Oh!  So you've met the Mascot?

jc


----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Cobb <cobber@ci*.co*>
To: Michael Barnette <aocfishman@ho*.co*>;
<SethJohnstone@co*.co*>; <mikey@mi*.ne*>;
<techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Cc: <FLTechDiver@mikey.net>; <vbtech@ci*.co*>
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 9:35 PM
Subject: Re: AUE artifact recovery


> Seth don't believe a word these guys say. I have seen them myself, Mike R
> wears an eye patch and Mike B carries a cutlass and has a peg-leg. I
myself
> have seen them make a Capt. of a dive boat walk the plank because he
refused
> to scrape barnacles off their ill-gotten gains. I know for a fact that
they
> have a black van with a skull and crossbones that you will see parked at
> local 7-11's after a dive selling their purloined brass artifacts to
> tourists along with AUE "loot 'em all and let God sort em out" T-shirts.
Not
> only that the  shirts say XXL but are really mediums. And any brass stuff
> they can't sell they melt down into keychain dive helmets. Frankly I'm
> appalled at these guys. They should be called AUPISTP, Association of
> Underwater Pillagers and Inflatable Sex Toy Perverts.
>
>    Jim
>  -------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Learn About Trimix at http://www.cisatlantic.com/trimix/
>
> > From: "Michael Barnette" <aocfishman@ho*.co*>
> > Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 18:27:09
> > To: SethJohnstone@co*.co*, mikey@mi*.ne*,
techdiver@aquanaut.com
> > Cc: FLTechDiver@mikey.net, vbtech@ci*.co*
> > Subject: AUE artifact recovery
> >
> > Hi Seth-
> >
> >> However, I was looking at the AUE website, and noticed that part of
your
> >> "slogan" reads that your group is "dedicated to the research,
exploration,
> >> documentation, and preservation of submerged cultural resources."  If
you
> >> want to bill your organization as a group of individuals dedicated to
the
> >> "preservation of submerged cultural resources", you need to expand the
> >> scope of your exploration dives in order to preserve the information
> >> potential available on wrecks that were not intentionally sunk in order
to
> >> make an artificial reef (e.g. the Duane).
> >
> > Response:
> > The AUE website used to focus primarily on "natural" wrecks and excluded
> > artificial reefs.  However, down here in Florida many of the deeper
sites
> > are artificial and there was a demand for that information.
> >
> > In regard to expanding the scope of our exploration dives, we attempt to
> > gather as much information and data as possible, given the limited
amount of
> > time we have on these deep wrecks.  If you saw my artifact collection I
> > could tell you exactly from what wreck they were recovered from and
where on
> > the wreck they were found.  I have drafted numerous maps of various
> > wrecksites.  Additionally, I have basic data slips for the artifacts in
my
> > files that list what particular wreck, date, depth, location, and other
> > notations.  This protocol is similar to basic/rudimentary scientific
> > collection procedures.  Also, images of the artifacts prior to
conservation
> > are generally available.  For projects that we volunteer for and that
are
> > funded and coordinated by a project archaeologist (such as the USS
Monitor
> > Expedition) we generally take 2-3 point measurements of the artifact in
situ
> > to capture its location within the site, capture video and still images
of
> > the artifact in situ, sketch the artifact in situ, and then finally
recover
> > the artifact after consulting with the project archaeologist.  While the
> > intergrity of the data is more robust, it presents a heavy work burden
to
> > recover any particular artifact.  In contrast, AUE is self-funded.  We
do
> > not have the luxury of financial backing to allow us adequate time to
> > thoroughly document a site.  We do the best we can with available
resources.
> > We then present this information -- free of charge -- to all those that
> > wish to view it on the AUE website.  Unfortunately, I do not have the
time
> > nor energy to add every item of worth to the website.  I do my best to
> > present some basic information that would be of value to other divers.
> > These files are constantly updated.  I challenge anyone to present a
more
> > extensive shipwreck resource online and free of charge.
> >
> > [SNIP]
> >
> >> To say a group is dedicated to the "preservation of submerged cultural
> >> resources" is a tall order to fill.
> >
> > Response:
> > It sounded good at the time <g>.
> > Many feel that recovery of artifacts contradicts this statement.
However,
> > preservation does not necessarily mean "don't touch."  Many more
individuals
> > have learned more of this particular wreck, let alone the hundreds that
we
> > have data on that can be found on the AUE website, by reading our dive
> > reports and seeing images of recovered artifacts than if we simply dove
the
> > wrecks and did nothing.  Furthermore, when we make presentations to
> > diveclubs and the like, just about everyone likes the experience of
> > "touching history" and seeing the artifacts up close.  As stated before,
> > these wrecks are very remote and, frankly, there are not people lining
up to
> > do these dives.
> >
> > Again, we do the best that we can.  I don't feel that I need to
constantly
> > validate myself or my team from critics.  Our actions are not illegal.
We
> > only wish to pass on our knowledge and benefit others in this sport that
we
> > all thoroughly enjoy.
> >
> > [SNIP]
> >
> >> What needs to be added to this is maps of where these artifacts you're
> >> finding are coming from, information on what other types of artifacts
are
> >> being found in association with those you are actually able to bring
up,
> >> and how the artifacts are arranged.
> >
> > Reponse:
> > See above.  I am particularly fascinated by the "pathology" of shipwreck
> > deterioration; I like to document how a vessel transforms into its
current
> > state over its many years of immersion.
> >
> > [SNIP]
> >
> > The documents rarely live up to what is actually found at a site,
shipwreck
> > or otherwise, and I would imagine there are very few documents
specifically
> > focusing on the day-to-day lives of those who lived aboard ships such as
the
> > Rhein during this period of time.
> >
> > Response:
> > The archives on this particular vessel are generally very good.  The
parent
> > shipping company has complete documentation of the M/V Rhein.  [NOTE:
the
> > ship is the "M/V Rhein" and not "Rhein Hamburg"; this error orginated
from a
> > book published a few years ago].  The sinking was covered in the NY
Times
> > and in US Navy correspondence.  No personal artifacts have been found to
> > date, most likely due to the violent fire that broke out just before its
> > sinking.  In fact, I just saw a picture of the bell after initial
cleaning
> > and even the lip of the bell is distorted which we speculate may be due
to
> > the intense heat of the fire.
> >
> > I understand and recognize your message though.  Other vessels are less
> > documented and each artifact tells a story.  Again, we do the best we
can.
> > To get corny:  if not us, who?  In not now, when?  These sites have a
finite
> > lifespan.  For example, we have video from the initial dives on the
Araby
> > Maid in the late 80s.  When compared to our video shot last year you can
see
> > a great deal of change and deterioration.  Furthermore, we could even
see a
> > drastic change in the stern around the steering station just from last
year
> > as upper portions are succumbing to gravity and dropping off into the
sand.
> >
> > It is important to note that just because we recover artifacts off these
> > wrecks does not mean that we would recover artifacts off any wreck.
This
> > issue is not black and white.  Different environments allow for
different
> > management strategies.  AUE fully supports the prohibition of artifact
> > collection in the Great Lakes and similar areas due to the relatively
stable
> > environment.  Other regions such as the Baltic Sea and the fjords of
Norway
> > also offer extended stability of shipwreck sites.  However, the exposed
> > tropical ocean waters in Florida and along the US east coast where we
play
> > are a very different beast.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Michael C. Barnette
> > Association of Underwater Explorers
> > Because it's there...somewhere...maybe.
> > http://www.mikey.net/aue
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
> >
> > --
> > Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
> > Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
> >
>
>
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