6 June 2005 Iris, Jackson Harbor
(June 07, 2005)
This season’s first field project is the scow schooner Iris in Jackson Harbor. Project goals include site documentation (including documentation of scow schooner-specific construction techniques), and field training for WHS volunteer research divers.
Russ and Tom install baseline stakes
After spending Sunday night at the Shoreline Resort in Gill’s Rock, the crew caught the first Monday morning ferry to Washington Island and made their way to Jackson Harbor. Making base camp at Jackson Harbor Inn, the Iris field project kicked off with an archaeological methods class taught by WHS underwater archaeologist Keith Meverden.
The team installs cross lines
After learning about site documentation techniques, the team installed the baseline and cross lines. The baseline provides a reference point from which all measurements are taken. By taking all measurements from this one reference point, each team members’ sketch maps are drawn to the same scale, and can easily be mated together to form an accurate overall site plan.
Christa secures the cross lines
The cross lines divide the wreck site into smaller ten-foot sections, breaking the wreck into more manageable sections for mapping. Each team member was assigned one ten-foot section of the wreck, and team members began mapping in the first sections of the wreck site. Monday evening included a lecture on historical documents by Jon Paul Van Harpen
The team maps the site
Iris project team members include: Tom Milbrath, Russel Lietz, Kimm Stablefeldt, Ethan Brodsky, Christa Loustalot, Paul Lothary, Paul Bentley, Robert Jaeck, Jon Paul Van Harpen, Tamara Thomsen, and Keith Meverden.
WHS photos by Tamara Thomsen
