How did it start? History of underwater archaeology

How did it start?

HISTORY OF UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY

Text MATEUSZ POPEK Photos ANDRZEJ PYDYN

How did it start? Who was in the beginning? These and similar questions are asked by historians around the world. However, it is often extremely difficult to establish the beginning, the first spark from which it all began.

Should we consider the achievements of Jacqu Costeau as the beginning of diving? Or perhaps those of classic divers, or maybe sponge divers? Despite such an ambiguous beginning, the whole community assumed that we would recognize a French officer as the forefather of all divers.

The same is the case with underwater archeology. Its genesis is a process rather than an event. However, as in diving, one man was recognized as the father of this science: George F. Bass, who died in March 2021. The death of this man was the inspiration for this article, as we must realize that history is always created before our eyes and the characters who have changed the history are still among us. We should not let the memory about these people go away, because they it is extremely precious, and we know how fragile life can be, especially in recent years.

The interest in sunken objects dates back to the earliest times. Of course, before the invention of scuba diving or surface-supplied diving helmets, humans could do well under water by holding their breath. Sources say that as early as the 15th century in Italy, apnea diving was carried out to extract ancient monuments from Lake Nemi. These monuments, namely the wrecks of two Caligula ships, became famous after Musollini ordered the lake to be drained to facilitate their exploration. Unfortunately, the monuments did not survive World War II.

There are also reports of the use of diving bells to extract objects from the water. Much has changed with the introduction of the diving helmet, which allowed for a long and relatively safe stay under water. This is how divers excavated the cannons of the Mary Rose wreckage in the 19th century, which later became the most famous nautical monument in Great Britain.

Another powerful change for underwater explorers was the creation of scuba diving by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emil Gagnan. Compared to the classic helmet, the equipment of these two inventors was light and easy to transport. Therefore, it was easier for divers to reach and retrieve underwater objects. However, until the 1960s of the 20th century, it was hard to talk about scientific approach to these actions.

It was in the sixth decade of the twentieth century that there was an explosion of scientific projects that could be called underwater archeology. In Sweden, the Vasa ship was excavated and its maintenance started. The Danes discovered sunken Viking ships at Skuldelev, and in Turkey, George Bass began exploring the wreckage at Cape Gelidonya.

George Fletcher Bass was born in 1932 in Southern California. From an early age, he was interested in the sea and astronomy. He began studying English at John Hopkins University, during which he came to Sicily, where he was delighted with ancient monuments. This was also the reason for the change of the faculty to archeology. After graduation, he spent two years at The American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA), then joined the army in 1957, spending two years in South Korea.

In 1960, he was about to start research on the Cape Gelidonya, but at that time he was not yet able to dive. Just before the expedition, he had only taken a few diving lessons. This did not prevent him from becoming the leader of the expedition in a short time together with Joan du Plat Taylor. In the 1960s, he also conducted research on the Yassiada wreck in Turkey, and on the Kyrenia wreck in Cyprus. He perfectly used the success of the first underwater archaeological research and in 1972 he became one of the founders of the Institute of Nautical Archeology, and a year later he was elected the president of this organization. The 1970s of the twentieth century was a time of dynamic changes. In addition to establishing an organization dedicated to underwater archeology, Georg Bass transformed the Museum in Bodrum into the Museum of Underwater Archeology, where materials from his excavations were presented.

The 1980s was primarily dedicated to exploration of the Uluburun shipwreck, an incredible ship from a Bronze Age with cargo including a bronze bar in the shape of animal skins. It was this wreck that became the showpiece of INA and Georg Bass for many years, actually remaining the oldest discovered wreck of a ship until recently.

Bass did not limit his interests to the wrecks of the Mediterranean Sea. He investigated wrecks in Lake Champlain in the USA or sunken ships in the Sea of Japan. He was very active both as a field archaeologist and also a prolific writer. He published many books and scientific articles. During his 39 years of work, George F. Bass was the beneficiary of 36 research grants from the National Georgaphic Society. In 2002, he was awarded the highest honour that a scientist can receive in the USA – National Medal of Science. He died on March 2, 2021.

George Bass certainly did not create the underwater archeology as we know it today alone. There were a lot of people around him who, along with him, turned the extraction of the underwater treasures into science. However, it can be said that he was the spark that fueled this machine and inspired people to further research. My former supervisor and promoter met Bass and was with him on research. I did not have the opportunity to get to know Bass, but I was at his lectures, and the book with his autograph is standing right next to me as I am writing these words.

Let us remember that the pioneers are among us and let us try to preserve their memory while they are still with us.