Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
Anthropology and Archaeology are currently performing research on the following areas referring to Archaeology:
- Resin on excavated stone tools from the Esperance area
- Traditional maritime economies in the south-west Kimberley
- Old Perth Gaol excavated materials
- Geophysical detection of historic graves
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
The Maritime Archaeology department has extensively participated in surveying the HMA Submarines AEI and AE2 which were both lost during WWI. The Western Australian Museum has since assisted the nation recover and explore the wrecks of both submarines.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
The Maritime Archaeology department undertook archaeological survey work on the Albany foreshore for Landcorp in 1994.
This included extensive underwater archaeological surveys, test-pits and excavations underneath and to the east of the Town Jetty. In 2007, the Environmental Protection Authority required a further Environmental Impact Assessment to incorporate the modified foreshore development plan.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
In February 2003, a project to study the archaeological hull remains of Batavia (1629) started in collaboration with the Nautical Archaeology Program of Texas A&M University in College Station (USA). This research project would involve painstaking detailed analysis of the Batavia's hull, spike by spike, hole by hole, and timber by timber.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
The Maritime Archaeology department undertook a research project to analyse the human skeletal remains associated with the Batavia mutiny of 1629.
The wrecking of the Batavia and the ensuing massacre is well documented in both Australian non-fiction and scientific literature. The location of the massacre is one of Australia's earliest known European archaeological sites, having occurred well before European colonisation.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
Following discussions between the Sri Lankan department of Archaeology (SLDA) and department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Museum (WAM), WAM was engaged as a consultant to undertake a maritime archaeological survey of Galle Harbour as part of an Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) process in 2007.
The purpose of the consultancy was to carry out a maritime archaeological survey, and provide a report to the SLDA outlining the impact of the proposed Galle port development on the underwater cultural heritage of Galle Harbour.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
In February 2009, the department of Maritime Archaeology undertook a remote-sensing survey of Geographe Bay in Western Australia. The main objective of this fieldwork was the search for the US whalers Governor Endicott (1840) and Halycon (1844).
No promising sites were found in the search area for these two US whalers; it is believed that modern boat moorings are in the area of the wrecks that would mask any likely targets.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
The Maritime Archaeology department is involved in a project to examine artefacts believed to originate from the explorer George Grey.
Lead shot as well as a lead fitting was discovered in Kalbarri, Western Australia, in the sand dunes of one of the local beaches. These were believed to be artefacts associated with Grey who was wrecked in the vicinity in 1839. In October 2005, the site was inspected by a staff from the Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Museum. Two other sites that were in close proximity also contained bone fragments.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
The Maritime Archaeology department is involved in a Commonwealth funded desktop project to identify shipwrecks for the proposed National Heritage Listing of the Kimberley.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
In 2008 the Maritime Archaeology department conducted an expedition to Ningaloo Reef to revisit the sites of the Portuguese despatch vessel Correio da Azia(1816), Croatian barque Stefano (1875), and to inspect other Ningaloo Reef sites including the America China trader Rapid (1815), SS Perth (1887), the abandoned Norwegian Bay whaling station and collapsed Fraser Island lighthouse.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
In 1993, the Australian Government declared a nation-wide amnesty calling for members of the public with any historic shipwreck relic or knowledge of an undiscovered historic wreck to report these without fear of prosecution.
As a result, some 20,000 artefacts were declared and about 30 'new' sites reported across Australia. Western Australia received the highest number of artefacts declared. Some of these were donated to the WA Museum while others were retained in private custody.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
This project commenced in February 2009 as an international research effort to conduct a dendro-archaeological study (study of old timbers) of the hull remains from the Vergulde Draak (1656) ship. The project is a collaboration between the WA Museum with RING, the Dutch Centre for Dendrochronology. The principal investigator is Dr Wendy van Duivenvoorde from the WA Museum.
Research Projects | Updated 3 years ago
The Maritime Archaeology department was deeply involved in the discovery of the HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran. The WA Museum has since launched an online exhibition and educational portal based on the discovery of these wrecks and the story of the battle.
HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran were located in March 2008. Since 1981 the WA Museum has performed an important role in leading Government and the various searchers towards finding the wrecks’ location.
Research Projects | Updated 1 years ago
The WA Museum is a partner in the Australian Historic Shipwrecks ARC linkage grant working on the wreck of the 1850's wooden vessel Clarence in Port Philip.
Ongoing information about this project and documentation of this worked performed can be found on Australian Heritage Shipwreck Protection Project website: http://www.ahspp.org.au/
