School Children Visit The ADMAT Centre In Monte Cristi To Learn About Archaeology And Their Underwater Cultural Heritage

The students from John's English Schools youngest class and their principal Jonny E. Marte are shown anchors and cannons from The Tile Wreck site by Dr. Simon Q. Spooner.

The students from John's English Schools youngest class and their principal Jonny E. Marte are shown anchors and cannons from The Tile Wreck site by Dr. Simon Q. Spooner.

On November 2nd 2007 the youngest class from John’s English School (http://www.myspace.com/johns_english_school), and the principal of the school Jonny E. Marte, made a field trip to the ADMAT Maritime Archaeological Centre in Monte Cristi to learn about Maritime Archaeology and their Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Underwater Cultural Heritage is of great significance, it is an integral part of the cultural heritage of humanity and a particularly important element in the history of peoples, nations, and their relations with each other concerning their common heritage.

The school children aged 7 to 10 years old were first shown a Power Point computer presentation combined with a lecture by ADMAT’s President Dr. Simon Q. Spooner on the subject of what Maritime Archaeology is all about and the importance of Underwater Cultural Heritage, as well as being shown photos of the underwater part of ADMAT’s archaeological work. Dr. Spooner spoke in English, followed by Mr. Marte translating into Spanish assisted by Rami Rodriguez, so as to also improve the children’s knowledge of English. This made it a multi-discipline learning experience for the children.

Then Dr. Spooner took them outside to one of ADMAT’s large water tanks see anchors and cannons from The Tile Wreck site currently being desalinated as the initial part of conservation, before being sent to the Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural Subacuatico (ONPCS) laboratory in Santo Domingo for the 2nd stage of conservation and preparation for museum displays.

Next the children were escorted inside the ADMAT Centre’s large indoor tank-room and laboratory to learn more about how to get historical information from shipwreck artefacts and how to record them prior to final conservation, publications and museum displays.

At the end of the visit Simon said “I’m delighted that the younger generations of this great island nation are taking such a keen interest in the preservation of their Underwater Cultural Heritage. ADMAT hopes that this generation, who live in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus, will take on the heavy burden of responsibility for protecting these historic shipwrecks and the wealth of information therein”.

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Principal Jonny E. Marte with his class and ADMAT's Dr Simon Q. Spooner and Rami Rodriguez in front of the ADMAT centre.

Principal Jonny E. Marte with his class and ADMAT's Dr Simon Q. Spooner and Rami Rodriguez in front of the ADMAT centre.

Simon showing the students a computer presentation and teaching them about Maritime Archaeology and their Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Simon showing the students a computer presentation and teaching them about Maritime Archaeology and their Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Simon showing two adds from The Tile Wreck concreted together, explaining how concretions are created, and how this artefacts will be conserved in the ONPCS laboratory in Santo Domingo before being placed in museums.

Simon showing two adds from The Tile Wreck concreted together, explaining how concretions are created, and how this artefacts will be conserved in the ONPCS laboratory in Santo Domingo before being placed in museums.

Simon showing the students a grinding wheel from The Faience Wreck up close while speaking in English, then Jonny and Rami translate into Spanish, making it a multi-discipline learning experience for the students.

Simon showing the students a grinding wheel from The Faience Wreck up close while speaking in English, then Jonny and Rami translate into Spanish, making it a multi-discipline learning experience for the students.

Rami talks about The Faience Wreck while Simon puts the grinding wheel back in it's place in the conservation tank.

Rami talks about The Faience Wreck while Simon puts the grinding wheel back in it's place in the conservation tank.

Simon showing a cargo hook from The Tile Wreck , unfortunately the wood pulley was long gone when it was found.

Simon showing a cargo hook from The Tile Wreck, unfortunately the wood pulley was long gone when it was found.

The students are shown faience pottery sherds from The Tile Wreck and told about how they were identified as French by assistance from ADMAT-FRANCE and museums in Paris.

The students are shown faience pottery sherds from The Tile Wreck and told about how they were identified as French by assistance from ADMAT-FRANCE and museums in Paris.

Simon explains about the ships use of ballast stones, the scientific analysis of them, and how they tell a story about where a ship was from or had visited.

Simon explains about the ships use of ballast stones, the scientific analysis of them, and how they tell a story about where a ship was from or had visited.

Simon with a large enema pump from The Faience Wreck, the students found this artefact highly amusing.

Simon with a large enema pump from The Faience Wreck, the students found this artefact highly amusing.

The students are eager to try holding a small concreted 4 pdr cannon ball from The Tile Wreck.

The students are eager to try holding a small concreted 4 pdr cannon ball from The Tile Wreck.