How To Protect Shipwrecks In The Caribbean

Transcription

1 How Tourism Benefits From the ADMAT Model For the Preservation of Underwater Cultural Heritage Simon Q. Spooner BSc, MRICS, MIFA. PhD Candidate University of Bristol President & Excavation Director of the Anglo~Danish Maritime Archaeological Team. 12 Penners Gardens, Langley Road, Surbiton. Surrey. KT6 6JW. England ADMAT 2003 A Paper Submitted to the 5 th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development St Kitts September 2003 Introduction Whilst the bureaucratic authorities at The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) work on the continual process of defining and refining the policy on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) (Forrester, 2002: 3-10); the destruction of shipwrecks in shallow water environments off the shores of the Caribbean islands continues at an alarming rate. Since 1996 work has been conducted by the author, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic; and more recently (2003) in the waters off the island of St Kitts. This work has been conducted with miniscule budgets by a team of dedicated professional maritime archaeologists, students and divers. Important wreck sites have been protected from treasure hunters and damage from hurricanes. In the process of conducting this work, a new model has been created and implemented. The author believes that this model if implemented, will enable Caribbean island nations to protect their UCH. ADMAT In 2001 the author and team realised that a specialist organisation was needed to assist governments in the Caribbean to protect their shipwrecks. The Anglo ~ Danish Maritime Archaeological Team, was created as a non-profit organisation. The aims of ADMAT are: To conduct maritime archaeology in the Caribbean, assisting governments to survey and protect their underwater cultural heritage. To assist volunteer students to take part in maritime archaeological field excavations and surveys. To protect and educate on the European Underwater Maritime Cultural Heritage in the Caribbean; To survey, record and advise on how to protect, shipwrecks from the old European empires. Taking the lessons learnt from working in the Dominican Republic, a model was created as how to assist in the preservation of the shipwrecks. The team was invited to assist the Government of St Kitts. The St. Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project was created. This is a five-year project, working with government departments, Ministries such as Education, Culture, Environment and Tourism, the St Christopher Heritage Society as well as working with private companies who provided sponsorship. The ADMAT team identified that around the island of St Kitts there are hundreds of historic shipwrecks. This concentration of wrecks is the result of three factors. The trade routes, which were established to provide Europe with sugar amongst other commodities;

2 the frequent battles between the English and French for sovereignty of this island and like the Dominican Republic, the hurricanes. As an example the historic port of Basseterre where since 1629 to 1830 between 200 and 250 ships were sunk within two square miles (ADMAT archives). These ships were effectively sunk whilst at anchor by hurricanes. In the Great Hurricane of th October 1780 (Millas, 1968: ) approximately 100 ships were sunk at anchor on the evening of the 11 th and thousands of lives were lost (Hubbard, 2002: 6). The island of St Kitts has this awesome responsibility to preserve their UCH for future generations. The big question was how to start such a major undertaking without having the resources to conduct this task. From the extensive archaeological work being undertaken by the author s team in the Dominican Republic, the flawed policy and belief of in-situ preservation, together with the favoured policy by certain academics that wreck sites should be left until future technology is available for non-disturbance investigation, was tested. Each shipwreck site was and should be looked at on its own merits. As Australian underwater archaeologist Jeremy Green pointed out excavation alone is not archaeology, but part of a process whereby information is obtained which allows archaeological interpretation. The author has proven that once a wreck site is uncovered and known, it will always be vulnerable to looting and the storms will further uncover and destroy it. Unlike a land site, which will stay fairly intact, a marine site will very quickly be destroyed. In addition most land sites have been build on again over time and are not time capsules. A shipwreck site may well be a time capsule with between 10,000 and 50,000 artefacts, all historic and all in need of preservation and protection. St. Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project The ADMAT model for addressing the UCH, which is being used in St. Kitts, is a multi faceted project with world wide implications. It has been planned as a win/win project for all involved. It addresses the following questions: 1. How does a country preserve its Underwater Cultural Heritage? 2. How does a country increase local and worldwide education and awareness of UCH? 3. How does a country project the positive actions it is taking worldwide? 4. How does a country create a sustainable tourism product from UCH? 5. How do you make an island a household name - increasing tourism and funds for further work on protecting UCH? All of these points have been embraced in this project Phase 1 The first phase was the White House Bay Wreck. This was undertaken as a field school project in April During a five week survey, the large wreck in White House Bay, which lies in three metres of water, 34 metres from a well used beach; was recorded and surveyed. Fig. 1 shows the lower bow and apron assembly and Fig. 2 shows students surveying the wreck. This wreck had been uncovered by hurricane in 1997 and subsequently looted and broken up by storms. Only five cannons remained with the site, two of which are shown in Fig. 3. 2

3 Underwater Photograph 1: The White House Bay Wreck, showing the remains of the lower hull section of this 1740s wreck ( Schomberg: ADMAT Archives). Underwater Photograph 2: The White House Bay Wreck, showing the students surveying the floors and futtocks ( Schomberg: ADMAT Archives). 3

4 Underwater Photograph 3: The White House Bay Wreck cannons, showing two 4pdrs, which are associated from the wreck ( Spooner: ADMAT Archives). The author noted in the 2 years that was taken in planning for phase 1, that the timbers were deteriorating about 15% of the total volume uncovered per year. According to testimonials there were at least thirteen cannons on the wreck when originally uncovered. As a result of the survey vital historical information on the vessel was recorded, including 4

5 the dimensions and layout of the lower front section of this sturdy vessel. The overall remaining dimensions for the excavated section were 17 metres by 14, with only the front section from the lower apron to the missing main mast step remaining. The ship is a very important example of ship construction of the s and is one of the top 3% of historic wrecks in the Caribbean. The ship was most likely an English troopship built around 1740s and from the artefacts found possibly sunk in the Battle of Frigate Bay whilst transporting troops to fight the French in The location and research into the private letters of Admiral Hood (ADM: 1:313: 185) after the battle prove that two troop ships the Converts and the Fortune landed 700 men under the command of General Prescott in the vicinity of White House Bay. Regimental buttons were found onboard giving further evidence, as shown in Artefact Photograph 1. Artefact Photograph 1: One of the 11 English regimental buttons found on the shipwreck ( Godfrey:ADMAT Archives). Phase 1 addressed the islands attitude to their maritime heritage and created awareness for the need of protecting their shipwrecks. It increased the desire for the island to protect their UCH. This was the first step. New legislation is being planned and the author is assisting the government to create a much tougher stance on looting. Phase 1 identified that the island did not know how many wrecks were in an unstable condition and therefore the Government was unable to address them. 5

6 Underwater Photograph 4: Divers working half way down the White House Bay Wreck site ( Schomberg :ADMAT Archives). 6

7 Phase 2 Scientific research undertaken by the Anglo-Danish Maritime Archaeological Team in European archives, have yielded the conclusion that between 1629 and 1811 at least 200 ships have sunk in the harbour of St. Kitts alone. The shipwrecks in the historic port of Basseterre, Port Zante, need to be classified and will produce groundbreaking discoveries. Ships Sunk in Basseterre Bay Year Nationality: E=English F=French D=Dutch A=American Number of Ships Lost 1642 E 23 M 1650 E, F 28 M 1651 E, D 21 M 1667 F, D 2 M 1733 E, F, D 12 M 1737 E 1 M 1747 E 24 M 1751 E, F 7 M 1766 E, D 15 M 1776 Unknown 5 M 1779 Unknown 1 W 1780 E, F, D 100? M 1781 A 1 M 1791 E 7 M Type W= Warship M= Merchant Over time, these historic wrecks will have been partially exposed by an increased traffic by the cruise ship industry as well as natural factors such as hurricanes and storms. At present the wrecks already partially uncovered are in imminent danger of sustaining irreversible damage or disappearing due to ship s prop wash, storms, worms eating the timbers and looters. Considering that each wreck could contain some 10,000 to 50,000 artefacts, through which the history of the ships can be determined, the wrecks are in immediate need of professional protection. The artefacts need to be rescued and after conservation placed in the museums. Whilst the Government of St. Kitts have authorised the care of this and other underwater cultural heritage sites to the professional care of ADMAT, the small island community lack the resources to fund the protection and conservation of the sites for present and future generations. A full electronic survey by Side-Scan Sonar and Magnetometer, in addition to survey by divers, will analyse and document the shipwreck sites. It is estimated that this will take 3 months and need specialised scientific equipment. Once this has been done, Phase 3 archaeological work can be planed to protect this Underwater Cultural Heritage. Phase 2 is being supported by the government, as well as by private sponsorship from companies who realise that this important activity has a substantial impact on tourism and education. 7

8 Phase 3 Once the survey is complete and the most vulnerable wreck sites are located, a through archaeological survey and where necessary in accordance of the Archaeological Protocols, excavation will occur. The hull structures will be protected and the vulnerable artefacts rescued and conserved. Conservation Laboratory A new 10,000 sq ft conservation Laboratory will have to be sponsored. This will be set up near the cruise terminal at Port Zante. This is vital as archaeological work in protecting these wrecks, will rescue any artefacts from wrecks which are already uncovered and in danger of deteriorating and looting. The artefacts will be conserved in this new facility which itself will become a major tourist attraction and will probably increase the cruise liner traffic to St Kitts. Tourists will be able to see the results of the survey and be able to interact with the artefacts. Museum Displays The artefacts will then after the lengthy conservation process be placed in the museums. The artefacts assemblages of each wreck site being kept together, protecting them for future generations. This will not only be available here in St Kitts, but artefact study collections will be sent on world wide tours, promoting St Kitts and the work the island is doing for the preservation of their UCH. Marine Conservation and Environmental Policies. While the project is underway, marine archaeological sites will be recorded and protected. As a direct result of the survey work undertaken in Phase 2, a report will be undertaken informing the Government of areas of Maritime Archaeological Significance. These areas will be the subject of a new type of Maritime Archaeological Protectional Policy, to ensure that the UCH is not destroyed by incoming shipping, mooring or development. With the proposed new extension to the Port Zante Pier and Cruise Terminal, it is essential that an Environmental policy be instigated. The policy will include: Safe Mooring Buoys Marine Parks to be set up in areas like White House Bay Special Archaeological Dive Sites in association with the Ministry of Tourism and the local Dive operators Marine Archaeological Exclusion Zones Protectional Policy for current Excavations Monitoring of all shipwreck sites in corporation with the Coast Guard. Safe Dive Locations and artificial reef creations The Phase 3 section of the St. Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project will address the protection of the Islands Under Water Cultural Heritage, at the same time as improving 8

9 the environment, increase tourism opportunities and attractions to the cruise and scuba diving market, while also providing a world leading educational course. Education The educational part of the project will literally place St. Kitts in millions of schools and living rooms across the world. ADMAT has teamed up with leading Internet live link specialists for the Phase 3 section of the project. The excavations, which will last up to 5 months each, will be shown as an educational project for schools and colleges across the globe live. Students and all interested parties can have free access to the project on the Internet, and will be able to communicate with the divers, professors and conservators on special 3 day live events during the project. To be able to be seen world wide in the computer screens in homes, schools, colleges and universities will promote the island like never before. These special Internet learning programs will be aired twice a year. In America, for those people who do not have access to the Internet, the program will be shown on the public TV networks, further increasing the publics awareness of St Kitts, the preservation of Underwater Cultural Heritage and the project. In addition the ADMAT team are already lecturing about the project on the Cunard and Seabourn cruise ships worldwide. Minister Dwyer Astaphan, Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Consumer Affairs for the Government of St Christopher and Nevis, stated at a press conference in July that this is the most important project in the islands history for the last 50 years. The St Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project, is a working model, of what can be achieved with the combined cooperation of archaeologists, universities, colleges, museums, and government departments and private sponsorship; creating a managed environment where the shipwrecks are protected and the artefacts saved. This will help create exciting and pioneering educational programs as well as tourist attractions. The companies who participate receive enhanced worldwide positive promotion, which may be tax efficient and deductible. In short a win/win solution solving the problems of how a Caribbean island nation can address its obligations to the preservation of its Underwater Cultural Heritage. In conducting this project, the island of St. Kitts, is setting the standards for other nations to follow. Delegates can follow this exciting project by visiting the ADMAT web site Conclusion. The majority of the Caribbean coastlines contain numerous important and historic post- Columbus shipwrecks. These are from the colonial empires of the Old World and are being looted and destroyed of a daily basis. Whilst local laws may be in place, the finance and infrastructure to monitor these coastlines is not. With the growing need for a Caribbean wide sustainable protection of shipwrecks policy, the option of well organised, privately sponsored archaeological surveys and projects is now becoming apparent. UNESCO and other large inter-government organisations should act by substituting 9

10 finance in place of the old rhetoric and red tape. Action is needed now, not tomorrow, for tomorrow will be too late. The governments of the Caribbean island nations need to instigate archaeological surveys to analyse their exposed shipwrecks and to conduct Preservation by Record policies, to start planning for their protection. The continuation of looting on a local or commercial basis must not and cannot be tolerated. Bibliography: Andel, P. J. (1989). Identification and Dating of Shipwrecks and Their Cargoes. Perth, Western Australia: Consortium Research. Chapman, Achitectura Navalis Mercatoria, The Chapman Collection, MS. Swedish Maritime Museum, Stockholm: (available on micro film). Forrester, J. S. (2002). Defining Underwater Cultural Heritage. The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 31.1: Gould, R. A. (2000). Archaeology and the Social History of Ships. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Hood, S. Admiral. R.N.(1803). Intelligence Dispatches. Unpublished. ADM HMS Barfleur. Hubbard, V. K. (2002). A History of St Kitts The Sweet Trade. Malaysia: Macmillan Publishers Limited. Millas, J. S. (1966). Characteristics of the Hurricane Season in the North Atlantic Ocean Including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Miami, Florida: Radar Meteorological Laboratory, The Institute of Marine Science, University of Miami. Spooner, S. Q. (2000). The Anglo~Danish Maritime Archaeological team Web site. Spooner, S. Q. (2001). Underwater Archaeology Programs in the Dominican Republic. Unpublished Paper Proceedings of the Association of Diving Contractors International First Latin American Conference. Cartagena de Indias, Cartagena, Columbia. Spooner, S. Q. (2003). Protecting the Caribbean s Historic Shipwrecks - A New Model for Success. Mediterraneum. Protection of Cultural and Environmental Heritages; vol. 3. UNESCO Throckmorton, P. (1964). The Lost Ships, Boston: Little, Brown and Company. Throckmorton, P. (1969). Shipwrecks and Archaeology. The Unharvested Sea. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. Throckmorton, P. (1987). The Sea Remembers. New York: Weidenfield & Nicholson. Throckmorton, P.(Ed.). (1987). History From The Sea, Shipwrecks and Archaeology. Leeds, England: Mitchell Beazley Publishers. 10

11 Photograph 1: Simon lecturing on the Seabourn Legend Simon Q. Spooner: A Short Biography Simon Q. Spooner is founder and President of the Anglo~Danish Maritime Archaeological Team (ADMAT), a non-profit organisation working on the preservation of historic shipwrecks in the Caribbean. He is also the Excavation Director for North Caribbean Research, responsible for 100 miles of coastline on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. He has directed numerous excavations and surveys including, the La Viette (1802), Faience Wreck (1760), Le Casimir (1829), Carron Wreck (1802) Tile Wreck (1690) Musket Ball Wreck (1790) and the survey for Santiago (1582). Due to his extensive experience gained in the Dominican Republic for their Government, he is now advising the Government of St Kitts on how to protect their Underwater Cultural Heritage and is assisting them with the drafting of new legislation to achieve this. He is founder and director of the St Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project. In April 2003 he directed the White House Bay Wreck excavation in St Kitts, which believed to be a 1740 s English Troopship. This was Phase 1 of the St Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project. In October 2003 he will return to start Phase 2 of the project, which is a survey of the historic port of Basseterre, where over 200 historic ships have been sunk. He is currently finalising his PhD at the University of Bristol as a mature student. His doctorial thesis entitled Maritime Taphonomy A study of historic shipwreck formation process on the north coast of the Dominican Republic from 1563 to 1829 will be submitted in October He holds a BSc and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, as well as being appointed to Institute of Field Archaeologists at the highest Member level. He is a member of the Council for British Archaeology as well as the Nautical Archaeological Society. Simon is a well known lecturer in Maritime Archaeology, teaching PhD Students from NOVA Southeastern University in the field whilst in the Dominican Republic. Simon has also lectured at the University of Bristol, and Copenhagen University; as well as heading the new Maritime Archaeological Program in St Kitts, which is starting in He has spoken at numerous conferences on the issue of the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, from as far a field as New Orleans to Cartagena. During his holidays he lectures on Maritime Archaeology on the Seabourn and Cunard Cruise Ships. For the last two decades Simon has been teaching divers and students. In 1991 he was appointed Advanced Instructor with the British Sub Aqua Club, as well as being a senior instructor with PADI and holding a 3 Star CMAS instructor ticket. Having dived all over the world he has now made over 8,500 dives, with thousands of hours spent underwater conducting archaeology. He also is one of two archaeologists in the world who have a pilots licence for the Oceaneering Hydra Magnum Commercial ROV. 11