An Earthwatch-supported scientist brings forensic archaeology to new depths in Bermuda, at the historic shipwreck of the North Carolina.
The methods of forensic archaeology have proven useful in the investigation of recent crime scenes, mass graves, and disasters, such as the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. In an article in American Antiquity, professor of anthropology at Brown University and former Earthwatch principal investigator Dr. Richard Gould illustrates the usefulness of these methods in unraveling a possible crime 120 years later.
In "The wreck of the barque North Carolina, Bermuda, 1880: An underwater crime scene?" Gould combines physical evidence from the shipwreck with historic documents to reveal anomalies suggesting that the ship was sunk intentionally. He goes on to argue that the strictly empirical approach characteristic of forensic work is helpful in avoiding the pitfalls of more subjective, "theory laden" archaeology.
"Sometimes the evidence does speak for itself, if the researcher will let it," said Gould, former principal investigator of Bermuda Shipwreck and several other Earthwatch archaeological projects stretching back to 1985. "Once we realized that the archaeological evidence at the shipwreck site did not fit any of the written accounts of the ship's loss, I was forced to examine a broader range of historical documents."
Parliamentary proceedings, insurance archives, and correspondence from the Bermuda Governor General revealed that there were conflicting reports about the circumstances of the North Carolina's wreck. Further findings at the site, such as the intact rudder and an anchor chain hanging loosely inside the boat, were at odds with some of these reports, which indicated a failed steering mechanism and an anchor dropped through the hull.
Earthwatch teams on Bermuda Shipwreck, in 1999 and 2000, were instrumental in the investigation, including underwater recording of the ship's details and the collection and use of documents.
"Earthwatch volunteers were the key element of the North Carolina research," said Gould. Volunteers "They quickly mastered the site-recording skills that were required and performed them up to a high archaeological standard. Above all, they worked together as team players and supported each other as the work progressed."
Gould's archaeological methods have been honed in recent years as director of Forensic Archaeology Recovery (FAR), a team of professional archaeologists that volunteer their time investigating recent disasters. FAR was the only group of archaeologists called in to investigate the World Trade Center disaster site after 9/11. A year later, FAR was activated to direct forensic recoveries at "The Station" nightclub fire scene. The "North Carolina" is a significant test of these methods on a historic event, and shows how this kind of investigation can be performed effectively under water.
Gould is working on a book about "disaster" archaeology, exploring the role of archaeology in the controlled field recovery of evidence at mass-fatality disaster scenes such as those investigated by FAR. There is already a historical precedent for this kind of work, especially around the exhumation of human remains at mass graves in war-torn places like Rwanda, Bosnia, and now, Iraq, to obtain evidence for tribunals that follow.
"Archaeology works well in such situations, and, unfortunately, such situations are common," said Gould, who asserts that archaeology can gain from the objective, empirical approach used in forensics. "It remains to be seen, however, how the discipline of archaeology will respond to such efforts. Clearly, this kind of work is not for everyone."
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For more information, see "The wreck of the barque North Carolina, Bermuda, 1880: An underwater crime scene?" Richard A Gould. American Antiquity, 70 (1), 2005, pp. 107-128.