THE VALUE OF MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE: Understanding the Cultural Capita Grant uri icon

abstract

  • Off the coast of North Carolina?s Outer Banks are the remains of ships spanning hundreds of years of history, architecture, technologies, industries, and maritime culture. Over 5,000 vessels have been lost in ?The Graveyard of the Atlantic? due to a combination of natural and human factors. From working schooners to German U-boats, these submerged archaeological resources are tangible links to some of the richest maritime heritage sites in U.S. waters. While the present day residents and visitors to the Outer Banks have inherited this heritage and are its stewards for future generations, questions arise regarding, 1) the public?s awareness of its connection to this heritage and, 2) its willingness to support preservation of these archaeological resources from natural and human threats. Currently, a multi-year partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration?s (NOAA) Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, National Park Service Submerged Resources Center and Mineral Management Services, University of North Carolina Coastal Studies Institute and East Carolina University, is conducting a submerged cultural resource assessment of archaeological sites in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. As a part of current interdisciplinary research examining these issues through combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies borrowed from the fields of archaeology, economics, and recreation and leisure studies, this project seeks to augment archaeological research by engaging the public in a series of interviews, focus groups, and surveys. These activities are designed to understand and evaluate the public?s current perceptions and attitudes towards underwater cultural heritage, and provide baseline data and analysis for maximizing future preservation, public outreach and education efforts. This information will reveal areas of strengths and weakness in the public?s awareness that future outreach and education programs can address more efficiently. Finally, this study may add important information for current and future preservation plans on federal, state, and local levels. Examples include economic estimates of the public?s willingness to pay for the non-market values of preservation (e.g. existence value, bequest value). Such information will assist resource managers in determining policies for maximizing the sustainable use and protection of archaeological resources (e.g. in situ preservation, stewardship initiatives, and informal education opportunities).

date/time interval

  • June 2010 - October 2010