Investigating the Microarchaeological Record at Underwater Sites: Operating an On-Site Laboratory During the Antikythera Shipwreck Excavation

Article Article scientifique Article Investigating the Microarchaeological Record at Underwater Sites: Operating an On-Site Laboratory During the Antikythera Shipwreck Excavation eng 2024-09-10 2024-09-10 author Ogloblin Ramirez Isaac author Simosi Angeliki author Baumer Lorenz 0000-0002-3091-1468 707465 Moyens communs des sciences de l'antiquité (ANTC1) author Manousos Orestes author Birchler Emery Patrizia 0000-0002-0426-886X 23187 Centre pour la formation continue et à distance (FCSER) author Ponitz Timothy 689750 Moyens communs des sciences de l'antiquité (ANTC1) author Sotiriou Alexandros 977717 10.1007/s11457-024-09415-5 1557-2285 Underwater excavations require an immense amount of logistics and have inherent time limitations. Underwater challenges such as nitrogen toxicity, underwater color change, and dive time limits increase with working depths, affecting the interpretation of archaeological contexts. Thus, underwater excavations involve methods and approaches to extract the maximum information from small areas while providing a comprehensive understanding of the archaeological record. Here, we present the benefits of using an on-site laboratory comprising a microscope, binocular microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and blue light inspection device. Three case studies are presented, focusing on the identification of stratigraphic boundaries, as well as the preservation and identification of archaeological materials. The results show a complex stratigraphic sequence containing seven layers divided into four mineralogical units: (1) Calcite, (2) Calcite and aragonite, (3) Aragonite, and (4) Dolomite. Additionally, the use of an on-site laboratory is effective in preventing the misidentification of archaeological materials, which could affect the final interpretation of the archaeological site (e.g., glass, lead, bone), and enabling the identification of materials invisible to the naked eye, such as opaline phytoliths. In the case of the Antikythera shipwreck, the on-site laboratory facilitated the examination of stratigraphy and quality of the archaeological context while streamlining excavation practices and documentation. Furthermore, the on-site laboratory allowed for the assessment of material preservation and provide crucial insights to inform post-excavation treatments and analysis of artifacts. Underwater Archaeology Antikythera Anticythère Shipwreck Épave Infrastructures Dewey 930 88 Département des sciences de l'antiquité 3F false Journal of maritime archaeology 24899111-6c55-4530-afe6-73af5a7c30d1 Article (Published version) Public Ogloblin_Ramirez_et_al._2024_Antiky.pdf 1911759 application/pdf CC BY ebda6486afa8053b546739a48ba1d301fad6af004dd29a2b156f82b7a6959d07 openAccess Faculté des lettres / Département des sciences de l'antiquité

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Investigating the Microarchaeological Record at Underwater Sites: Operating an On-Site Laboratory During the Antikythera Shipwreck Excavation	Journal of maritime archaeology			2024	111	352

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Sotiriou, Alexandros