Artifacts are man-made objects of historical interest. Artifacts found on shipwrecks are sometimes very special and sometimes in a delicate condition. If you find an interesting artifact and want to recover it, you'll need to know the answers to the following questions:
Is it legal for me to recover this artifact, or is it part of a protected wreck site?
How can I recover the artifact without damaging it?
If I recover it, what do I have to do to preserve (conserve) it?
Once it is preserved, what is the best way to display it?
We're not going to provide the answers these questions here. Instead, we refer you to several Websites (see links below) that answer these questions in detail. Click on the links to view these sites in a new window. Close the window to return here.
To view some of the fine wreck artifacts that have been recovered from New England waters, check out our Photo Gallery called Artifacts.
• Stinch's Artifact Preservation Guide
• Marine Artifact Conservation (Texas A&M University)
