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 Table of Contents
Editorial Exploration and Preservation Why Create an International Convention? New Frontiers, New Concepts The manuscript of issue 240, Underwater Cultural Heritage has been prepared under the responsibility of Monique Couratier, then editor-in-chief a.i.
Submerged cultural sites: opening a time capsule, David Nutley The sea is often thought of as a great destroyer but it is also a great preserver. Once underwater, tangible culture often has a much greater chance of surviving than on land. This article explores how underwater cultural heritage sites are formed, the variety and importance of these sites, and how they shed new light on the history of humanity. Top The impact of commercial exploitation on the preservation of underwater cultural heritage, Tatiana Villegas It is impossible to talk about underwater cultural heritage and not reflect upon the problem of the commercial exploitation of submerged archaeological sites. The romantic notion of the search for lost treasure embodied in books and popular movies takes on a different aspect when we consider that treasure hunting has become one of the most dangerous and devastating threats to the preservation of underwater cultural heritage. This article will try to present an overview of the scope of site destruction by commercial exploitation, the loss of scientific information, and the strategies used to convince governments and deceive public opinion. Top Preservation in situ: “the preferred option”, Martijn Manders Over recent years, stress has been placed on a preference for the safeguarding of underwater cultural heritage for future generations in situ. However, is such an option a detriment to the public? Is it possible to access sites preserved in situ? Before posing such questions, it is necessary to understand what is meant by ‘in situ’, what is preserved in such an environment, and what are the means of safeguarding, given that the public is curious about underwater cultural heritage and the ways in which it is protected. Museums as well as new technologies have a significant role to perform in the transmission of information regarding this heritage to as large an audience as possible. Top Conservation of underwater cultural heritage: characteristics and new technologies, Jean-Bernard Memet The development of underwater archaeology and the increasing discovery of sites means that conservation and restoration of this cultural heritage is essential to achieving full protection and long-term preservation of this legacy to humanity. Archaeologists and conservators must work together to study and preserve these discoveries, the fragility of which increases once removed from the water or their original context. Archaeologists must understand the interactions between the environment and the materials in humid or submerged sites. The expertise of restorers must extend not only to rates of degradation and restoration and conservation techniques , but also to a first-hand knowledge of the underwater world through diving. Top Why and how will underwater cultural heritage benefit from the 2001 Convention?, Thijs J. Maarleveld The article studies the various ways the 2001 Convention benefits underwater cultural heritage: it takes into account the interests of sites and those of the parties concerned and shows that heritage, while fragile, is nevertheless manageable if its conservation, access and development answer to rules of good professional conduct. Top The 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage: advantages and challenges, Ulrike Koschtial The article explains the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, which was elaborated to fight the increasing looting and destruction of such heritage. The Convention binds sovereign States that become party to it. Without changing States’ sovereignty rights nor regulating the ownership of shipwrecks or submerged ruins, it tries to obtain comprehensive protection for underwater cultural heritage wherever it is located and to harmonize its protection with that of heritage on land. Top Safeguarding the underwater cultural heritage of Brazil: legal protection and public archaeology, Gilson Rambelli Underwater archaeology and the protection of underwater cultural heritage are relatively recent subjects for a number of states – particularly industrialized countries where no specific legislation exists, or legislation favours commercial exploitation of this type of heritage. This article presents an account of the complex situation specific to Brazil, where interests constantly fluctuate. It describes the important role played by archaeologists – often against obstacles and with insufficient financial resources – in working to promote among the public and academia the notion that rules that apply to tangible heritage on land must also apply to heritage under water. This is why the ARCHEMAR Centre was recently created to promote underwater cultural heritage via a museological programme. Top Underwater archaeological trails, Francisco J.S. Alves This article is an international overview of museum displays of underwater cultural heritage with emphasis on Portuguese experiences in creating underwater archaeological heritage trails, according to the concepts of in situ conservation and sustainable public access, which are key principles of the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. Top A resource for sustainable development: the case of Croatia, Jasen Mesić The Mediterranean has since earliest times acted as witness to commercial exchanges, political conflicts, naval battles and forms of colonization which have forged a common history, the remains of which rest on the seabed of the Adriatic. The richness of this underwater cultural heritage is attested to by the more than 300 Greco-roman wrecks documented beneath Croatian waters. Today, the thousands of islands in the region have become a genuine tourist attraction, and the protection of this cultural heritage has become a matter of paramount importance. Croatia has worked in an exemplary fashion to manage public access to this heritage, ensuring the sustainable development of the sites for the benefit of all. Top Underwater Archaeological Exploration of the Mayan Cenotes, Luis Alberto Martos Lopez Cenotes are natural geological formations, commonly known as sinkholes, which are often linked to subterranean galleries with groundwater. These natural wells constitute complex and dynamic hydraulic systems that have a long history of interaction with the surrounding civilizations. These ‘time capsules’ contain information pertaining to the symbolic and religious aspects linked to the Mayans culture, as well as to geological processes in the Peninsula of Yucatán. Archaeologists, geologists and biologists are working together to study these unique sites using specialized speleological diving techniques. However, the cenotes have also become a tourist attraction and a spot favoured by sports divers. Consequently, treasure hunting has become a constant threat. A sustainable management programme should permit both public enjoyment of these unique cultural heritage sites and ensure their preservation. Top
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