WHAT IS AVIATION ARCHAEOLOGY?

Dr Lisa M Daly tells us about her research in Canada and what we can discover from historic crash sites

- Dr Lisa M Daly

What is aviation archaeology?

Aviation archaeology entails researching, documenting and investigating the material culture remains of aircraft on the landscape. Much of the work being done around the world by other archaeologists is underwater but my work tends to be terrestrial - I end up in a lot of bogs and forests. Aircraft crashes can differ significantly, with high-energy impacts scattering debris over large areas, to controlled landings where the aircraft is virtually intact. They can also be impacted by the environment and preservation levels of the wreckage, and by recovery efforts soon after the incident or years later. Each of these aircraft have a story to tell about the flights, the crews and the aftermath of the crash.

What first attracted you to the field of aviation archaeology?

After university I applied to a couple of archaeology jobs through Memorial University. The one I wanted was a survey of the wreckage of a USAAF B-24 bomber that crashed on 14 February 1945 near Gander, Newfoundland, and Labrador. The survey was interesting, but I applied because there were three servicemen from the flight listed as Missing In Action. They were never positively identified after the crash. We did find some human remains, and what really captured my interest was the day we found a house key and some jacket buttons. We opened excavation units and found many personal effects.