[Aztlan] Underwater Archaeology training programs

[hrhaines at ca.inter.net]

Elaine & Other interested Listers

While the TAMU is definitely one of the best few of us who already  
have our PhDs are are teaching and running projects have the time to  
go back to school for another degree.

As an archaeologist and licensed scuba diver I have found that  
transfering my "terrestrial skills" to the marine environment has been  
challenging. More so interms of finding programs that wouldn't involve  
me taking a long-term break from teaching.

The Nautical Archaeology Society in Portsmouth England  
http://www.nasportsmouth.org.uk/training/index.php
offers relatively short, intensive courses in marine archaeology but  
these are desiged primary for scuba divers to encourage them to become  
advocational archaeologists and protectors of marine hertiage.

What would be ideal would be if one of the larger programs (like TAMU)  
offered an intensive summer program geared towards professional  
archaeologists.  Not necessarily with a degree in mind but to  
certainly to broaden the field of archaeologists with the basics of  
how to work underwater.

Until then, I would suggest that archaeologists with dive licenses  
(and advocationalist) who have limited time to take courses check out  
the NAS programme. It provides good practical experiene.

cheers,
Helen


PS.  You don't necessarily have to go to England to take the course.   
We have a certified NAS instructor here in Toronto who will be  
teaching the NAS Introductory and Level I course this June.  Anyone  
interested can send me an e-mail directly and I'll forward you the  
details.