Project Objectives
Archaeologists and divers from the WHS will be working on several projects in 2005. Five projects will form the foundation of this year’s work, including documentation of the scow schooners Iris, Ocean Wave, and Tennie & Laura, as well as the traditional clipper-type schooner Daniel Lyons and the steam barge Joys. Documentation will take place in a variety of water depths ranging from 3 to 300 feet deep, with each vessel requiring different documentation and diving techniques.
Common objectives for the projects include:
• To contribute to the archaeological record by obtaining valuable information on the shipbuilding and maritime history of the Great Lakes.
• To gather data for nominating these shipwrecks to the National Register of Historic Places.
• To expand the WHS’s inventory of Wisconsin shipwrecks, thereby helping managers preserve these resources.
• To collect archaeological information that will be used for creating interpretive materials for divers and non-divers interested in Great Lakes shipwrecks and maritime history. These materials include shore-side signage, waterproof dive guides, and web based media.
Objectives Specific to Scow Schooners:
• Determine how scow schooner construction differed from traditional schooner construction on the Great Lakes.
• Document differences in hull designs between scow schooners from different builders, as well as document the various construction techniques utilized.
