Getting Your Feet Wet: Barriers to Inclusivity in Underwater Archaeology and How to Break Them

Abstract There is a lack of broad representation in archaeology generally, and in a specialized field such as underwater archaeology, this issue is only exacerbated. Underwater archaeological sites are often “out of sight, out of mind,“” creating a general lack of awareness of underwater cultural he...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advances in archaeological practice : a journal of the Society of American archeaology 2022-05, Vol.10 (2), p.129-139
Main Authors: Lemke, Ashley, Grinnan, Nicole Bucchino, Haigler, Jay V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeology
Cultural heritage
Underwater exploration
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Summary:Abstract There is a lack of broad representation in archaeology generally, and in a specialized field such as underwater archaeology, this issue is only exacerbated. Underwater archaeological sites are often “out of sight, out of mind,“” creating a general lack of awareness of underwater cultural heritage and career prospects in many communities. Coupled with a lack of education and the additional demands of working in a submerged environment (e.g., scuba diving), there is a striking lack of diversity in underwater archaeology. Overall, underwater archaeologists are a largely homogeneous group, particularly along the lines of race and wealth—categories that often overlap. In the context of asking broader questions such as “Why are there so few underwater archaeologists of color?” and “How can we do better?” this article outlines the barriers to inclusivity writ large in underwater archaeology and provides solutions for increasing diversity and accessibility in the field, including specific opportunities and resources for underrepresented groups to “get their feet wet.” Existe una falta de representación amplia en la arqueología en general y en un campo especializado como la arqueología subacuática, este problema solo se agrava. Las zonas arqueológicas submarinas a menudo están fuera de la vista, fuera de la mente, lo que crea una falta general de conciencia sobre el patrimonio cultural subacuático y las perspectivas profesionales en muchas comunidades. Junto con la falta de educación y las demandas adicionales de trabajar en un entorno sumergido (como, por ejemplo, el buceo), existe una sorprendente falta de diversidad en la arqueología subacuática. En general, los arqueólogos subacuáticos son un grupo mayormente homogéneo, particularmente en las líneas de raza y clase socioeconómica—categorías que a menudo se superponen. En el contexto de hacer preguntas más amplias como “¿Por qué hay una falta de diversidad en la arqueologίa submarina? “y” ¿Cómo podemos mejorar?” Este artículo describe las barreras de inclusividaden la arqueología subacuática y proporciona soluciones para aumentar la diversidad y la accesibilidad en el campo, incluyendo oportunidades y recursos específicos para que los grupos subrepresentados se mojen los pies
ISSN:2326-3768
2326-3768
DOI:10.1017/aap.2021.34