Mark M. Newell
Encyclopedia
Mark M. Newell, Ph.D. is a British/American underwater archaeologist, the director of the Georgia Archaeological Institute. He received his doctorate from St. Andrews University, Scotland
. Newell began diving in Bermuda
in 1963. While working as a journalist, he continued to dive throughout the Caribbean
and South America
, developing an interest in the archaeological potential of the sites he discovered. In 1996 he completed a Ph.D. in underwater archaeology
at the Scottish Institute of Maritime Studies at the University of St. Andrews.
. He built two full-sized reproductions of historic craft in South Carolina
and Georgia
, and developed the first typography
of historic working craft of the waterways of South Carolina, North Carolina
and Georgia.
, the world's first practical powered submarine
. The Resurgam was discovered off Rhyl
, Northern Wales
, in 1995.
Expedition that most professional archaeologists credit with the discovery of the Hunley.
Newell's Hunley expedition was funded by best selling novelist Clive Cussler
, who has claimed credit for the discovery. Newell, the project's official director, now claims only verification of the wreck's identity and acknowledges E. Lee Spence
's alleged discovery decades earlier and further recognizes the many others who contributed to his project's ultimate success that concluded with the raising of the Hunley on August 8, 2000.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Newell began diving in Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
in 1963. While working as a journalist, he continued to dive 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 South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, developing an interest in the archaeological potential of the sites he discovered. In 1996 he completed a Ph.D. 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...
at the Scottish Institute of Maritime Studies at the University of St. Andrews.
River craft
Since 1983 Newell has specialized in the recording of underwater sites and historic sea-going and river craft of the Southern United StatesSouthern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. He built two full-sized reproductions of historic craft in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and developed the first typography
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
of historic working craft of the waterways of South Carolina, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Georgia.
Proponent of sport diver education
A former diving instructor with the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools, Newell was an early proponent of sport diver educationWreck of the Dromedary
Avocational marine archaeologists, Chriss Addams and Mike Davis, recovered artifacts from the anchorage of the prison hulk Dromedary. The prison hulk been moored in the Naval Dockyard of Bermuda's Ireland Island in the mid-nineteenth century. Newell later reviewed data recorded by Addams and concluded that it was so competently gathered that it would support a Master's degree in archaeology. With Newell's encouragement, Addams subsequently enrolled at the University of Ulster and completed an MSc in underwater archaeology using the Dromedary data. He is currently the only degreed underwater archaeologist working in Bermuda. The analysis of the Dromedary artifacts by Newell and Addams has provided unique insights into the lifeways of the hulk crew and inmates, their subsistence patterns and their economic activities. This work has now become the basis of a major exhibition on the British shipboard prison system staged by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales at Hyde Park Barracks. A new article by Addams on coin forgery aboard the Dromedary while stationed in Bermuda (Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia, Vol 18) was recently awarded the prestigious Ray Jewell Medal for the best article from volumes 17 and 18.Wreck of the Resurgam
Newell participated in St. Andrews University's identification of the ResurgamResurgam
Resurgam is the name given to two early Victorian submarines designed and built by Reverend George Garrett as a weapon to penetrate the chain netting placed around ship hulls to defend against attack by torpedo vessels....
, the world's first practical powered submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
. The Resurgam was discovered off Rhyl
Rhyl
Rhyl is a seaside resort town and community situated on the north east coast of Wales, in the county of Denbighshire , at the mouth of the River Clwyd . To the west is the suburb of Kinmel Bay, with the resort of Towyn further west, Prestatyn to the east and Rhuddlan to the south...
, Northern Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in 1995.
Wreck of the Hunley
Dr. Newell initiated and directed the joint 1994/95 SCIAA/NUMA HunleyH. L. Hunley (submarine)
H. L. Hunley was a submarine of the Confederate States of America that played a small part in the American Civil War, but a large role in the history of naval warfare. The Hunley demonstrated both the advantages and the dangers of undersea warfare...
Expedition that most professional archaeologists credit with the discovery of the Hunley.
Newell's Hunley expedition was funded by best selling novelist Clive Cussler
Clive Cussler
Clive Eric Cussler is an American adventure novelist and marine archaeologist. His thriller novels, many featuring the character Dirk Pitt, have reached The New York Times fiction best-seller list more than seventeen times...
, who has claimed credit for the discovery. Newell, the project's official director, now claims only verification of the wreck's identity and acknowledges E. Lee Spence
E. Lee Spence
Edward Lee Spence is a pioneer in underwater archaeology who studies shipwrecks and sunken treasure. He is also a published editor and author of non-fiction reference books; a magazine editor , and magazine publisher ; and a...
's alleged discovery decades earlier and further recognizes the many others who contributed to his project's ultimate success that concluded with the raising of the Hunley on August 8, 2000.