Keith Muckelroy was a pioneer of maritime archaeology

Maritime archaeology

Maritime archaeology is a discipline within archaeology as a whole that specifically studies human interaction with the sea, lakes and rivers through the study of associated physical remains, be they vessels, shore side facilities, port-related structures, cargoes, human remains and submerged...

. In 1976 he published a paper in which he proposed a theory for the formation of shipwreck sites. He later expanded this theory in a book . Muckelroy's theory became the classic model for interpretation of wreck sites and even today, either his original paper or his later book are referenced by almost every research paper on the archaeology of shipwrecks

Archaeology of shipwrecks

The archaeology of shipwrecks is the field of archaeology specialised in the study and exploration of shipwrecks. Its techniques combine those of archaeology with those of diving....

. He also edited an atlas of underwater archaeological sites. His research covered the Kennermerland, Bronze age

Bronze Age

The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...

 cargoes and trade and terrestrial archaeology. He believed that archaeological research on more recent wrecks, such as early iron vessels and steamships, was a waste of time because more information on them could be gleaned from material in archives and in museums than from artifacts recovered from the seabedhttp://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime/exhibtions/north.asp. This view is challenged by other maritime archaeologists.

His career was cut short on 8 September 1980 when he drowned in a diving accident in Loch Tay

Loch Tay

Loch Tay is a freshwater loch in the central highlands of Scotland, in the district of Perthshire.It is a long narrow loch of around 14 miles long, and typically around 1 to 1½ miles wide, following the line of the valley from the south west to north east...

.

The Keith Muckelroy Award

The Keith Muckelroy award is awarded biennially for the best published work in the preceding two years covering British maritime, nautical or underwater archaeology. Entries are eligible if they address work in Britain, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey or British territorial waters. The award is given for work that best reflects the pioneering ideas and scholarly standards of Keith Muckelroy.

The award became part of the British Archaeological Awards http://www.britarch.ac.uk/awards/baa2004.html in 2004 and is sponsored by the Keith Muckelroy Trust, The Maritime Affairs Group of the IFA

Institute of Field Archaeologists

The Institute for Archaeologists is a professional organisation for archaeologists working in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1982 to represent the profession and currently has over 2,500 members drawn from all areas of the archaeological community....

, the Nautical Archaeology Society

Nautical Archaeology Society

The Nautical Archaeology Society is a charity registered in England and Wales and in Scotland and is a company limited by guarantee.The charitable aims and object of the company are to further research in Nautical Archaeology and publish the results of such research and to advance education and...

 and the Maritime Committee of the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers. Prior to 2004, the award had been given 5 times during the 1980s.

Obituaries

• INA Quarterly, Vol 7.2/3 p3
• Mariner's Mirror vol 66.4 p292 (Joan du Plat Taylor
  Joan du Plat Taylor
  Joan Du Plat Taylor was one of the first maritime archaeologists.Her parents were Colonel St.John Louis Hyde du Plat Taylor and Alice Home-Purves and her grandfather was Colonel John Lowther du Plat Taylor CB VD...
  
  )
• The Times, Sept 13 1980 (Glyn Daniel)