Gwen,

Technically, it goes way back.  In the 1960s collectors started looking
at WW II crash sites because of interest generated by stories of what
their fathers and grandfathers have done.  Governments have selectively
preserved or blocked off areas or facilities associated with a
particular action or event that deals with aerospace themes.  

There has been a lot done, especially as governments release once help
properties that contain resources or cities expand into areas of old
abandoned airports.  Those actions create a lot of CRM work, but few
people talk aboout it or use that data.  It took a lot of badgering and
pushing to host a symposium on the theme in 2008.  

I have left the theme broad for the simple reason that I want people to
communicate and demonstrate to others the possibility.  Few
archaeologists have even heard of the sub field or how the last World
Archaeological Congress made aerospace one of its theams.  There is not
only local and national laws, but international laws that researchers,
field techs, and teachers nedd to be aware of.  How has it served the
public good?  Bruce Terrell with NOAA while investigationg the USS Macon
off the California coast set up a program with local schools to educate
students about airships, underwater archaeology, technological change,
and why we do it.

More than a decade ago the Society for Induxstrial Archaeology held a
symposium on the theam looking at architecture and architectural
development in creating research facilities.

My own research on WW I airfields demonstrates that there were design
preferences by the major powers: Americans and Brittish prefered a
linear shape, French prefered an open "L", Germans a circular or "V"
design, Italians first started with a simple linear design then by 1918
started using a "V" design.  Development,economic presure, domination by
foreign powers, heavy influence by European powers and America were
occuring in both China and Mexico, yet photographs demonstrate how they
delI with aviation development and followed diverging paths.  think it
may have something to do with late 19th century military thought in the
various countries, but have yet to prove it.  Then again topography,
weather, production capabilites all come into play.

A part of what I hope to achieve, both from presenters and audience is
to gather contact information and get people togather.  Have thenm share
information on their favorite topic and where published and unpublished
sources can be acquired.  For now the field is open because it has to
be.  In a few years more restrained niches and spacific points can be
examined.

I hope my soap box rant helps,

William     

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gwyn
Alcock
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 10:26 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Aerospace Archaeology

I have a question and an observation:

You seem to be talking broadly of aerospace material culture and
historic preservation.
Q: How specific do you want to be about aerospace _archaeology_?

There's a vast amount of info on aerospace buildings and structures, and
a "Man in Space" theme for the (U.S.) National Historic Landmark program
goes back to the 1980s. Much of that info is from architectural
historians.

Under your definition of _archaeology_, would you include the
preservation of NASA's early lunar images (a physical and digital
challenge)?
(http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lunar22-2009mar22,
0,931431.story)

Observation:

Having worked at one of the military bases where space exploration was
as part of heritage, I don't have the sense that "only now" are those
heritage issues being addressed; they have been addressed increasingly
over the last couple decades, as a combination of my cites and yours
indicates.

I think aerospace heritage is relatively localized, compared to, say,
homesteading or even industrial heritage. Its footprint is physically
concentrated, and usually on areas still restricted from public access,
resulting in fewer studies and less research in general. Those studies
may also have restricted distribution, giving the impression that the
topic is less studied than it is. It's not just "gray" literature, but
very dark gray literature.

It's an interesting topic, however, and I would bet that those studying
it would be glad to chat about their favorite project (assuming, of
course, that they can get their papers pre-approved by their contracting
agencies in time).

Gwyn Alcock
Riverside, Calif.



________________________________
From: "McAlexander, William" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 6:54:04 AM
Subject: Aerospace Archaeology

Greetings,

I am asking to see if there is enough interest in an aerospace
archaeology symposium for SHA 2010.  Considering that confirmed off the
ground capabilities have been going on for more than 225 years and
design concepts by da Vinci and development in rocketry in China before
that, there is a wealth of possibilities.

For example: Vince Holyoak  has examined aircraft wrecks in England from
before WW I through WW II; P. J. Capelotti examined the use of something
as simple as a rock in active resistance against the Nazi war
industries; Alice Gorman has written articles on orbital space debris
and space cultural landscapes and opression; Joe Flanagan examined the
legacy of the Space Race; Beth O'leary and Ann Darrin have co-edited The
Handbook of Space Engineering, Archaeology and Heritage due out this
summer; several airfields, staging, and research facilities have been
investigated throughout the world; there are museums that keep alive the
chronicle of humanity's attempts to expand beyond our terrestrial
confines, sadly some of those events have brought out the worst side of
us; and finally of all species on this planet, only humans have left
evidence of our existance throughout the solar system and beyond.  

To my mind, that's a lot.  Yet, only now is that body of data just
beginning to be studied and preservation concerns, measures, and laws
being proposed and expounded upon.


Anyway, that's my soap box stand for today.  Anyone interested can
contact me at

William McAlexander
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Environmental
Division
10324 I-30
P.O. Box 2261
Little Rock, Ar 72209
(501) 569-2078 wk.
(501) 330-2167 Hm.
(501) 913-5447 cell
[log in to unmask]


Thanks for your time and
Have a nice day!

William