 |
magazine / nd01 / indepth
SHIPWRECKS IN NOVA SCOTIA
The Special Places Protection Act
Preserving Our Shipwreck heritage
À la carte: Nova Scotia’s treacherous waters |
Lights in the darkness |
Wherefore the weather in Nova Scotia? |
Preserving our shipwreck heritage |
Shipwreck diving — The thrill of discovery |
Advances in navigational technology |
From the CG Archives
 This
carved wooden face was recovered from the Saladin, wrecked near Country
Harbour in 1844 after a mutiny.
For centuries, shipwrecks have spawned romantic tales of valiant rescues along
with doubloon-fueled dreams of treasures hidden in wave-shrouded wrecks. Hollywood
has handled the former time and again, but the latter has motivated the province
of Nova Scotia to create the Special Places Protection Act, legislation that
safeguards historic shipwrecks from plundering.
 |
This Bible was also recovered from the wreck of the Saladin.
Photos courtesy of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. |
Under the Act, shipwrecks are recognized as historical and archaeological
sites, so it is illegal to disturb them without first obtaining a Heritage
Research Permit. The philosophy behind the Act is that if everyone were allowed
to dive on the wrecks and take souvenirs for their personal collections, the province
would quickly lose valuable educational and heritage resources. Also, the general
public does not necessarily have the skills of researchers and museum staff to
properly preserve the wreck and its artifacts. The permit program ensures that
those working on a wreck are qualified, and requires them to report their work.
One important concern in bringing items up from the chilly depths is that they
will deteriorate quickly when exposed to air.
Those wishing to dive, explore or excavate an historic wreck must first obtain
a permit, and any artifacts recovered from a wreck site must be turned over to
the Nova Scotia Museum. It is preferable for the relics to remain with the ship,
but one or two items may have to be brought up to help identify the wreck. Museum
staff help the discoverer find information about the artifact, which could become
part of a museum collection or be used for educational programs. In some cases, the
discoverer is permitted to keep an artifact after it has been studied and documented
by museum staff.
For more information on the Special Places Protection Act, visit the Nova Scotia
Museum’s website or
view the entire Act online.
top
|
|
|
