Charles T. Meide
Encyclopedia
Charles T. Meide, Jr., known as Chuck Meide, (born 1971) is an underwater
and maritime archaeologist
and currently the Director of LAMP (Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program), the research arm of the St. Augustine Light
house & Museum located in St. Augustine, Florida.
Meide was born in Jacksonville, Florida
, and raised in the nearby coastal town of Atlantic Beach
. He earned BA and MA degrees in Anthropology with a focus in underwater archaeology
in 1993 and 2001 from Florida State University
, where he studied under George R. Fischer
, and undertook Ph.D. studies in Historical Archaeology at the College of William and Mary
starting the following year. Meide has participated in a wide array of shipwreck
and maritime archaeological
projects across the U.S., especially in Florida, and throughout the Caribbean
and Ireland
. From 1995 to 1997 he participated in the search for, discovery, and total excavation of La Salle
's shipwreck, La Belle
, lost in 1686. In 1999 he directed the Dog Island Shipwreck Project, a comprehensive maritime survey of the waters around a barrier island off the coast of Franklin County, Florida
, and between 2004 and 2006 he directed the Achill Island
Maritime Archaeology Project off the coast of County Mayo
, Ireland
. Since taking over as Director of LAMP in 2006, he has directed the First Coast
Maritime Archaeology
Project, a state-funded research and educational program focusing on shipwrecks and other maritime archaeological resources in the offshore and inland waters of Northeast Florida
.
Chuck Meide has served on the Board of the Institute of Maritime History since 2005, and was named Vice President in 2009.
Underwater archaeology
Underwater archaeology is archaeology practised underwater. As with all other branches of archaeology it evolved from its roots in pre-history and in the classical era to include sites from the historical and industrial eras...
and maritime archaeologist
Maritime archaeology
Maritime archaeology is a discipline within archaeology as a whole that specifically studies human interaction with the sea, lakes and rivers through the study of associated physical remains, be they vessels, shore side facilities, port-related structures, cargoes, human remains and submerged...
and currently the Director of LAMP (Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program), the research arm of the St. Augustine Light
St. Augustine Light
The St. Augustine Light is an active lighthouse on the north end of Anastasia Island, within the current city limits of St. Augustine, Florida. The tower, built in 1874, is owned by the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, Inc. , a not-for-profit maritime museum and private aid-to-navigation...
house & Museum located in St. Augustine, Florida.
Meide was born in Jacksonville, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and raised in the nearby coastal town of Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach, Florida
Atlantic Beach, a city in Duval County, Florida, is the northernmost of the Jacksonville Beaches communities. When the majority of communities in Duval County consolidated with Jacksonville, Florida in 1968, Atlantic Beach, along with Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Baldwin, Florida,...
. He earned BA and MA degrees in Anthropology with a focus in underwater archaeology
Underwater archaeology
Underwater archaeology is archaeology practised underwater. As with all other branches of archaeology it evolved from its roots in pre-history and in the classical era to include sites from the historical and industrial eras...
in 1993 and 2001 from Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, where he studied under George R. Fischer
George R. Fischer
George Robert Fischer is an American underwater archaeologist, considered the founding father of the field in the National Park Service. A native Californian, he did undergraduate and graduate work at Stanford University, and began his career with the National Park Service in 1959, which included...
, and undertook Ph.D. studies in Historical Archaeology at the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
starting the following year. Meide has participated in a wide array of shipwreck
Archaeology of shipwrecks
The archaeology of shipwrecks is the field of archaeology specialised in the study and exploration of shipwrecks. Its techniques combine those of archaeology with those of diving....
and maritime archaeological
Maritime archaeology
Maritime archaeology is a discipline within archaeology as a whole that specifically studies human interaction with the sea, lakes and rivers through the study of associated physical remains, be they vessels, shore side facilities, port-related structures, cargoes, human remains and submerged...
projects across the U.S., especially in Florida, and throughout the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. From 1995 to 1997 he participated in the search for, discovery, and total excavation of La Salle
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de LaSalle was a French explorer. He explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico...
's shipwreck, La Belle
La Belle (ship)
La Belle was one of Robert de La Salle's four ships when he explored the Gulf of Mexico with the ill-fated mission of starting a French colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River in 1685. La Belle was wrecked in present-day Matagorda Bay the following year, dooming La Salle's Texas colony to...
, lost in 1686. In 1999 he directed the Dog Island Shipwreck Project, a comprehensive maritime survey of the waters around a barrier island off the coast of Franklin County, Florida
Franklin County, Florida
Franklin County is a coastal county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 11,057. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 11,177...
, and between 2004 and 2006 he directed the Achill Island
Achill Island
Achill Island in County Mayo is the largest island off the coast of Ireland, and is situated off the west coast. It has a population of 2,700. Its area is . Achill is attached to the mainland by Michael Davitt Bridge, between the villages of Gob an Choire and Poll Raithní . A bridge was first...
Maritime Archaeology Project off the coast of County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Since taking over as Director of LAMP in 2006, he has directed the First Coast
First Coast
The First Coast is a region of Florida, in the United States. It extends along the Atlantic, or eastern, coast of the state, from the Georgia border, past the southern end of Anastasia Island, to Marineland....
Maritime Archaeology
Maritime archaeology
Maritime archaeology is a discipline within archaeology as a whole that specifically studies human interaction with the sea, lakes and rivers through the study of associated physical remains, be they vessels, shore side facilities, port-related structures, cargoes, human remains and submerged...
Project, a state-funded research and educational program focusing on shipwrecks and other maritime archaeological resources in the offshore and inland waters of Northeast Florida
.
Chuck Meide has served on the Board of the Institute of Maritime History since 2005, and was named Vice President in 2009.
See also
- Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP)
External links
- Texas Historical Commission La Salle Shipwreck Project
- Meide et al. 2000 Dog Island Shipwreck Survey 1999: Report of Historical and Archaeological Investigations, FSU Program in Underwater Archaeology Research Reports No. 4 (252 pages in pdf format, large file)
- Achill Island Maritime Archaeology Project
- Institute of Maritime History
- Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP)