Editing Maritime archaeology (section)

===Historic sites===

[[File:Lakemurray-wyse ferry Bridge sonar.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Submerged bridge under [[Lake Murray (South Carolina)|Lake Murray, South Carolina]] in 160 ft (49 m) of fresh water seen on [[side-scan sonar]] imagery using a Humminbird 981c Side Imaging system]]

Throughout history, [[seismic]] events have at times caused submergence of human settlements.  The remains of such catastrophes exist all over the world, and sites such as [[Alexandria]], [[Port Royal]] and [[Mary Rose]]{{clarify|Why is Mary Rose included here? it is not a settlement|date=June 2024}} now form important archaeological sites that are being protected, managed and conserved.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Meara |first1=Hefin  |date=2020 |title=Challenges Facing the State Management of Historic Shipwrecks in English Territorial Waters |url=https://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue54/3/index.html |journal=Internet Archaeology |issue=54 |doi=10.11141/ia.54.3 |doi-access=free}}</ref> As with shipwrecks, archaeological research can follow multiple themes, including evidence of the final catastrophe, the structures and landscape before the catastrophe and the culture and economy of which it formed a part. Unlike the wrecking of a ship, the destruction of a town by a seismic event can take place over many years and there may be evidence for several phases of damage, sometimes with rebuilding in between.