4 ms·
Yeah it kind of boggles my mind that this isn't a well explored area due to its preservation characteristics
by hanniabu 9y ago
Yeah it kind of boggles my mind that this isn't a well explored area due to its preservation characteristics
- amelius 9y agoPerhaps because distributing our efforts over different areas gives us a broader view of history?
- ivan_at_hn 9y agoI think that it is because most archaeologists tend to explore places where they live and where they know something about. And where they can get funding. Like Mediterranean sea. Underwater archaeology is very expensive. There are guys who explore shipwrecks to sale treasures from them, you can look at their financial reports here (it is not easy for them): http://www.odysseymarine.com/ http://www.odysseymarine.com/
- jamesrcole 9y agoI doubt it has much to do coordinated efforts to achieve globally optimum results, and more to do with practicalities of where researchers are located, what sort of funding is available and the like.
- njarboe 9y agoOf course what an archeologist studies in due to the interaction on many different drivers, but a main one is novelty of the find. Find one good site and an archeologist can support a career studying it. Exploring new places and discovering unique artifacts is at the heart of the myth of the archeologist. Indian Jones, King Tuts tomb, etc.
- jamesrcole 9y agoI agree, but I think that kind of factor is very different to what the comment I was replying to was talking of, in "because distributing our efforts over different areas gives us a broader view of history" as if it was some sort of co-ordination with the goal of creating a broader view. What you're talking about is an individual seeking novelty.
- toyg 9y agoUntil the ‘90s it was a heavily militarized sea more or less controlled by the Soviets. Not the ideal environment for research by Western institutions, and Soviet ones had other priorities.