ABSTRACT
Archaeological oceanography is a multidisciplinary field combining oceanography, archaeology, and ocean engineering to access and explore cultural sites in deep water. This subdiscipline is focused on the location, documentation, characterization, and in situ preservation of archaeological sites underwater. Additionally, these sites are utilized as platforms from which environmental studies can be conducted of the surrounding ocean. These data thereby aid interpretations of historical sites through the lens of the modern landscape that has come into equilibrium with the environment since the time of a site’s abandonment. This field emphasizes the use of oceanography and science in the investigations of archaeological sites to maximize the potential for hard-to-reach sites at depth.
