Chuck Meide - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Chuck Meide

Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology (ACUA)., 2016

The Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) n... more The Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) near St. Augustine's historical inlet. Excavations were conducted 2010-2015 in conjunction with LAMP's field summer school. A wide range field summer school. A wide range fi of artifacts, including personal items, household items, tools, ship fittings and rigging, cookware, tableware, artillery, fittings and rigging, cookware, tableware, artillery, fi and firearms, were recovered for conservation at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. The wreck has been identifi identifi identi ed as one of 16 British ships lost on 31 December 1782, part of the last fied as one of 16 British ships lost on 31 December 1782, part of the last fi fleet evacuating British troops and Loyalist fleet evacuating British troops and Loyalist fl refugees from Charleston, SC, at the end of the Revolutionary War.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2019, 2019

In July 2015, during the city’s 450th anniversary celebration, a buried shipwreck was discovered ... more In July 2015, during the city’s 450th anniversary celebration, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program, or LAMP. Test excavations in 2015-2016 revealed a remarkable amount of material culture, including barrels, cauldrons, pewter plates, shoe buckles, cut stone, and a variety of glass and ceramics. These artifacts tentatively dated the vessel to 1750-1800 and suggested its nationality was likely British, but possibly Spanish or American. The abundance, spatial distribution, and stylistic uniformity of the artifacts suggest they were cargo items, leading to the working hypothesis that this was a merchant ship run aground while trying to enter St. Augustine’s notorious inlet. In the summer of 2018, with a team of field school students and volunteer divers, LAMP returned to the site to conduct further excavation. This paper summarizes the results of the 2018 season on this shipwreck.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2018, 2018

In July 2015, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the St. Augustine L... more In July 2015, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP), the research arm of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Excavations that year and the following summer revealed a remarkable amount of material, dating to 1762-1800 and suggesting an English or perhaps Spanish merchant ship laden with cargo. In the summer of 2017 LAMP researchers returned to the site, though excavations were limited by poor visibility, logistical issues, and weather. This paper summarizes the results of the 2017 fieldwork and analysis of material collected over two excavation seasons.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2017, 2017

In July 2015, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the Lighthouse Arch... more In July 2015, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP), the research arm of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Testing revealed a remarkable amount of material, dating to 1750-1800 and suggesting Spanish or British national origins. In summer 2016, researchers returned to the site and excavated a 4 x 3 m area, unearthing concreted barrels, a variety of ceramic sherds, pewter plates, brass shoe buckles, dressed stone blocks, and as many as 28 cast-iron cauldrons. This paper summarizes the results of the first excavation season on the Anniversary Wreck

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, 2016

The Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) n... more The Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) near St. Augustine's historical inlet. Excavations were conducted 2010-2015 in conjunction with LAMP's field summer school. A wide range of artifacts, including personal items, household items, tools, ship fittings and rigging, cookware, tableware, artillery, fittings and rigging, cookware, tableware, artillery, and firearms, were recovered for conservation at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. The wreck has been identified as one of 16 British ships lost on 31 December 1782, part of the last fleet evacuating British troops and Loyalist refugees from Charleston, SC, at the end of the Revolutionary War.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, 2016

Trivelpiece, Molly L. & Chuck Meide 2016 Archival Research and the Historical Background of the 1... more Trivelpiece, Molly L. & Chuck Meide 2016 Archival Research and the Historical Background of the 1782 Evacuation of Charleston and the Loss of the Storm Wreck. In ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, Paul F. Johnson, ed., pp. 133-141. Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology, Washington, D.C. -- ABSTRACT -- During the American Revolution, thousands of Loyalists displaced by war sought refuge in East Florida. As the war drew to a close, British authorities organized massive evacuations of major ports. On 18 December 1782, more than 120 ships loaded with troops and refugees left Charleston, SC. Of the ships destined for East Florida's capital, St. Augustine, 16 were wrecked trying to cross its notorious sandbar. One of these, known as the Storm Wreck, has undergone archaeological investigations from 2009-2015. This paper overviews the archival research and the historical context of the Loyalist Influx, the evacuation of Charleston, and the shipwreck event.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, 2016

Meide, Chuck 2016 Bang Bang! Cannons, Carronades, and the Gun Carriage from the Storm Wreck. In A... more Meide, Chuck 2016 Bang Bang! Cannons, Carronades, and the Gun Carriage from the Storm Wreck. In ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, Paul F. Johnson, ed., pp. 142-152. Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology, Washington, D.C. --- ABSTRACT: In December 2010, four cannons and two carronades were discovered on the Storm Wreck, apparently jettisoned in an attempt to re-float the grounded ship. One 4-pounder cannon and one 9-pounder carronade were raised in 2011 and have been conserved. The carronade, whose serial number was identified in Carron Company records, was dated 1780 and is believed to be the second-oldest surviving example. In 2015, excavations revealed another cannon, 12 meters away from the main cannon pile. It was still attached to the partially preserved remains of its carriage. This paper presents an overview of these seven guns and the carriage.

The Archaeology of Vernacular Watercraft, edited by Amanda M. Evans. When the Land Meets the Sea: An ACUA and SHA Series, Apr 2016

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2015

In July 2014, LAMP launched a search for the lost colonization vessels of Jean Ribault. These wer... more In July 2014, LAMP launched a search for the lost colonization vessels of Jean Ribault. These were re-supply ships intended for the struggling French colony at Fort Caroline in present-day Jacksonville, Florida. After an abortive attack on rival Spanish forces, they were shipwrecked by a sudden storm in September 1565. LAMP archaeologists conducted geophysical survey and diver testing in Canaveral National Seashore waters. This paper summarizes the methodology and results of the project, which coincides with the 450th anniversary of this pivotal event and the subsequent founding of St. Augustine, the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the U.S.A.

Meide, Chuck 2015 An Archaeological Perspective on East Florida's Loyalist Influx: The Excavatio... more Meide, Chuck 2015 An Archaeological Perspective on East Florida's Loyalist Influx: The Excavation of a Loyalist Refugee Vessel Lost at St. Augustine on 31 December 1782. FCH Annals 22:172-186.

The Caribbean and the Atlantic World Economy: Circuits of Trade, Money, & Knowledge, 1650-1914, Apr 2015

Florida Historical Quarterly (Winter 2015)

This paper presents an overview of two 18th-century shipwrecks that have been archaeologically in... more This paper presents an overview of two 18th-century shipwrecks that have been archaeologically investigated in the waters off St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest port in the U.S. These two shipwrecks are particularly interesting for researchers of British East Florida, as they neatly bracket the British occupation of Florida (1763-1783). The sloop Industry was lost the year after Florida was ceded to Britain, while the as yet unidentified "Storm Wreck" was wrecked the year before Florida was returned to Spain. Industry was a supply ship bound from New York with tools, munitions, and other equipage for the new colony of East Florida. She was discovered in 1997 and excavated between 1997 and 2000. The Storm Wreck was carrying Loyalist refugees and their possessions from the December 1782 evacuation of Charleston to St. Augustine at the end of the American Revolution. Richer in material culture than the Industry, the Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 and has been excavated between 2010 and 2014, with a future season planned for summer 2015. This paper provides a discussion of St. Augustine's role as a British port, and an in-depth summary of the results of the archaeological investigations of these two British shipwrecks.

Sixteenth-century France was a vigorous, expansionist nation emerging from feudalism and dreaming... more Sixteenth-century France was a vigorous, expansionist nation emerging from feudalism and dreaming of empire. In May 1565, a French fleet under command of Jean Ribault assembled to re-supply the nascent colony of La Caroline in present-day Jacksonville, Florida. Within weeks of its departure, the Spanish king sent Pedro Menéndez to intercept Ribault and eradicate La Caroline. With the aid of a fierce storm that wrecked Ribault’s four largest ships, Spanish forces would deal the deathblow to French Florida. In July 2014, LAMP will launch an expedition to search for the lost French fleet in the waters of Canaveral National Seashore.

The daily lives of Achill Island's inhabitants were heavily influenced by their relationships wit... more The daily lives of Achill Island's inhabitants were heavily influenced by their relationships with the ocean, its resources and the seasons. Ireland's largest island, situated along its predominantly rural western coast, Achill remains in many ways idyllic and pastoral, descriptors used in the modern and recent historic era to draw tourists but also used in previous centuries to denigrate the culture and lifeways of the islands' inhabitants. Achill Island's maritime landscape, including its shoreline and coastal resources, was one of contest during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The island and its surrounding waters formed an active landscape within which the island's population resisted government control by maintaining, as much as possible and in some cases against government order, their preferred relationships with the ocean and its resources. Methods developed by the islanders for boatbuilding, natural resource exploitation, agriculture, labour, and travel related directly to the maritime landscape; these practices also relied on familial and extra-familial groups that provided community cohesion and a support network that allowed for cultural resilience. Achill's residents structured agricultural, labour and maritime practices according to seasonal cycles and traditional practice, often not in the manner preferred by landlords and government bodies charged with improving rural living standards. Archaeological, archival and ethnographic evidence shows that the islanders' practices, uniquely adapted to the maritime and terrestrial conditions of Achill, were in many ways better suited both to their daily lives and their surrounding environment than those imposed by external agents.

Resistance to British control of Ireland’s maritime landscape under the United Kingdom of Great B... more Resistance to British control of Ireland’s maritime landscape under the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800–1922) was highly localized, enacted in part through Irish choices in boat construction and patterns of movement at sea. British naval authorities overseeing Achill Island in County Mayo used both coercive and conciliatory means to replace Irish subsistence fishing from regional vernacular boats with commercial fishing from larger non-local vessels reliant upon piers and dredged harbors. These changes encouraged islanders’ dependency upon imported food and wage-based employment performed under Protestant surveillance. Indigenous boats including curraghs and yawls played central roles in Irish resistance to these changes, through the assertion of traditional lifeways and practices.

Scientific archaeology developed largely in the nineteenth century, slowly emerging from the unre... more Scientific archaeology developed largely in the nineteenth century, slowly emerging from the unrestrained curiosity of antiquarians into a systematic, disciplined, and research-oriented study. Maritime archaeology went through a similar evolution during the first three quarters of the twentieth century, and it was some time before archaeologists working on sites underwater regularly utilized theoretical frameworks to better interpret their work, as were their terrestrial counterparts. As late as the 1970s, Keith Muckelroy (1978:10) noted that maritime archaeology displayed "a remarkable lack of development or systematization," constituting an "academic immaturity," when compared to other archaeological sub-disciplines. At that time maritime archaeology was still a relatively nascent study, and was only just approaching a position where its practitioners could make tentative movement towards defining the nature of the discipline and developing a relevant paradigm. In the ensuing decades, the discipline has matured considerably, though the perception of some persists that maritime archaeologists are more antiquarians than archaeologists, with more interest in the particular (and often spectacular) material remains recovered than the use of such material culture to meaningfully speculate on the societies that left them behind. This is in spite of a significant and expanding body of literature published by maritime archaeologists that is both theoretical and thought-provoking. This perception otherwise may be explained by the fact that theoretical engagement in maritime archaeology, like the field itself, is relatively new, and that for much of the history of underwater archaeology effort was focused on methodological advances necessary to safely and efficiently work in a hostile environment, by people who were not always trained archaeologists. Many of the early advances in maritime archaeology were made by avocationals or professionals from other disciplines, and to this day the field includes a number of individuals working outside archaeological academia and its ongoing theoretical discourse. It is indisputable, however, that at present theory is used in maritime archaeology, and as theoretical approaches continue to develop, the potential for maritime archaeology to interpret past human experience, and to influence broader debates within archaeology, is substantial (Flatman 2003). This paper attempts to provide an overview of the development of theory in maritime archaeology, by evaluating key events, people, and ideas that have contributed to the discipline as it has evolved from the early twentieth century to the present day.

has been relatively little attention to the roles of maritime landscapes in shaping and maintaini... more has been relatively little attention to the roles of maritime landscapes in shaping and maintaining ideology (but see Flatman 2003). This is in direct contrast to studies of landscape undertaken by archaeologists working in terrestrial settings. Archaeologists such as Mark Leone, James Delle, and many others have explored colonial built landscapes (including gardens, town plans, and plantation layouts) and argued that through the use of geometry to control space and perspective, reinforce orderliness, and display authority, members of the colonial elite can effectively reify the ideals and ideology of a capitalist society (Leone

Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology (ACUA)., 2016

The Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) n... more The Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) near St. Augustine's historical inlet. Excavations were conducted 2010-2015 in conjunction with LAMP's field summer school. A wide range field summer school. A wide range fi of artifacts, including personal items, household items, tools, ship fittings and rigging, cookware, tableware, artillery, fittings and rigging, cookware, tableware, artillery, fi and firearms, were recovered for conservation at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. The wreck has been identifi identifi identi ed as one of 16 British ships lost on 31 December 1782, part of the last fied as one of 16 British ships lost on 31 December 1782, part of the last fi fleet evacuating British troops and Loyalist fleet evacuating British troops and Loyalist fl refugees from Charleston, SC, at the end of the Revolutionary War.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2019, 2019

In July 2015, during the city’s 450th anniversary celebration, a buried shipwreck was discovered ... more In July 2015, during the city’s 450th anniversary celebration, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program, or LAMP. Test excavations in 2015-2016 revealed a remarkable amount of material culture, including barrels, cauldrons, pewter plates, shoe buckles, cut stone, and a variety of glass and ceramics. These artifacts tentatively dated the vessel to 1750-1800 and suggested its nationality was likely British, but possibly Spanish or American. The abundance, spatial distribution, and stylistic uniformity of the artifacts suggest they were cargo items, leading to the working hypothesis that this was a merchant ship run aground while trying to enter St. Augustine’s notorious inlet. In the summer of 2018, with a team of field school students and volunteer divers, LAMP returned to the site to conduct further excavation. This paper summarizes the results of the 2018 season on this shipwreck.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2018, 2018

In July 2015, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the St. Augustine L... more In July 2015, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP), the research arm of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Excavations that year and the following summer revealed a remarkable amount of material, dating to 1762-1800 and suggesting an English or perhaps Spanish merchant ship laden with cargo. In the summer of 2017 LAMP researchers returned to the site, though excavations were limited by poor visibility, logistical issues, and weather. This paper summarizes the results of the 2017 fieldwork and analysis of material collected over two excavation seasons.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2017, 2017

In July 2015, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the Lighthouse Arch... more In July 2015, a buried shipwreck was discovered off St. Augustine, Florida by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP), the research arm of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Testing revealed a remarkable amount of material, dating to 1750-1800 and suggesting Spanish or British national origins. In summer 2016, researchers returned to the site and excavated a 4 x 3 m area, unearthing concreted barrels, a variety of ceramic sherds, pewter plates, brass shoe buckles, dressed stone blocks, and as many as 28 cast-iron cauldrons. This paper summarizes the results of the first excavation season on the Anniversary Wreck

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, 2016

The Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) n... more The Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 by the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) near St. Augustine's historical inlet. Excavations were conducted 2010-2015 in conjunction with LAMP's field summer school. A wide range of artifacts, including personal items, household items, tools, ship fittings and rigging, cookware, tableware, artillery, fittings and rigging, cookware, tableware, artillery, and firearms, were recovered for conservation at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. The wreck has been identified as one of 16 British ships lost on 31 December 1782, part of the last fleet evacuating British troops and Loyalist refugees from Charleston, SC, at the end of the Revolutionary War.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, 2016

Trivelpiece, Molly L. & Chuck Meide 2016 Archival Research and the Historical Background of the 1... more Trivelpiece, Molly L. & Chuck Meide 2016 Archival Research and the Historical Background of the 1782 Evacuation of Charleston and the Loss of the Storm Wreck. In ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, Paul F. Johnson, ed., pp. 133-141. Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology, Washington, D.C. -- ABSTRACT -- During the American Revolution, thousands of Loyalists displaced by war sought refuge in East Florida. As the war drew to a close, British authorities organized massive evacuations of major ports. On 18 December 1782, more than 120 ships loaded with troops and refugees left Charleston, SC. Of the ships destined for East Florida's capital, St. Augustine, 16 were wrecked trying to cross its notorious sandbar. One of these, known as the Storm Wreck, has undergone archaeological investigations from 2009-2015. This paper overviews the archival research and the historical context of the Loyalist Influx, the evacuation of Charleston, and the shipwreck event.

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, 2016

Meide, Chuck 2016 Bang Bang! Cannons, Carronades, and the Gun Carriage from the Storm Wreck. In A... more Meide, Chuck 2016 Bang Bang! Cannons, Carronades, and the Gun Carriage from the Storm Wreck. In ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2016, Paul F. Johnson, ed., pp. 142-152. Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology, Washington, D.C. --- ABSTRACT: In December 2010, four cannons and two carronades were discovered on the Storm Wreck, apparently jettisoned in an attempt to re-float the grounded ship. One 4-pounder cannon and one 9-pounder carronade were raised in 2011 and have been conserved. The carronade, whose serial number was identified in Carron Company records, was dated 1780 and is believed to be the second-oldest surviving example. In 2015, excavations revealed another cannon, 12 meters away from the main cannon pile. It was still attached to the partially preserved remains of its carriage. This paper presents an overview of these seven guns and the carriage.

The Archaeology of Vernacular Watercraft, edited by Amanda M. Evans. When the Land Meets the Sea: An ACUA and SHA Series, Apr 2016

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2015

In July 2014, LAMP launched a search for the lost colonization vessels of Jean Ribault. These wer... more In July 2014, LAMP launched a search for the lost colonization vessels of Jean Ribault. These were re-supply ships intended for the struggling French colony at Fort Caroline in present-day Jacksonville, Florida. After an abortive attack on rival Spanish forces, they were shipwrecked by a sudden storm in September 1565. LAMP archaeologists conducted geophysical survey and diver testing in Canaveral National Seashore waters. This paper summarizes the methodology and results of the project, which coincides with the 450th anniversary of this pivotal event and the subsequent founding of St. Augustine, the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the U.S.A.

Meide, Chuck 2015 An Archaeological Perspective on East Florida's Loyalist Influx: The Excavatio... more Meide, Chuck 2015 An Archaeological Perspective on East Florida's Loyalist Influx: The Excavation of a Loyalist Refugee Vessel Lost at St. Augustine on 31 December 1782. FCH Annals 22:172-186.

The Caribbean and the Atlantic World Economy: Circuits of Trade, Money, & Knowledge, 1650-1914, Apr 2015

Florida Historical Quarterly (Winter 2015)

This paper presents an overview of two 18th-century shipwrecks that have been archaeologically in... more This paper presents an overview of two 18th-century shipwrecks that have been archaeologically investigated in the waters off St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest port in the U.S. These two shipwrecks are particularly interesting for researchers of British East Florida, as they neatly bracket the British occupation of Florida (1763-1783). The sloop Industry was lost the year after Florida was ceded to Britain, while the as yet unidentified "Storm Wreck" was wrecked the year before Florida was returned to Spain. Industry was a supply ship bound from New York with tools, munitions, and other equipage for the new colony of East Florida. She was discovered in 1997 and excavated between 1997 and 2000. The Storm Wreck was carrying Loyalist refugees and their possessions from the December 1782 evacuation of Charleston to St. Augustine at the end of the American Revolution. Richer in material culture than the Industry, the Storm Wreck was discovered in 2009 and has been excavated between 2010 and 2014, with a future season planned for summer 2015. This paper provides a discussion of St. Augustine's role as a British port, and an in-depth summary of the results of the archaeological investigations of these two British shipwrecks.

Sixteenth-century France was a vigorous, expansionist nation emerging from feudalism and dreaming... more Sixteenth-century France was a vigorous, expansionist nation emerging from feudalism and dreaming of empire. In May 1565, a French fleet under command of Jean Ribault assembled to re-supply the nascent colony of La Caroline in present-day Jacksonville, Florida. Within weeks of its departure, the Spanish king sent Pedro Menéndez to intercept Ribault and eradicate La Caroline. With the aid of a fierce storm that wrecked Ribault’s four largest ships, Spanish forces would deal the deathblow to French Florida. In July 2014, LAMP will launch an expedition to search for the lost French fleet in the waters of Canaveral National Seashore.

The daily lives of Achill Island's inhabitants were heavily influenced by their relationships wit... more The daily lives of Achill Island's inhabitants were heavily influenced by their relationships with the ocean, its resources and the seasons. Ireland's largest island, situated along its predominantly rural western coast, Achill remains in many ways idyllic and pastoral, descriptors used in the modern and recent historic era to draw tourists but also used in previous centuries to denigrate the culture and lifeways of the islands' inhabitants. Achill Island's maritime landscape, including its shoreline and coastal resources, was one of contest during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The island and its surrounding waters formed an active landscape within which the island's population resisted government control by maintaining, as much as possible and in some cases against government order, their preferred relationships with the ocean and its resources. Methods developed by the islanders for boatbuilding, natural resource exploitation, agriculture, labour, and travel related directly to the maritime landscape; these practices also relied on familial and extra-familial groups that provided community cohesion and a support network that allowed for cultural resilience. Achill's residents structured agricultural, labour and maritime practices according to seasonal cycles and traditional practice, often not in the manner preferred by landlords and government bodies charged with improving rural living standards. Archaeological, archival and ethnographic evidence shows that the islanders' practices, uniquely adapted to the maritime and terrestrial conditions of Achill, were in many ways better suited both to their daily lives and their surrounding environment than those imposed by external agents.

Resistance to British control of Ireland’s maritime landscape under the United Kingdom of Great B... more Resistance to British control of Ireland’s maritime landscape under the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800–1922) was highly localized, enacted in part through Irish choices in boat construction and patterns of movement at sea. British naval authorities overseeing Achill Island in County Mayo used both coercive and conciliatory means to replace Irish subsistence fishing from regional vernacular boats with commercial fishing from larger non-local vessels reliant upon piers and dredged harbors. These changes encouraged islanders’ dependency upon imported food and wage-based employment performed under Protestant surveillance. Indigenous boats including curraghs and yawls played central roles in Irish resistance to these changes, through the assertion of traditional lifeways and practices.

Scientific archaeology developed largely in the nineteenth century, slowly emerging from the unre... more Scientific archaeology developed largely in the nineteenth century, slowly emerging from the unrestrained curiosity of antiquarians into a systematic, disciplined, and research-oriented study. Maritime archaeology went through a similar evolution during the first three quarters of the twentieth century, and it was some time before archaeologists working on sites underwater regularly utilized theoretical frameworks to better interpret their work, as were their terrestrial counterparts. As late as the 1970s, Keith Muckelroy (1978:10) noted that maritime archaeology displayed "a remarkable lack of development or systematization," constituting an "academic immaturity," when compared to other archaeological sub-disciplines. At that time maritime archaeology was still a relatively nascent study, and was only just approaching a position where its practitioners could make tentative movement towards defining the nature of the discipline and developing a relevant paradigm. In the ensuing decades, the discipline has matured considerably, though the perception of some persists that maritime archaeologists are more antiquarians than archaeologists, with more interest in the particular (and often spectacular) material remains recovered than the use of such material culture to meaningfully speculate on the societies that left them behind. This is in spite of a significant and expanding body of literature published by maritime archaeologists that is both theoretical and thought-provoking. This perception otherwise may be explained by the fact that theoretical engagement in maritime archaeology, like the field itself, is relatively new, and that for much of the history of underwater archaeology effort was focused on methodological advances necessary to safely and efficiently work in a hostile environment, by people who were not always trained archaeologists. Many of the early advances in maritime archaeology were made by avocationals or professionals from other disciplines, and to this day the field includes a number of individuals working outside archaeological academia and its ongoing theoretical discourse. It is indisputable, however, that at present theory is used in maritime archaeology, and as theoretical approaches continue to develop, the potential for maritime archaeology to interpret past human experience, and to influence broader debates within archaeology, is substantial (Flatman 2003). This paper attempts to provide an overview of the development of theory in maritime archaeology, by evaluating key events, people, and ideas that have contributed to the discipline as it has evolved from the early twentieth century to the present day.

has been relatively little attention to the roles of maritime landscapes in shaping and maintaini... more has been relatively little attention to the roles of maritime landscapes in shaping and maintaining ideology (but see Flatman 2003). This is in direct contrast to studies of landscape undertaken by archaeologists working in terrestrial settings. Archaeologists such as Mark Leone, James Delle, and many others have explored colonial built landscapes (including gardens, town plans, and plantation layouts) and argued that through the use of geometry to control space and perspective, reinforce orderliness, and display authority, members of the colonial elite can effectively reify the ideals and ideology of a capitalist society (Leone