Thursday, May 5, 2016

North Carolina's Underwater Archaeology Unit-- Part 3" Magnetometers and Sidescan Sonar

Underwater archaeologists use a variety of means to locate and document shipwrecks and other submerged sites.  Occasionally, sites can be visually observed in shallow water (The blockade-runner Beauregard, off Carolina Beach can be seen at low tide) and are reported by fishermen, boaters or recreational scuba divers.

To locate shipwrecks in deeper water, archaeologists rely on remote sensing equipment such as magnetometers and sidescan sonar (as used in locating the Agnes E. fry)  The remote sensing equipment is operated from a research vessel that systematically searches the survey area.

Ideally, an electronic positioning system is used to maintain and record the vessel's position during the survey.

--Old B-Runner


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