Toll Free 800-650-9030 International 239-948-6915
Order By Fax 239-949-9537
Toll Free 800-650-9030 International 239-948-6915
Order By Fax 239-949-9537
© 2007 Atocha Treasure Company LLC All Rights Reserved
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Archaeologists
John Dorwin, Mitch Marken, and James Sinclair presented papers at the
January conference of the Society for Historical Archaeology in Sacramento,
California. The following is the essential text of their presentations. THE ATOCHA, TREASURE SALVORS AND ARCHAEOLOGY The Nuestra Senora de Atocha is an enormously challenging archaeological site. Wreck-ed in a hurricane the nights of September 5 and 6, 1622, the ship’s remains are scattered along a seven-mile corridor just west of the Marquesas Keys, some 25 miles from Key West, Florida (figure 1). The “discovery” of the Atocha has been a cumulative process. It started in 1971, and step by step, has proceeded to the finding of the lower hull structure in 1985. |
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Since by its very nature archaeology is destructive, all archaeologists have made mistakes and in hindsight would have done things differently if they had but known. In that con-text a few preliminary and hopefully clarifying remarks about archaeology, Treasure Salvors, Inc., and the Atocha are in order.
It is important to look at the development of the entire project historically. Mel Fisher, the founder of Treasure Salvors, is not and has never claimed to be an archaeologist. He is a genuine marine salvage expert with a flair for publicity and an unbelievable tenacity. His faith in the eventual success of his pursuit of the Atocha is rivaled in archaeology only by the lonely 30-year quest of L.S.B. Leakey for early man in East Africa. |
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As he began the search for the Atocha, Fisher was seeking treasure to be salvaged from the sea in the same tradition that salvors have operated for hundreds if not thousands of years--find it, bring it up and sell it to the highest bidder.
But the times were changing and Treasure Salvors changed with them. Simple salvage was no longer permitted by Federal District Courts exercising their admiralty jurisdiction. Increased awareness of historic preservation needs led Treasure Salvors to employ R. Duncan Mathewson, III. There began a new concept--that good archaeology could be done within a commercial salvage operation. It is an understatement to say that the archaeological community did not accept this concept. For 12 years accusations of in competency, exploitation and deception continued to be hurled at Treasure Salvors as Mathewson slowly but surely brought direction, procedure and publication into the salvor’s realm. This was accomplished despite the active hostility of professional archaeologists and ostracism from that community. Little or no help was offered, papers were rejected at meetings and personal attacks in print were commonplace. The overall attitude of the archaeologists was not to get involved and help change the situation but to discourage and threaten anyone, students or other professionals, who might want to participate. |
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| Firmly convinced that the salvors would proceed with or without archaeology, Mathewson persevered and today has built a program of enormous potential. His view that marine salvors are like any other extractive industry (for example, coal mining) and in need of regulatory archaeological compliance is accurate. For the archaeological world to perform rescue archaeology under contract to coal miners but to refuse to do so for salvors is hyprocrisy of the highest order. But much has changed in the past year. Federal courts have required that professional archaeology be a condition of historic shipwreck salvage, and Treasure Salvors has responded by contracting with archaeologists (including this writer) and providing them with extensive facilities and personnel as well as on-site control. At present there are seven full-time archaeologists working at Treasure Salvors, with three more to be phased in over the next five months. Two computer specialists have been working in the Curation and Archaeology Sections. In addition there are numerous consultants participating in specialized studies. Archaeology at Treasure Salvors is an accepted fact and integral part of the entire program. What follows is a brief introduction to the project. | |
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From The Archives Of
The Search For The Atocha |
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