National Park Service The Archeology of the Atomic Bomb A Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment of the Sunken Fleet of Operation Crossroads at Bikini and Kwajalein Atoll Lagoons

The Submerged Cultural Resources Unit was established in 1980 to conduct research on submerged cultural resources throughout the National Park System with an emphasis on historic shipwrecks. One of the unit's primary responsibilities is to disseminate the results of research to National Park Service managers, as well as the professional community, in a form that meets resource management needs and adds to our understanding of the resource base. A report series has been initiated in order to fulfill this responsibility. The following are the categories of reports that comprise this series.

Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment

First line document that consists of a brief literature search, an overview of the maritime history and the known or potential underwater sites in a park, and preliminary recommendations for long-term management. It is designed to have application to GMP/DCP's and to become a source document for a park's Submerged Cultural Resources Management Plan.

Submersed Cultural Resources Survey

Comprehensive examination of blocks of park lands for the purpose of locating and identifying as much of the submerged cultural resources base as possible. A comprehensive literature search would most likely be a part of the Phase I report but, in some cases, may be postponed until Phase II.

Phase I -- Reconnaissance of target areas with remote sensing and visual survey techniques to establish location of any archeological sites or anomalous features that may suggest the presence of archeological sites.

Phase II -- Evaluation of archeological sites or anomalous features derived from remote sensing instruments to confirm their nature and, if possible, their significance. This may involve exploratory removal of overburden.

Submersed Cultural Resources Study

A document that discusses, in detail, all known underwater archeological sites in a given park. This may involve test excavations. The intended audience is managerial and professional, not the general public.

Submersed Cultural Resources Site Report

Exhaustive documentation of one archeological site which may involve a partial or complete site excavation. The intended audience is primarily professional and incidentally managerial. Although the document may be useful to a park's interpretive specialists because of its information content, it would probably not be suitable for general distribution to park visitors.

Submersed Cultural Resources Special Report Series

These may be in published or photocopy format. Included are special commentaries, papers on methodological or technical issues pertinent to underwater archeology, or any miscellaneous report that does not appropriately fit into one of the other categories.

Published Reports of the Southwest Cultural Resources Center

1. Larry E. Murphy, editor, Submerged Cultural Resources Survey: Portions of Point Reyes National Seashore and Point Reyes-Farallon Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1984.

2. Toni Carrell, Submerged Cultural Resources Inventory: Portions of Point Reyes National Seashore and Point Reyes-Farallon Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1984

3. Edwin C. Bearss, Resource Study: Lyndon B. Johnson and the Hill Country, 1937-1963, Division of Conservation, 1984.

4. Edwin C. Bearss, Historic Structures Report: Texas White House, Division of Conservation, 1986.

5. Barbara Holmes, Historic Resource Study of the Barataria Unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, Division of History, 1986.

6. Steven M. Burke and Marlys Bush-Thurber, Southwest Region Headquarters Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico: A Historic Structure Report, Division of Conservation, 1985.

7. Toni Carrell, Submerged Cultural Resources Site Report: NOQUEBAY, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1985.

8. Daniel J. Lenihan, editor, Submerged Cultural Resources Study: Isle Royale National Park, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1987.

9. J. Richard Ambler, Archeological Assessment: Navajo National Monument, Division of Anthropology, 1985.

10. John S. Speaker, Joanna Chase, Carol Poplin, Herschel Franks, and R. Christopher Goodwin, Archeological Assessment: Barataria Unit, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, Division of Anthropology, 1986.

11. James E. Ivey, Marlys Bush-Thurber, James T. Escobedo Jr., and Tom Ireland, The Missions of San Antonio: A Historic Structures Report and Administrative History, Divisions of Conservation and History, 1987.

12. Roger E. Coleman, The Arkansas Post Story, Division of History, 1987.

13. Toni Carrell, editor, Submerged Cultural Resources Site Report: Charles H. Spencer Mining Operation and Paddle Wheel Steamboat, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1987.

14. Hal Rothman, The Bandelier National Monument: An Administrative History, Division of History, 1988.

15. James E. Ivey, In the Midst of A Loneliness, Division of History, 1988.

16. Richard W. Sellars and Melody Webb, An Interview with Robert M. Utley on The History of Historic Preservation in the National Park Service--1947-1980, Santa Fe, 1988.

17. Laura S. Harrison and Beverley Spears, Historic Structures Report, Chinle Trading Post, Thunderbird Ranch and Custodian's Residence, Division of History, 1988.

18. James P. Delgado and Stephen A. Hailer, Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and Point Reyes National Seashore, 1989.

19. Judith K. Fabry, Guadalupe Mountains National Park: An Administrative History, Division of History, 1988.

20. Peter J. McKenna and Scott E. Travis, Archeological Investigations at Thunderbird Lodge, Division of Anthropology, 1989.

21. Peter J. McKenna and James E. Bradford, The T. J. Ruin, Gila Cliff Dwellings, Division of Anthropology, 1989.

22. C. Patrick Labadie, Submerged Cultural Resources Study: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1989.

23. Daniel J. Lenihan, editor, Submerged Cultural Resources Study: USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1989.

24. Robert H. and Florence P. Lister, Aztec Ruins National Monument: Administrative History of an Archeological Preserve, 1990.

25. Jill-Karen Yakubik, Archeological Investigations of Six Spanish Colonial Period Sites: Barataria Unit, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Division of Anthropology, 1989.

26. Herschel A. Franks and Jill-Karen Yakubik, Archaeological Survey on 65 Acres of Land Adjacent to Bayou des Familles: Barataria Unit, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Division of Anthropology, 1989.

27. Walter K. Wait and Peter J. McKenna, Quarai Parking Lot Rehabilitation: Archeological Testing Program, Salinas National Monument, 1990.

28. Diane Taylor, Lyndi Hubbel, Nancy Wood, and Barbara Fielder, The 1977 La Mesa Fire Study: An Investigation of Fire and Fire Suppression Impact on Cultural Resources in Bandelier National Monument, Division of Anthropology, 1990.

29. Wesley R. Hurt, The 1939-1940 Excavation Project at Quarai Pueblo and Mission Buildings, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Division of Anthropology, 1990.

30. Roger E. Coleman, Archeological Investigation for Construction of a Pedestrian Trail and Identification of Laundress Row, Division of Anthropology, 1990.

31. James E. Ivey, Presidos of the Big Bend Area, Bilingual publication, English and Spanish, Division of History, 1990.

32. Neil C. Mangum, In the Land of Frozen Fires: A History of Occupation of El Malpais Country, Division of History, 1990.

33. Jack B. Bertram, Archeological Investigations Along the Proposed Alibates Tour Road Improvement Construction Route, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Potter County, Texas, Division of Anthropology, 1990.

34. Robert Wooster, Ph.D., History of Fort Davis, Texas, Division of History, 1990.

35. Bruce A. Anderson, The Wupatki Archeological Inventory Survey Project: Final Report, Division of Anthropology, 1990.

36. Toni L. Carrell, Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment of Micronesia, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1990.

37. James P. Delgado, Daniel J. Lenihan, and Larry Murphy, The Archeology of the Atomic Bomb: A Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment of the Sunken Fleet of Operation Crossroads at Bikini and Kwajalein Atoll Lagoons, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1991.

38. George Sabo III, Randall L. Guendling, W. Fredrick Limp, Margaret J. Guccione, Susan L. Scott, Gayle J. Fritz, and Pamela A. Smith, Archeological Investigations at 3MR80-Area D in the Rush Development Area, Buffalo National River, Arkansas, Division of Anthropology, 1990.

39. Larry E. Murphy, 8SL17: Natural Site-Formation Processes of a Multiple-Component Underwater Site in Florida, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, 1990.

A Note About the National Maritime Initiative

Production of this document was coordinated by the National Maritime Initiative. The Initiative was created under a 1984 Congressional request to the National Park Service, asking it to "conduct a survey of historic maritime resources, recommend standards and priorities for the preservation of those resources; and recommend appropriate Federal and private sector roles in addressing those priorities." In 1987, a special office within the History Division in Washington, D.C., was created to conduct activities associated with the Initiative. The Initiative is a cooperative effort involving the Service's numerous cultural resource programs, other Federal Agencies dealing with cultural resources, State Historic Preservation Offices, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the maritime community at large. For more information, contact National Maritime Initiative, History Division (418), National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127.