Maritime Archaeology

Goodwin & Associates has a leading maritime archaeology department experienced in investigating submerged cultural resources. We were the first cultural resource management firm certified as an Organizational Member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS).

Aided by the latest technology, our archaeological divers conduct in-depth surveys of submerged historic sites (i.e., shipwrecks and inundated terrestrial sites). We use remote sensing geophysical survey, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), to locate, document and map potentially significant cultural resources. Our Geomatics Division works in parallel to produce highly accurate map products, visualizations and graphics.

Safety is our priority, and we are proud of our zero-incident rate during archaeological diving operations.

Our maritime archaeologists and geographic information specialists are ready to support clients with their maritime exploration needs.

Services

  • Agency and Stakeholder (Tribal Historic Preservation Offices) coordination and assistance with consultation
  • Remedial investigations, feasibility and desktop studies
  • Phase I Archaeological geophysical survey and geotechnical investigations
  • Phase II Archaeological Testing and NRHP Evaluation
  • Phase III Archaeological Underwater Data Recovery

For a full list of our credentials please refer to this list.

Not sure what services you need? Please contact us! Our staff is available and ready to help you assess and complete your projects.

Our Maritime Archaeology Clients

Our Maritime Division has worked with many clients to ensure compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA).

These clients include:

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
  • U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
  • Maritime Administration (MARAD)
  • Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFACENGCOM)
  • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS)
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • Numerous State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO)

Staff Expertise

We have full-time, professional staff including maritime archaeologists, geologists, marine geoscientists, and, geographic information specialists. They have in a wide variety of professional experience working on paleo land formations and subsea experience in inland waterways, intercoastal, nearshore, and offshore the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Our expert staffers are qualified to assist in your maritime archaeology needs.

All staff meet or exceed the Department of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines (36 CFR Part 61). Our diving and support staff all participate in training and annual requalification dives. In-classroom training includes instruction in operations planning and dive safety/emergency management assessments and procedures.

Credentials

  • US Longshore and Harbor Worker’s (USL&H) Compensation Act coverage
  • Maritime Employers Liability (MEL) (Jones Act) coverage

Diving Archaeologists

  • Technical Diving International (Surface Supplied Diver, Tender, Air Operator, Dry Suit Diver)
  • American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Surface Supplied Air
  • Professional and advanced SCUBA certifications (PADI, NAUI, SSI) with a variety of specialties
  • CPR/AED/First Aid-Adult, and DAN Emergency Oxygen
  • Contaminated Water Diving (not held by all staff )
  • USCG (Seafarer) Medical Certificate

Safety Training
Our maritime archaeologists have the following credentials necessary to support offshore work:

  • Transportation Worker Identification Credential
  • Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
    —First Aid and CPR
    —Basic Fire Fighting
    —Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
    —Personal Survival Techniques

Archaeological Survey
Our archaeologists are experienced in remote sensing survey:

  • Marine Magnetometer
  • Side scan sonar
  • Sub-bottom Profiler

In addition, they have experience processing and interpreting third-party geophysical data sets:

  • Multichannel Ultra-High Resolution Seismic (MUHRS)
  • Single Channel Ultra-High Resolution Seismic SUHRS
  • High resolution side scan sonar (SSS)
  • Multibeam bathymetry
  • Marine magnetometer/gradiometer

Our geophysical data processing software suite includes:

  • Xylem HYPACK®
  • IHS Market KINGDOM®
  • Chesapeake Technology SonarWiz

We also have proficiency with Teledyne CARIS HIPS & SIPS

Geoarchaeology

  • Identification of Submerged Ancient Landscapes
  • Paleolandscape Reconstruction
  • Core Processing, Pollen Analysis and Interpretation, Archaeobotanical Analysis, AMS Dating

Senior Maritime Archaeology Staff

Steve Schmidt, M.A.

Steve Schmidt, M.A.

Vice President, Maritime Archaeology

David McCullough, Ph.D.

David McCullough, Ph.D.

Senior Maritime Archaeologist

Our additional staff enables us to support clients with the staffing capacity needed to ensure projects are completed expertly and on time.

  • Kevin F. May, M.A., M.P.S., GISP, CMS, GIS Director

  • Daniel J. Grose, B.A., Field Director – Archaeology, Diving Safety Officer, Lithic Analyst

  • Ashley Himmelstein, M.A., M.S., Assistant Project Manager, Maritime Archaeology

  • Olivia Ayers, M.A., Maritime Archaeologist

  • Sophia Chernoch, B.S., Marine Geoscientist

  • Ghavin Deonarain, M.A., Maritime Archaeologist

  • Marie L. Meranda, M.A., RPA, Maritime Archaeologist

  • Trenton Zylstra, M.A., RPA, Maritime Archaeologist