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"To make a discovery is the dream of most [sports divers]. A virgin wreck is a high-class trophy. It is also the first and last chance to record the scene in a pristine state." "Shipwreck Preservation in Michigan," John R. Halsey |
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Some are driven by profit or adventure, others by research or legal requirement. Be they land managers, archeologists, or treasure salvors, all must work together or our maritime heritage is lost. Great Lakes preservationists have persevered in the difficult legal and philosophical terrain between sport diving and a rich history of shipwrecks. The National Park Service is custodian of an underwater world that, in many cases, is far from any ocean. Taking stock of submerged wrecks, cargo, docks, wharves, and other remains is a problem for the Park Service--they’re out of sight, out of mind, and all but out of reach. To develop a prototype for underwater surveys, NPS brought high technology to an isolated old fort on the fringe of the continent. The submerged heritage of the nation--indeed, the world--is threatened by gaps in the law. In search of a WWII submarine, an ocean exploration firm wades into the ideological fray between preservation and profit. In the author's view, treasure hunting and archeology are competing in a Darwinian contest for survival.
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MJB/EJL