Maritime Archaeology at the Land-Sea Interface

6.4 Conclusion

It has not been possible to provide in this chapter either a thorough overview or critical appreciation of maritime archaeology at the land-sea interface. Australian maritime archaeology has always been at the forefront of innovation and has a long history of a “holistic” approach to maritime sites (McCarthy, 2003). The shift towards a broader engagement beyond nautical concerns, however, still poses challenges for how the sub-discipline views itself and engages with other archaeologies, their associated methodologies and theoretical structures. Greater integration of the heritage and university sectors is assisting with some of these changes and making the prospect of investigating the land-sea interface a much more challenging and fruitful enterprise.