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Texas Archaeology: I’d Like to Be Under the Sea (October 1, 2004, One)

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Program Summary

What’s in Davy Jones’ locker? Silver, gold, jewels, or maybe just a barrel of nails? For nautical archaeologists, anything they find is a treasure, whether it’s an ancient coin or a cracked teacup, and looking for it is half the fun as well as half the headache.

Archaeology is dirty work, but underwater archaeologists face a unique set of problems. They risk their lives to dive deep below the ocean’s surface, often in dark or muddy situations that force them to explore by touch rather than sight. The objects they uncover are well-preserved by the saltwater, but deteriorate rapidly when exposed to air, so scientists are challenged to find special ways of preserving them.

A team of researchers off the coast of Texas excavated the wreck of La Belle, the last ship in the ill-fated fleet commanded by explorer Sieur de La Salle in 1686. The team devised a unique way of exposing the remains: Instead of diving to it, they encircled it with a coffer dam and pumped all the water out of that space to create a clear field in which to dig. The excavation phase is finished, and scientists are now in the midst of preserving the wreck’s remarkable artifacts – brass cannons, glass beads, even a human skeleton.

Guests

James E. Bruseth, director of the Archaeology Division of the Texas Historical Commission in Austin

Related Links and Resources

Smithsonian Magazine, April 1997: “Sieur de La Salle’s Fateful Landfall”
Texas Historical Commission, La Salle Shipwreck Project

For Discussion:

• How do archaeologists locate underwater ruins and wrecks?
• What problems do marine archaeologists face? How have these challenges been overcome?
• What is unique about the way in which La Belle was excavated?
• What fields of science are used in an underwater excavation? How are they used?
• What are some other famous shipwrecks? What is significant about each one? How were they recovered?

Activities

For whom La Belle tolls. Read about La Salle’s travels and the excavation of La Belle at La Salle Shipwreck Project (Texas Historical Commission). A set of lesson plans in PDF focuses on La Salle’s Texas settlement, Fort St. Louis, in providing in-depth exposure to archaeological and historical research and ethics.

Buoy, oh, buoy! National Geographic’s Xpeditions has a number of lesson plans and articles related to maritime archaeology. A particularly fascinating one is Sleuthing for a Lost Ship, which follows Robert Ballard’s search for proof of Noah’s flood in the Black Sea and his efforts to find John F. Kennedy’s boat PT-109. A PBS NOVA episode, Treasures of the Sunken City, presents the treasures of the ancient Greek city of Alexandria in Egypt. Videos, interviews, and maps bring history alive, and a mapping activity and quiz on the Seven Wonders of the World get students involved. A Sea of Intrigue, a lesson plan from the New York Times Learning Network, focuses on the recovery of a fleet of Roman triremes (war ships) and asks ethical questions about ownership and illegal looting. Students then use their new knowledge and skills to research other famous wrecks.

Water on the brain. Diving into History from Thinkquest gives students a basic, but detailed, overview of marine archaeology. There is almost no interaction, but the text is well-written, thorough, and interesting, with plenty of links to relevant sites. Underwater Archaeology is a French site (in English) that may be a little too sophisticated for younger students, but has terrific photographs of sites around the world, a history of diving techniques and equipment, and a discussion of the types of science marine archaeologists employ. Visit Underwater and Maritime Archaeology (cyberpursuits.com) for a plethora of links to all kinds of related sites.

Use the search box below to perform a Google search within any of the specifc sites or general domains mentioned in this Activities section.

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