NHHC Underwater Archaeology Branch

eological Research, Conservation and Curation, and Public Outreach. Historic Preservation:
The UAB maintains a record of over 3,000 historic shipwrecks and 14,000 historic aircraft wrecks which often reflect key points in the nation’s history. Additionally, sunken military craft are often considered war graves, may contain unexploded ordnance, other sensitive weapons systems, or environmental contaminants. These sites therefore necessitate respect and should not be disturbed without authorization. The Navy's policy towards sunken military craft is to preserve them in situ. Sites that have reached chemical and physical equilibrium with their immediate underwater environment are subject to a substantially reduced deterioration rate. If disturbed, this deterioration rate accelerates and any recovered artifacts must undergo immediate conservation and long-term monitoring. While the Command prefers non-intrusive, in situ research on sunken military craft, it recognizes that disturbance and/or artifact recovery may become necessary and has therefore instituted an applicable permitting program. Site disturbance or artifact removal may be justified and necessary to protect the sunken military craft, to conduct research, or provide public education and information that is otherwise inaccessible. Archaeological Research:
The overall research objective of the Branch is to interpret the Navy's experience by applying the science of archaeology on the Navy's sunken ship and aircraft wrecks. Through undertaking archaeological research, as well as encouraging external collaborations, the Branch has significantly contributed to the understanding of the Navy's and the nation's underwater cultural heritage. Non-intrusive surveys and wreck site documentation projects that have been performed by UAB include the 2002 survey for WWII wrecks off the coast of Normandy, the continuing search for Bonhomme Richard, flagship of John Paul Jones, in the North Sea, and the documentation and limited recovery of artifacts from shipwrecks of the Penobscot Expedition. UAB has also led in more extensive archaeological projects such as the recovery and study of the Civil War submarine H.L. Conservation & Curation:
The UAB maintains a well-equipped Archaeology & Conservation Laboratory at the Washington Navy Yard which applies conservation treatments and is the curation facility that maintains the US Navy's underwater archaeological artifact inventory. The Laboratory allows for the archaeological process to be brought to fruition and for the proper documentation, preservation, and study of submerged cultural resources. In order to broadly share the Navy’s maritime cultural heritage with the public and researchers, the Laboratory supervises an artifact loan program which allows for Navy-owned artifacts from submerged sites to be curated and displayed under the auspices of UAB at approved facilities nationally and internationally. Public Education:
An important objective shared by the NHHC and the UAB is public outreach and education. To this effect, the Branch disseminates information, issues publications, and gives lectures to the Navy and the general public on underwater archaeology, conservation, history, and cultural resources management policy. Staff archaeologists also appear in a number of documentaries and other public media outlets. In addition, UAB offers regulated public access to the UAB Archaeology & Conservation Laboratory, and supports an extensive academic internship program aimed at upper-level undergraduate and graduate students.