Combining Geophysics, Core Sampling, and GIS for Conducting Underwater Archaeology in the Taijiang Inner Sea, Taiwan

This research aims to detect possible the underwater cultural heritage within the Taijiang Inner Sea, focusing on 17th-century shipwrecks of the Dutch East India Company(VOC). The primary objective is to identify and analyze ferromagnetic materials such as anchors and cannons, which are key indicators of these historic shipwrecks. A comprehensive suite of exploration techniques is employed, including airborne and shipborne magnetometers to detect magnetic anomalies associated with ferromagnetic artifacts. Complementary methods such as side-scan sonar and multibeam bathymetry provide detailed imagery and topographical maps of the riverbed, facilitating precise localization of potential sites. Sub-bottom profiling is utilized to examine sediment layers and identify buried structures, while core sampling offered insights into sediment composition and historical deposition patterns. All collected data are integrated and analyzed with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), enabling the synthesis of multi-source information to create accurate maps of potential shipwreck locations. Through the combined use of airborne and shipborne instruments, the research successfully identified dozens of potential underwater cultural heritage sites. Detailed analysis revealed distinct patterns indicative of historic shipwrecks, distinguishing them from natural features. The classification process refined the potential locations, plotting probable distribution map of various shipwrecks in accordance with historical records, and highlighting regions of significant archaeological interest. These findings contribute substantially to understanding the submerged cultural landscape of the Taijiang Inner Sea, enriching the historical narrative of 17th-century maritime trade and aiding in the preservation of valuable underwater heritage. The successful integration of multiple exploration techniques and advanced GIS analysis demonstrates a robust framework for future underwater archaeological investigations.