ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE FORMATION OF THE “SEA SCOUT WRECK”: MALLOWS BAY, NANJEMOY, MARYLAND

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to obtain archaeological and historical evidence to examine the archaeological site formation process of the Sea Scout Wreck, located in the recently formed Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary (Nanjemoy, Maryland). To achieve this, historical and archaeological data were used to create three-dimensional (3D) models that represent key stages of the vessel's use-life and to document the deterioration process of the wreck. Through this research, the Sea Scout Wreck was identified as a 104' Aircraft Rescue Boat built during World War II for the U.S. Army Air Force in support of long-range aircraft missions. This information was used to create these 3D models by establishing a base model from which environmental and cultural processes documented in the historical and archaeological record were applied. From these representative models, resource managers and maritime archaeologists can examine possible future patterns of archaeological site transformation.