The Virginia Maritime Heritage Society and Conservation Association: 2009

The Commonwealth of Virginia has been without an Underwater Archaeologist for more than 20 years. In that time, while a number of projects have been carried out through various means, no comprehensive plans have been implemented with regard to submerged resources. The resources remain although in lower numbers due to loss to development, erosion, looting, etc. And, obviously these remains are among the most important for scientific research, interpretation, and public education in the Commonwealth, if not the nation. One has only to look at the sunken Revolutionary War period fleet at Yorktown, the Civil War ships and weaponry at City Point, Hopewell, or the Paleoindian artifacts recently discovered 20 miles east of Cape Charles in 280’ of water to realize the significance of Virginia’s underwater sites.

If the assumption is adopted that these resources remain of high significance to our understanding of the past, how can we begin to deal with the challenges? Being a poor, lowly, terrestrial prehistoric archaeologist, I turned to expert help and met with Dr. John Broadwater, Chief Archaeologist for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. John was enthusiastic about the possibility of Virginia once again developing an underwater program. Although not without ideas, we decided that the best way to proceed was to arrange for an aggregation of individuals with an interest in preserving submerged resources. A list of names was developed and it is our hope that you can attend the inaugural meeting of what we hope will become The Friends of Virginia Underwater Archaeology. In addition, it is our hope that you will send us agenda items for discussion. We are looking for both large and small ideas, partners, advice, and pathways for the protection of these important resources.

The List: David Alberg Steve Bilicki Lyle Browning Ron Grayson

Dave Hazzard Stephanie Jacobe Mike Johnson Joe Jones

Kathleen Kilpatrick Roger Kirchen David Krop Susan Langley

Richard Lawrence Jason Lunze Randy Turner Gordon Watts

Joanna Wilson

Please RSVP to Mike Barber, State Archaeologist and/or John Broadwater, Chief Archaeologist

Department of Historic Resources NOAA – National Maritime Sanctuaries

2801 Kensington Ave 100 Museum Drive

Richmond, VA 23221 Newport News, VA 23606

Where my archaeological experience comes from- where you can look for advice from colleagues as well.

To those who don't know me I originally started out as a volunteer with the Greater Richmond Chapter of the Archeological Society of Virginia in Va from 2003-2006. See link below...

http://www.virginiadigs.net/broaddus_flats/activities/activities.html

All of this while attending classes at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond. I then with this background transfered to the College of William and Mary where I studied Geology and Anthropology from 2005-2008. See link below...

http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2007SE/finalprogram/abstract_118868.htm

Upon Graduating from William and Mary wíth a bachelors of science degree in Geology with a minor in Anthropology in 2008 I worked at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville from 2008 till 2009. See link below...

http://www.vmnh.net/index.cfm

After working with this affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution I decided to try to work towards a degree in Geochemistry at Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University- but found that my passion for analytics could not rival my passion for Maritime History and as VT does not have a good Anthropology program I transfered my education to The University of Southern Denmark. See link below...

http://www.sdu.dk/Uddannelse/Fuldtidsstudier/Kandidat/Marinarkaeologi.aspx?sc_lang=en

While this has not been ideal these are some institutions and websites I have found through experience to be helpful as well as that of the ASV below- we all come from humble first starts.

http://asv-archeology.org/

Remember that any person can make a dream come true- it just takes longer for some than others. I will post other useful links as they become apparent.