Conference on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage in Brazzaville

From 26-09-2007   to   28-09-2007
 (Brazzaville - Republique du Congo) 

• Wreck of the Umbria@UNESCO/E. Trainito

The Republic of Congo hosted from 26 to 28 September 2007 a regional meeting on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage and the UNESCO 2001 Convention. The meeting was organized by the UNESCO Brazzaville office.

The meeting was opened by Nilda Anglarill, Director of the UNESCO office in Brazzaville, and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Congo. Their speeches were followed by an introduction into the 2001 Convention by Ulrike Koschtial, UNESCO Paris, and underwater cultural heritage as such, by Professor F. Alves, ICOMOS International Council for the Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH).

Later each participating country presented a national report on the situation of underwater cultural heritage in their territory. The following days were used to inform about legal issues concerning the 2001 Convention, training in underwater archaeology, the dangers to underwater cultural heritage and conservation issues. Especially helpful were in this regard the intervention of Professor Ricardo Duarte from Mozambique and representatives of the South African heritage department.

Vivid discussions ensued, mainly focusing on legal details, training issues and the actual situation of the region.

The last day of the meeting was used to discuss a detailed recommendation on to how to better protect underwater cultural heritage in Africa in future.