High School Students and Maritime Archaeology

  
Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Project: Divers in Pool
St. Johns County high school students learn to dive and the basic methods of underwater archaeology in a series of pool training sessions.

In the spring of 2000, Major Steve Muskett, a teacher at St. Johns County's Allen D. Nease High School, approached LAMP with an idea to introduce high school students to marine archaeology. Nineteen students participated in the pilot program, which was so successful that for the 2002-2003 academic year, Nease High School created the Marine Archaeology Research Center (MARC). Students enrolled in the MARC program were trained and certified as divers, and learned the basic methods and research skills used by archaeologists to investigate historic shipwreck sites. Since that time, the program has moved to Menendez High School, where a class in underwater archaeology was taught in 2005-2006 by Mr. Ken Jones. LAMP staff and other local archaeologists served as guest lecturers, and oversaw practical training exercises in a regular series of pool sessions.

So far, at least one MARC student has gone on to college to pursue a degree in marine engineering. We continue to support this program in order to inspire other young people by introducing them to history and marine science.

At present, we are in discussion with St. Johns County officials to expand the program county-wide, so that more local high school students can participate in this unique program.


Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Project: Divers Underwater
Mapping "timbers" from a fiberglass mock shipwreck in the pool prepares students for the real thing offshore.

Read more about our high school Maritime Archaeology Research Class in our LAMPosts Blog:

 

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