Back in November Geoservices Dr Paul Baggaley travelled to South Australia to teach a four day practical course in marine geophysics at Flinders University, where Paul is an Adjunct Lecturer in Maritime Archaeology. The course provided students with the opportunity to study both the theoretical and practical applications of marine geophysics to archaeological sites.
The course involved two days of lectures followed by a day of offshore survey just off Willunga Beach investigating the wreck of the Star of Greece, which sank in 1888. Surveying the wreck from the University owned rib near the beach in 36⁰C heat was as tough as it sounds!
The last day of the course allowed students the opportunity to review and interpret that data using Coda GeoSurvey software. The site had never previously been surveyed with geophysics and so as well as providing a good training site for students the data will also be an important record for the longer term management of the wreck.
The course was organised by Dr Jonathan Benjamin of Flinders University and Paul is already looking forward to delivering the course again next year.
After the short course in Adelaide, Paul was invited to deliver a lecture at the Western Australia Maritime Museum in Freemantle about developer-led marine archaeology in the UK, drawing on Wessex Archaeology’s 15 years of experience as the market leader in this field.
All images © Flinders University, Maritime Archaeology Program.