Povandeninių tyrimų technologijos Lietuvos archeologijos praktikoje

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Archeologija; Baltijos jūros povandeninis kultūros paveldas; Jūra; Kuršių marios; Metodai; Platelių ežeras; Povandeniniai kraštovaizdžiai; Povandeniniai tyrinėjimai; Povandeninių tyrimų technologijos ir metodai; Povandeninė archeologija; Archaeology; Curonian Lagoon; Methods; Plateliai Lake; Sea; Technologies and methods of underwater research; Underwater archaeology; Underwater cultural heritage of Baltic Sea; Underwater landscapes; Underwater research.

ENThe publication presents information about the technologies and techniques which have been used by Lithuanian archaeologists during 2000–2013 in exploring the seabed. Scientists from the Institute of the Baltic Sea Region History and Archaeology of the Klaipėda University have worked on the research projects. Initially, the hulls of the wooden wrecks were searched during surveys of the shoals from an airplane, from the water surface and under the water. Research with a side scan sonar began in 2001 with the Swedish vessels "Altair" and "Nils Strömcrona" (2002). Some wrecks were detected by using a side-scan sonar and multi-beam in 2002 ("Nils Strömcrona"). The wrecks were examined using a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). In 2009, side scan sonar and multi-beam measurements were used to make a picture of the seabed near the port of Šventoji. These studies were conducted in an area of over 52 square kilometers. In 2010–2011, studies were carried out in the sea bottom area of 30 km2 with flooded coasts of the Early Holocene period.The surveys were made with a side-scan sonar and multi-beam for detailed bathymetric measurements, to identify underwater relict forest’s tree stumps and trunks. A confirmation of the sonar results was obtained by scuba examination. These studies with a side scan-sonar were looking for methods of recognizing small relic tree stumps on the sea bottom. In 2004–2007, the Klaipėda University (KU) archaeologists have gained experience in using a side scan-sonar in extremely shallow waters. Currently, the KU archaeologists for the underwater heritage research use also remotely operated underwater vehicles, a SeaSPY magnetometer, a Sony video camera (Gates EX1R), a water dredge. Almost half of the Lithuanian territorial waters have been explored by using a side-scan sonar and multi-beam technologies during explorations of the sea floor for various purposes. [From the publication]