Encyclopedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology
This lavishly illustrated, scholarly, and comprehensive encyclopedia of nautical archaeology was first published in 1997 by British Museum Press asBritish Museum Encyclopedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology. Its editor, executive director of the Vancouver Maritime Museum and a prolific author of books and journal articles on maritime history and underwater archaeology, was assisted by more than 150 archaeologists, as well as other experts and practitioners from more than 25 countries around the world.The volume's 450 alphabetically arranged entries cover sites from prehistory to the modern era (includingTitanic), legislation and legal issues, organizations, nations and regions, research themes, and technology and techniques. Length generally ranges from two paragraphs forreef nettingandSouthampton Centre for Maritime Archaeologyto about four pages forGreat Lakesandremote sensing.The longest article,United States of America,is more than eight pages. Numerous cross-references are interspersed with these topical entries and within these entries. A subject listing of entries, preceding the entries themselves, is divided into two large divisions--" Sites" and "General" --each with several subdivisions. "Sites," for example, includes such breakdowns as prehistoric archaeological sites, ship burials/buried ships/vessel sites on land, and shipwreck sites arranged by date and location. More than 100 illustrations in color are complemented by more than 200 black-and-white drawings and photos. Most entries append a bibliography, usually of recent books, journal articles (especially from the leading journal of the discipline,International Journal of Nautical Archaeology), and professional conference papers. Although there is no general bibliography, some of the individual bibliographies are fairly extensive. That forGreat Lakes,for example, has almost 30 items. A glossary of nautical terms and a detailed index (names of vessels, persons, and organizations) considerably enhance the reference value. With its worldwide coverage, illustrations, and bibliographies,Encyclopedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeologywill well serve the needs of an audience of nautical and other archaeologists and of patrons of large public and academic libraries with an interest in ships and the sea.