Page 23 - TVH 2000 Anniversary Shipwreck Project

Artefact Acquisition and Registration Alex Hildred and Peter Holt Recovery of Artefacts There was some delay between an artefact been first seen on the seabed and being registered, so a procedure was put in place to track all artefacts. The system was based on each diver being allocated a unique sequential dive number. This was the most essential ingredient in the registration system. As a number of artefacts stored in chests had been recovered from previous excavations, a decision was made to attempt to recover any containers together with contents for excavation ashore. In order to prepare for this, containers, both slatted and whole, were ordered in various sizes and weighted to be just negatively buoyant. A cargo basket was lowered from the crane to the seabed outboard of the excavation area (Photo 9). Photo 9: Cargo basket for the recovery of boxed artefacts A varying number of crates of differing dimensions were tied within this basket, each numbered. The basket also carried limited supplies of foam, netlon and other wrappings to support delicate artefacts during recovery. As all excavation was undertaken on surface demand, some discussion regarding recovery was possible. The most routine being whether or not to completely expose and recover or to leave partially buried until special containers could be fabricated. Divers would chose the crate of appropriate dimensions, and relay the number to the surface where it was immediately logged against the unique dive number. The cargo basket had a sliding lid that could be closed during recovery, or during sudden bad weather. This was lifted daily but enabled the safe seabed storage of artefacts without worry of loss of provenance. Any artefacts lifted by hand were also given the dive number. The artefacts were processed on the aft deck of the boat, in open air. As this was rather dirty and wet, initial registration was done on Mylar film rather than straight into the computer. These were entered as soon as the bulk of finds were given unique artefact numbers and measured. Photography was undertaken either during registration if an assistant was available, or immediately afterwards. The method of numbering the photographs meant that even if these were taken after computerised registration, they were appended to the artefact file. Photographs from the digital camera were uploaded along with any video stills at least once a day. It was agreed that all archaeological illustration would take place in Vlissingen. - 21 -