MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL
RESOURCES
For inquiries contact Victor Mastone,
Director, Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources
Established in 1973, the Massachusetts Board of Underwater
Archaeological Resources is the sole trustee of the
Commonwealth's underwater heritage, promoting and protecting the
public's interests in these resources for recreational, economic,
environmental and historical purposes.
The nine member state Board is part of the Executive Office of
Environmental Affairs. At this time, Board members are: the
State Archaeologist (Brona Simon), the Commissioner of Waterways
(designee: Kevin Mooney), the State Archivist (designee: Terry
French), the Director of Mineral Resources (designee: Pamela
Harvey), and five gubernatorial appointees who include one
representative from the Massachusetts Historical Commission
(vacant), one Marine Archaeologist (vacant), one Law Enforcement
Specialist (Richard Murray), and two representatives of the
diving community (Charlene Colella and Joseph Gomes). Board
members serve without compensation.
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 6, sections 179-180, and
Chapter 91, section 63, the Board is charged with the
responsibility of encouraging the discovery and reporting, as
well as the preservation and protection, of underwater
archaeological resources. Generally, those resources are defined
as abandoned property, artifacts, treasure troves, and shipwrecks
which have remained unclaimed for over 100 years, or exceed a
value of $5,000, or are judged by the Board to be of historical
value. The Commonwealth holds title to these resources and
retains regulatory authority over their use. The Board's
jurisdiction extends over the inland and coastal waters of the
state.
No person may remove, displace, damage or destroy any underwater
archaeological resource except in conformity with permits issued
by the Board. The two types of permits are: Reconnaissance
Permits - for the non-destructive inspection and identification
of underwater archaeological resources and are characterized by
minimum site disturbance; and Excavation Permits - to uncover
and/or remove underwater archaeological resources through the use
of disruptive investigation techniques. Permittees range from
individual sport divers to corporate ventures. Permit
requirements and standards are outlined in the Board's
Regulations (312 CMR 2.0-2.15).
To deal with certain types of artifact discoveries, the Board's
regulations provide an exemption from the permit process for
isolated finds and exempted sites. In order to obtain title to
an isolated find, an Isolated Find application form along with a
map indicating the location of the find must be submitted to the
Board. There is no application fee for an isolated find.
The purpose in creating an exempted shipwreck site is to preserve
such sites for the continued enjoyment of the recreational diving
community. Recreational diving activities, including casual
artifact collection, on exempted shipwreck sites does not require
a permit from the Board. However, any major disruption of the
site is prohibited. The List of Exempt Shipwrecks is open to
modification. The recreational diving community is encouraged to
protect these sites for the continued enjoyment of all.
In addition, the Board may designate underwater archaeological
preserves. The purpose of underwater archaeological preserves is
to recognize and protect those resources of substantial
archaeological and/or historical value. While access for
recreational, scientific and historical purposes is guaranteed,
collecting will not be allowed except for scientific or
historical purposes, and the artifacts remain the permanent
property of the Commonwealth.
Board meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis, generally on the
last Thursday of the month. Meetings are open to the public and
are usually held in Boston. The Board welcomes your comments and
encourages you to attend its meetings.
If you would like a copy of the Board's Statue, Regulations, List
of Exempt Sites, or Permit Applications, want to know the
date/location of Board meetings, or have a question, contact:
Victor Mastone, Director, Board of Underwater Archaeological
Resources
EOEA, Suite 2000, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02202
Telephone: 617-727-9800, extension 212
FAX: 617-727-2754
e-mail: Victor.Mastone@State.MA.US
Web Site: www.magnet.state.ma.us/czm/buar
