Page 127 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

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Given the need to conserve underwater cultural heritage for future generations, and the limited resources available for this purpose, the archaeological survey will reveal which archaeological sites should be a priority for excavation in view of the risk of destruction and their scientific interest.
© Ships of Discovery. Excavation of the Highborn Cay Wreck 1985-1987, Exuma Islands, Bahamas.
The well-preserved hull remains of this early ship wrecked in the Bahamas in the mid-16th century provided important clues to the construction of the keel, keelson, mast step, stempost, framing, planking, notches for the bilge pumps, and floor–futtock joinery at midships.The overall length of the keel revealed a ship of the exploration and discovery period originally about 19 m in length and 5.0 – 5.7 m in beam.
Objective, methodology and techniques