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Young Archaeologists Dive!  

Eight lucky and brave 12 to 17 year olds spent the last week of May 2008 exploring their sunken history as they dived into the cold Solent sea to explore ancient shipwrecks with maritime archaeologists from the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology (HWTMA).

This pioneering Heritage Lottery funded project (part of the Young Roots Programme) began last month when the young participants learned how to scuba dive in freezing cold conditions and completed courses to equip them with the skills to record underwater archaeological sites.

As well as diving on shipwrecks including the 'Pomone', 'War Knight' and 'Joannis Millis', the young pioneers also investigated the foreshore for WW2 archaeology, and tried their hand at rowing a reproduction of an ancient coracle.  With their new-found skills the group measured, drew, photographed and recorded archaeology in exactly the same way as professional maritime archaeologists. This Heritage Lottery funded project will be on show at the National Archaeology Week family event at Fort Cumberland on 12th and 13th July, and you can also view the project on the children's own website at:
www.divein2008.co.uk
 
HWTMA Education Officer, Alison Hamer, says that she is "extremely proud of the children's determination and is impressed with how the challenge brought out their best qualities".

HWTMA hope to find funding to repeat this life-changing pilot project for more children.



For further information, please contact Rebecca Causer
Rebecca.causer@hwtma.org.uk
www.hwtma.org.uk

6 June 2008

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