Reading Underwater Wreckage

This book presents a new theoretical approach to shipwrecks, exploring their narratives and ecological significance within a broader context of material relations.

In Reading Underwater Wreckage, the author introduces a groundbreaking theoretical framework for understanding shipwrecks and other submerged remnants. This model emphasizes the complex narratives these artifacts convey, along with the ecological implications they hold for the future. By examining the interplay between human remains, ecofacts, and emergent ecologies, the book enriches the discourse within the environmental humanities, particularly in relation to multispecies studies.

The oceans are home to an estimated three million shipwrecks, some of which date back thousands of years. Rather than categorizing these underwater remnants solely as artifacts or ecofacts, Reading Underwater Wreckage proposes a novel perspective that considers the dynamic materiality of seabed elements. As these human-made objects become encrusted with both living and non-living marine materials, they engage in a unique form of material relation that transcends traditional classifications. This relationship encompasses a vast array of entities, narratives, and temporalities.

By drawing from centuries of literary, philosophical, and scientific explorations of encrustation, as well as the myriad artistic expressions found on the ocean floor, this book offers valuable insights for those seeking to better understand and articulate the complexities of underwater materials. Reading Underwater Wreckage serves as a vital resource for anyone interested in reimagining the stories and significance of submerged artifacts.