FORUM: NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
To Meet a Growing Threat by J. Jackson Walter, President, National Trust for Historic Preservation We at the National Trust for Historic chaeological practice, incl uding docuPreservati on appl aud the continuin g mentation, conservation, preservation, efforts of Sea History and the National and study of recovered materials. Thi s is Maritime Historical Soc iety to bring the position that the Trust maintained before the public the vital issues sur- thro ughout the long fi ght fo r passage of rounding the growing threat to archaeo- the Abandoned Shipwreck Act, and it was the basis for a resolution, unanilogical values in historic shipwrecks. The integrity of hi storic shipwreck mo usly adopted by our Board of Trussites is more at risk today than ever tees at their October, 1989 meeting, before . Technological advances have deplori ng the depredation of historic made possi ble the location of even the shipwrecks. Two major challenges face prese rvamost remote shipwreck. At the same time, the collectors' market for materi- tioni sts, histori ans, archaeologists, and als recovered from shipwrecks has ex- others who are concerned about this panded dramatically. The res ult has been growing problem. The first is to aid and a marked increase in commercial ex- assist in development of laws and reguploitatio n of hi storically signifi cant lations that pro tect historic shipwreck wreck sites, accompanied in nearl y every sites. Under the Abandoned Shipwreck case by the permanent loss of historical Act, the States now hold title to most information that might have been pre- hi storic shipwreck sites within their served, had the recovery been conducted boundaries. Though some States already as a proper archaeological project. have in place excellent laws protecting The position of the National Trust on hi storic wreck sites and regulating their this issue is straightfo rward and unwav- use, most States do not. Development of ering. We hold that hi storic shipwrecks appropriate and effective legislation in are irrepl aceable, invalu able cultural those States must have a high priority. resources; th at ex pl orati on of suc h The second challenge fac ing us is wrecks should be non-destructive; and one of education- increasi ng public that the ir excavation should be in accor- understanding and appreciation that the dance with the highest standards of ar- real treas ure to be recovered fro m hi s-
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J . Jackson Wa lter. Photo, National Trust for Historic Preservation.
toric sh ipwrecks is the info rmation that such sites can impart when carefull y recorded, excavated, and studied-about our heritage. In the overall scheme of th ings, this potential fo r in fo rmation has far greater value than the golden coins or jewels or porcelains that a hi storic wreck might contain. To ¡o btain the latter at the ex pense of the fo rmer is to incur a tragic and irreparable loss. The National Trust is committed to meeting these challenges. We look forward to working alongside the Society and its members in the effo rt to preserve a vital part of our price less maritime heritage. 0
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Office of Cont. Education Southampton Campus Long Island University Southampton , N.Y. 11968
NAME ADDRESS
N orth Haven, M E 04853 (207) 867-2089
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SEA HISTORY 53, SPRING 1990