Re: the state of floridas " catch 22" why they HAD to change their salvage process
Hello All:
I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a state approved underwater archaeologist. I could see the hand-writting on the wall years ago and realized that without an archaeologist, little or no underwater work could be done in the future. I went to East Carolina University and studied under Gordon Watts, (a true pioneer in the field of u/w archaeology). I did my thesis on the U.S.S. Peterhoff. The Peterhoff was the first shipwreck ever to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In spite of that fact, no detailed survey had ever been performed on the site. I had to obtain permits from the North Carolina Division of Historical Resources, National Park Service and the U.S. Naval Historical Center (since the US Navy retains ownership of all their vessels) In college we spent 8 weks diving in Bermuda and had the opportunity to meet Teddy Tucker. some of my fellow graduate-students were appaled that we "future archaeologist" were going to me a "treasure hunter." Gordon Watts told us..."this treasure hunter has FOUND more wrecks than you will ever SEE in your lifetime." YES THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER!!!
Some professors probably wouldn't agree with what I have done since graduation. When I later took a job with HRD, Gordon told me it was easy for academic archaeologist to say "thou shalt not work with treaure hunters." But I am the one who needs to support my family, (not to mention pay back $40,000 + in student loans.) I don't see them lining up to help me.
I have worked on shipwreck projects ranging from blockade runners to Spanish galleons. Projects like Queen Anne's Revege to Great Lakes schooners. I have worked in Bermuda, Haiti, VA, SC, NC, FL, Cape Cod, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Great Lakes, etc. It has been a rewarding career.
In Florida I have done work for Historical Research & Development, Inc., Historical Maritime Surveying, LLC, Florida Research Recovery Group, Maritime Explorations, and the Maritime Archaeological Research Institute, among others. I know my work is under exception scrutiny since I am working with treasure hunters. I know my work and reports need to be "above and beyond" the expected. I have had tremendous positive feedback from the BAR. I feel I have a good working relationship with them.
Still the problems are there. The recent updates made to be a registered professional archaeologist are a catch 22. To be an approved archaeologist in Fl you need to be an RPA archaeologist, yet to be an RPA archaeologist, you need to agree to their code of conduct which prohibits you from working for for profit companies. I am still an RPA approved archaeologist. I am working with several companies, but once one of these exploration premits gets turned into salvage, I would need to resign from RPA and thus the company would suddenly be without an archaeologist...DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE THE PARADOX HERE?
Likewise, I just talked to a company that wanted to know if I was qualified to work in VA. I worked on several confederate gunboats scuttled in the James River a few years ago. The problem they were having was that their archaeologist they had for three years WAS qualified to supervise projects in VA. They passed some new regulations and that person no longer meets their minimum requirements...WHAT has changed? He has the same education he did three years ago, now he has 3 years MORE experience...suddenly he is NO LONGER QUALIFIED!! How can more experience unqualify you??
It is a difficult world out there, and not just for the treasure hunters. For all you archaeologist bashing, there are many of us who feel your plight and are often facing the same kind of opposition. Both sides can learn a lot from each other. if I can be of any assistance to anyone, please feel free to contact me.
Rob Westrick MA.
nautical archaeologist
