Maritime Infrastructure

Equally important to the technological development of ships throughout history is the consequent evolution of associated infrastructure that was put in place to effectively negotiate an expanding sphere of maritime activity. Such infrastructure includes the development of aids to navigation (such as river locks & dams, canals, or lighthouses), maritime industrial operations (such as mills, shipbuilding yards, or kilns), as well as cargo storage and conveyance mechanisms. There are a multitude of historic infrastructure sites within the archaeological record that were once integral components of regional maritime landscapes.

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This research currently focuses locally in eastern North Carolina. It began when our research team found out about a wooden timber-crib navigation lock site located next to a dog park along the Tar River in Greenville. After digging into the archives and literature on antebellum locks of this type, we noticed that very few are located or documented. I became interested in exploring the the history, distribution, archaeological signatures, and technological development of these early projects to improve inland waterways. It also led to a curiosity to identify, locate, and document other submerged sites that augmented maritime activity beyond the ship.

 

Given that much of 18th and 19th century industry relied upon maritime trade for exportation, how was that trade accomplished at the local or regional level? How did raw materials, goods, or people get to the ships that carried them across oceans, sounds, and rivers? What mechanisms located at the waterfront facilitated this movement?

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This theme also questions what contitutes a "maritime" site. Many historical industries, such as lumber mills, utilized the water to facilitate their commerical endeavors. What industries utilized the marine environment and is there an associated archaeological signature of that industry within the landscape? How did people construct or utilize the maritime space to further their trade/profession, business, or industry?