Image courtesy Maritime Archaeology Trust
Just one of 32 Protected Wreck Principal Licensees is female, suggesting there are barriers to involvement. Lauren Tidbury of the Maritime Archaeology Trust explains why a new survey hopes to find out.
This year marks fifty years since the introduction of the Protection of Wrecks Act. The Act enables areas around a shipwreck site to be restricted, protecting the remains and preventing uncontrolled disturbance. Sites are generally designated based on their historic, artistic or archaeological significance and there are currently 57 protected sites off the coast of England. To visit a Protected Wreck site you can apply for a licence to Historic England, who have also enabled several dive trails on the sites.
However, with the 50th anniversary it has also been timely to reflect on the statistics that show of the 32 Principal Licensees only one is female, and for other licences issued, such as visitor licences, only 10% of these were issued to women (Historic England, June 2021).
The Maritime Archaeology Trust has received a grant from Historic England to investigate the engagement of women with Protected Wreck sites and the potential impact this has and will continue to have on the understanding and enjoyment of Protected Wrecks.
To date, there has not been any detailed consideration of the composition of Protected Wreck teams and those involved in Protected Wrecks more widely in terms of gender. There is also a dearth of stories related to women and Protected Wreck ships and shipping histories.
About the investigation
The project will use a combination of desk-based research, a survey and direct interviews to gather baseline data to better understand how women are and have been involved with the investigation of Protected Wreck sites. It will include a brief review of online data on wider maritime archaeological team composition, both professional and avocational to be able to place women and Protected Wrecks within the wider maritime archaeological context.
The team hopes information will shed light on potential reasons why so few women are Protected Wreck licensees and relatively low numbers are involved in Protected Wrecks - and consider what steps to take to address this situation. Contributions will raise awareness of the project and showcase women’s stories related to Protected Wrecks.
How to get involved
The Maritime Archaeology Trust needs your help to better understand current involvement, and potential barriers to involvement with Protected Wrecks. This online survey is aimed at:
- Any women working with Protected Wrecks and other Designated wrecks
- Protected Wreck team members, including those who visit Protected Wrecks, carry out non-diving research and analysis, or work with recovered collections from Protected Wrecks
- Any women with an interest in Protected Wrecks, diving or maritime archaeology
If you have not had previous involvement with Protected Wrecks the team would still like to hear from you!
The survey takes less than ten minutes to complete:
Alternatively, you can email lauren.tidbury@maritimearchaeologytrust.org if you would like to talk to the Maritime Archaeology Trust in more detail about your experiences.
