Lights, Camera ... Shipwreck!?! Multimedia at Four Thousand Feet

Abstract

On 20 May 2007, filmmakers from Nautilus Productions joined the Mardi Gras Shipwreck Project archaeological team from Texas A&M University (TAMU) and the Minerals Management Service (MMS) to document the Mardi Gras Shipwreck site. The technology-driven project required the Nautilus Productions crew to complete a few simple tasks: document everything from the time the project vessel left Port Fourchon, Louisiana, until the conservation of the artifacts was completed at TAMU, and then create an educational documentary and Web video about the effort for the Louisiana State Museum, the MMS, and TAMU. The film crew worked alongside the archaeological team, ship’s crew, and remotely operated vehicle pilots throughout 24 hr. shifts, recording the decisions, research design, and research as it happened. Nautilus Production’s mission was simple: document the project and allow the archaeology to speak for itself. It is the purpose of this article to show how electronic and digital media can assist in documenting an archaeological site, support project goals, and enhance public education during and after the project.