New UK designated wreck, Members needed for ACHWS, Heritage Bill news, Scholarship, Purton hulks

First of all I would like to notify members that  I am leaving my position as MAG Secretary to take up a position abroad. This means I will not be able to act on any emails etc. for the MAG updates or blog or other MAG issues. As my resignation is some time before the next AGM, a new Secretary will be co-opted by the committee shortly. Until then please forward any items for the updates/blog to Virginia Dellino Musgrave at vdm@hwtma.org.uk or Jesse Ransley at jesse@soton.ac.uk. The new Secretary’s details will be distributed members as soon as possible.

Many thanks to all of the MAG members who have contributed so much to the group in the last few years, these updates would not be possible without your input!

17^th century Thames wreck believed to be HMS London designated

Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, has designated the remains of a historic 17th Century ship, believed to be the London, which sank in the Thames Estuary nearly 350 years ago. More details are available on the DCMS website.

2 members required for the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites (ACHWS)

DCMS has requested applications for interested parties to fill 2 member posts on the ACHWS, the committee set up to advise Ministers on issues related to historic wrecks. More details can be found on the DCMS website.

Government Response to Report on Draft Heritage Bill

The Government has published its response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s Report on the Draft Heritage Protection Bill and Draft Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill.

Women’s Underwater Archaeology Scholarship

MAG Members may wish to apply for or pass on details for the Women Divers Hall of Fame Cecelia Connelly Memorial Scholarship for Underwater Archaeology. The scholarship is for $2500, to be used to support a woman graduate or undergraduate student, currently enrolled and in good standing, in an accredited academic program in Underwater Archaeology. Further details can be found on the Women Divers Hall of Fame website.

Other News

Members may remember MAG has previously forwarded news on the Purton Hulks. Recently the Telegraph has taken up the story following recent unsuccessful attempts to protect the site through existing heritage legislation.

UNESCO Convention to enter into force, Development-led archaeology course, new Crown Estate reports, maritime jobs

UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage to enter into force

With the deposit of its instrument of acceptance of the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage on 2 October 2008 by Barbados, twenty States have ratified the Convention. According to its Article 27 the Convention enters therefore into force on 2 January 2009.

The First Meeting of States Parties of the Convention is scheduled to take place in spring 2009.

You can see confirmation here.

Maritime Development-led Archaeology Course

The Professional Training in the Historic Environment programme at Oxford University Department for Continuing Education is offering a course in ‘Marine Development-Led Archaeology’.

The course takes place next Thursday, 23 October 2008. A course leaflet and course details are available.

New Crown Estate Reports

Historical changes in the seabed of the greater Thames estuary

An investment by The Crown Estate in a short-term Crown Estate-Caird Fellowship at the National Maritime Museum, and additional research at University College London, has led to improved understanding of historical changes in sandbanks within the greater Thames estuary. The report, by Helene Burningham and Jon French, contains the results of an investigation into the geomorphic history of the seabed and associated features in the greater Thames estuary within a region of over 5000km² bounded by Aldeburgh (Suffolk), Southend-on-Sea (Essex) and Margate (Kent). The results of the research will provide useful additional background information for the current regional environmental assessment being carried out in the Thames region by the marine aggregate industry, and for other users and uses of the area.

A synthesis of current knowledge on the genesis of the Great Yarmouth and Norfolk Bank systems

ABPmer, HR Wallingford and BGS have jointly undertaken a study for The Crown Estate, of available scientific information on, and interpretation of, the formation of the sandbank systems off the Norfolk coast. The key project conclusion is that the Outer Banks lie in an area believed to be close to the limit of the last glacial ice advance. It therefore seems likely that their origin is at least in some way related to the antecedent sediment supply that would have existed prior to the marine transgression.

Both reports may be downloaded from The Crown Estate website.

For further information contact: Prof Mike Cowling, The Crown Estate, 16 New Burlington Place, London, W1S 2HX, mike.cowling@thecrownestate.co.uk Tel. 020 7851 5032

Underwater Archaeology Positions at University of Ulster

The Centre for Maritime Archaeology (University of Ulster) is advertising two positions as Research Associates – one in maritime archaeology and one in freshwater archaeology.

Research Associate – Maritime Archaeology* Ref: C08/147/WThe post holder will be responsible for conducting research in the field of Maritime Archaeology related activities. Applicants must have relevant postgraduate research experience in archaeology and a diving licence that meets European Scientific Diver Accreditation. The post is fixed term for one year in the first instance.

Research Associate – Freshwater Archaeology* Ref: C08/148/WThe post holder will be required to undertake a detailed desk based assessment of freshwater archaeology in Northern Ireland. Applicants must have relevant postgraduate research experience in archaeology and preferably have experience in the field of freshwater archaeology and seabed survey. The post is fixed term for one year in the first instance.

The deadline for applications for these posts is 17 October 2008. For application details, visit: http://www.ulster.ac.uk/jobs or http://www.jobs.ac.uk – (advertised from 06 October 2008). For information on the Centre for Maritime Archaeology, visit: http://www.science.ulster.ac.uk/cma/

Other News

The last surviving boat of the RAF’s Second World War Sea Rescue Service faces an uncertain future after its owner admitted he can no longer afford its upkeep. Daily Mail, 9 October, p24

MAG session Call for Papers, New Guidance, Maritime Job Vacancy, NMM joins flickr

MAG Session at IFA conference – Call for Papers

MAG has arranged a half-day session at next year’s Annual Conference for Archaeologists. The session, to be held on the 8th April, concerns regulatory change in the marine area and will ask whether proposed legislation is sufficiently forward-looking to ensure flexible, but robust, protection for the underwater cultural heritage throughout the United Kingdom.

If you would like to propose a paper this session, please send a short abstract of between 250-500 words to alex.llewellyn@archaeologists.net by 10 October 2008. A copy of the conference timetable is attached for information.

MAG Bulletin deadline for Submissions!

Deadline for Submissions to MAG Bulletin is the 3rd October. Be quick!

New Archaeological Guidance for Developers

‘Archaeology and development – a good practice guide to managing risk and maximising benefit’., is available from CIRIA for £80.

A full list of the contents and further information are available online.

The guidelines cover the organisation of UK archaeology, the relevant legislation, the nature of archaeological work, and how archaeological investigation can be integrated into development projects. Extensive use is made of case studies to highlight the potential benefits and pitfalls.

The text reflects the current situation in law and planning guidance, though flags up the main proposed changes under HPR, and references the Heritage Bill (April 2008).

Job Vacancy

Maritime Archaeologist (Designated Wrecks)
EH is looking for an Archaeologist, for a temporary position, to take forward casework relating to the physical management of the 45 Designated Wreck Sites in England’s waters, and any new sites protected under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. In addition, the Archaeologist will assist with the delivery of UK-wide duties in relation to that Act transferred to English Heritage from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Other News

The National Maritime Museum Opens Maritime Photo Archives Online- The NMM has joined the photosharing community at flickr. The archive includes images from three separate sites – the Maritime Galleries, the Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House.

Seabed archaeology goes virtual- A new 3D simulator will allow people to operate their own virtual submersibles and explore underwater archaeological sites.

Shipwreck Policy is Inadequate- Rex Cowan, former member of the Government Shipwreck Advisory Committee, writes that policy for protecting wrecks is a failure. The Times, 11 Sept 2008, p29

The Euro Venus (Virtual Exploration of Underwater Sites) project is creating a permanent digital record of shipwrecks around European coasts. It is hoped the initiative will prevent damage by divers taking souvenirs from underwater archaeological sites. The Guardian, 9 September, p1

Alabama shipwreck- pictures and video of a wreck near Fort Morgan.