A Spatial Approach to Analyzing Ships of the British Royal Navy During the 18Th and 19Th Centuries
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University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2015-12-15 Re-imagining Shipboard Societies: A Spatial Approach to Analyzing Ships of the British Royal Navy during the 18th and 19th Centuries Moloney, Michael Joseph Moloney, M. J. (2015). Re-imagining Shipboard Societies: A Spatial Approach to Analyzing Ships of the British Royal Navy during the 18th and 19th Centuries (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27594 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2674 doctoral thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Re-imagining Shipboard Societies: A Spatial Approach to Analyzing Ships of the British Royal Navy during the 18th and 19th Centuries by Michael Joseph Moloney A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ARCHAELOGY CALGARY, ALBERTA DECEMBER, 2015 © Michael J. Moloney 2015 Abstract Investigation into underwater archaeology began, inevitably, with the investigation of shipwrecks. For decades whole divisions of our discipline have focused on studying the intricate characteristics and mechanisms involved in the propulsion, construction, and manipulation of ships themselves (e.g. nautical archaeology). However, as Mortimer Wheeler noted, “the archaeologist is digging up, not things, but people” (Wheeler 1954: 13), so how do we extract information about those crewing these ships from shipwrecks? In this study I examine the spatial organization of ships in an effort to reconstruct the social dynamics of shipboard society. Shipwrecks are often the result of site formation processes that ‘spill’ the artifacts that are integral to our ability to describe shipboard life. In order to adequately examine the nuances of shipboard culture we must combine an understanding of the material culture associated with shipwrecks with an exploration of the structures of the ships themselves. The quantitative and qualitative investigation of socio-spatial organization has been engaged for several decades within the fields of architecture and urban planning. In particular, the theories and methods of space syntax analysis have been utilized to successfully examine the relationships between spatial organization and social interaction within an urban context. Moreover, these techniques have been proven effective for the investigation of archaeological material as well. In this study I utilize these existing tools and apply them to the study of ships and shipboard culture. Through a spatial understanding of ship structures I will suggest connections between spatial organization and social relationships aboard ships, and the culture of shipboard societies as a whole. ii Acknowledgements This dissertation, and the research therein, could not have completed without the support of so many people and institutions. Firstly, I would like to thank the Choquette family, who awarded me a substantial grant, without which I would not have been able to complete the archival fieldwork essential to my research. Also, the many graduate scholarships I received through the University of Calgary that housed and fed me throughout my doctoral studies. In addition, I would like to thank the staff at the Caird Library, in Greenwich, and the Scott Polar Research Institute for being extremely gracious and helpful while I scoured their archives. I would like to thank and acknowledge my many colleagues within the maritime archaeological community. In particular I would like to thank members of the Parks Canada Underwater Archaeology Service for allowing me access to their archives and library, and the Swedish Maritime Museum and Sjöhistoriska for inviting me to participate in two fantastic excavations at Birka. In particular, I would like to thank Charles Dagneau, from Parks Canada, for facilitating several conference sessions for the dissemination of maritime archaeological work in Canada, and Jonathan Moore, also of Parks Canada, for being a constant support and for having been the trigger that set my career in maritime archaeology off. From Sjöhistoriska I would particularly like to thank Andreas Olsson for providing me with, and being a generous tutor, in my continued training and experience in underwater archaeology. I am fortunate to have been a part of many wonderful projects, and worked with some fantastic people during my studies. In particular, I would like to thank Ville Peltokorpi, Eveliina Salo, and Maija Huttunen for being excellent field and diving companions and indulging me in being the token Canadian on projects. I would also like to thank Trevor Draeseke for being a true colleague and friend through our masters and beyond, and for being an ear for my nerdier iii maritime archaeology side. Finally, I would like to thank Beau Cripps for his mentorship and tutelage, without which I would not be a tenth of the field archaeologist I am now. The University of Calgary has been an exceptional place to have done my doctorate and I am grateful for the support of many individuals. Firstly, I would like to thank the staff of the Last Defense Lounge for facilitating a venue for relaxed intellectual discussion, stress release, and of course fantastic barley based beverages. Also, I would like to thank my friends and colleagues in the archaeology department. Specifically I would like to thank Shawn Morton, Lance Evans, Don Butler, Steve Simpson, Cara Tremain, Rebecca Rainville, Nicki Engel, and Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer for engaging me in many discussions, thesis and non-thesis related, and being wonderful colleagues. I would also like to thank my office mates, Robyn Crook, Sarah Bednar, and Colleen Hughes for accommodating my office mess and stacks of books. I would like to thank the members of my dissertation committee: Dr. Margaret Kennedy (University of Saskatchewan), Dr. Richard Levy (University of Calgary), Dr. Gerry Oetelaar (University of Calgary), and Dr. Pete Dawson (University of Calgary). A very special thanks to my supervisor Dr. Richard Callaghan for being adaptable to my changing projects and being my sole compatriot in maritime studies in the department. I am nothing if not a product of my environment, namely my upbringing. As such I would particularly like to thank my brothers, Thom, Jeff, and PJ, for keeping me grounded and alleviating marking stress with a quick game of ‘party’ or ‘one-in-the-chamber’. I am and will always be in eternal debt to my parents. Their emotional support is constant and unwavering and everything I have achieved in life is a direct result of their love and kindness. Finally, I want to thank my wife, Kathleen, whose patience knows no bounds (where I am concerned at least), and whose continued love and support helps me to dream big and hope for the future. iv To all, thank you. On to the next chapter. v For my parents vi Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. vii List of Figures and Illustrations ...........................................................................................x Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................ xiii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................1 Methodological Summary ................................................................................................5 Organization of Chapters .................................................................................................7 What is Maritime Archaeology? ......................................................................................8 Early Days ..................................................................................................................9 Birth of a Discipline .................................................................................................11 The Technological Boom .........................................................................................12 Past Investigations of Shipboard Society.......................................................................14 Yassi Ada ..................................................................................................................15 The Cattewater Wreck ..............................................................................................16 The Serçe Limani Wreck ..........................................................................................16 The Red Bay Wrecks ................................................................................................17