Underwater Archaeology Branch, Naval History & Heritage Command
Encyclopedia
The Underwater Archaeology Branch (UAB) of the Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC) is a unit of the United States Department of the Navy. It was formally founded in 1996 as a consequence of the emerging need to manage, study, conserve, and curate the U.S. Navy's submerged cultural resources.
and the identification, research, analysis, interpretation, preservation, conservation, inventory, and management of Navy's historic shipwreck
s and aircraft wrecks and their associated contents.
The Branch preserves, protects, and makes access available to sunken military craft and their associated contents which act as a permanent reminder of the Navy's naval engagements, technological advancements, and maritime heritage.
wrecks. UAB also provides expertise on sunken Navy military craft to other Navy Commands, the Department of Defense
, other Federal Agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, universities, and the media.
The UAB Laboratory also functions as an environmentally-controlled curatorial repository for Navy's recovered artifacts that are not on loan to museums or other institutions. After removal from an underwater environment, the artifacts are in immediate danger due to the deteriorating affects of increased oxygen, temperature, light, and other atmospheric conditions. While artifacts are undergoing conservation in the laboratory, they are scientifically analyzed and thoroughly documented to prevent loss of information throughout the stabilization process. Even after they are stabilized, artifacts excavated from underwater sites require periodic monitoring and evaluation, as they are susceptible to fluctuations in their immediate environment. All collections are available for study, with research as its goal.
and Department of Justice
in international agreements and litigation claims involving both domestic and foreign sunken military craft.
Under the Sunken Military Craft Act, the United States maintains ownership of any sunken military craft and its associated contents owned or operated by the government at the time of its sinking, regardless of the passage of time or location. As a result, it is illegal to distrub, remove, or injure sunken military craft, including navy wrecks, as well as foreign government historic wrecks located in U.S. waters, without permission.
As part of its management mandate, UAB also coordinates the protection of Navy sunken military craft as, besides their historical importance, many of them serve as war grave
s, carry unexploded ordnance
, or may potentially raise environmental concerns.
In addition to policy and laws, the UAB maintains a geographic information system
and database of over 3,000 ship and 14,000 aircraft wrecks for management as well as prepares nominations for the National Register of Historic Places
.
midshipmen training and student research.
The Branch operates at the interface between policy, archaeology, history, cultural resource management, and marine science. As such, it is highly dependent upon multi-disciplinary cooperative relationships with federal, state and private programs, advances in technologies, and a variety of scientific disciplines.
History and mission
The Branch acts as the center of expertise and recognized authority for the Department of the Navy in all matters related to the science of underwater archaeologyUnderwater 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 the identification, research, analysis, interpretation, preservation, conservation, inventory, and management of Navy's historic shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
s and aircraft wrecks and their associated contents.
The Branch preserves, protects, and makes access available to sunken military craft and their associated contents which act as a permanent reminder of the Navy's naval engagements, technological advancements, and maritime heritage.
Underwater archaeological expertise
UAB advises the NHHC on all matters concerning underwater archaeology, preservation and management of United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
wrecks. UAB also provides expertise on sunken Navy military craft to other Navy Commands, the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, other Federal Agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, universities, and the media.
Archaeological research
UAB conducts scientific research in the form of archaeological surveys, site assessments, and excavations. Among the most prominent projects are , , surveys conducted off Normandy Beaches, and the search for . UAB also oversees, supports, and issues archaeological permits to third-party researchers. Finally, the Branch seeks to encourage research and development in related science and technology fields which in turn contribute to Navy project-based training.Conservation and curation of artifacts
UAB operates a state-of-the-art Archaeology & Conservation Laboratory as well as provides professional guidance to the Navy on conservation and curation of artifacts originating from an underwater environment. The branch inventories, conserves, curates, and provides access to an artifact collection of over 2000 artifacts for research, analysis, and museum exhibition. It also maintains an archaeological artifact loan program with over 7200 artifacts currently on loan to national and international museums.The UAB Laboratory also functions as an environmentally-controlled curatorial repository for Navy's recovered artifacts that are not on loan to museums or other institutions. After removal from an underwater environment, the artifacts are in immediate danger due to the deteriorating affects of increased oxygen, temperature, light, and other atmospheric conditions. While artifacts are undergoing conservation in the laboratory, they are scientifically analyzed and thoroughly documented to prevent loss of information throughout the stabilization process. Even after they are stabilized, artifacts excavated from underwater sites require periodic monitoring and evaluation, as they are susceptible to fluctuations in their immediate environment. All collections are available for study, with research as its goal.
Historic preservation and policy development
The Branch develops, coordinates, reviews, advises, and implements policy related to the preservation and protection of Navy sunken military craft and Ensures Navy compliance with applicable federal laws. To this effect, it drafts cooperative agreements, state or regional management plans, legislation, regulations, and assists the Department of StateUnited States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
and Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
in international agreements and litigation claims involving both domestic and foreign sunken military craft.
Under the Sunken Military Craft Act, the United States maintains ownership of any sunken military craft and its associated contents owned or operated by the government at the time of its sinking, regardless of the passage of time or location. As a result, it is illegal to distrub, remove, or injure sunken military craft, including navy wrecks, as well as foreign government historic wrecks located in U.S. waters, without permission.
As part of its management mandate, UAB also coordinates the protection of Navy sunken military craft as, besides their historical importance, many of them serve as war grave
War grave
A war grave is a burial place for soldiers or civilians who died during military campaigns or operations. The term does not only apply to graves: ships sunk during wartime are often considered to be war graves, as are military aircraft that crash into water...
s, carry unexploded ordnance
Unexploded ordnance
Unexploded ordnance are explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, potentially many decades after they were used or discarded.While "UXO" is widely and informally used, munitions and explosives of...
, or may potentially raise environmental concerns.
In addition to policy and laws, the UAB maintains a geographic information system
Geographic Information System
A geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
and database of over 3,000 ship and 14,000 aircraft wrecks for management as well as prepares nominations for the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Outreach efforts and dissemination of information
The UAB disseminates information to the Navy, the general public, and academia on Navy archaeology, conservation, history, and historic preservation policy via scientific and popular publications, lectures, the NHHC UAB web-site, in-person tours of the Archaeology & Conservation Laboratory, the artifact loan program, and underwater archaeological exhibits. The UAB also strives to support United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
midshipmen training and student research.
Vision
The Underwater Archaeology Branch, as the Department of the Navy's sole expertise on underwater cultural heritage, envisions the Navy's sunken ship and aircraft as a unique resource for interpreting the Navy's history and traditions through the science of underwater archaeology. The Navy's sunken military craft represent a non-renewable, fragile, and untapped repository for science, technology, and history.The Branch operates at the interface between policy, archaeology, history, cultural resource management, and marine science. As such, it is highly dependent upon multi-disciplinary cooperative relationships with federal, state and private programs, advances in technologies, and a variety of scientific disciplines.
Priorities
- The Underwater Archaeology Branch intends to augment and maintain its reputation as the Navy's center of expertise in all matters pertaining to underwater archaeology, conservation, historic preservation policy, and sunken military craft management.
- Identify priority targets, conduct archaeological research, and produce educational products and publications on the Navy's historic wrecks.
- Maintain a state-of-the-art conservation and curation laboratory.
- Build cooperative relationships with other Navy Commands, federal agencies, academic institutions and private sector with the aim of preserving Navy's cultural heritage.
- Educate the Navy and the public on the importance of preserving the Navy's underwater archaeological cultural heritage for present and future generations.
- Fulfill the legal mandate regarding the management and preservation of the Navy's historic ship and aircraft wrecks.
Projects
- German submarine U-1105
- Boca Chica Channel Wreck
- Penobscot ExpeditionPenobscot ExpeditionThe Penobscot Expedition was the largest American naval expedition of the American Revolutionary War and the United States' worst naval defeat until Pearl Harbor...
- Remote-sensing survey of D-Day Landing sites
- Search for