Celebrating over 20 years of Maritime Archaeology 

Growing up in the Netherlands, a nation famed for its maritime heritage, Wendy van Duivenvoorde became fixated on the sea. Drawn to archaeology at university, she jumped at the opportunity to volunteer on dives at maritime archaeological sites, sealing her fate as a scholar captivated by the histories of the deep. 

Dr van Duivenvoorde came to Australia to be involved in the study of the Batavia, a Dutch East India Company vessel built in Amsterdam that was wrecked on its maiden voyage on the West Australian coast, at a time when the waters of the southern hemisphere were largely uncharted – and 150 years before Captain Cook mapped Australia’s eastern coastline. The loss of the Batavia and the trail of mutiny and murder that followed the disaster fostered huge interest in the excavation of the wreck after it was rediscovered in 1963.

Born and raised amongst the Coastal Redwoods and Live Oaks of California, Jonathan spent his childhood in and around Monterey Bay, surfing, cycling, playing youth soccer and baseball and exploring his environment. 

Australia’s maritime archaeology has been dominated by a European colonial narrative, but Jonathan’s fascination with deep time and appreciation of Indigenous archaeology has seen his project team significantly contribute to and expand our understanding of Australia’s past, and what may lie beneath the waves. This opens up an enormous new field of study in Australia.

Jonathan undertook his PhD in Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. It was here that he combined archaeology with underwater field methods, which led to further studies of Neolithic and Mesolithic coastal sites. A new career opportunity beckoned, and in 2014 he moved to Adelaide to lecture at Flinders and continue his research.

"I am exploring how the latest digital techniques can enhance our understanding of maritime heritage on a global scale."

Dr John McCarthy is a DECRA Fellow and Lecturer in Maritime Archaeology at Flinders University. His research focuses on digital innovation in archaeological methodology, submerged archaeological landscapes, and in European merchant vessels of the Early Modern period. As a Scientific Diver, John has led surveys of numerous shipwrecks dating from the 17th century onwards, and has been working on submerged ancient sites in the North Sea, the Baltic, the Levant and Australia. Dr McCarthy was part of the team that located and surveyed Australia's first sub-tidal Aboriginal archaeological site in 2020.

Currently, John is undertaking a 3-year DECRA Fellowship to investigate the potential for use of machine learning in prospecting for submerged archaeological landscapes around Australia. Much of his research involves synthesis of passive and active remote sensing data to create digital archaeological reconstructions for animations and virtual reality. Dr McCarthy also has an extensive background in archaeological excavation and survey, pre-development cultural heritage mitigation, strategic heritage studies, and has participated in Native Title proceedings.

“My passion for being underwater led me to gain unique SCUBA diving industry experiences worldwide. I'm sharing and teaching these skills and know-how in boating and diving to students while studying the maritime programme. With our Professional Scientific Diver course, our students can learn and complete the occupational diver certification that will allow them to participate in scientific diving work around the world.”

As lead SCUBA Instructor and Technical Instructor for the Maritime Archaeology Micro-credential – Professional Scientific Diver course, Hiro is a key member of the Flinders team. 

Throughout his time with the program, he has helped procure the boat Bungaree as a research vessel, become an organisation member of the American Academy of Underwater Science to enable him to certify students as AAUS Scientific Divers, providing technical support to the Maritime Archaeology programme, as well as teaching the micro-credential courses. 

Over a 46-year career as a practicing archaeologist, Associate Professor Mark Staniforth has participated in diving archaeology excavations on significant shipwrecks such as Pandora, William Salthouse, Clarence, Batavia and Sydney Cove. In the process he has increased the knowledge of maritime history, colonial trade, shipbuilding, shipwreck conservation practice, and the immigrant experience.

While working as curator at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney he had higher degree studies in his sights, choosing Flinders as the best University to complete his PhD.

“Flinders University was one of the few universities that taught and conducted research in historical archaeology. It was an eclectic, accepting and interesting university with highly respected archaeologists, including Vincent Megaw – a renaissance man and an outstanding scholar and the person who has inspired me the most in my academic life.”

"To understand how people lived on the coast in the deep past, we must look in the sea."

Chelsea's research focuses on archaeological sites that were inundated by sea-level rise. Thousands of years ago, these sites were on land, but as sea level rose, they eventually became submerged sites.

These archaeological sites are extremely important to better understand how people in the past lived along ancient coastlines and adapted to climate change. In many cases, these sites are incredibly well-preserved and enhance our knowledge of how people lived in these now-submerged landscapes.

During her PhD research, Chelsea was part of the Deep History of Sea Country project, which found the first submerged ancient Aboriginal sites in Western Australia. In her current role, she will be researching underwater sites off the coast of Israel.