3D Recording and Interpretation for Maritime Archaeology.

Abstract

The need for a volume focused on the use of 3D technologies in maritime archaeology has become increasingly apparent to practitioners in the field. This is due to an exponential increase in the application of several distinct 3D recording, analysis and interpretation techniques which have emerged and become part of the maritime archaeologist’s toolbox in recent years. In November of 2016, a workshop on this theme was hosted by the UNESCO UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology and Flinders University, Maritime Archaeology Program, in Adelaide, South Australia. The UNITWIN Network (2018) is a UNESCO twinning network of universities involved in education and research of maritime and underwater archaeology. The criteria for full membership requires that each university must offer a dedicated degree in maritime or underwater archaeology. Membership (full and associate members) of the Network currently stands at 30 universities worldwide and the network continues to grow as more universities with existing courses are added. Flinders University chaired the Network as its elected Coordinator (2015–2018), which was passed on to Southampton University at the end of 2018. The workshop in Adelaide and this publication have been undertaken in line with the objectives of the UNITWIN Network which include promotion of ‘an integrated system of research, training, information and documentation activities in the field of archaeology related to underwater cultural heritage and related disciplines.’ A major element of the workshop was group discussion and many participants in the workshop noted an urgent need for stronger communication and collaboration between maritime archaeologists working in the areas of 3D applications. This volume was inspired by the group discussions held at the workshop and is the first collection of studies devoted exclusively to discussion of 3D technologies for maritime archaeology. As such it is hoped that it will make an important contribution towards fulfilling the aims of the Network.