Submerged Cultural Resource Management: Preserving and ...

This vital book is a collection on the various ways archaeologists and resource managers have devised to make available and interpret submerged cultural resources for the public, such as underwater archaeological preserves, shipwreck trails, and land-based interpretive media and literature. The concept of preserves, parks, and trails has proven to be an effective and popular method of public education and heritage tourism with the end result being a greater public understanding of the value of preserving and protecting shipwrecks, and other submerged cultural resources, for the future. Within each contribution, the authors focus on:p-legislation;br-economic benefits;br-interpretation methods;br-problems and successes;br-future directions regarding their preserve, park, or trail programs. Various approaches to the concept have been explored and this book is an effort to make available our experiences in the management of submerged cultural resources for the public.brThis volume is an invaluable resource to underwater archaeologists, cultural and heritage resource managers, museum and heritage educators and those studying these professions.pFrom the reviews:pJames Spirek and Della Scott-Ireton have compiled and edited what is to my knowledge the first published source describing the scope and breadth of today's underwater heritage trails and preserves. Each chapter reflects both the strengths and weaknesses of various strategies that have been attempted for the public interpretation and preservation of historic sites in aquatic environments. Not only will this book serve to document the progress of those strategies, but it will offer new directions for cultural resource management on future frontiers.br(Roger C. Smith, FORWARD)pThis volume does 'serve as a primer for those interested in promoting public access to interpreted shipwrecks and other submerged cultural sites.' It should help others to understand what works best in a range of circumst