was destroyed (figure 3). The Robfought bravely serving in the squadron ofAdmiral Cornelis Jol - a famous buccaneer(nicknamed Pegleg) – and who was menti-oned especially by Tromp. After the battlethe Rob returned to Dutch waters wereshe sank while waiting at the Texel roads.

This approach is designed to provide a fullerdescription of each wreck site and thereby toassist in identification and/or dating. Thecondition of each wreck is examined, withsedimentation, preservation, the extent andpossible causes of damage, and potentialthreats all being considered. The seabedaround each wreck site is also recorded asmuch as possible through observation and

sediment sampling.Of the 21 recorded wreck sites in the ‘BuitenRatel’ area (figure 1), 11 have been investiga-ted in this way. In two cases the reportedwreck was not found. This may have beenbecause of inaccuracy in the identification ofthe location – perhaps the result of somenon-archaeological feature such as an ano-maly in the seabed – or because the wreck has

been buried by sediment. Nine shipwreckswere investigated successfully by divers.

The most thoroughly studied site is the‘Buiten Ratel wreck’. The ‘vzw NATA’ (a non-profit association called 'Noordzee Archeo-logisch Team Aquarius’) has been engaged inunderwater research at this site for 10 years,and now its records, including observationsand artefacts, have for the first time beendescribed and thoroughly analysed by theVIOE. The Buiten Ratel wreck was a large woodenship. Four of its large anchors are visible atthe site. Only small sections of the wreckitself protrude above the seabed, but theseinclude a large wooden beam and severalparallel planks spread over an area of about21 by 8 m. It is intended that the site should

The first MACHU report included an introduction to the two MACHU project

test areas in Belgian territorial waters, ‘Buiten Ratel’ and ‘Vlakte van de

Raan’. On the basis of the results of desk-based research the Flemish Heritage

Institute (VIOE) has been organising the investigation of listed wreck positions

from two private vessels, ‘Ephyra’ and ‘Divestar’, and the research vessel ‘Zee-

leeuw’ (with the use of ‘Vloot’, the governmental shipowner) in cooperation with

a team of voluntary

C O - O R G A N I Z E R B E L G I U M

The Flemish Heritage Institute

(VIOE: Vlaams Instituut voor

het Onroerend Erfgoed)

The Maritime Archaeology

and Heritage Afloat Unit

Koning Albert II-laan 19, Bus 5, B -1210 Brussels – BELGIUMT +32 (0)2 553 16 50 F +32 (0)2 553 16 55 E instituutonroerenderfgoed@vlaanderen.be www.vioe.be

Representatives of the Institute

involved in the MACHU project:

Ine Demerre, Marnix Pieters, Inge Zeebroek

8 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

ONGOING

RESEARCH

AT TWO TEST

AREAS IN

BELGIAN WATERS

(FLANDERS)I N E D E M E R R E & I N G E Z E E B R O E K

FIGURE 1: The Buiten Ratel area, 1 of the two 2 areas of the MACHUproject, in which 21 wreck sites could be localised so far. © VIOE

be recorded in greater detail. The RenardCentre for Marine Geology (Ghent University)(see article: Cooperation with non-archaeo-logical scientific institutes, organisations andindividuals, page 30) has made acoustic (seis-mic) recordings of the seabed and subsoil inthis area, and these give an idea not only ofthe shape of the wreck, but also of the level ofsedimentation. The amount of wood on thesurface restricts measuring deeper parts ofthe wreck remains underneath, using thisrecording technique.

Many of the objects recovered from thewreck over the years have been linked withspecific places situated in The Netherlands.Among these are a pocket watch fromAmsterdam, clay pipes from Gouda, andthe bottom of a tobacco box with Dutchinscriptions. Stylistic attributes and markingssuggest a mid-eighteenth century date formany of the artefacts. Two wooden barrelswere dendrochronologically dated to 1733and 1735 respectively (Kristof Haneca, VIOE),dates which provide a terminus post quem forthe sinking of the ship (figure 2 & 3). Thewreck has not yet been identified.In the ‘Vlakte van de Raan’ area three siteswere the subject of a successful preliminaryinvestigation in 2008. All three were WWI orWWII submarines.

R E S U LT S

S E D I M E N TAT I O N

Most of the wrecks in the Buiten Ratel areaare covered with a thick layer of sediment– this is especially true for two WWIdestroyers, ‘G-96’ and ‘Branlebas’ (figure 4).One site, B109/230, yielded only pieces ofmetal, wheels and wooden beams; perhapsthe cargo of a 19th century ship carryingmaterials for railway construction (figure 5& 6).There has also been significant sedimentationin the ‘Vlakte van de Raan’ area. Two identifiedwrecks – the 18th century ’t Vliegent Hart,and the 20th century fishing vessel, Z.442Andre Jeannine – could not be traced on theknown positions through the use of ‘multi-beam’ measurements and the wreck at siteB126/306 could not be detected by depthsonar either.

The soil samples taken from most of theinvestigated sites, and from the area aroundeach, ought to give an idea of sediment typesand distribution on wreck sites as comparedwith the sediments of the Belgian ContinentalShelf. The grain size of sediment taken fromthe wrecks seems to be different from that ofthe sediment of the surrounding area.

9 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

B E L G I U M

FIGURE 2: Drawingof one wooden barrel found on the Buiten Raltewrecksite (inv.nr.BW 079).© VIOE, MARC VAN MEENEN

FIGURE 3: Cross section of barrel (inv. nr. BW 079) for dendrochronological dating. Tunnelling is visible of the Teredo navalis. © VIOE

Samples from the Buiten Ratel wreck(B114/230a), for example, had a median sizeof around 535 and 515 µm, while the mediansize of recorded sediment from the surroun-ding area was between 200 and 250 µm.

D A M A G E

Adorning each of the wrecks studied to datehave been fishing nets – often complete, butsnagged and entangled. While the snaggingmay cause damage, the nets sometimes coverand thereby protect parts of a wreck.Poor visibility makes diving in the ‘Raan’ areadifficult, but in spite of this complication atleast as much evidence of looting has beendetected at the ‘Raan’ sites as at sites in themore accessible ‘Buiten Ratel’ area. In eacharea items have been found which appear tohave been lost in the course of efforts torecover parts and artefacts from the wrecksites. These include steel cables, dredges,and pieces of metal. Where shiny copper isvisible, it is likely that the metal has recentlybeen either cleaned or cut. At certain wrecksites the propeller and copper portholeshave been removed.

In summary, the preliminary underwaterinvestigations have yielded some importantinformation about the wrecks in the MACHU

test areas, notably in relation to thecharacter of the different ships wrecked,and their condition. Damage to the ships isbeing recorded, whether caused inadver-tently – through fishing, for example – or asa result of deliberate looting. Signs of lootinghave been identified on most of the wrecksstudied. The visual record being compiledfor the area around each site, together withsediment sampling, ought to provide dataregarding sediment movement in the area ofeach wreck, and this in turn should assistwith the development of conservation andprotection measures. �

R E F E R E N C E S

� Zeebroek I. et al. 2009-2010: Een18de-eeuws scheepswrak op de Buiten Ratel

zandbank (Belgische territoriale wateren):onderzoek van de site en analyse van devondsten (1), Relicta 6, (in preparation).

10 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

B E L G I U M

FIGURE 4: Photograph of a fragment on the wrecksite G-96 (B117/236a). The wreck is deeply covered in sediment. A large fishing net is visible. © VIOE

FIGURE 5: One of the five wheels detected on wrecksite B109/230, probably part of a train locomotive. © V I O E

FIGURE 6: Sketch of one of the wheels of wrecksite B109/230 by divers. © VIOE BAS BOGAERT

11 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

C O - O R G A N I Z E R G E R M A N Y

Germany has selected two MACHU testareas on the Baltic Coast in the country ofMecklenburg-Vorpommern. The aim is toregister all archaeological underwater sites inthese areas. These are obviously wrecks butalso maritime constructions, submergedStone Age sites and more. Also detailedinvestigations about destructive processes onarchaeological sites will be done. The twotest areas are the Wismar Bay as a part of theMecklenburgian Bay in the west and thecoastal waters of Ruegen Island in the east ofthe country. In addition there is comprehen-sive new information available about theseregions from the research that has beendone in the same area by the SINCOS-II-Project (www.sincos.org).

In 2008 the RGK has continued to investigateand register its abundant and still largelyundiscovered underwater cultural heritage inMecklenburg-Vorpommern. An importantfocus of work however has been the 18thcentury ship barrier near Greifswald in theRuegen test area (see article page 32).Besides the sites that have been described inthe previous MACHU Report, the test area

Ruegen also revealed three complete StoneAge log boats that were discovered duringexcavations for a storm water storage basinin Stralsund Harbour. One – from the youngerStone Age (4000-3500 BC) – is with 12metres long the largest of its type on thesouth western Baltic Sea coast.

Other, extremely interesting maritime findsare discovered in Jasmund Bay. Here, nearthe 9th century trading place of Ralswiek, 4early medieval (10th Century) shipwreckswere found and excavated. These clinkerbuilt boats are 10 to 14 metres long, 3.5metres wide and 1 to 1.2 metres high. Theirpropulsion was by sailing and rowing.

From the other test area, the Wismar Bay,also early medieval ships were discovered.These were used as boat burials in thegraveyard from the early medieval tradingcentre Gross Stromkendorf. No wood waspreserved from these up to 14 m long boats,only rows of iron rivets marking the formerplank lines. The application of iron rivetscorresponds to the Scandinavian boatbuilding tradition. �

FIGURE 1: This logboat from Stralsund is broken into many pieces and pressed flat by the weight of the overlying sediments. PHOTO G. SCHINDLER & P. KAUTE LKD M-V.

FIGURE 2: Stoneage sites in the Wismar Bay. FIGURE MACHU

EXTREMELY RICH AND WELL PRESERVED

UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE

THE TEST SITES

WISMAR BAY

AND RUEGENT H E R G K P R O J E C T T E A M

The Roman-Germanic Commission (RGK)in cooperation with the Authority for Culture and

Protection of Monuments in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Römisch-Germanische Kommission des

Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts

Palmengartenstrasse 10-12, 60325 Frankfurt a. M GERMANYT +49 (0)69 97 58 180F +49 (0)69 97 58 18 38 E info@rgk.dainst.dewww.dainst.de/abteilung.php?id=268

Representatives of the Institute involved in

the MACHU project: Friedrich Lüth, Harald Lübke,

Stefanie Klooss, Kathrin Staude

12 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

The Holland No. 5 was the last of 5 HollandClass submarines ordered from the HollandTorpedo Boat Company by the BritishAdmiralty to see whether there was a futurefor submarines in the British Navy. The sub-marine was launched in 1902. In 1912 it sankoff Beachy Head and became a designatedsite in 2005 (figure 1). This year the markerbuoy was lost and the Contractor was taskedto:1. confirm the position of marker buoymooring block and2. confirm position of rising chain.

The Northumberland and Stirling Castle areboth lying on the Goodwin Sands. In 2007,the Licensee reported that the Northum-berland, a 3rd rate 70 gun warship (1679)that wrecked in 1703, remains relativelystable with reduction in sediment to bow andstern areas. The Contractor was taskedto re-locate and accurately position anyexposed archaeological material and com-mence intra-site survey.

The Stirling Castle also sank in 1703 duringwhat is now called the Great Storm. Owingto the general trend for increased sedimen-

English Heritage (EH) itself is

not undertaking any fieldwork

for MACHU. However all work is

being undertaken by (sub-)contrac-

tors or licensees. The following

overview of what has been under-

taken on designated wreck sites

that are situated in the MACHU

Test areas is based on the reports

handed over to EH. The summer of

2008 has been extremely bad for

diving. Therefore not much work

has been done on the sites.

PROTECTED WRECK SITE

CASEWORK AND MANAGEMENT,

SOUTH EAST ENGLAND C H R I S PAT E R

C O - O R G A N I Z E R E N G L A N D

FIGURE 1: Rear of the Holland 5 submarine with its propeller. PHOTO: WESSEX ARCHAEOLOGY

E N G L A N D

tation being observed by the Licensee in2007, Nigel Nayling from the University ofWales, was commissioned to undertakeassessment for dendrochronological analysisand sampling.

In 2008 information panels of the Dutch EastIndiaman Amsterdam (built in 1748) wereplaced at Bulverhythe, near Hastings where

the ship foundered in 1749. At the presenta-tion of these panels EH met with representa-tives of the Amsterdam Foundation, RACM

and Hastings Shipwreck & Coastal HeritageCentre to discuss management of theAmsterdam (figure 2). EH agreed to draft aConservation Management Plan.

Another Dutch East Indiaman, the Rooswijk

(built 1737) was found on the Goodwin Sandwhere it sank in 1740 and has been subjectto commercial salvaging (see also MACHU

Report 1). Following stakeholder consul-tation, the Conservation Management Planfor the Rooswijk has now been implementedand is available to download from the EnglishHeritage website. �

FIGURE 2: The site of the Dutch East Indiaman Amsterdam protected by a sheet piling. PHOTO: ENGLISH HERITAGE

English Heritage, Maritime

Archaeology Team

Fort Cumberland, Fort Cumberland Road,Eastney, Portshmouth, PO4 9LD – ENGLANDT +44 (0) 9285 6735F +44(0) 23 9285 6701E maritime@english-heritage.org.uk

www.english-heritage.org.uk/maritime

Representatives of the Institute

involved in the MACHU project:

Ian Oxley, Chris Pater, Mark Dunkley

13 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

U S T K A T E S T A R E A

Based on the data recorded with multibeamechosounding, a bathymetric map (DTM) hasbeen created for the area of a submergedforest (see also MACHU report 1). Thegeological characterization of this site wasdone with the results of side-scan sonar andseismo-acoustic profiling. The sedimentsfrom 5 vibrocores, each of ca 2 m long, havebeen described in a very detailed way.The results of pollen analyses of two cores ofsediments (117-1 and 117-3) show that thelower parts of the sediment were createdduring the Late Glacial and the EarlyHolocene time (ca 10500 – 8500 years BP)but that the upper part of sand settled downduring the Subboreal period (ca 3500 – 3000years BP). So, with the help of geological and

palaeo-botanical sciences a whole sub-merged landscape has been created anddated.

P U C K T E S T A R E A

Also for the Puck medieval harbor a bathy-metric map (DTM), based this time on single-beam echosounding data and a side-scansonar mosaic, has been created.

Because the sediments in this test area are

disturbed due to many (infrastructural)underwater works done in the past, fouradditional corings on land have been done forthe purpose of reconstruction of the ancientshoreline and possible palaeo-environmentalchanges. From these sediments samples forradiocarbon datings and pollen analyses havebeen taken which are under investigationnow. These results will be published as datalayers in the MACHU GIS and in the finalscientific publication of MACHU.

14 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

FIGURE 1: The fossil soils horizons in one of dune ridges on the Vistula outlet cone area. PMM

C O - O R G A N I Z E R P O L A N D

The Polish Maritime Museum in Gdansk

Centralne Muzeum Morskie, Olowianka 9-1380-751 Gdansk – POLANDT +48 (0)58 301 86 11 Main office

+48 (0)58 320 33 58 SecretariatF +48 (0)58 301 84 5E info@cmm.pl www.cmm.pl

The Polish Geological Institute

Subcontractor to the

Polish Maritime Museum

Polish Geological Institute, Rakowiecka 4 Str.00-975 Warszawa – POLANDT +48 (0)22 849 53 51F +48 (0)22 849 53 42 E sekretariat@pgi.gov.pl http://pgi.gov.pl/pgi_en/

Representatives of the Institute involved in the MACHU project:

Iwona Pomian, Thomas Bednarz, Waldemar Ossowski, Szymon Uscinowicz, Grazyna Miotk-Szpiganowicz

INVESTIGATIONS

AT THE THREE

MACHU TEST

AREAS

IN POLAND IWONA POMIAN

15 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

G D A N S K T E S T A R E A

A bathymetric map (DTM) of the old harborof Gdansk based on single as well as multi-beam echosounding data and side-scan sonarmosaics, allows us to choose the locations forvibrocoring. Up till now, 5 vibrocores. Allsediments were described in a detailed wayand two cores have been investigated palyno-logicaly. The results of these analyses showthat the lower parts of clay and sand in thecore 117-1S are of the Late Glacial periodorigin, while the development of peat tookplace during the Early Atlantic (ca 7000 – 6500years BP). The gap of sedimentation coversmore then 2500 years. The lower part of thesediment of vibrocore 117-3S was created atthe end of Atlantic period and the upper partconsisting of silty-clay sediments – during theSubatlantic (ca 2000 years BP and later). Thegap of information connected with the sandsedimentation covers about 2000 years.Based on the DTM and by comparison of theold maps from 1613-1997 years (1613, 1674,1701, 1761, 1814, 1997 year) using ArcGIS,the preliminary reconstruction of Vistulaoutlet development and shoreline migrationhas been done.

To precise the information about the devel-opment of the Vistula outlet, 13 samples ofsand from dune ridges on land for OpticalStimulated Luminiscence (OSL) dating andsamples of fossil soils for pollen analyses havebeen taken. These are all under investigationnow and will be published in a later stage. To enable better explanation of the presentstate of the archaeological sites in this area adetailed photo, video and drawing docu-mentation of five wrecks has been elaboratedto present on the MACHU website.Not less then 70 historic maps showing

entrance to Gdansk harbour from the 17thand 18th century have been collected anddigitalized. In the coming months a selectionof them will be added in the MACHU GIS. �

P O L A N D

FIGURE 3: The map from 1674 year with nowadays coastal line.Source: APG 300, MP-1128

FIGURE 2

The so called Arade 23 site was located in 2005 by CNANS (now DANS) during

a magnetometer and side-scan sonar survey of the Arade river estuary, one

of the two Portuguese MACHU project elected areas. In 2006, survey dives on the

site identified it as being a tumulus of ballast stones, from under which poked

some fragments of wood with copper nails. This gives us a preliminary dating

starting from the late 18th century onwards.

C O - O R G A N I Z E R P O R T U G A L

FIGURE 1: P H O T O : D A N S

Assessment on the

Arade 23 wreck site 2007-2008

F R A N C I S C O A LV E S &

PA U L O M O N T E I R O

In 2007, a field season was executed to assessthe site. Its first phase was to surround thewreck with six referential stakes and to fullyrecord whatever was exposed without distur-bing the site. Several wooden dead-eyes, onepewter spoon with an engraved mark (‘J:V’),and some timbers were then recorded. Inorder to complete the basic assessment ofthe site done the previous year, a second fieldseason was organized in 2008. Its objectiveswere:- to locate the keel, if present, as well as bothends of the ship extremities (stern post andstem post. ;- to excavate a trench across the hull to disco-ver the layout and record the dimensions ofthe scantlings;- to recover any potentially diagnostic arte-facts as well as any loose piece of the wreckfor preservation purposes and;- to physically protect the wreck site.

For this purpose, the already implanted posi-tioning scheme of 2007 was also used and allmeasurements were again done by using the

Portuguese Centre

for Underwater and

Nautical Archaeology

Instituto Portugues de ArqueologiaAvenida da India 1361300 300 LisbonPORTUGAL T +21 36 16 546E cnans@ipa.min-cultura.ptwww.ipa.min-cultura.pt/cnans

Representatives of

the Institute involved in

the MACHU project:

Francisco José Soares Alves

João Gachet Alves

José Antonio Bettencourt

Patricia Carvalho

Helder Hermosilha

Vanessa Loureiro

Paolo Monteiro

16 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

Site Recorder 4 for accuracy checks. Theoverburden of sand and silt accumulatedduring the course of a year was removed withthe aid of a water dredge and a test trenchwas dug between P5 and P3 - a line thateffectively intersected at 90º the wreck at itsmost extant surviving section.

Test pits were also dug at both extremities,near P4 and P1. Unfortunately, not only theextreme ends of the vessel could not be loca-ted, but the keel was also absent as was anysign for the turn of the bilge. The trench that crossed the wreck sectiontransversally was done by the manual remo-ving of ballast rocks as well as by clearing anysand overburden intermingled with them.Few and scant artefacts were recovered:mainly some fragments of ceramic, someshards of glass and the bottom of a dark tin-ted glass bottle. Near P5, a large folded sheetof copper hull sheathing studded with coppertacks was also discovered.

The scantlings revealed by this test excavati-on were not uniform, with the timber assem-blage beneath the ballast mound showing awide collection of widths and timber orienta-tion. Also, the wood used for some of thetimbers was clearly different from the oneused on other structural elements. Considerable effort was spent trying tounderstand this exposed section. It was con-cluded that the construction that has beeninvestigated is part of a board side, somewhe-re above the turn of the bilge.

At the end of the project, 30 bags of sandwere used to weight down two large piecesof Geotextile on top of the wreck (alreadyapplied successfully in the 2002 Arade 1 fieldseason). These physical measures should pro-tect the site against looting, anchoring orother damaging activities. The canvas, thetrench and both test pits were back-filledwith sand from around the site. For that pur-pose, the end of the water dredge was used.This allowed us also to investigate the outsideperimeter of the wreck dispersion area. Nofurther wood elements or artefacts werefound except in the area to the southwest ofthe wreck, where several ballast stones werelocated . We are confident that had any otherlarge parts of the wreck been buried underthe sand in the immediate vicinity, thesewould have been detected.At this moment, due to the nature of thesamples and the artefacts but also the limitedintrusive work executed, the site can only bedated roughly in the 18th century. The sitehas not been identified. �

17 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

P O R T U G A L

FIGURE 2/3: Divers working at the Arade 23 wreck site. PHOTOS DANS

During the second year of the Swedish MACHU project there

has been a focus on collecting data regarding the diving

frequency on wrecks in the Stockholm archipelago.

Information has been collected through a webpage, where

divers were invited to answer a web based questionnaire.

The project has also focused on gathering information

regarding the effect and the impact on the wrecks caused by

high diving frequency. To record and document these effects,

fieldwork was performed in fall 2008 on five chosen wrecks.

These wrecks were chosen on the basis of the results from the

questionnaire.

D ATA C O L L E C T I N G ;

Q U E S T I O N N A I R E

A web based questionnaire was publishedduring spring 2008 on the Swedish MaritimeMuseums webpage and during 2 monthsanswers were submitted from over 300divers. In the questionnaire the divers wereasked to provide answers regarding behaviour,knowledge, diving frequency and reach ability.They were asked to specify how many divesthey had done on 30 selected wrecks. Aresult seen in the answers is that manydivers dive very deep and on wrecks that aredifficult to access and reach. Open waterand 45-60 meters of depth are not ahindrance, on the contrary it seems thatmany divers search for wrecks with theseparameters. This is also confirmed by thefact that 63% of the divers have taken aNitrox course. 65 percent of the divers inthe Stockholm area have dived deeper than40 meters and 5 percent answers in thequestionnaire that they have been divingdeeper than 90 meters. The average depthfor a dive is between 20-40 meters.

Another conclusion from the answers is thatthe area has a high diving frequency in totalthe 30 selected wrecks had 8400 dives. Afew conclusions regarding diving frequencyand reach ability show that variables that doinfluence upon the diving frequency on awreck are if the site is easy to reach from

land and if it is an intact wreck.The diver’s answers show that reasons forstarting diving are interest for adventure,nature and/or wrecks. For most divers thedriving force behind the diving are the sameas when they started but their interest forwrecks has increased. Main factor that make a wreck interestingfor divers to visit are if the hull of the wreckis intact. Known history and a wrecks nameand origin are variables that make a wreckattractive for divers. Also diving depth andexposed items are answered to be impor-tant aspects that make the diver choose awreck for diving.

D ATA C O L L E C T I N G ;

F I E L D W O R K

Amongst the 30 wrecks in the questionnaire9 wrecks have been chosen for fieldwork,this year 5 wrecks were documented (figure1). The aim of the fieldwork is to seechanges due to both natural damage anddamages from diving. The wrecks are cho-sen from the criteria to find two similarwrecks in different environments and withdifferent diving frequency. Through thedocumentation of theses wrecks and combi-ning this with earlier recovered informationabout the status of the wrecks, the GIS

modelling will be able to tell changes or

C O - O R G A N I Z E R S W E D E N

18 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

THE SECOND

YEAR: FOCUS

ON DATAN I N A E K L Ö F & J I M H A N S S O N

FIGURE 2: Björns wreck. A intact tiller hole documented during the 1970ties. The MACHU fieldwork could state that it is now broken. PHOTOS: JIM HANSSON, SMM

FIGURE 1: The 9 wrecks chosen for the fieldwork.

influence that can or have damaged theremains. The methods used during the field-work were video documentation, photodocumentation and control measuring ofmeasurements that are documented sincebefore. With some wrecks it will be possibleto compare earlier documentation, to seewhat has happened during time with theremains.

R E S U LT

� Käppalavraket is an unknown wreck, bothin historical background and regarding itsconstruction. The wreck has a very highdiving frequency and is easy to access. Thesite is exposed and near the major route toStockholm. The wreck is poorly documentedso the only noticeable influence from divingwas that a shoe is missing and a frame isbroken. The wreck has high diving frequen-cy during the winter period and will bedocumented again during next year field-work.� Sappemeer is a big intact steel wreck situ-ated far out in the archipelago. The wreckhas a high diving frequency though it isdifficult to access. The wreck is documentedsince before in videos and photos and alsohas a known history. The fieldwork docu-

mentations showed that there has been h-appening a lot with the wreck. Here fragilerails are broken due to what belived is in-cautious divers. During the fieldwork naturaldetoriation also were documented.� Björns vrak is a very well preserved wreckthat is difficult to access and with a lowdiving frequency. There is earlier documen-tation available in form of photos, videos andalso a very careful documentation measu-ring. The fieldwork showed that bothanchoring and diving have caused damagesto the wreck. The bilge pump is broken, thehole for the tiller were also broken, possibledue to a buoy line causing the tiller hole tobrake. The bilge pump has possible beenbroken by incautious divers, but it can alsobe due to anchoring since the bay is anextremely well sheltered and popularanchoring place for boats during thesummer season.� Riksäpplet is a well known wreck and hasa dramatic history and background. Thewreck is easy to access and have a divingfrequency. The earlier documentation that isavailable was studied before the fieldwork.At this site is was possible to see severalchanges that definitely are caused by divers,mostly it is loose finds that has been moved

around on the wreck or finds that now aremissing. An elevation wedge belonging tothe canons that has been lying on the wellpreserved anchor rope is now missing. (figure8). A block wheel that earlier was buried inthe sediment has been dug out and are nowplaced on top of visible planking. � Kungshamnsvraket is a medieval wreckwith a relatively high diving frequency andearlier documentation about the wreck isavailable. As this wreck is located close toStockholms harbour’s north route and in thenarrow Skurusundet, the site is influencedby currents. During the fieldwork twostoneware urns, observed in earlier docu-mentation, were not possible to locate,possibly diving or currents has influencedupon their position. The wreck will be innext years fieldwork.

During the following year the project will tryto find out which variables control the scubadiving in the purpose to find an indicator fora GIS analyse regarding scuba diving and itsimpact on wrecks, in the purpose to applythe indicator on all the 500 registeredwrecks in Stockholm archipelago. �

19 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

S W E D E N

FIGURE 3: Riksäpplet wreck. During the period of 10 years an elevation wedge is moved around on the anchor rope. The MACHU fieldwork shows that the wedge now is missing. PHOTOS: MIRJA ARNSHAV, JIM HANSSON, SMM

The National Maritime Museums

P.O. Box 27131, 102 52 StockholmSWEDENT +46 8 519 549 00 F +46 8 519 548 94E registrator@maritima.se www.maritima.se

Vasa Museum, Maritime Museum

in Stockholm and the

Naval Museum in Karlskrona

Representatives in the MACHU project:

Björn Varenius, Andreas Olsson, Nina Eklöf,

Mirja Arnshav, Anette Färjare, Göran Ekberg

C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S

MACHU GIS connects information on culturalheritage sites underwater to informationon the (physical) environment, availableresearch data (sources) and other arearelated information considered to be ofimportance to the management of the cul-tural heritage.MACHU GIS opens possibilities to:� A cross-border exchange of information

on the presence and management of cul-tural heritage underwater;

� Project sites within their spatial contextand thereby creating insight in the relati-on to other area related information.(E.g. available research data or legislationin the vicinity of site locations);

� Visualize area related developments thatmay become a threat to the preservationof cultural heritage;

� Get an insight in site assessment andmanagement decisions (decision support);

� Monitor long-term effects of sitemanagement.

The MACHU GIS application is constructedin a way that fits in with the Europeanguidelines for geographical information, aspresented by the INSPIRE directive (Infra-structure for Spatial Information in Europe)3.This, among other things, resulted in thedevelopment of a web based GIS in whichpartner countries (and third parties) canexchange data by using web services.Distribution and management of the datapresented in the GIS thereby stays theresponsibility of each individual dataprovider (figure 1).

The web GIS application now exists of 2 parts: 1. An administrator’s module that allowsan application manager to add availableweb services to the viewer and classifythem by theme. 2. A viewer that allow users to consultavailable information (figure 2). The user ofthe MACHU GIS has several possibilities toconsult this information. Main possibilitiesare visualizing map layers in the viewer,

identifying objects, execute (multiple) que-ries, linking sites to management plans andconsulting metadata of individual data sources.These main functions are explained by acase study further on in this chapter.The MACHU GIS distinguishes itself fromother applications, as it is able to combinedata from different services into one maplayer. This means a user can consult theinformation of a map layer as if it wasoriginated from one data source. To establishthe application to perform this way, dataformats have been developed for the mainmap layers. For example, all cultural heritagesites can be consulted through a single maplayer, but the actual site information isderived from individual services of MACHU

partners. Each contributor commits itself tothe use of these formats.

The main map layers of the MACHU GIS

currently are:� Cultural Heritage Underwater, contai-

ning detailed information on individualsites e.g. type, age, archaeological valueand linkage to its management plan;

� Research areas, containing indications onavailability of research data by locationand research characteristics e.g. researchtechniques used like multi beam or sidescan sonar. This layer can also be used toadd images of the research data to theview and gain access to resource infor-mation on individual research datasets(by metadata);

� Legislation, containing legislation that

20 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

An important part of the MACHU project is the building of a prototype web

GIS application that enables the share of information between EU partners

on the management of cultural heritage underwater1. Since the start of the project

in the fall of 2006, a lot of effort has been made developing the building

principles, to determinate the functional needs, specifying the necessary map

layers and data formats, collecting and processing data, to construct web

services and the actual building of the MACHU GIS web application. In the

summer of 2008, the first version of the MACHU GIS, build by Grontmij

Nederland B.V.2, has come ready for use.

A PROTOTYPE WEB GIS

APPLICATION FOR MACHUH E R M A N H O O T S E N R W S & W I M D I J K M A N R W S

THE KEY

PRINCIPLES

OF INSPIRE 7

� Spatial data should be collected once and maintained atthe level where this can be done most effectively.

� It must be possible to combine seamlessly spatial datafrom different sources across the EU and share it between

many users and applications.� It must be possible for spatial data collected at one level of

government to be shared between all the different levels ofgovernment.

� Spatial data needed for good governance should be availableat conditions that are not restricting its extensive use.

� It should be easy to discover which spatial data is available, toevaluate its fitness for purpose and to know which conditionsapply for its use.

G E O G R A P H I C I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M

applies to the management of culturalheritage underwater;

� Administrative boundaries, containingthe outer boundaries of countries onland and sea;

� General Bathymetric Chart, containing asubset of the General Bathymetric Chartof the World (GEBCO) One Minute Grid.

The MACHU GIS also contains a temporarymap layer MACHU test areas, defining theareas where each partner focuses oncollecting data to benefit the MACHU projectdevelopments.

Because part of the information presented inthe GIS application is confidential, theMACHU GIS itself is only accessible by arestricted group of users (scientists, policymakers and managers of cultural heritageunderwater). A demo of the application canbe found on the MACHU website:www.machuproject.eu/gis-01.htm

D E V E L O P M E N T S

The building of the MACHU GIS is a pilotproject. During the following phase of theMACHU project, more efforts will be madeto improve the system on both content andfunctionality. The technical execution onthese matters will be supported by the dataand ICT department of Rijkswaterstaat4.

For the GIS to function well, the availabilityof data is crucial. The forthcoming yeartherefore extra efforts will be made to gainand serve new data, now including datalocated outside the predefined MACHU testareas. This will be done by adding new datainto existing themes, as well as by addingnew map layers to the GIS. These new maplayers could be topographical like historicalmaps or map layers that give informationon area related developments and threatslike sedimentation and erosion of the seabedor the effects of scuba diving near wrecksites. The contribution of these extra themesmay differ per country.

For the extension of archaeological data,inquiries are made into the possibilities ofdeveloping an automatic system for extrac-ting data from the national databases ofeach partner and translate this data intoMACHU data formats. Because of the diffe-rences between the national databases, thiswon’t work without custom-made applica-tions. Therefore, the ambition is not tocreate a single solution for all partners, butcreating a system that could function as abasis for each custom-made applicationthat has to be developed.

Also this year the construction of web ser-vices for individual MACHU partners willbegin. Momentarily all content web servicesare hosted by the data and ICT departmentof Rijkswaterstaat. However, finally eachpartner is expected to provide its own webservice containing its own data. The possi-bilities to do so differ per partner. There-

fore it’s not to be expected that all indivi-dual web services can be made available inthe forthcoming year. Nevertheless, thegoal will be to realize at least some of theindividual web services before end of theproject. �For further information on the MACHU GIS,please contact machu@racm.nl.

21 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

G E O G R A P H I C I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M

FIGURE 2: Schematic representation of the MACHU. GIS Viewer. The Viewer consists of four main sections: the Table Of Contents (TOC) containing the functions to add andremove map layers; the Map Area, wherein the map layers are viewed; the Interface, which holds the buttons to interact with the Map Area, and the Legend section where the symbols of the map layers is explained.

TOC

INTERFACE LEGEND

MAP AREA

MACHUwebsite

DATA SERVICES PRESENTATION

CENTRALMACHU

DATABASE

OTHERCONTRI-BUTORS

MACHUPARTNER

WEB-SERVICE(S)

WEB-SERVICE(S)

WEBSERVICE(S)

AND CENTRAL

WEBPAGE

PC

SERVER

SERVER

SERVER

FIGURE 1: MACHU GIS principle Model

22 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

MACHU GIS -

A CASE

STUDY

This case study shows some basic possibili-ties of the MACHU GIS.

Imagine this, for a research you would liketo know which sites are situated inDutch waters or which sites, also else-where in Europe, have verifiable connec-tions with the Netherlands. First thing todo: use the query-tool. Choose the neces-sary attributes to compose a search stringand perform a selection of sites thatmatches the defined conditions.

The result of the query will appear in apop-up window and the selected sites willcolour red in the map. After this you haveseveral options: You can e.g. export theresults, read the contents of each individualsite, zoom to an individual site or linkthrough to the management plan of a site(pdf).

Let’s say, the results leads to a specific siteof interest and you would like to knowwhat kind of research has taken place in thevicinity of this site. To find out, first turn onthe layer research areas in the TOC. Themap will show any research areas near thesite. After that, use the identify-tool andclick in the map on a research area of inte-rest. A pop-up window will show you therelated research information (Note: moreresearch areas can be identified at once byusing the query tool)

When available, it is possible to add animage of the research data to the map. Inthis example a geo-tiff of some multibeammeasurements can be made visible. If you like to have more information on therepresented data, for example detailedinformation on data quality, you canrequest for source information by using themetadata-button

By clicking the metadata button, a newpop-up window appears, presenting thesource information (originally stored asXML-file). To find more information on

G E O G R A P H I C I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M

23 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

GoogleWeb Toolkit(Javascript)

GoogleWeb Toolkit(Javascript)

Application Logic

WebServer

JBoss

Database

Server

Machu GIS Viewer

Web interface

MapBuilder

Hibernate

PostgreSQL Database

GeoService

GeoService

GeoService

JSNI

JDBC

RPC

WMS/WFS

C O M P O N E N T

D I A G R A M

O F T H E

M A C H U G I S

V I E W E R 1 . 06

The application setup for the MACHUGIS Viewer 1.0 uses MapBuilder to pro-vide the functionality of the Interfaceand Map Area segments and GoogleWeb Toolkit (GWT) to create the TOCand Legend elements. GWT is also usedto manage the interaction between theclient and server and the connectionbetween the server and the database viaa secondary library: Hibernate. Duringthe evaluation on the GIS system in thecoming months, this set up mightchange e.g. due to requirements on sys-tem management.

data quality, look at ‘Quality’ (momentarilystill presented in Dutch as kwaliteit) 5. Ifmore information or real source data isneeded, you’re required to contact theowner or maintainer of the data, whichinformation should also be available bymetadata.To find other area related information,search the TOC for available map layers. �

S O U R C E S

1 Building the GIS system; MACHU Reportnr. 1; January 2008.2 Grontmij Nederland b.v, w.grontmij.com3 Infrastructure for Spatial Information inEurope (INSPIRE), www.ec-gis.org/inspire4 Rijkswaterstaat (RWS), www.rijkswaterstaat.nl

5 Meta Data Tool (RWS) At this momentthe tools is in Dutch. Within the projectthis will be replaced by an English version.6 MACHU GIS Application, Technical design of the Machu GIS Viewer. August 11, 2008.Grontmij Nederland bv7 The key principles of INSPIRE,

www.inspire-geoportal.eu

G E O G R A P H I C I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M

How does this description relate with theactual MACHU project objectives? In essencethe project does aim to provide spatial andtextual information as follows:� the Web based Geographical Information

System (GIS) developed in MACHU doesact as an information inventory of what wepresently know about the underwatercultural heritage and its environment;

� an ambition of the project was to providefurther information through the GIS aboutphysical conditions of the seabed and thearchaeological sites that can help us topredict the (state of the) unknown archae-ological resource and to develop wellfounded in situ protection systems; and

� means to test the consequences of diffe-rent decisions in the way they may affectsuch sites.

In a way the GIS now functions like a DSS andwith this tool scientists, heritage officers and

policymakers are able to compile andcompare data and information about thehistoric environment (i.e. the underwatercultural heritage) in conjunction with detailabout the natural environment and infra-structural seabed works, all present in thesame area. However, what is still lacking is aguideline on how and what kind of informa-tion and data should be taken into considera-tion while managing the underwater culturalheritage in different situations. These can beareas with numerous infrastructural activitiesor, for example, areas with identifiablechanges in natural conditions, such as seabedtopography. The MACHU group has thereforechanged its focus towards a more manualapproach to a DSS model by presenting

examples of good practice that set out theparameters for decision making, for example,as relevant to the types of projects that aresubject to evaluation under the EuropeanUnion Environmental Impact AssessmentDirective (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/eia-legalcontext.htm), such as commercialports, offshore wind farms and seabedpipelines.

The approach advocated is that individualnotes and descriptions are provided thatcollectively provide information on howhistoric environment is addressed in thecompletion of Environmental Impact Assess-ment (EIA) or any similar assessment systemthat evaluates ecological, natural, social andcultural impact in an area. In this way it ispossible to compare and contrast theapproach adopted across MACHU projectpartners. In the first instance the inclusion ofthe historic environment must be consideredacross the key components of the EIA

process: screening; scoping, the environmentalstatement; and review. Within most MACHU

partner countries, the approach adopted isfor the developer to prepare the entire EIAprocess and in doing so appoint consultantsand specialist sub-contractors as necessaryto deliver the overall project EIA. Publicbodies such as English Heritage (in the UK)and the RACM (NL) are invited to commenton the screening and scoping stage whichis particularly important if archaeology isconsidered within the EIA. This considerationmight have to be challenged and the counterargument presented based on available infor-mation as held by records contained withinthe national archive. The advice a publicheritage agency provides, such as English

24 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

At the start of the MACHU project in 2006 it was decided to create a proto-type

Decision Support System (DSS) as a tool for management of underwater

cultural heritage. In the world according to Wikipedia, for example (accessed

on 11th December 2008) a Decision Support System is described as: ‘a specific

class of computerized information system that supports business and organi-

zational decision-making activities. A properly-designed DSS is an interactive

software-based system intended to help decision makers compile useful

information from raw data, documents, personal knowledge, and/or business

models to identify and solve problems and make decisions’.

G E O G R A P H I C I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M

FIGURE 1: Dredger near the Millennium Dome in London. PHOTO: EH

THE CONCEPT OF

DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND RELEVANCE TO THE MACHU PROJECT

C H R I S PAT E R E H

M A R T I J N M A N D E R S R AC M

G E O G R A P H I C I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M

25 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

FIGURE 2: Wind turbines on the Kentish Flat, UK. PHOTO COURTESY ELSAM.

FIGURE 3: A quick view on planned and executed infrastructural works on the North Sea seabed shows us the scale of (potential) threats for theunderwater cultural heritage. Guidelines and examples of good practise can help to protect the known and unknown resources. PICTURE: M. KOSIAN

Heritage is sent directly to the respective theUK Government Department that has parti-cular responsibility for licensing (i.e. consen-ting construction within England) for the sea-bed development in question. For example,in the UK the Department for Energy andClimate Change takes responsibility for off-shore renewable power generation projectssuch as offshore wind turbines within theEnglish area of the UK Territorial Sea andadjacent Continental Shelf.

In effect decisions about whether to consenta seabed development are not made bypublic heritage bodies. In the UK the nationalpublic heritage agencies, such as EnglishHeritage, provide advice that informs decisionmaking by the licensing authority through theEIA process. In which case, the importantmatter is to ensure that such information asrelevant to the historic environment is inclu-ded within the decision making frameworkinformed by an EIA. This is even morecomplicated if considering implications ofcumulative developments of the same kindor different, but with the same increasinglycongested sea space. Any attempt thereforeto embrace DSS technology must be designedto take full account of all aspects of the EIA

evaluation procedure. This is summarised as:� access to spatial data to inform decision

making – such as where do we know wehave historic environment interests andwhere might such interests be discovered;

� the capacity for analysis in terms of howthe information about the historic environ-ment – known and unknown – contributesto the sum of knowledge necessary toinform a decision about the environmentimplications of the development pro-posed; and

� the ability for a DSS to project how historicenvironment resources might be affectedthrough a process of setting differentcontrols and parameters.

CONCLUSION

It is clear that there have to be an enormousamount of parameters taken into accountwhile protecting and mitigating for under-water cultural heritage. These parameterscan be combined within the MACHU GIS andthis system already acts, to a certain extent,as a Decision Support System. However, stilllacking are guidelines on what should betaken into account while managing theunderwater cultural heritage in differentsituations.

Therefore, in the coming months the projectteam will include examples of good practiceon the MACHU website to support conside-ration of management and protection of ourhistoric environment subject to differentnatural and anthropogenic processes andactivities that may affect this rich archaeo-logical resource. *www.machuproject.eu �

26 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

GISING DEAD-RECKONING

HISTORIC MARITIME MAPS IN GISM E N N E K O S I A N R A C M

FIGURE 2: 16th century navigational instruments. PHOTO M. MANDERS

FIGURE 1: The map 'De vermaerde stroemen, Tvlie ende Tmaersdiep…' (The well known currents, Vlieland and Marsdiep) by Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer (1584).

G E O G R A P H I C I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M

The Dutch maps from the 16th and 17th centuries were

famous for their accuracy and detail level. When we look

at these maps with modern eyes they seem distorted and unre-

liable; the relationship between different areas on the map

appears warped, coastal lines seem either sketchy, or with

excessive detail, and the maps are not in a recognizable projec-

tion. Yet these maps contain a wealth of information that can

provide much insight in the maritime landscape in that period.

It is possible to place these maps in a geographic information

system (GIS), in which the information can be used for modern

research. At this moment the MACHU project is experimenting

with this. This paper we will discuss which maps are used and

how these are made suitable for the MACHU-GIS.

It is possible to place these maps in a geogra-phic information system (GIS), in which theinformation can be used for modernresearch. At this moment the MACHU

project is experimenting with this. This paperwe will discuss which maps are used and how

these are made suitable for the MACHU-GIS.

N A V I G AT I O N

Orientating on board ships was mainly donein two ways: by dead-reckoning and bymeasurements. Dead-reckoning was done

by plotting a course-line from a known pointwhere speed, compass-course, drift and cur-rents were included in the calculation. Inaddition ships carried instruments withwhich the position of celestial bodies couldbe measured. With these celestial measure-

FIGURE 3: Check of referencedistances on the map in modern projection (left)and on the original map (right). GIS-MAP BY MENNEKOSIAN (2008)

ments the latitude could be calculated. Butthese instruments were primitive and difficultto read (figure 2). There were calculationmethods to determine the longitude usinginstrument data, but they were very unrelia-ble and even more sensitive for calculationerrors and misreading. Only with the inventi-on of the chronometer in 1762 by JohnHarrison could the longitude be determinedcorrectly. For a long time the most reliableway of determining ones position remainedtriangulation between two or more pointsalong the coast.Mapmakers had the same problem, especiallywith maritime charts. Moreover, preciseangle measuring instruments, such as mirrorquadrants, were only invented in the 18thcentury. In many cases information fromexisting maps, that were considered reliable,was used and often copied.

L U C A S J A N S Z O O N

W A G H E N A E R

Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer (ca. 1533-1606)was ‘Navigator in Enchuijsen’ and completedin 1584 the first part of his ‘Spieghel derZeevaerdt’ (Mirror of Navigation). Thesecharts depicted the European coast fromTexel to Cadiz. Since there are no indicationsthat Waghenaer copied his charts fromexisting sources, it is assumed that thesecharts were based purely on his own obser-vations and knowledge of navigation, whichhe had acquired as a navigating officer. The map that I use as an example is that of ‘Devermaerde stroemen, Tvlie ende Tmaersdiep’(The well known currents, Vlie and Marsdiep,figure 1), the most northerly sheet of the first

part of his ‘Spieghel’. At first glance the pro-vince of North-Holland appears too broadand plump, Friesland relatively too smalland the Wadden islands north of Texel arepositioned in too straight a line. Despite this,the map was reliable enough to navigate;Waghenaer's almanac was widely used.

T R A N S L AT I N G

T H E M A P I N T O G I S

To place this map in a GIS, we first have todetermine for what purpose this map wasmade, so what degree of reliability was needed.As I said before this map is the most nort-hern sheet of a series of navigational chartsfrom Texel to Cadiz. That means that thismap was made for navigating the shippingroutes to the southern regions of Europe.The main routes through the Wadden Sea forthese destinations were either through theMarsdiep or through the Vliestroom, and aretherefore the most detailed parts of the map.Friesland north of Harlingen and the islandsnorth of Terschelling are only to ‘complete’the map image, and didn't need to have thesame level of detail or degree of accuracy.To georeference the map I applied the sametechniques as those which whom the originalmap was created: small parts of coastlinecharted using triangulation and sightlines. Istarted with the area around Enkhuizen.Looking at Waghenaer’s map, it is clear thatthis particular area is pretty well charted; theangles between Enkhuizen, De Kreupel sands,Stavoren and Enkhuizen, Medemblik areproperly depicted, and the relative distancesare reasonably correct. By vectorising thispart it could be transformed into a modern

projection, and the names, depths and otherinformation added to a database. This waythe entire map was put into a GIS, Frieslandand the northern islands were more or less‘sketchy’ digitized, similar to the original.After the various parts were combined, thedistances between some reference points onboth maps were compared, and adjustedwhere necessary (figure 3).That gave a map in which all data from thechart from 1584 could be compared withmodern data.

P I E T E R G O O S

Pieter Goos (1615-1675) was a booksellerand engraver in Amsterdam and became in1650 one of the major publishers and retai-lers of seaman’s almanacs and charts. In 1666he published his ‘Zee-atlas of the waterwe-reld’ (Sea-atlas or water world). The actualcharts were not by Goos himself, but werecopied from the ‘Zee-atlas ofte water-wae-reld’ (Sea-atlas or water world) by HendrickDoncker, also from Amsterdam. Doncker’satlas was published in 1659 and, being regar-ded the most accurate in maritime cartogra-phy, was copied by several other publishers.The chart from the ‘Zee-atlas’ I use as anexample is the ‘Pascaerte vande Zuyder-Zee’(Portulan map of the Zuijder-Sea, figure 4).As the title indicates, this is a portulan map, asmall-scale map on which a route could beplotted. To ensure the route could be plottedby compass course, this map was set in aMercator projection. This has the advantagethat the angles on the map equal the angles inreality, so a compass course gives a straightline on the map. Because most modern maps

27 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

G E O G R A P H I C I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M

Ca. 3,3 ‘Duitsche Mijl’ (7,407 m) = 24.44 km

28 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

G E O G R A P H I C I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M

are also in a Mercator projection, Goos’smap looks more familiar to the modern rea-der than that of Waghenaer. However, thismap is similarly hard to place under amodern map. To put it into a modern GIS Iused the same technique as I did withWaghenaer’s map. Although Goos givesmore detail information in the northern partof the Wadden Sea, this portulan, like themap from the ‘Spieghel’ was also mainlyintended for navigation on the Zuider Seaand the routes to the southern North Sea.

W A G H E N A E R A N D

G O O S C O M PA R E D

If we compare these two maps it is immedia-tely clear that the shoals in the westernWadden Sea and the indicated deep-waterchannel have moved westwards (figure 5).We have to realize that these maps were notonly very popular, but also very expensive, soit is not inconceivable that many captains didnot, as nowadays, replace their maps regu-larly. That would have led, certainly in casesof poor visibility and bad weather, to dange-rous situations. When we plot the knownwreck-sites on these maps in the GIS, we seethat where on the 16th century map the safedeep-water channel is located, on the 17thcentury map the edge of the shoal is, and theconcentration wrecks (figure 6)! Despite thefact that pilots were an obligation in theDutch waters, navigation errors, especially inthat era, cannot be ruled out.

C O N C L U S I O N

Old maps are not only a pleasure to watch,they are also an important source of informa-tion about the geographical situation at thattime. To place them into a GIS it is necessaryto first determine the purpose of the map(and with that its most accurate part). Thetitle is often a good source of information.Then should be determined how the originalmap was charted. Fixed points along thecoast, charted navigational- and sightlinesoffer clues for this. Then the map should bevectorized in several small, coherent areas,whereby point data such as depths, buoys,beacons and so could be put into the databa-se. After these separate parts are combinedand the in-between distances are checked,all the information from the historical mapcan be compared to the modern maps. In away, the historic maps are being translatedfor use in present time. Therefore they donot immediately look like the originalalthough the data they contain is the same.The original maps can be viewed on theMACHU website. �

FIGURE 4: The 'Pascaerte vande Zuijder-Zee’ (Portulan map of the Zuider-Sea - Pieter Goos 1666)

FIGURE 5: The Waghenaer (left) and Goos (right) maps compared GIS-MAP BY MENNE KOSIAN (2008)

29 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

S T A K E H O L D E R S

I N T R O D U C T I O N

There are many individuals and orga-

nisations involved directly and indi-

rectly in the Management of Underwater

Cultural Heritage. The best way to pro-

tect and manage UCH is to make sure that

these stakeholders – or at least the most

important ones – are being informed,

heard and that they are encouraged to be

active partners in management. In the

end, if only archaeologists think the

UCH is worth protecting, there is no use

in trying to do so. Because then there

will be other things regarded being

more important.

This is why creating awareness is so impor-tant. MACHU tries to do this especially byworking together with several groups ofstakeholders and by making informationavailable for these groups in ways that appealespecially to them (See also MACHU Report1). All the stakeholder groups have to beaddressed differently: The language spoken isdifferent and the goals and ethics they haveas well. The focus in co-operation is differentbecause they play a different role in theprocess of protecting cultural heritage under-water.

However, stakeholders are not just groupsthat are a companion in the effort to protectour UCH, some stakeholder groups might bethe strongest opponent or enemy in theeffort to do so. By knowing their needs,vision, values, culture and ethics you will havea better understanding of what is driving thedifferent groups. Consequently they can beapproached in the right way to negotiate,influence and involve them.

In the next articles, the MACHU partnershave described the way they have approa-ched different stakeholder groups in theireffort to manage the underwater culturalheritage in a better way. These articles showthe variety of stakeholder groups and theways to approach them. Hopefully theseexamples are of help to others and that thesewill initiate further co-operations betweenstakeholders in the protection of ourunderwater cultural heritage. �

30 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

G E N E R A L

S TA K E H O L D E R S

Since 1992 the VIOE has worked closely withthe Province of West Flanders. The originsof this relationship are to be found in thearchaeological project investigating themedieval fishing village of Walraversijde. TheProvince presented the results of theresearch project to the public at the provincialmuseum of Walraversijde (Ostend). Themuseum is now home to the VIOE maritimeteam and is the base from which the teamundertakes its archaeological research andparts of its conservation. Beside this major support, the province is themost important partner in the disseminationof research results to the public, by exhibi-tions, publications, symposia, the co-develop-ment of the maritime database:www.maritime-archaeology.be etc.The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)coordinates marine scientific research inFlanders. The VLIZ is a valuable repository ofinformation but is also the forum throughwhich the VIOE has established links withmarine scientists working in related fields,providing the potential for cooperation on

mutually-beneficial projects (e.g. geologicaland sedimentological research; see below).The VLIZ provides important support forMACHU prospection work through use ofthe marine research vessel ‘Zeeleeuw’ (figure1) and of the VLIZ library, as well as throughits maintenance of the server on which themaritime database www.maritime-archaeolo-gy.be and other data are held. Alongside the Province of West Flanders, theVLIZ also has a significant role in presentingmaritime archaeological research to the marinescientific world and to the general public.

S P E C I F I C S U P P O R T

F O R M A C H U R E S E A R C H

The first step in the archaeological investiga-tion of the two test areas in Belgian territorialwaters was the gathering of existing infor-mation, and in this task the assistance ofFlemish Hydrography (Department ofCoast, Agency for Maritime and CoastalService) was invaluable. Flemish Hydro-graphy research regarding obstructions threa-tening shipping traffic and wreck archiveswere made available, including locationdetails, ‘multibeam’ and ‘side scan sonar’recordings, measurements, and also in somecases reports by divers, fishermen, dredgersand other relevant parties. The new ‘multibeam’ recordings (EM 3002Kongsberg) made by Flemish Hydrography

The Flemish Heritage Institute (VIOE), Belgian partner in the MACHU project,

carries out its work with the support and cooperation of several scientific

institutes, other organisations, and private individuals.

FIGURE 1: The VIOE can use the research vessel ‘Zeeleeuw’ (property of Governmental ship owner ‘Vloot’ and managed by the VLIZ) for its archaeological diving prospections. © VIOE

COOPERATION WITH NON-ARCHAEOLOGICAL

SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTES, ORGANISATIONS

AND INDIVIDUALS

I N E D E M E R R E V I O E

FIGURE 2: Multibeam imagetaken of the unidentified U-boat wrecksiteB125/306b in the Vlakte vande Raan area (EM3002Kongsberg). © MDK-Afdeling Kust-Vlaamse Hydrografie

S T A K E H O L D E R S

31 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

S T A K E H O L D E R S

on specific wreck locations in the MACHU

test areas are of benefit not only to theVIOE project but also for a better accuracy ofFlemish Hydrography information (figure 2).

The Fund for Sand Extraction (FederalPublic Service Economy, SMEs, Self-employed and Energy – ContinentalShelf) is charged with coordinating the sus-tainable exploitation of the mineral resourcesof the Belgian Continental Shelf. This way,they could provide data (EM 1002 ‘multi-beam’ recordings) regarding wrecks andspecifically mapping, for the development ofthe sediment-erosion model during theMACHU project.

The Renard Centre of Marine Geology(Department of Geology and SoilSciences, Ghent University) is assisting inthe research project in several ways.First of all, RCMG arranged to make side scansonar prospections of specific wreck posi-tions in the MACHU research areas as part ofits own practical training programme.

Next, Dr Tine Missiaen of the RCMG carriedout, in cooperation with the MACHU project,a geological investigation of the seabed andsubsoil through marine seismic methods. Theseabed and subsoil of two research areas(including the Buiten Ratel wreck site - see thearticle on page 8) were studied using highresolution acoustic echo-soundings.

As a result of the relationship between theRCMG and the MACHU initiative a cooperati-on was started up with a doctoral researchproject in geological science, commenced inJanuary 2008. Matthias Baeye is investigating‘Small-scale sediment dynamics near objectsin the Belgian part of the North Sea’ underthe supervision of Marc De Batist and VeraVan Lancker, and the Buiten Ratel wreck areais the site to be studied. The research resultsshould be of direct relevance to the archae-ological studies and ought therefore to contri-bute to the MACHU project.

The cooperation of fishermen, divers, not-for-profit associations, private collectors, andmuseums was central to the compilation of aninventory of collections of marine artefactsfrom the North Sea. Among these, several fossil bones from thesemuseum and private collections have beenexamined by Dr Mietje Germonpré of theRoyal Belgian Institute of NaturalSciences (KBIN) in the first stage of what isto be a more comprehensive study (figure 3).Finally, the physical investigation of the wreck

sites would not be possible without the groupof 34 experienced North Sea divers whohave volunteered to assist with the archae-ological wreck prospections organised by theVIOE since 2006 (figure 4). In April 2008 acourse for the dive volunteers on maritimearchaeological techniques was held in coope-ration with the Nautical ArchaeologicalSociety (NAS) at the ‘Walraversijde’ provin-cial visitors centre.The marine research is done from theFlemish Government ‘Vloot’ vessel ‘Zee-leeuw’ which operates under the manage-ment of the VLIZ for marine scientificpurposes (see above). The VIOE also hires

two private vessels, the ‘Ephyra’ and the‘Divestar’ for wreck prospection work.

By way of summary, in carrying out its mari-time archaeological research for the MACHU

project the VIOE is dependent upon thecooperation and support of a range of part-ners: not only scientific institutions andgovernment organisations, but also local,regional, national and international associati-ons, and private individuals, many of whomoffer their assistance and expertise on avoluntary basis. �

FIGURE 3: Research on fossil bones spread over different maritime find collections wascarried out by Mietje Germonpréof the KBIN. © VIOE

FIGURE 4: Systematic prospections on wrecksites in Belgian territorial waters is onlypossible by a group of enthousiastic divers volunteering in the project. © VIOE

32 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

S T A K E H O L D E R S

THE GREIFSWALD

SHIP BARRIER

M A N A G E M E N T O F C H A N G E

F R I E D R I C H L Ü T H R G K &

K AT H R I N S TA U D E R G K

The Swedish troops confiscated all the vesselslying in the harbour of Greifswald, filled themup with ballast stones and sunk the vessels inshallow waters of the bay at a depth of 2 to 4metres on a sill with broad sand banks (figure1). The strategic position between each of thesunken vessels covered a distance of 15 to45m. The vessels lying on the seabed eversince form a chain like a string of pearls(figure 2) in a length at about 1000 meters.

The site was discovered through aerialphotography and is now a scheduled monu-ment. Written sources in the Swedish militaryarchive and maps revealed important infor-mation about the event and form the basisfor a scientifically based description of thehistoric value of this site.

Not all of the vessels have survived throughhistory. The 20 remaining are small andmedium-sized trading vessels and/or fishing-boats acquired from surroundings. They aredifferent types of ships that vary in size andconstruction. According to some dendro-chronological dates these wrecks originallyhave been built between 1653 and 1692.These samples show the use of older andnewer vessels. The selection gives an impor-tant insight into what a fishing and coastaltrading fleet of the 16th century in the BalticSea might have looked like, what types ofships and boats were in use at the same time,what kind of building-techniques were used

Between 1700 and 1721 the great Nordic War took place in the Baltic Sea

Region with Sweden troops fighting against an alliance formed by

Denmark, Poland-Saxony, Prussia and Russia. During this war – in the year

1715 - while the Swedish Army was based in Greifswald in North-East

Germany, their army was under pressure. In order to secure the harbours

of the towns Stralsund and Wismar the direct access through the Bay of

Greifswald between the Islands of Ruegen and Ruden had to be blocked.

FIGURE 1: Map showing the planning of the pipeline and (the red dot) the ship that has to be removed. PICTURE: RGK

33 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

S T A K E H O L D E R S

and in what kind of tradition the vessels werebuilt. This kind of information is not includedinto any historic source and can only bereceived through archaeological investigationon this important historic resource. More-over this historical monument has an immenseimportance for the regional and NorthernEuropean history and forms an importantarchaeological source for the reconstructionof naval wars.

During recent years the site came into thefocus of the cultural heritage managementagain. Some investigations were carried out inorder to get information about the quality ofthe overall archaeological resource of state ofMecklenburg-Western Pomerania and this hasled to important knowledge about this site.At the same time planning activities were sud-denly directed at the ship-barrier when theNord Stream AG started their activities onplanning a major gas-pipeline from Vyborg inRussia to Lubmin near Greifswald in North-east Germany. This project is financed by aRussian-German consortium, half-owned byGazprom, carrying prominent chair peoplelike Vladimir Putin and the former Germanchancellor Gerhard Schröder.

The 1220 km long pipeline project shall becompleted in 2011 and this ambitious projectincludes the management of the historic envi-ronment. After an initial phase of recordingthe state of the site, its quality and the

surroundings of the site, one of the vesselswill have to be removed, while all the otherneighbouring vessels shall be protected bysandbags. The vessel that will be removedwill be recorded and excavated using state ofthe art technology. After investigation it shallbe reburied in a wet environment, within asweet water lake in a former gravel pit topreserve it in its own waterlogged position.

This former gravel pit is already in use con-taining two wrecks from other sites thatcould not be kept in situ either. The threewrecks will form the start of a new ‘under-water museum’ where objects that are notconserved for traditional museum storagefacilities are presented and preserved inwaterlogged condition.

This project and the backgrounds of theship barrier are also published on the NordStream website (http://www.nord-stream.com/de/press0/press-releases/press-release/article/nord-stream-to-raise-historic-shipwreck-near-german-ruegen-island.html?tx_ttnews[backPid]=24&cHash=c9bc1cc4ef, last access 9.10.08). The presentation on this website shows thethe change in attitude turning from what wasonce viewed as a hindrance into a culturalgenerator: a project that might also resultin positive publicity for an infrastructuralcompany. �

FIGURE 2: Areal photography of the ship barrier. PHOTO RGK

FIGURE 4: Historic map dating from the Nordic War showing the Greifswaldship barrier. MILITAIRY ARCHIVES STOCKHOLM

FIGURE 3: Underwater footage of a frame from one of the ships in the Greifswald ship barrier. PHOTO MCCLEAN 2008

Portugal, an 88,619 km2 country,

has 845 km of seashore and

about 298,521 km2 of river drainage

areas, more than half of the total

Iberian drainage area. Sea and

rivers historically played an impor-

tant role in the development of the

territory, fact clearly expressed on

a Portugal chart: the biggest and

more developed towns are located

on the coast or near rivers'

mouths.

Not always, however, the country was likethis. On the 13th-century, when the Portu-guese boarders were definitively establishedin the sequence of the conquest of Algarve,the most significant harbors, platforms ofcommerce and exchange of goods and ideas,rested within the rivers. One magnificentexample is the city and harbor of Silves, the

ancient Muslim Xelb, which was locatedupstream of Arade river1. Gradually, Portu-guese rivers started silting up. According tothe writing sources, this was a problematicsituation around the 15th-century, generic tothe majority of the most important harbors.On the mouth of Arade river, the village ofPortimão was born by this time, and itsharbor substituted Silves, which was onlythen reached by small tonnage ships. Thetown, around 8 000 inhabitants before theChristian Reconquista (Torres Bálbas, 1985),soon became a village and felt abandoned.

The 20th-century saw the building boom ofcoastal towns when buildings, hotels, seasidehomes were built in a response to the increaseon tourist demand. On the 2nd-half of thiscentury, waterside development aggregatedthe governmental concerns, which explainsthe 70’s dredging missions in the majority ofthe Portuguese harbors. Arade river’s mouth

started to be dredged in 1968. In 1970,830 000 m3 of sand were took from this area.Thousands of archaeological artifacts, fromdifferent chronologies, were launched withthe sand in beaches around the town. Atleast five shipwrecks were impacted anddestroyed. Only one, the Arade 1 wreck,survived to be located in 2001 and excavatedby archaeologists between 2001 and 2005. Inthe late 80’s, Arade river received a newdredging campaign. Again the underwatercultural heritage was forgotten.

Only the creation of the Portuguese Instituteof Archaeology in 1997 and the promulgationof decrees concerning the protection ofcultural heritage changed the status quo.Nevertheless, the situation was far fromideal. During the building of Portimão marina,a year later, archaeologists were called tokeep up with the works but no previousarchaeological analysis took place. Three

34 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

URBANISTIC AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATERSIDE URBAN AREAS

MACHU GIS AS A PLANNING

S T A K E H O L D E R S

V A N E S S A L O U R E I R O D A N S & J O Ã O G A C H E T A LV E S D A N S

FIGURE 1: Urbanistic, infrastructural development, coastal and seabed change between 1894 and 2005 in and around the Arade River. MAPS: DANS

TOOL?

underwater sites (fortunately, dated from the20th-century) were summarily recorded anddestroyed. Aware of the archaeologicalpotential of this river, the National Center ofNautical and Underwater Archaeology,helped by local entities, developed a surveyprogram of the riverbed, as well as a policy tocollect information about archaeologicaldiscoveries or recoveries among the popula-tion. Between 2000 and 2002, with exceptionof the already referred Arade 1 site, nocoherent shipwreck or structures werefound. However, The Arade river revealedfragments of wooden pieces and ceramicshards, sometimes even entire artifacts inceramic or metal, all over the bottom. Theimpact of the dredging works was clear.

On 2003, a new dredging plan was develo-ped. The inexistence of any kind of DecisionSupport System delayed the project as theconstruction of a rotation basin in the mouthof the river would oblige the dredging of

areas never impacted. The project waschanged to preserve potential archaeologicalsites, however, intensive archaeological geo-physics surveys needed yet to be done toprevent further heritage destruction. A new

site, Arade 23, was discovered andan 18th-century shipwreck alreadyknown, but never assessed, wasrecorded. The protection of thelater obliged to further changes tothe project. The dredging startedonly on 2007.

How could MACHU GIS have hel-ped? Arade river mouth is one of thePortuguese test areas withinMACHU project. From 2006 on, allarchaeological sites or isolated arti-facts were monitored. Also a hugework regarding the understanding ofthe sedimentation process of theriver was done, which comprehen-ded the assembly of historical andbathymetric charts as far as the 15thand the late 19th-century, respecti-vely. All data was combined in orderto feed MACHU GIS.

It is, in fact, still a work in progress;however, it was already helpful as aplanning tool. In the opposite shoreto Portimão marina, a project for anew marina was released in 2007.The Ferragudo marina predicted

the reconstruction of the village fishing har-bor, the construction of a tourist marina, aswell as the building of houses near the shore.To allow the entrance of ships and vessels inthe marina, areas of the Arade river neverimpacted need to be dredge. The project wasalready designed when archaeologists beca-me aware that it would destroy severalarchaeological sites. Nevertheless, due to thework done for MACHU GIS was possible toadvise minor changes that would compromi-se infrastructural development with the pro-tection of underwater cultural heritage. TheFerragudo marina, however, will not be built,but not due to archaeological concerns.

Ideally, policy makers, infrastructural developersand cultural heritage managers should be ableto dialog before projects see the light.MACHU GIS existence, in the specific case ofArade river, would have allowed significanttime savings as the Ferragudo marina projectwould have been, from the very beginning,sensitive to underwater cultural heritage. In adeeper extent, this heritage can be a valori-zation component of urbanistic and infra-structural projects on waterside urban areas,sustainably explored in name of science,knowledge and tourism. �

1The example is not occasional, as Arade river

estuary is one of the Portuguese test áreas

within MACHU.

35 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

S T A K E H O L D E R S

FIGURE 2: Measuring equipment on the Arade 23 wreck. PHOTO: DANS

Historically there is a somewhat

uneasy relationship between

the avocational divers community

and the professional archaeologi-

cal world. In the last decades

attraction or fascination in diving

has increased enormously. Wreck

diving is very popular for obvious

reasons. In The Netherlands there

are more than 20.000 divers active

in one way or another. There are

companies who advertise with wreck

diving trips.

In the media, diving on archaeologicalwrecks is being portrayed as an adventurousand exciting way of diving. The awareness of– and necessity of protecting UCH isn’t thatobvious for a broader public and even withinthe diver community itself. So we canconclude that the UCH is being enjoyed bya large community, but not very wellprotected. Even though the policy towardswrecks is clear – preservation is the keyword – a lot of wrecks are being damagedintentionally or unintentionally.

Luckily there is a growing awareness withinthe avocational divers community of the vul-nerability of the UCH and quite a few of themare eager to learn to approaching wrecks inarchaeological scientific ways. Therefore theRACM organizes courses in underwaterarchaeology for and with the divers. Thesecourses are focusing on the non-intrusivedocumenting of underwater sites accordingto archaeological standards and are similar tothe courses of the Nautical ArchaeologicalSociety. In reverse the growing diving com-

munity can contribute largely to the knowled-ge of UCH in our waters. There is already alot of information concerning UCH within thediver community. Specific knowledge ofregional conditions and sites are sometimesonly exclusively known by these groups.

MACHU is trying to integrate these avoca-tional diving groups into the project to sharethe rich knowledge they have and to makeit visible in the MACHU GIS. In The Nether-lands there are several diving groups who arespecialized in archaeological wreck diving.Most of them (almost 150 persons) aremember of the National Working Group forArchaeology Underwater (LWAOW).

T H E B A N J A A R D

MACHU is working in the Banjaard test areawith two diver organizations: The NehelleniaArcheologisch Duikteam (NAD) and theWrak Duik Stichting Roompot (WDSR). Theyhave a lot of data and information but most ofit is not validated and checked scientifically.With these groups we started a pilot projectto analyze and validate the information gathe-red by the divers and integrate it into theMACHU project. At the moment wreck locations collected by

the NAD & WDSR are being validated bysurveying and diving by themselves. Becausethe information is being processed in theMACHU standard formats and guidelines, theinformation validated in this way can be addedto the MACHU database and the MACHU

GIS. For this purpose there is an online formin which amateurs fill in the data concerningUCH and upload it to the MACHU GIS.Already several wrecks have been added inthis way.

The collaboration with the avocational divinggroups in the Banjaard/Zeeland area provesto be very promising for the future. It givesthe local organizations more responsibility tocare for their ‘own’ heritage.

If the awareness of the vulnerability of sitesunderwater and the importance of wrecks aspotential archaeological sources of informa-tion, instead of sources for souvenirs, is beingrecognized by all amateur divers, then therichness and preservation of the UCH isbetter guaranteed for future generations tocome. �

36 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

The digital MACHU

ArchaeologicalFormat,

for the avocational

divers to reportnew sites.

SOURCE: MACHU

MACHU

AND THE

AVOCATIONAL

DIVERS

COMMUNITY

W I L L B R O U W E R S R A C M

S T A K E H O L D E R S

37 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

The exhibition at the National Archaeology Days in Lisse, the Netherlands. PHOTO: ANGELA MANDERS

Underwater Archeology is an integral part ofboth our national and international history,yet the general public is largely unaware of it.Due to the fact that managing cultural heritageis moving towards in situ preservation, itseems that the general public will onlybecome less and less involved. Objects andstories can connect us with this past. Thepresentation Buckets Full of Stories, throughthe telling stories, aims to make our under-water cultural heritage more accessible.

Buckets full of stories is a traveling presen-tation about Underwater Archaeology. Theresearch location, Burgzand-Noord nearTexel (The Netherlands) is the setting forvarious stories. Ten buckets and six bannersshow different facets of UnderwaterArchaeology, namely: research techniques,the history surrounding archeological objects,the place of the RACM in the field of under-water cultural heritage and the Europeanco-operation in the MACHU project.

The exhibition aims, not only to inform thegeneral public of this little known aspect ofDutch national history, but also to offer thema direct practical experience.Buckets full of stories gives visitors the chanceto experience what it is like to be an under-water archeologist through active partici-pation and research. What is there to discoverunderwater? And how do you do that?

Bucket Full of Stories is a traveling exhibition

and can be seen at various cultural events inThe Netherlands. RACM hopes in this mannerto reach a large public.

In 2008 the Buckets were exhibitioned at threeoccasions in the Netherlands. From 6th till8th June on the National Archaeology Days atLisse. July and August it was at the RACM

Amersfoort building for the Open Monumentsexhibition. Finally it was at the Tall Ship racesevent in Den Helder the Dutch marine harborin the week of 20th till 24th August. Morethan 250.000 people were visiting the eventin Den Helder. At this moment the exhibitioncan be visited at the Maritime Museum inOudeschild, Texel.

MACHU is a European project in which 7different countries are involved. A similar edu-cational initiative in partner countries is anideal way to further this partnership. BucketsFull of Stories is a concrete manner to bringpeople, especially youth, in contact withUnderwater Archeology and encourage themto think about the importance of preservingour maritime heritage.

For more information about this educationalproject or in case you are interested in deve-loping a similar project, please contactmachu@racm.nl

Bucket Full of Stories has been developed for MACHU and RACM by ArteKino (www.artekino.nl ) and Nico van Maastricht. �

The primary goals of the MACHU

project are to develop tools

for the management of under-

water cultural heritage and to

raise awareness about our shared

underwater cultural heritage. The

project is intended for policy

makers, academics, as well as the

general public.

BUCKETS FULL OF

STORIES, LOST BELOW

THE SURFACE

AND FOUND AGAIN

MACHU - AN OUTREACH INITIATIVE

A N G E L A M A N D E R S

A R T E K I N O

S T A K E H O L D E R S

Different facets of underwater archaeologyare presented in 10 different buckets with adiameter of 83 cm. PHOTOS: ANGELA MANDERS

S T A K E H O L D E R S

38 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

LEGISLATIVE

MATTERS IN

UNDERWATER

CULTURAL

HERITAGE

MANAGEMENT

A N D R E A O T T E R A C M

Image of the legislation layer as presented in the MACHU GIS. SOURCE: MACHU

The legal system that is of

relevance to the underwater

cultural heritage, envelopes a com-

plex of regulations and legislation

at national, European and inter-

national level. This complexity is

due to differential jurisdiction

applying to territorial waters and

the continental shelf, as well as

legislation and engagements spread

over several competent authorities.

Within the Machu GIS system a legislativelayer has been developed to give an overviewof all relevant legislation. In practice thismeans that a geographical overview is beingcreated to show in which area what kind oflegislation for the protection of the under-water cultural heritage can be applied. Thisinformation can be of use to heritage mana-gers, but also to other stakeholders to decidewhat rules they have to take into accountwhen dealing with underwater culturalheritage and to find out what competentauthority to approach. All countries involved in the Machu projecthave heritage legislation to protect andmanage the archaeological resource.Although this legislation differs from onecounty to another, generally speaking theseacts offer the possibility to protect archaeolo-gical sites, licensing of disturbing activities andsupervising on the quality of archaeologicalresearch. In some cases there is a singlelegislative system that covers all archaeologi-cal sites both land and sea (e.g. the DutchMonuments Act 1988), while in others thereis separate legislation for the seabed archae-ology with emphasis on shipwrecks and muchless regard for the prehistoric component.1

Besides the sectoral heritage legislation most

countries also have spatial and environmentallegislation and policies, that seek to integratearchaeology within planning schemes andother developments that directly or indirectlyaffect the archaeological resource. In practice,this often means that in order to get a licencefor a specific activity the results of a prelimi-nary archaeological study and assessmenthave to be provided.2 However, only a limitedpart of the sea is only under national juris-diction. The legislative regime for this area isdetermined by the United Nations Conven-tion on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)3, aimedfirst and foremost to regulate the exploitationof the sea and its natural resources.

According UNCLOS the first twelve nauticalmiles from the coastline are defined as terri-torial waters under total sovereignty of thecoastal state. National heritage legislationmay be applied here to the full extend.4

UNCLOS also offers the possibility to regulatethe handling of archaeological and historicalobjects in the next twelve nautical miles.5

Beyond territorial waters and contiguouszone the possibilities for protection of archae-ological heritage is considerably less. Coastalstates are allowed to regulate the use of thesea, the exploitation of natural resources andthe protection of the (natural) environmenton their Continental Shelves which canextend to over 200 nautical miles from theircoastline. This offers the opportunity toprotect archaeological remains throughdevelopment schemes that regulate activitiessuch as aggregate extraction and the erectionof wind farms.The Convention itself has limited protectiveworking sphere towards cultural heritage.6 Tomake a mend at this, a separate conventionfor the protection of underwater culturalheritage has been drafted in 2001. This

Convention will come into force on 2 January2009. Although of the Machu projectmembers only Portugal is signatory to theConvention, the underlying principles (theso-called Annex) are commonly acknowled-ged and appreciated. It is therefore no coin-cidence that the Machu project aims at crea-ting management tools that will facilitate theConvention’s heritage management rules.

R E F E R E N C E S1 Such as the Belgium ‘Wrakkenwet’, accepted by

parliament in 2007, not yet into force; and the

UK Protection of Wrecks Act, 1973 (soon

expected to be replaced by the Marine Bill).2 E.g. the UK Planning and Policy Guidance:

Archaeology and Planning (PPG16), 1990. 3 United Nations Convention on the Law of the

Sea, Montego Bay, Jamaica 1982. 4 This depends on the way national heritage

legislation is formulated. In the Netherlands the

Monuments Act is applied to the territorial waters

in the same way as on land, except for aspects like

find reporting which, onshore, are authorized by

local authorities. In the territorial waters the sole

competent authority for archaeological heritage is

the Minister of Education, Culture and Science.5 UNCLOS, Article 303.2. Until now not many

countries have made use of this possibility.

One of the exceptions is the Netherlands.

From September 2007 the working sphere of

the Dutch Monuments Act has been extended

to cover the contiguous zone. 6 Articles 149 and 303 describe that States are

responsible for the protection of archaeological

and historical objects at sea. One of the main

points of departure of this convention however

is the freedom of the seas, which means that

States have very limited jurisdiction beyond

their territorial waters. The dilemma is how

to protect heritage without the (legal)

instruments to do so. �

39 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

I N T R O D U C T I O N

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS AND MONITOR

Within the MACHU project some

(rather) innovative techniques

within the field of management of under-

water cultural heritage are used.

The innovative element can be lying in theintroduction of a new technical equipmentor method that is being used for the first ornearly the first time in underwater culturalheritage. Sometimes however, the innovative part liesin the fact that information is being collected,combined and presented in a way neverdone before, which is also the case for theMACHU GIS. It has not been the primary aimto introduce new techniques within theMACHU project. The here introduced tech-niques have been all used in the purpose tofind ways for a better and more effectmanagement. The forthcoming articles all talk aboutcombining and retrieving information fromthe environment that is só influential for thecondition of the sites and therefore impor-tant to assess and consider and even predictthe changes in the overall management forthe underwater cultural heritage. �

40 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

The aim of our research is to determine thetime of deposition of the sand below, besideand on top of the shipwreck. Why could thisinformation be a helpful tool for preservationof shipwrecks? By accurately dating sand, theage of when the wreckage occurred could benarrowed. Additionally, of the depositionalage of sand in and on top of the ship couldgive us an indication how fast and when a shipis buried beneath the sediment and if there isa history of erosion and sedimentation on thesite. Furthermore, if younger sand is foundbelow a shipwreck, the ship probably movedafter sinking or the environment in whichthe shipwreck is lying is highly dynamic. Thepossible cargo will likely be affected undersuch conditions This can be important forassessment of the value or priority of the shipfor in-situ preservation or excavation (preser-ving information ex-situ). Finally, it is impor-tant to know if in-situ preservation is working

well. By knowing something more aboutsediment transport and burial rates, preser-vation methods like for example the use ofpolypropylene netting could be improved.

Optical dating is the most versatile tool todetermine the time of deposition and burialof sandy deposits. However, application ofthe method to sediments in the Wadden Seais not straightforward, because light exposureof the grains prior to deposition and burialmay be too limited to completely reset theOSL signal (‘set the OSL clock to zero’). Anyremaining OSL signal will result in a positiveage offset; the OSL age on such deposits ove-restimates the true burial age. To counteractsuch problems, one can use the part of theOSL signal that is most light sensitive (i.e. hasthe best chance to be reset), and one can tryto use only those grains for which the OSL

signal was reset (i.e. the grains or subsamples

giving the youngest results). Both approacheshave been successfully used to determine theage of fluvial deposits. So far they have notbeen applied to Wadden sea sediments. Aprerequisite for optical dating to be successfulis that the most light-sensitive part of the OSL

signal should be erased to negligible levelsfor at least part of the grains at the time ofdeposition. Given the highly dynamic environ-ment of the Wadden Sea, we expect thisprerequisite to be met.

In this study we not only applied OSL datingbut also used grain size distribution andanthopogenic metals to investigate sedimen-tation processes and the provenance of thedeposits. By studying grain size distribution,questions such as if sedimentation is conti-nuous or occurs during events or if sedimentis transported through waves (fining upwardsequences), or is deposited from the watercolumn during periods of low energy, may beanswered. In addition to grain size analyses,anthropogenic trace metals and stable leadisotopes can be used. Stable lead isotope canbe used as a fingerprint for anthropogeniclead. From 1950 until 1983 lead was addedas an anti-knock agent in petrol. This leadoriginated from Broken Hill, Australia, havinga very different lead isotopic ration comparedwith European industrial lead and naturallead. By studying metal profiles in the

COMBINING OPTICAL DATING, GRAIN SIZE ANALYSES AND CHEMICAL PROXIES

INVESTIGATING SEDIMENT

DYNAMICS IN AND

AROUND SHIPWRECKSMA R T I J N M A N D E R S R A C M

BE R T I L V A N O S R A C MJ A C O B W A L L I N G A N C L

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS AND MONITOR

The knowledge of sediment dynamics is of great importance for the

management of shipwrecks on the seabed. On the one hand, transport of

sediment will allow for rapid burial of the wreck. On the other hand, sediments

transported by currents can be highly erosive which can eventually lead to the

complete destruction of a wreck site. In this study we will investigate the

applicability of an integrated approach including optically stimulated lumine-

scence (OSL) dating, grain size analysis and anthropogenic metal analysis, to

determine the sediment dynamics in and around a ship wreck. The effectiveness

of in situ preservation using polypropylene netting will also be investigated.

All photos: P. VOORTHUIS, HIGHZONE PHOTOGRAPHY©

41 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

sediment, the onset of the industrial revolu-tion, the introduction and use of anti-knockagent and the last 20 years can be dated. Inaddition, if the metal profiles and stablelead isotopes could be used to indentifysedimentation events this will provide usefulinformation like rate and frequency of burialor erosion events of shipwrecks in dynamicsandy environments in shallow (less than 30m) continental seas. By also measuring major elements, carbonand sulphur contents in the sediment, theoccurrence of sulphate reduction can beestablished. Sulphate reduction can causesulphidisation of metal (iron) objects inshipwrecks, like nails. Also it will hamper theexposition and conservation of the ship afterlifting because of oxidation of the previouslyformed sulfides. These will produce sulphuricacid causing all kind of problems.

In this study we apply optical dating, grain sizeanalysis and chemical pollution studies tosediment from two cores taken near ship-wreck BZN 10. The aims of this specific studywere:1. To investigate the application of OSL dating

on sediment transported and depositedbelow the water level in the Wadden Sea.

2. To date sand layers below, in and on topof a physically protected shipwreck (BZN

10).3. Underneath the wreck: To test the hypo-

thesis that shipwrecks sink down into thesoft Holocene sediment of the WaddenSea until the hard Pleistocene subsurface.

O P T I C A L D AT I N GOptical dating is short for opticallystimulated luminescence (OSL)dating. The method determinesthe last exposure to light of sand orsilt-sized minerals. Optical datingmakes use of a tiny light signal(luminescence) that can be emittedby quartz minerals. The lumines-cence signal is proportional to theamount of ionizing radiation (‘radio-activity’) absorbed by the quartgrains since their last exposure todaylight. Optical dating assumesthat the luminescence signal wascompletely reset at the time ofburial, i.e. that light exposureduring transport of a grain (e.g. bywind or water) was sufficient to‘bleach’ the mineral and reset theluminescence clock. A few minutesof intense sunlight or equivalentexposure to less intense light isneeded. After deposition the lumi-

nescence signal builds up due toexposure of the mineral grain toionizing radiation from naturalradionuclides in its direct vicinityand a small contribution fromcosmogenic rays. The intensityof the luminescence signals is ameasure of the time elapsedsince deposition and burial. The age of a sample is given by theequation: Age = Equivalent dose /Dose rate. The equivalent dose isthe amount of radiation receivedby the mineral since burial. Thedose rate is the amount of ionizingradiation received by the sampleper year.The age range for which opticaldating can be successfully appliedis site and sample dependent.Saturation of the luminescence signalusually limits reliable application ofquartz optical dating to the last 150ka. At its lower end, the age range

is confined by the completeness ofresetting of the luminescence sig-nal. In ideal cases luminescencedating can be applied to deposits ofonly a few years old. The accuracyattainable through optical dating isabout 5 to 10% of the age of asample. For samples older than80 ka and younger than 1000 yearsthe accuracy is normally less.For determining the equivalentdose, quartz grains are extractedfrom the samples using a combina-tion of sieving and chemical treat-ment (HCl, H2O2 and HF). Theluminescence signal of small sub-samples (aliquots) containing a fewhundred grains are measured usinga Risoe TL/OSL reader. Thismachine is equipped with blueLEDs for optical stimulation and aSr/Y beta source for irradiating.The natural OSL signal of an aliquotis compared to the signal induced

by a laboratory beta dose; theequivalent dose is the beta dosethat is needed to induce an OSLsignal equal to the natural signal.The Single Aliquot Regenerativedose (SAR) procedure emplyedseveral internal checks and acorrection for sensitivity changes.

For determining the dose rate, thematerial is ground and mixed withwax to obtain a puck of fixed geo-metry. Radionuclide concentrationsare then determined using aCanberra broad energy HPGegamma spectrometer. The spectro-meter was calibrated using quartzflour spiked with K2SO4, Uraniumore and Thorium ore. From theradionuclide concentrations thedose rate can be calculated, takinginto account the effects of grainssize, burial depth (for cosmic dosecontribution) and water contents.

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS AND MONITOR

FIGURE 3/4: Changing of the Ackerman cores.

FIGURE 2: Research ship the Geonaut with the drilling installation at the stern.

4. In the wreck: Use drilling as a tool for fin-ding in situ shipwreck related debris. In thisway, excavation by diving is not necessary.

5. Above the wreck: To investigate the effec-tiveness of the method for in situ preser-vation in the Wadden Sea: coveringshipwrecks with polypropylene nets.These nets can be used as a marker for thecalibration of the OSL dating since the yearthe site has been covered is exactlyknown.

6. To collect data about the seabed sedimentthat can be included in the MACHU GIS.

7. To evaluate the application of OSL datingfor shipwrecks in a dynamic environment.

M AT E R I A L A N D

M E T H O D S

The BZN 10 was a 17th century trader ofpossible Northern German origin and carrieda cargo from the Iberian Peninsula. It wasselected for this research for several reasons.It is lying in one of the MACHU test areas, itis a in situ preserved and already extensiveinformation about the site and the ship is avai-lable through the MACHU website. At the27th of November 2007, the samples weretaken from the site with the vessel Geonautfrom BAM-De Ruiter Boringen en BemalingBV. Two Ackermann cores were drilled; onethrough the wreck (9108) and one just nextto it (9208). These cores had to go throughthe whole Holocene layer and one or twometres into the Pleistocene layer.

P R E L I M I N A R Y R E S U LT S

There are clear changes in grain size visiblein the cores. The grain size follows the litho-logy of reasonably well. Several layers ofsedimentation caused by events can bedistinguished. The observed changes in grainsize distri- butions are also reflected in the

geochemical patterns.At the top of core 9108 – the one drilledthrough the wreck site – the clay mineralcontent is somewhat higher, also reflected inthe finer grain size. It is interesting to notethat the increase in heavy minerals is coin-ciding with the in-situ preservation net. It ispossible that the net trapped the heavierparticles leading to the observed heavymineral enrichment.Anthropogenic metals in general show adecrease going from the top to the bottom ofthe cores. The content of these metals,however, are very low and fall in the naturalvariation of these elements. Until now weonly analysed the top half of these cores so itis still possible that below the analysed partsconcentrations are even lower, suggestingthat until a depth of 4 meters the age of thesediment is possible younger than 1850.

O N G O I N G A N D

F U R T H E R R E S E A R C H

At this moment the deeper parts of bothcores are analysed for trace and major

elements and stable lead isotopes. By doingthis we hope to elucidate the provenance ofthe metals that might be of anthropogenicorigin. This will pinpoint in the sediment theonset of the industrial revolution (1850) andthe introduction of leaded gasoline (1950),thereby strengthening the possible outcomeof the OSL study.An OSL profiling study was carried out toselect the most promising samples for fulloptical dating analysis. The profiling studyindicated an increase of optical age withdepth – which is promising – but also showedthat OSL signals of a significant part of thegrains was not reset at the time of deposition.This precluded interpretation of the profilingresults for age determination, and hence wedo not present this data here. Based on theOSL profiling and grain size and chemical ana-lysis we selected 7 samples from core 9108and three samples from core 9208 for fullOSL analysis. This will be executed in thefollowing months. The final results of thisstudy will be presented at length in the finalMACHU report. �

42 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS AND MONITOR

FIGURE 7/8: In the laboratory several little samples taken from the cores are being prepared for the OSL dating.

FIGURE 6: In the laboratory little sedimentgrains are being pick out for further investigation.

FIGURE 5: Dr. Wallinga investigating thechanging structure of the sediment.

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS AND MONITOR

43 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

The existing knowledge on hydrodynamicconditions in the Gulf of Gdansk is based onin situ observations carried out by regularobservations (within the national observingand monitoring program carried out by mete-orological service) carried out for over 50years, some ad hoc measurements carriedout within scientific and commercial projects.Recently results from numerical models ofthe area of interest also become an interes-ting source of information with regardshydrodynamics.Discussing hydrodynamic conditions in theGulf of Gdansk the following parameters willbe taken into account: water temperature,salinity, water currents. The Gulf of Gdansk, located at the southernpart of the Baltic Sea, is a wind driven waterbody. Its dynamics is very much dependenton wind conditions which have a character ofa random process. Below an overview ofmeasuring techniques used as well as somehistorical overview of measurements will begiven. Next analysis of salinity, temperatureand currents variations in time and space willbe presented.

F I E L D M E A S U R E M E N T S

O F H Y D R O D Y N A M I C S I N

T H E G U L F O F G D AN S K

In situ measurements are the basic source ofinformation on dynamics in the analyzedwater body. Quantity and quality of availabledata very often is the basic limit to under-stand the natural processes there. To enablebetter explanation of the present state of ourknowledge it makes sense to have a closerlook on measuring techniques and theirpotential and limitations. In situ measure-ments of hydrodynamic conditions can be

done using different methods. Taking intoaccount the spatial aspect of planning we candistinguish:� Euler method (registrations are carried out

in a chosen fixed locations)� Lagrange method (registration covers

tracking of the floating object). Taking into account the length of measure-ments, we can distinguish:� short-term registrations (e.g. seconds,

minutes);� long-term registrations (e.g. hours, days,

months or even years).We can also distinguish the following methodsof measurements:� direct (e.g. water temperature, traditional

water level gauges);� indirect (e.g. salinity using conductivity

gauge, satellite images, etc.).

From this general overview of possibilities ofin situ measurements with regards coverageof the area of interest in space and in time, itis quite clear that to get a spatial distributionof any parameter it is necessary to have anumber of instruments running simulta-neously. In practice it is not possible to coverthe Gulf by a set of instruments running inparallel for a certain time. This quite wellexplains that we still come across problemswith presenting a well documented picture ofchanges in hydrodynamics.

W AT E R T E M P E R AT U R E

– C H A N G E S I N T I M E

A N D S PA C E

Water temperature changes seasonally in theGulf of Gdansk, however it is not uniform inthe whole water body. The layered structureof temperature is observed there. The upperlayer reaches the bottom in the shallow parts(i.e. in the coastal zone), whereas in the dee-per parts its boundary is located at the depthof 40-60 meters, sometimes reaching even70 meters. Below, up till the bottom, thelower layer can be distinguished. In betweenthose layers the intermediate layer, characte-rized by the minimal water temperature,can be observed. The intermediate layermost commonly appears at the depth 60-80meters, sometimes it can reach even 90meters.In the upper layer changes of water tempera-ture are closely related to seasonal changesof meteorological parameters (e.g. air tem-perature, solar radiation), and are modifiedby vertical processes (i.e. convection, mixingdue to wind, mixing due to Vistula riverinflow). Based on observations carried out atthe coastal stations it was found that thelargest differences in water temperature inthe basin are observed between stations inHel and Swibno. The biggest can be observedin the period April-July (max. 6.8˚C - July1980). Based on water temperature measurements

HYDRODYNAMICS

IN THE GULF OF GDANSKdr inz

.MALGORZATA

ROBAKIEWICZ Two of the three test sites for the MACHU project in Poland are situated in the Gulf

of Gdansk. These are the Puck Medieval Harbor and the Gdansk old harbor area.

The overall management of these sites is partly depending on the knowledge of the

natural conditions in this area. Important parameters are salinity, temperature and

current. These three have an influence on the condition of the (partly) submerged

cultural heritage on and in the seabed. Temperature and salinity can have an effect on

the rate of biodegradation. Current can cause mechanical deterioration like abrasion,

but also erosion of the seabed making the archaeological sites venerable for all sorts

of deterioration.

carried out in the years 1950-1975 within themonitoring program, the Institute ofMeteorology and Water Management (IMGW)prepared maps of mean monthly surface tem-perature. The well pronounced differencescan be noticed between the coastal zone andthe deepest part of the Gulf. The lowestwater temperature was observed in theVistula River mouth in January (i.e. 0.1 –2.0˚C) and the north-eastern side of the area(close to Vistula Spit; 1.4 – 2.2˚C); inFebruary in the shallow parts of Gulf (in theeastern and western part – approx. 1˚C) andin the deep part (2.5˚C). The smallest diffe-rences in the surface temperature within ayear were observed in February. In the spring time water temperature increa-ses; in the same time the difference betweenthe extreme values (up to 7˚C) increases.Spring is a season when very distinct increaseof water temperature is observed in theVistula River mouth; as a consequence thewater surface temperature in the southernpart of Gulf also increases. In summer water surface temperature

differences between different parts of Gulfdecrease; in August they become quiteuniform (differences reach only 2.3˚C). Inthe same time water temperature reachesthe maximum absolute value within the year(16.1-18.4˚C). In the southern part of Gulf,being very much influenced by the Vistulariver, the maximum temperatures areobserved in July. In the north-western part ofGulf (the Puck Bay region) the maximum isobserved in September. Starting fromSeptember temperature starts to decrease,the most dynamic in shallow parts of the Bay.The most pronounced decrease is observedin November. The mean monthly watersurface temperatures vary within a year in therange 14.3 and 17.1˚C.

In the deepest part of Gulf (below 80 m)water temperature shows slow increase tomaximal temperature. Due to no contactwith the atmosphere temperature of thedeep water does not follow the seasonalchanges observed in the upper parts of watercolumn. The annual variation of temperature

there is related to inflow from other regionsof the Baltic Sea. Very distinct short term changes of surfacewater temperature are observed in the Gulfof Gdansk. They are mainly due to windcurrents which in some conditions specificconditions ‘push’ the surface water seawardwhile in the same time, to compensate,inflow of deep water encounters. Using tradi-tional techniques of measurements i.e. pointmeasurements it is very difficult to detectthem; however satellite images and numericalmodeling very much increased our knowledgewith this respect. From the results of theforecasting hydrodynamic model of theUniversity of Gdansk it can be seen that theupwelling can be observed in some locationsof the Gulf (figure 1).

S A L I N I T Y I N T H E G U L F

O F G D AN S K – C H A N G E S

I N T I M E A N D S PA C E

Measurements of water salinity in the Gulf ofGdansk are in general carried out jointly withwater temperature. Analysis of salinity in theGulf will be based on measurements carriedout by IMGW, some measurements carriedout occasionally, and using knowledge comingfrom numerical modeling. IMGW measure-ments cover stations from the sea and alsofrom the coastal stations. Comparisons of themean monthly differences of salinity in theyears 1951-1980 (Majewski, 1990) haveshown the highest salinity can be observed inW/ladys/lawowo (7.52o/oo) and Hel (7.32o/oo), and lower values in the southern part ofGulf – Gdynia (7.30o/oo); Gdansk – NowyPort (5.99o/oo). We have to consider thoseresults as an ‘estimate’ as in that period(1951-1980) no automatic instruments withvery high frequency of measurements wereavailable. From more recent measurement itis known that in some locations big variationsin a short-time scale can be observed.

44 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS AND MONITOR

FIGURE 1: Surface temperature in the Gulf of Gdansk in chosen moments (data from UG model): A - N-side Hel Peninsula / S - S-side Hel Peninsula / C

A B C

FIGURE 3: Currents as measured in location ibw (55o28'N, 18o10'E) in the period 2-14.08.96;left - depth 13 m / right - 75 m (Robakiewicz, 2004)

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS AND MONITOR

45 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

Spatial differentiation of salinity is very muchdependent on morphological conditions. Inthis respect we can distinguish rather distinctdifferences between the coastal zone, deepparts of the Gulf, and the Baltic Proper. Theshallow part of the Gulf is very much depen-dent on the Vistula River; in that region salinityis below 7o/oo, Influence of riverine water isobserved in the surface layer in the deeperparts of Gulf; in extreme cases it can bemeasured close to Hel Peninsula.

Based on field observations it is known that incase of wind from W, N and E riverine watercannot spread easily in the Gulf thus itspreads along its coast. In case of NE windwater moves west wards while in case ofNW wind - towards east. Wind from S andSW allows for free spreading of riverinewater in the Gulf. It is also well known thatweak winds (not exceeding 2-3 m/s) supportspreading of riverine water, whereas strongwind induces mixing close to the river outflow. Available statistics (1980-85; see Majewski1990) indicate that dominates spreading east-and north-east ward (50% of time), whilenorth-ward spreading takes about 25% oftime, and in 16% of time water wasspreading on both side of the river outflow. Seasonal changes of river outflow have adirect influence of seasonal salinity changes,especially in the surface layer in the coastalregions. The lowest salinity is observed inspring-summer, i.e. periods of the highestriver discharge (e.g. 4.5o/oo in May, close toVistula river outlet), while in winter time inthe coastal zone it can be estimated as 6o/oo.Similarly as in case of temperature also weobserve salinity stratification. In case of salinitywe distinguish surface layer, where salinitycan have gradients of 0.25o/oo - 0.35o/oo,isohaline layer with no gradients (of salinity 7-8o/oo), and below bottom layer where salinitycan reach (8-11o/oo, on average).

W AT E R C U R R E N T S I N

T H E G U L F O F G D AN S K

In the Gulf of Gdansk wind is the main gene-rator of water motion. Wind driven currentsare generated as a consequence of windstress acting on the free surface normal to it.This force makes the surface move, and dueto energy momentum is transferred into thedeeper parts. Wind stress generates driftcurrents. Wind driven currents developrelatively quickly in steady wind conditions. Itwas suggested by some authors that afterabout 48 hours of steady wind currents are inthe Gulf reach steady state; however the insitu observations and numerical modeling donot confirm this hypothesis.

Gradient currents are generated by windlasting for a long time; in such a case thewater level increases in some parts of thewater body while in the other decreases. Insuch cases horizontal pressure gradients aregenerated; they are the mechanism of thosecurrents. The gradient currents developslowly; similarly they also slowly decrease.Density currents are also observed in the Gulfof Gdansk. They are created when non-uniformity of water density occurs. Thedensity difference in the Baltic Sea is due toexchange of water masses between Baltic andthe North Sea; however in the Gulf of Gdanskthe main ‘source’ of density differences isVistula river inflow. Density currents aresmaller than those of wind origin, howeverthey can not be neglected. In practice in situmeasurements include all types of currentswithout distinction by their origin.

The flow pattern in the Gulf is rather compli-cated to measure and to interpret. Currentsdiffer in space and in time substantially, so insitu measurements deliver a rough pictureonly. Nowadays only numerical modelsdeliver the spatial distribution of currents.

Two chosen results from the model workedout by Gdansk University are given in figure3. The accuracy of models is very much rela-ted with the horizontal and vertical discreti-zation of the modeled area. The obtainedresult deliver information about averagedconditions in the area covered by individualgrid cell.

It is worth looking on in situ measurementsfrom the region to have an idea on the realsituation. An example of long-term measure-ments in one chosen location are presentedin figure 3. It is well seen substantial greatvariability in time and differences betweencurrents in the same location but on differentdepths. Due to local variations of currentsmodel results are not able to represent thereal situation with very high accuracy at themoment.

For the management of the underwater cul-tural heritage in this area it means that anextensive monitoring program is importantto carry out. At this moment there are noexisting models that can tell us in enoughdetail how salinity, temperature and currentdevelops in this area. By systematically collec-ting data during the monitoring schemes, inthe future we might be able to get more gripon the natural changes in this area. This datacan then be used for a model in this area andpresented as an extra layer in the MACHU

GIS.

R E F E R E N C E S

� Majewski A. (Ed.) (1990), The Gulf of Gdansk

(in Polish: Zatoka Gdanska), Wydawnictwa

Geologiczne

� Robakiewicz M. (2004), Some chosen

problems in mathematical modelling of the Gulf

of Gdansk (in Polish: Wybrane problemy

matematycznego modelowania hydrodynamiki

Zatoki Gdanskiej), IBW PAN �

- SW-coast of the Gulf / D - SE-coast of the Gulf

DFIGURE 2: Surface currents as obtained using numerical model of University of Gdansk - exemplary results. SOURCE: UG-WEBSITE

The extended domain has enabled us toincrease both the quantity and the quality ofthe extant data used to calibrate the model.Iterative calibration and sensitivity testingof water level data from the south-westapproaches through to the Swedish coast hasbeen completed. Similarly, tidal currentspeed and direction calibration and sensitivitytesting for 12 sites in the Southern North Seaand including the Dover Straits (the locationof our final test site - the Goodwin Sands) hasbeen concluded. We now regard the modelas being complete in terms of tidal currentsand so we are currently adding the windand wave domain prior to running the finalsediment transport pathway model andultimately the nested local model of theGoodwin Sands.

In tandem with the numerical modellingwork we have also been undertaking physicalmodelling of wreck sites in environmentsdominated by tidal currents. Using approa-ches developed in part by an English HeritageAggregates Levy Sustainability Fundedproject (3365). The ultimate aim for this part

of the project is to recreate in a laboratoryflume the dynamics of a subset of theindividual wreck sites being studied as part ofthe MACHU project. The first phase of thiswork involved detailed calibration of the flowregime created within the tank, in order tocreate a working area with uniform flow in amodel velocity range of c. 12-14 cm-1 (whichscales to a field flow of 35-40 cms-1). On completion of the tank calibration a series(8 runs in total) of standard experiments witha prototype vessel were undertaken, withthe vessel being oriented 22o, 45o (x3), 66o

and 90o(x3) to the flow. The resulting scour

patterns (e.g. figure 2) were scanned with aMinolta vi-910 laser scanner (spatial accuracy< ± 0.22mm) to facilitate quantitative com-parison with prototype scale swath bathy-metry data.Currently, we are creating a scale model ofthe 17th Century scale models of theBurgzand wreck cluster based on swath dataprovided by the RACM partners. The swathdata was analysed using a series of contourand surface representations of water depth,slope angle, slope aspect and temporalbathymetric change (from the five annualsurveys available). Having identified the truemorphological expression of the site we areusing a scaled version of the final XYZ data todrive a CNC (computer numerical control)router to cut a perspex version of each of thewreck sites. In the next phase these will beused to drive a physical model of each site. �

*UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON,

FOR ENGLISH HERITAGE, UK.**ABPMER, FOR UNIVERSITY OF

SOUTHAMPTON

46 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

FIGURE 1: Final NW European mesh for the numerical hydrodynamic model.

FIGURE 2: Laser scanned bed for quantitative analysis and direct

comparison with field swath data. IMAGE PROCESSING COURTESY OF G. EARL

During the last twelve months there have been significant developments on

both the numerical model for the calculation of regional sediment transport

pathways and the development of physical models of specific MACHU wreck

sites. After significant testing it was deemed necessary to extend the model

domain to terminate in deep water enabling the global ocean input parameters

to be truly representative of the real inputs. This required the model domain

to now include the entire NW European continental shelf which was then

represented by a scaled mesh that decreased in size from 35 km resolution at

the Outer Shelf to 8-5 km resolution in the areas of core interest, namely

the English Channel and the Southern North Sea (figure 1).

MODELLING

SEDIMENT

MOBILITYTO SUPPORT

THE MANAGEMENT

OF SUBMERGED

ARCHAEOLOGICAL

SITES

J U S T I N D I X *

D A V I D L A M B K I N * *

T I M R A N G E C R O F T *

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS AND MONITOR

47 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

Since the last MACHU Report the

MACHU website contains new topics,

giving not only information on managing

UCH but also on archaeological and his-

torical topics. MACHU is not only con-

cerned in dealing with the normal cor-

porate information but also wants to

trigger enthusiasm for the UCH.

As an extra feature The MACHU website ispresenting news items from the fieldMACHU is related to. This means presentinghistoric and archaeological information onshipwrecks and other sites underwater. Inthe special web section ‘wrecks’, sites arefurnished with a ‘wreck ID’. These are shortpresentations of archaeological sites withinEuropean waters. Basic information onwrecks about type, date and location is com-plemented with historical information, archa-eological background, video and/or pictures.This gives an insight in the diversity of wrecksin MACHU waters besides illustrating the(often) well preserved state of UCH. Onthe same web page one can access historicmap information in the same way as thewreck ID. Basic information can be foundabout several maps which can be explored indetail as well. �

M A N A G I N G C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E U N D E R W AT E R

MACHU WEBSITE NEWSW I L L B R O U W E R S RACM

FIGURE 1: Take a look at www.machuproject.eu, click on WRECKS.

FIGURE 2: Choose a wreck symbol to explore a wreck.

The squares that are visible on the WRECKS page areareas with multiple dots. To enlarge these areas, please click on them.

FIGURE 3: A wreck ID card of the Mary Rose.

48 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

M A N A G I N G C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E U N D E R W AT E R

In my everyday work I tend to picture the cultural landscape as a space. In

this space there are acting people and physical surroundings, things you

can touch. The cultural heritage is part of these surroundings. The cultural

heritage becomes meeting places, where we in relation with the cultural

heritage understand ourselves, our past and future.

SOME REFLECTIONS ON

UNDERWATER

CULTURAL

HERITAGE

MANAGEMENT

A N D R E A S O L S S O N

S W E D I S H M A R I T I M E M U S E U M S

Cultural heritage is in this respect not onlymonuments as defined by heritage acts; it’srather defined by us in meeting the culturalheritage. Cultural heritage can because of thisbe hard to identify and describe. This doesn’tmean that we shouldn’t take on the challenge.Cultural heritage management is about iden-tifying, registering, doing our best to interpretand protect the cultural heritage, but it is alsoabout helping people find their own under-standing of cultural heritage. However, thisalso means that every time a cultural heritageis visited, in mind or body and no matterwho the visitor is, its value or meaning getsredefined. In this respect cultural heritage isever changing.

Adopting a concept much used in art orpsychology, cultural heritage is spiritus loci – aplace where the spirit of identity, past andpresent manifests (Greer 2003).

C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S

O F S H I P W R E C K S

The most common cultural heritage foundunder water is shipwrecks. In Sweden thereare around 3000 known shipwrecks and 12000 registered losses of ships. There is a vastand increasing scuba diving activity and it ismostly shipwrecks that are visited by thesedivers. The ‘terrestrial’ cultural heritagemanagement sector actually envy us as theirmaritime dittos just because we have such alarge and dedicated target group.

Besides this, it is also clear that shipwrecks ingreat extent tend to allure also the non-divingpublic. Each year, over one million peoplevisit the Vasamuseum in Stockholm!So, how do we capture the spiritus loci ofshipwrecks? Is it possible to outline thecornerstones of this fascination for shipwrecks?I don’t know and I won’t make a seriousattempt here either, only try to show a

possibility. The French philosopher MichelFoucault (1986) touches upon the subject in alecture given in 1967, briefly sketches awestern notion of space. He launches theterm heterotopia in order to describe a con-flicting space, a place-less place. He arguesthat:The boat is a floating piece of space, a placewithout at place, that exists by itself, that isclosed in on itself and the same time is givenover to the infinity of the sea and that, from portto port, from tack to tack, from brothel tobrothel, it goes as far as the colonies in searchof the most precious treasures they conceal intheir gardens, you will understand why the boathas not only been for our civilization, from thesixteenth century until the present, the greateconomic development, but has been simulta-neously the greatest reserve of the imagination.

These arguments can easily be transferredalso to shipwrecks and in some extent also to

FIGURE 1: Margaretha av Vätö Wreck,sunken in 1898. PHOTO: JIM HANSSON, SMM

cultural heritage in general. Shipwrecks areplaces that are understood within two poles.They are in great extent both real and illusio-nary in relation to other spaces. As situatedunderwater they are isolated and abandoned.At the same time they are possible to reachthrough diving. Furthermore, they havestrong temporal qualities, often described astime-capsules. Foucault describe ships arehetereotopias par exellance. It seems as ifshipwrecks are an even stronger example ofheterotopias.

A N I L L U S I O N A R Y

C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E ?

Shipwrecks are, probably more than othercategories of cultural heritage, threatened bywear and looting. However, Foucault’s ideasonly explain our fascination of ships andshipwrecks. How can we understand thisphenomenon?

Of course looting and the selling of objectsfrom shipwrecks to collectors is a criminalbehaviour that has other mechanics. Also, itseems that this activity is of lesser importancein the Baltic Sea in comparison to wearcaused by scuba diving. On the most visitedshipwrecks finds are constantly being movedaround, pieces of timbers accidently, but veryoften, broken off. Souvenirs of personal useare being collected. It seems as if this is doneby people who are aware of that shipwrecksare protected, and who don’t show a criminalbehavior in other situations. So, how do weexplain this behavior?

Trompe-l’œil 1 (Trick the eye) is an arttechnique with very realistic imagery in orderto create the optical illusion2 that thedepicted objects appear in three-dimensions,instead of actually being two-dimensional.The trompe-l’œil art, wants us to reach outand touch the objects in the art. It is ourhuman instinct to touch what we see and theart aims to puzzle us with an illusion. In com-bination with the fascination of shipwrecks, isthis why ordinary people can’t stand thetemptation of touching a vulnerable ship-wreck, picking up finds etc? This might also

be enforced by the fact that objects, becauseof light breaking differently underwater,seems closer to us than they are.

A G R E AT P O T E N T I A L

Shipwrecks are clearly a very exiting culturalheritage with a very much unexplored poten-tial. In the Baltic Sea, preservation conditionsfor wood are amongst the best in the world.Shipwrecks are found standing fully intact,vulnerable and exposed, on the bottom withmasts standing and finds and sculptures inplace. The Baltic Sea has a seafaring history thatinvolves the greater part of northern Europe.The numbers of shipwrecks are unknown,but could probably be up to 100,000.Theoretical understanding of how culturalheritage, and especially shipwrecks, areperceived and interpreted will help us notonly find proper protect strategies but alsosee the role of cultural heritage managementand cultural heritage in future development ofour societies. �

1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_illusion

R E F E R E N C E S

� Foucault, M. 1986. Of other Spaces.Diacritics 1986.� Greer, J M. 2003. The New Encyclopediaof the Occult. St. Paul, MN, LlewellynWorldwide. p. 449-450.

49 M A C H U R E P O R T – N R . 2

M A N A G I N G C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E U N D E R W AT E R

FIGURE 3: A little beardman Jug lying between the construction elements of thewell preserved Dalarö wreck in Swedish waters. PHOTO: JENS LINDSTRÖM SMM

FIGURE 2: The Vasa was lifted in 1961. PHOTO COURTESY SMM

50 M A C H U R E P O R T 2 - 2 0 0 8

The MACHU GIS will be filled with data, thesedimentation-erosion models connectedwith the GIS and also other data will beworked up as layers in the GIS. The updatingof the website and the GIS will be an ongoingprocess. At the end of the project a finalreport will be published as well as a popularpublication will be made. In June 2009 theMACHU project will have its final symposiumat the new head quarters of the RACM in theNetherlands.

The MACHU project will end. What then? Ithas been the intention of the MACHU groupto create products that have their use farbeyond the MACHU project. The formatsthat are developed to register data from dif-ferent sources and countries in the same kindof way might become standards for others tobe used as well. The MACHU GIS itself couldeven be used as a standard GIS in Europe andbeyond. One could for example think ofadding shipwrecks of mutual heritage thatare found any where in the world. The GIS

could be used to present data and pre produ-ced layers produced by others; archaeolo-gists but also other stakeholders in the fieldof UCH. It is evident that the internationaloriented underwater cultural heritage needsa place where information can be shared.Data shared with other scientists, but alsoother stakeholders that might collect datathat can be of use for the protection andmanagement of common UCH.

MACHU therefore will strive to promote itsspecific products within the countries of theEuropean Union and the European Unionitself. Ideally MACHU aims to be a centralEuropean GIS for the maritime archaeology.For this reason MACHU will also be experi-menting with methods to filter data directlyfrom central databases that are used in thedifferent countries to register archaeologicalsites, like ARCHIS in the Netherlands. In thisway the MACHU GIS will always be using upto date information.

All these high ambitions can only be attainedwhen the critical user group is going to beextended. We therefore ask other instituteswith a central registration system to join us increating this overview of our underwatercultural heritage: a powerful tool for manage-ment and research! �

The MACHU-project as funded by

the Culture 2000 Programme

of the European Union will end on

the 1st of September 2009.

Until that date, the eight partners

in the project will make sure all the

criteria and the aims of the project

will be attained.

THE FUTURE

OF MACHU M A R T I J N M A N D E R S

M A N A G I N G C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E U N D E R W AT E R

COLOFON

P U B L I CAT I O N

M A C H U

P R O D U C T I O N

Educom Publishers BVMathenesserlaan 3473023 GB RotterdamThe NetherlandsT +31 (0) 10 425 6544F +31 (0) 10 425 7225E info@uitgeverijeducom.nlwww.uitgeverijeducom.nl

E D I T O R S

Martijn MandersRob OostingWill Brouwers

PHOTO BACK COVERResearch ship the Geonaut with thedrilling installation at the stern.

PHOTO: P. VOORTHUIS

HIGHZONE PHOTOGRAPHY

WWW.MACHUPROJECT.EU

MACHU