Wessex Archaeology has been awarded a three-year contract to monitor more than 50 shipwrecks around the coasts of Britain and Northern Ireland.
After a tender competition in spring 2003, Wessex was awarded the contract, to monitor 54 wrecks protected by the 1973 Protection of Wrecks Act.
Wessex Archaeology’s will carry out 20 weeks’ fieldwork each year, which involves one week’s work on each 10 to 15 wrecks designated under the Act and one-day assessments of up to 20 other wrecks that may warrant designation.
The wrecks range from cargoes of Middle Bronze Age metalwork (c1,500BC- 1,100BC), including axes, to the Resurgam, an early submarine built in AD1879. Under the Act, no one is allowed to dive onto or disturb the wrecks unless they have a licence. Many of the wrecks are being investigated by groups of amateur or professional divers who have a licence under the Act to visit and survey the site. Wessex Archaeology’ will monitor and supervise the work of these local groups.
Wessex Archaeology will help these groups maintain their high standard of work, liase between local groups and heritage bodies, and give out information on the wrecks.
The contract, one of the largest in marine archaeology, is managed overall by English Heritage on behalf of Historic Scotland, Cadw, the Environment and Heritage Service, Northern Ireland and English Heritage itself.
For more information about the contract and about Wessex Archaeology’s involvement please click the links to the right.
The English Heritage Maritime Team is managing the contract for the Provision of Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973) on behalf of English Heritage, Historic Scotland, Cadw and the Environment and Heritage Service, Northern Ireland.
The contract is for three years starting 1 May 2003, with scope for one-year extensions for a further two years.
The objectives of the contract include:
Fieldwork is expected to include diving and surveying on 10-15 protected wrecks each year, and assessment of a further 20 sites that may warrant designation. Fieldwork on protected wrecks may be up to 14 days, though an average of seven days is expected. Assessment will involve one day’s diving/surveying for each site.
Geophysical survey is not included among the core tasks of the contract, but can be arranged on the basis of day rates.
Summary reports on protected wrecks are to be completed within three weeks of fieldwork, and reports on assessments of undesignated sites are to be submitted within five days. The contractor is also expected to contribute to an annual report for public dissemination.
The contractor is required to advise on the archaeological diving expertise of applicants for licences, to provide advice and liaison, and to monitor licensed fieldwork and post-fieldwork activities. The contractor is expected to visit each licensee each year.
The contractor is expected to attend all meetings of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites (ACHWS) and – on request – meetings of the Protection of Wrecks Advisory Group, which comprises representatives of the four heritage agencies, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and ACHWS.
In spring 2003, Wessex Archaeology was awarded the contract for the Provision of Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The contract started on 1st May 2003 and will last until at least May 2006.
Wessex Archaeology plans to carry out a total of 20 weeks’ fieldwork each year for this contract, consisting of a week on each of 10-15 already designated sites plus one-day assessments of up to 20 sites that may warrant designation.
Wessex Archaeology will be using several diving teams. One will be engaged continuously during a season running from May to October. The other teams will be involved from time to time to provide additional cover, as well as working on other contracts. Each team will generally comprise four commercially-qualified diving archaeologists drawn from Wessex Archaeology’s staff, supported locally by other commercially-qualified diving archaeologists where appropriate.
David Burden’s company, Sea-Trax, has been commissioned by Wessex Archaeology to provide a support vessel, the ‘Xplorer’, a 12.5 metre catamaran. Other diving support vessels are being hired locally, as required.
Diving operations will generally be conducted using Surface Supplied Diving Equipment, though we have also made provision for using tethered SCUBA where conditions are suitable. Divers will be equipped with digital video and digital stills cameras, and an integrated diver tracking and recording system.
Wessex Archaeology has the expertise to undertake a broad range of other forms of investigation, including geophysical and ROV (remote operated vehicle) survey, if required.
A board of consultants, drawn from experienced marine archaeologists based throughout the UK, will provide advice on approaches, methods and interpretations.