Event: Maritime Archaeology Training Programme and Public Presentation

Summer is the season for water. Have you thought of spend this summer on learning more about maritime archaeology? Hong Kong Maritime Museum is going to hold a Maritime Archaeology Training Programme in August. One of the speakers Dr. Bill JEFFERY is now a part-time lecturer of our department. This programme begins with two presentations to be conducted at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum at Pier 8, Central that will highlight some of the fascinating shipwreck sites and histories that can be found in China and throughout the world.

An internationally recognised training course will follow that aims to raise an awareness of the value of implementing maritime archaeology, as well as to facilitate public participation in projects to be conducted in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

Whether you just want to learn more, or perhaps you are looking for a challenging and rewarding adventure in recording the maritime heritage of Hong Kong, these courses would suit you. They are open to divers and non-divers.

Public Presentations (August 3, 2013: 16:00 – 18:00)
On August 3, 2013, two public lectures will be provided by Dr Bill JEFFERY and Dr Jun WEI.

16:00 – 16:40: Dr Bill JEFFERY, a contract maritime archaeologist with experience throughout the Asia / Pacific region and Africa will talk about ‘Maritime archaeology: current practices and sites’. In English.

17:00 – 18:00: Dr Jun WEI, Director of the Guangdong Museum and a maritime archaeologist will talk about  the Preservation and Management of Underwater Heritage – the China Perspective) in Putonghua.

The public lecture is limited to 60 people.

Introduction course (August 10, 2013: 10:00 – 18:00)
This one day course, titled Introduction to foreshore and underwater archaeology provides an opportunity for participants to be introduced to the scope of the subject, site types, basic techniques, importance of the maritime and underwater cultural heritage, social and political responsibilities, and the contributions people can make in maritime archaeology. The course is suited to anyone who would like to know more about this exciting subject.

The course is limited to 40 participants

Part 1 (August 17-18, 2013: 10:00 – 18:00)
This 2 day course, titled Certificate in foreshore & underwater archaeology has been designed to provide further, more detailed information about particular skills and techniques required in implementing maritime archaeology, in addition to the implementation of some practical skills in site mapping, assessment and documentation (on land).

The course is limited to 20 participants

Part 2 (Date, Time and Venue to be confirmed)
This is primarily a practical course complemented with research and report writing, and titled Intermediate Certificate in foreshore & underwater archaeology. It involves implementing a short field survey of a site which is either totally or partially submerged. Site surveying techniques that were initiated in Part 1 will be utilized to map a site and produce a site plan, which together with historical research that participants need to conduct, will form the basis for a survey report that they need to produce. A site(s) will be investigated and the survey implemented as part of this course. The course is open to non-divers and divers.

The course is limited to 12 participants.

Training programme diving requirements
All divers must be medically fit to dive, hold a current diving qualification to Open-water Diver level and medical insurance, and have had at least 20 logged divers of which 10 have been in the last year. Evidence of this will be required.

Speakers
Dr Bill JEFFERY, who has been involved in maritime archaeology for over 30 years and who is recognised as Senior Tutor of the Nautical Archaeology Society will lead the training programme’s tuition, which will include staff of HKMM and members of HKUHG.

Professor Jun WEI is the Director of the Guangdong Museum. He has worked in the Guangdong Provincial Institution of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and then the Administration of Cultural Heritage of Guangdong Province since he attained his PhD in archaeology at Peking University in 2002. Dr Wei has been in charge of more than 40 underwater archaeology investigation and excavation projects, including the important project of recovery of Nanhai No. 1 shipwreck. He has been engaged in the research of underwater cultural heritage protection, underwater archaeology research, Pre-Qin archaeology as well as the origin of agriculture in the Lingnan region. He has won numerous awards, including the Best Expert of Ministry of Culture, First Prize for Science and Technology of State Administration of Cultural Heritage, and First Prize for Field Archaeology of State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Enquiries and Registration
Please send your enquiries to Ms. Denise Chau at denisechau@hkmaritimemuseum.org or 3713-2506 or Dr Bill Jeffery at billfjeffery@gmail.com or 6604-0775.

Please fill the form together with a crossed cheque or bank-in receipt and send to Hong Kong Maritime Museum. Central Pier No. 8, or email the form and bank-in receipt to info@hkmaritimemuseum.org or 2813-8033 (fax).