Company Information

Experience and client care

Maritime Archaeology Ltd employs experienced professional archaeologists who can respond quickly and efficiently to the high-pressure demands of the development sector.

In addition to drawing on 18 years of experience gained through the work of the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology, MA Ltd has become an established company in the marine heritage sector and operates throughout the UK and internationally.

Completed projects to date have involved:

  • A range of services in relation to Environmental Impact Assessment including development of briefs, scoping, archaeological desk based assessment, field survey, investigation and assessment, mitigation recommendations, ES sections.
  • Marine geophysical survey – coordination, management, archaeological advice and interpretation.
  • Diving and field investigations – including ports, harbours, marinas, submerged prehistoric landscapes and shipwrecks for commercial development and research.
  • Strategic studies – including large projects related to oil and gas areas, and UK wide thematic assessments
  • Specialist input into maritime archaeology and heritage aspects of successful fundraising applications, such as access reviews, audience development plans and option appraisals.
  • A range of education and outreach services for schools, community groups and companies

A selection of our projects and clients have been included within the ‘Marine and heritage sectors we provide services for’ section of our website.

In short, we offer a wide range of maritime archaeology and heritage related services, please contact us with details of your requirements.

Quality Assurance

Maritime Archaeology Ltd is committed to the maintenance and improvement of quality assurance. MA Ltd strives to achieve documented procedures for quality assurance in its activities. The company is a Registered Organisation with the Institute for Archaeologists, the discipline’s professional body which is dedicated to setting, promoting and maintaining standards in archaeology.

MA Ltd conducts all work in line with the Institute’s ‘Code of Conduct’ and adheres to the IFA’s ‘Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology’ and all relevant Standards and Guidance Documents.

MA Ltd’s senior project staff are corporate members of the IFA, and have therefore undergone a process of peer validation to determine their competence. All staff members are encouraged to become members of the IFA.

Health & Safety

Maritime Archaeology Ltd. follows guidelines in relation to the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, these are supplemented by appropriate Codes of Practice and guidance notes relating to specific activities.

Relevant Codes of Practice and Guidance Notes:

  • Terrestrial Fieldwork
    • Health and Safety in Field Archaeology’ (Standing Conference of Archaeological Unit Managers, 1999) – Guidance on issues specific to terrestrial archaeology
  • Diving Fieldwork
    • 1997 HSE ‘Diving at Work’ Regulations
    • HSE Archaeological and Scientific Diving Approved Code of Practice
    • HSE Inland & Inshore Diving Approved Code of Practice
    • SDSC Advice notes for the Scientific & Archaeological Approved Code of Practice

Staff Profiles

Garry Momber

Garry Momber

Garry Momber BA MSc MIFA

Emanating from seafaring stock, Garry embarked on his marine related career following a MSc in Maritime Archaeology at Bangor University. Having served almost two years working offshore as a Seismic Navigator he returned to his chosen profession working for the Nautical Archaeological Society and the Trust, and as a visiting lecturer for the Universities of Southampton and Bristol. He joined the Trust as the full time Archaeological Officer in 1997 in which time he helped to instigate a pioneering agenda of fieldwork and research. In January 2002 he was promoted to Trust Director.

Julie Satchell

Julie Satchell

Julie Satchell BA MA MIFA

Julie is the Trust’s Archaeological Officer, heading our active archaeological office. Her role includes formulating, organising and managing the HWTMA’s fieldwork and research programme. Prior to joining the HWTMA Julie gained a BA in Archaeology, and MA in Maritime Archaeology from the University of Southampton . For the next two years these skills were put to use in terrestrial contract archaeology.

Virginia Dellino Musgrave

Virginia Dellino-Musgrave

Virginia Dellino-Musgrave MA PhD MIFA

Vir completed her undergraduate studies in archaeology at the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina). She then undertook a Master of Arts in Maritime Archaeology and a doctoral research both at the University of Southampton (UK). From the beginning of her career, her research experience has been continuously developing through themes ranging from prehistoric societies on land to maritime and historical archaeology contexts. In 2007, she joined the HWTMA bringing her expertise in maritime archaeology at both national and international levels, her diverse practical skills in underwater archaeology in various overseas projects, and her experience within a government agency in relation to historic environment strategic issues, standards and best practice in the archaeological and wider community. In March 2008, she was elected Chair of the IFA Maritime Affairs Group.

Brandon Mason

Brandon Mason

Brandon Mason BSc MA

Brandon is involved in the delivery of several projects and manages various aspects of MA Ltd business. He is experienced in geophysical survey interpretation and  delivery of archaeological reporting for offshore industry and research units. He was previously responsible for the HLF funded Archiving HMS Invincible digitisation project and is a graduate of the MA Maritime Archaeology degree at Southampton. His particular interests are focussed towards the development of early to late medieval ships and boats, and marine geophysical techniques in archaeological interpretation.   Brandon’s skills include desk-based assessment, geophysical survey interpretation, and as an HSE certified commercial diver, he has worked on a number of historic wreck sites on the south coast and the Channel Islands. Brandon will be working to develop the MA Ltd commercial diving unit over the coming year.

Christin Heamagi

Christin Heamagi

Christin Heamagi BA MA

Christin works as a project officer within Education and Outreach projects. She has a BA from the University of Stockholm 2006. Recently she graduated from the MA Maritime Archaeology degree at the University of Southampton. She has previously gained experience at the National Maritime Museums, Sweden, as well as several terrestrial and underwater sites across Europe. Christin has an interest in promoting knowledge of maritime archaeology to all age groups on a local and international basis.

Victoria Millership

Victoria Millership

Victoria Millership BA

Victoria joined the Trust in 2006 as the Administrator, and in 2009 also became a Project Officer. She has a BA in Ancient, Medieval and Modern History from the University of Durham and will be completing an MA in Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton in October 2009.

Jan Gillespie

Jan Gillespie

Jan Gillespie BSc – on secondment

While completing her degree in Oceanography, Jan was a regular volunteer on Trust projects. She is the project officer for the Bouldnor Cliff Project, overseeing fieldwork, sampling and analysis. Jan has extensive diving experience and has taken over responsibility for maintaining the Trust’s dive equipment.

Kathryn Dagless

Kathryn Dagless

Kathryn Dagless

Kathryn is the Trust’s Development Officer. She has a BA in Archaeology from the University of Reading, and an MA in Post-excavation Studies from the University of Leicester. After working as a Finds Officer for a number of years, Kathryn moved into development and fundraising work. She has raised funds for heritage and education projects in archaeology units, universities and now the HWTMA, which she joined in November 2007.

Amanda Bowens

Amanda Bowens

Amanda Bowens

Amanda works on the Education and Outreach side of the Trust’s remit. She has a BA in Archaeology and an MA in Maritime Archaeology, both from the University of Southampton. Amanda worked for five years as a Training Officer for the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) and then spent three years running a learning/training charity in the Voluntary sector, during which time she worked freelance for the NAS, as editor and contributing author for the 2nd edition of Underwater Archaeology: the NAS Guide to Principles and Practice. Amanda has a particular interest in bringing maritime archaeology to the widest possible audience.

Caroline Barrie-Smith

Caroline Barrie-Smith

Caroline Barrie- Smith

From 2009 Caroline became the Education Officer for the ‘Engaging New Audiences’ project. She has a degree in International Relations and Politics from Portsmouth University and is currently studying for a PGC in Interpretation and Presentation of Archaeological Heritage from Leicester University. After 4 years as an English Teacher in Japan and 2 years as the Learning and Interpretation Officer for the National Trust on Stonehenge Landscape she holds a plethora of education and outreach experiences to bring to this post. However as a Southampton girl born and bred her primary passion is getting the Trusts maritime archaeological messages out to the local masses.

Gareth Owen

Gareth joined the team in January 2009 as our Access and Outreach Officer for the ‘Engaging New Audiences’ project. Before reading archaeology as a mature student, Gareth worked in engineering. He graduated from Bournemouth University in 2000 witha BSc in archaeology and spent the next 8 years working as a commercial archaeologist,specialising in the analytical application of metric survey. He has a keen interest in outreach and has run a number of public displays using costumed interpreters toengage a varied audience.

About Maritime Archaeology Ltd.

Maritime Archaeology Ltd was formed in 2004 in response to a demand for maritime archaeological contractual services. MA Ltd is the trading arm of the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology. MA Ltd is owned by HWTMA.

MA Ltd is a registered company and profits from this trading wing are used to support the work of the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology. The HWTMA is a registered charity which aims to promote interest, research and knowledge of the maritime archaeological heritage.

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