Page 37 - Green - Maritime Archaeology: A Technical Handbook. 2nd ed

16 Maritime Archaeology: A Technical Handbook, Second Edition
background archival research before anyone ventures into the field to search for a site. Such work is inevitably time well spent. It is cheaper to gather information in the archives and be fully equipped before going into the field, than to waste time and money in the field without the maximum information.
In carrying out archival research, there is the ever present problem of what to record. Flicking through page after page of documents, minor items often catch one’s eye, a shipwreck or an interesting account of an incident. A large hard-backed record book, or, when working on archival material, a small laptop computer, is useful to have at hand. At the top of the page, the reference can be identified by recording the date, place, reference number, title, author, and place of publication of the reference. A brief note of anything of minor interest, together with what it is and the page or pages it occurs on is also useful. Thus, if necessary, a photocopy or microfilm of the information can be obtained at a later date. This is a very useful method of keeping records, and saves one from having to research or reread a whole set of documents all over again, but care should be taken to store this material properly in a systematic manner.
Inevitably the sources of information on ships and shipwrecks are archives. The Public Records Office in the UK and the Algemeen Rijksarchief in the Hague are examples of two such national archives (Figure 2.1). There are, of course, many others ranging from the large national institutions such as the British Library and the Library of Con- gress, to the small local libraries and archives (Hydrographic Department London, 1950; Still, 1981). The first challenge is to know where the infor- mation is likely to be. It could exist in some obscure archive or in an unex- pected or undocumented location within an archive. The problem is then how to get to the material that is wanted. Here, another piece of prelimi- nary research can be of help. Before starting work at the archives, check and see if there is a published handbook or guide detailing the use of the archive. If so, get a copy in order to find out the layout, how it is organized, and what areas are appropriate to work in for the particular project in hand. Another approach is to consult colleagues or experts in the field who may be able to help or advise on where to look.
The archive or library will have a catalog which is the key to the archive. Studying the catalog thoroughly is essential for effective archival work. It is worth remembering that archival research is long and tedious, so set rea- sonable goals. Do not try to work 12 hours nonstop if this is unaccustomed behavior. It is better to break up the time by doing different things. Always seek advice when in doubt. The librarians and archivists are there to help and they can often direct the researcher to unusual sources which can be of enormous help.