Seafloor mapping and information system in underwater archaeology exploration-The discovery of an ancient shipwreck in Penghu, Taiwan

Abstract

The Penghu undersea archeology project has been carried out since 1995 in the Penghu area, which used to be on the passage of the main business route from Mainland China to the Southeast Asia. This research project involves professionals and researchers from the fields of archaeology, oceanography, meteorology, engineering and diving. The discovery of the ancient shipwreck, Chiang-Chun 1/sup st/, and the antiques load is of important historical significance. The whole research project includes the archaeology, seafloor mapping, and divers excavating and information system. The paper discusses the project in terms of seafloor mapping and information system. The purpose of seafloor mapping is, by the use of sonar inspection, to seek and spot the possible targets and to help the divers identify the targets. The facilities include a global positioning system, an echo sounder, a side scan sonar, and a sub-bottom profiler. After an arduous investigation of 28 possible targets in a six-square kilometer area under rough sea status, three targets were identified to be Chiang-Chun 1/sup st/, an iron-shell-ship, and a ship-shaped reef. The Penghu undersea archeology project and the general information on the undersea archeology survey and salvage technology were introduced on a web site for an easy access. The structure and the method used to set up the web site are introduced. The contents of the web site include project history, project introduction and execution, undersea archeology technology, shipwreck excavation, perspective of undersea archeology, messages box, full contents search, and linkages to other underwater archeology sites.