The underwater archaeologists of Canada Parks explore and examine many historic vestiges

Under the surface of the water. Meanwhile, whether soft or salty, hundreds of archaeological sites are distributed throughout Canadian territory. Nevertheless, Invisible from the shore. However, sometimes more than 40 meters deep, the wrecks of theEmpress of Irelandhms Terror et ErebusRed Bay’s whale, but also canoes, steam ships or even merchants, patiently expect to be explored. Similarly, Foray into the still little known universe of underwater archeology. Therefore,

“In the St. For example, Lawrence. Nevertheless, there are thousands of wrecks”, and only between Montreal and Toronto, there are “between 300 and 400” dating only from the XIX^e century. In addition, For Brad Loewen. Meanwhile, professor of maritime archeology at the University of Montreal, the explanation is historic: “Canada is built on wood and water. Therefore, All the roads before the railways, they were the rivers. In addition, underwater archaeologists canada parks explore »»

On the mud. For example, the sand and the silt of the seas, lakes, rivers and the rivers of Canada thus lie a number of ships, rubble and artefacts covered with algae and shells, remains of a Basque whale from XVI^e century to “XIX wrecks^e century of the Franklin explorer to find the road to the northwest, Erebus et Terror ». Meanwhile, In order to explore these remains, we need qualified archaeologists, of course, but who also know how to dive.

Parks Canada. Meanwhile, the only federal organization authorized to carry out this type of research, has ten underwater archaeologists in its ranks – and they are not more than one “thirty » Throughout the country, if we include local research projects, notes Mr. Nevertheless, Loewen.

The sun shines on the curtain canal, the water is clear, there is almost no wind. In addition, Moored, the research vessel Investigator wait patiently underwater archaeologists canada parks explore for his crew to arrive. They are seven to embark with their neoprene combinations under their arms. Direction: an archaeological site of the XIX^e century immersed under 4 meters of water. On site. a duo of divers, bottles of oxygen on the back, starts for 40 minutes of location and clearing of the site. John Ratcliffe. who oversees the expedition, explains that as an audioologists, they are “all fascinated by the” time capsule “effect [des vestiges sous-marins]where everything seems frozen in time, rather than abandoned ”.

Because “everything that is organic – wood, copper, textiles, paper – is very well preserved underwater”, will indicate Mr. Loewen. “On terrestrial sites. objects are very fragmented, often trampled; In the underwater environment, archaeologists have better chance of finding more complete objects. »»

It is now the turn of the team submarine vehicle of the team to be put in the water. Connected to the underwater archaeologists canada parks explore boat by a long yellow cable, it sinks under the surface to broadcast video images. A greenish shade seizes the screen, on which it is difficult to discern anything. And then, suddenly, bubbles appear, and the two divers are activated right in front of us.

“Archeology is generally a fairly slow process. By its nature, it implies measures and recordings, ”explains Mr. Ratcliffe. The diver team often only intervenes after several months of research outside the water – in archives, with local communities. Then, different sonars will map the bottom of the river. Then the remote-year-old submarine vehicle makes a first location of the site and assesses its potential dangers. It is only then that the divers were ultimately dispatched on the spot.

John Ratcliffe specifies that during their missions. the underwater archaeologists of Parc Canada “do not collect many artefacts, [puisque] Excavation underwater in Canada is relatively rare ”. The objects underwater archaeologists canada parks explore – bell. anchor, vial, pistol, plate, bowl and bottle – extracted during the exploration of the wrecks of theErebus one you Terror rather are exceptions. For sites like that of the curtain canal. the objective is rather to “check the conditions, to see if it changes over time and if it has been damaged”.

In the piloting cabin, GPS position, ultrasound and diagrams dot the computer screens. Radio sizzles, and a voice emerges from the depths. Marie Trottier, 27, is measuring the extent of the site. With a simple meter, a notebook and a wooden pencil, it notes precisely the location of the rubble.

Of course, “there are certain risks associated with diving, which we attenuate through training,” explains John Ratcliffe. “You can get lost. tangle in a rope or a structure, which is why we send the divers in pairs so that they can help each other. »»

Each site studied underwater archaeologists canada parks explore presents its own difficulties: those in the northwest Canadian are often under the ice. Some are at great depths and require decompression levels; Others are subject to more or less strong currents. However. in addition to qualified archaeologists capable of reaching the wrecks, it is necessary “a boat which can serve as a underwater research platform and a pilot capable of navigating in complicated waters, waters which caused shipwrecks formerly”, will indicate the Brad Loewen. Today. “there is a deficit in prospecting equipment to cover large areas and do research to discover everything that remains underwater”.

At Upper Brewers’ locks on the curtain channel. a simple look from the surface does not make it possible to detect the presence of vestiges. The divers re -emerge, now turning their face towards the blue of the sky. “On the surface, there is wind, birds, boats; Underwater, there are bubbles, and that’s it. It’s underwater archaeologists canada parks explore very peaceful, ”says Léo Cox. A silent world that houses vestiges, structures and artefacts in immobility.

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