Ann Merriman, PhD, and Christopher Olson, Maritime Heritage Minnesota
There are numerous misconceptions about underwater archaeology – its focus, its methodology, and what conservation goals are paramount to achieve ethical outcomes. Similarly, maritime terrestrial archaeology's goal is to attain ethical outcomes using modified methodologies in comparison. Maritime Heritage Minnesota (MHM) is dedicated to the preservation, conservation, and when necessary, the excavation of our State's finite submerged and maritime cultural resources within a not-for-profit paradigm. MHM has identified the threats to the State's submerged archaeological and maritime terrestrial resources in its lakes and rivers – including a well-meaning but often misinformed public, SCUBA divers convinced that a 'finders-keepers' mentality is not only 'right' but acceptable, invasive species spread from lake to lake and river to river through ignorance and carelessness, and natural forces. This session will provide an understanding of the natural and human forces that determine the safety or destruction of our finite submerged and maritime cultural resources.
