From Paper to Computer to Paper

Introduction: An outline of how we got to where we are

1. From Paper
    
   1. Requesting Daily Field Notes and Activity Logs from the State of Fl. 1960-1988
       
      1. Organized log sheets from 1989 to 1996
          
   2. Requested Data for Location of all Beach Markers used by State of Fl.
       
      1. Field notes from Jim Dunbar with hand written locations
          
      2. Convert data to state plans coordinates for plotting
          
2. To Computer
    
   1. Data Entry, Data Entry, Data Entry
       
      1. Entering data from daily field notes for artifact locations based on sextant readings off beach markers
          
      2. Entering data for Empty Hole locations
          
   2. Conversion, Conversion, Conversion
       
      1. Using Excel Spreadsheet and Corpscon convert large Access Database data locations for markers & artifacts & empty holes to State Planes and then to Lat and Lon
          
      2. Using Ms Access and Word Mail Merge convert data to ASCII text for scripts files used by AutoCAD for plotting
          
3. To Paper
    
   1. Plotting new Lat and Lon positions using AutoCAD and HP Plotter
       
      1. Plot locations using different colors for type of material found
          
      2. Adding attributes to plots for more information on each artifact
          
      3. Inserting background Geo Referenced Aerial Photos allows for visual referencing to rock outcrops and landmarks
          
   2. Adding a grid to 1/1000 of a Minute
       
      1. Allows artifacts and empty holes to be read from and plotted to a base map
          
      2. Scaling of the map allows easy distance measurements

Conclusion: A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF TIME,
TO FIND A LOT OF TREASURE!!

NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO THERE YOU ARE!

     In 1994, Taffi Fisher Abt asked me if it would be possible to take all of the old data, from daily log sheets, for the Florida East Coast Shipwreck Project beginning in early 1960's and by way of computer programs use that data to produce good base-maps. The results would be to see where artifacts, from the 1715 fleet as well as other wrecks, were being found. "I just want to tell the computer to show me a trail of treasure found on all the sites and up comes a map." This started a project that, to this date, has evolved into 7 years of work by many dedicated people. I would like to thank the entire Mel Fisher organization for the opportunity to be one of those involved in such a project, as well as the countless others, who without their help, this undertaking would not be where it is today.
     There have been a number of reports written by us concerning the use of the DGPS system for plotting archaeological finds. They go into the mathematics and methodology of how the data was converted and then plotted onto a base map. (Correlating the Past with the Future:….C. Gaither, K. Nehiley and B. Moore), (Standardization of Mapping and Archiving… Florida East Coast Shipwreck Project 2000 Season Report). How we are now using this new way of looking at that data has become a three-fold outlook. The first is to the ongoing salvage operation, which year after year continues to produce artifacts both ordinary and unique. The second is to the archaeological aspects of the Florida East Coast Shipwreck Project, and third to the sharing of the data with the public.
     The first way to find new areas, which may produce artifacts, is to know where artifacts have been found as well as where other salvage attempts have been made. By organizing the data by the type of material, we are able to see, all the gold, all the silver, all the artifacts and empty holes depending on the type. Below is a list for types of materials.

     Plotting this data over all the empty excavations, the salvor can then see areas, that produce a higher concentration of a certain type of material or a trail of artifacts leading to new areas, which have not been searched. The tools that brings all this into real time is the base-map and DGPS. The salvor is equipped with a DGPS system on board the salvage vessel, which is calibrated to read in Latitude and Longitude degrees minutes and decimal minutes to 1/1000 of a minute NAD 83 (an equivalent of 6 feet in latitude or 5.36 feet in longitude). The grid on the base-map is set in Latitude and Longitude to 1/1000 of a minute NAD 83. Therefore, by using the base-map and DGPS the salvor has a precise look at the wreck site and the position of the salvage vessel.
Tools that until now have been unavailable to the salvage community. Figure two shows a section of the base-map and the grid.

Figure: 2 - Base map and grid

Although essential to the salvor, a base-map showing types of material found only begins to tell the story. To get a closer look we have added the use of categories along with the type of material. This allows us to see the wrecks also in a new way. Where the salvor would see, only a large concentration of lead or iron objects, by associating those types to a category of ammo we see a large concentration of lead musket balls and iron cannon balls. By adding certain category together such as ammo, armaments, edged weapon and firearm we would get a base-map which may show an area where the armory may have wrecked. Selecting categories based on personal artifacts such as jewelry, we not only see areas of gold and silver, which would belong to the more affluent passengers, but jewelry made of cuprous materials, belonging to the less well to do and crew members. Showing categories based on the different structural areas of the ship, (Archaeological Overview of Surveys and Excavations Conducted on the Lost Spanish Galleon…..R. Duncan Mathewson III Ph.D. 2000) we can view either; the stern castle by asking for categories such as jewelry and navigation; the cargo hull containing the precious cargo; the fore castle containing artifacts associated with the passengers and crew; the lower deck with all its cannons; the sail/rigging may be seen by looking at all the rigging. This gives a more detailed look at the way the ships may have broken up. Below is a list of categories and there relationship to different sections of the ship.

     By using base-maps with type of material, categories and DGPS locations the archaeologists has a way of getting a precise look at the wreck site. A look that until now has been unavailable to the academic community. Figure three shows a section of map with armory most likely associated with the lower decks of the ship.

Figure: 3 Douglas Beach lower deck scatter

     Now if I were not a salvor looking for lost treasures, or I was not a archeologist looking for relationships between different sections of the ship, I would find looking at the base-maps about as exciting as watching my computer defrag. It looks cool but has little meaning. In today's society of computers and internet access we have a way of sharing the information gathered by so many people in an instant point and click environment. I like to refer to these as Interactive Maps. An interactive map takes us one step beyond the paper maps used by the salvor and archeologist. It allows the user to become part of the adventure and excitement of locating, mapping and researching historical shipwrecks. By way of an AutoCAD Whipp controller, we are able to link the data stored in large databases, containing information on each artifact, to its precise location in a format that is used by an Internet browsers. Along with the database information area of the wreck can be linked to audio or video files giving us a real life view of recoveries being made, conservation methods being used or to other web sites for research or fun.
     Below is a photo of a base-map done with a whipp controller. By clicking on the link at the main pile area of the Atocha, we are able to view a video of Mel and Deo as they received news of discovery from their son Kane. The viewer not only gets a real sense of what it was like but where it happened. Users are free to pan, zoom, and click on any area that is linked bringing the base-map to life.

Figure: 4 - Example of interactive maps for internet

     The viewing of such a tremendous amount of data to be seen in such a verity of ways is something that has been unavailable to the public until now.
     In 1995, I wrote a paper introducing the use of the DGPS system in hopes that the State would adopt the use of these new technologies so the archaeological data for the Florida East Coast Shipwreck Project could be used as a model for future maritime archaeological projects. By providing the data in a way that allows the salvor to find more artifacts by using the DGPS and base-map, to arranging the data in categories so archaeologists have a better way of studying the wrecks, to the creation of the Interactive Maps which brings the wreck sites to life for the public, I feel that The Mel Fisher Center, Inc. and the countless people involved have indeed created such a model.

Figure: 5 Advances in methodology