ISSN 1993-8616
2009 - number 1
Submerged memory
© D.Frka/Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Croatia
Underwater remains dating back to the first century B.C. (Croatia)
More than three million shipwrecks are lying on the ocean floor today. Hundreds of underwater decorated caves, towns and monuments remain to be discovered. How can we make use of the knowledge contained in these remains? How can they be presented to the general public? This issue of the Courier tackles these questions.
This issue was prepared in collaboration with UNESCO’s Section of Museums and Cultural Objects. It coincides with the entry into force of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage this January and the first Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, which will be held 26 and 27 March at UNESCO.
The deep dive syndrome
The French writer Jean-Marie Blas de Roblès tells how he pursued his dream of uncovering “fragments of raw beauty long since forgotten” from the depths of the sea, an emotional experience very different from a treasure hunt. Between 1986 and 2001, the novelist took part in underwater archaeological excavations off the coast of Libya, exploring that “unseen part of ourselves” which must be carefully and respectfully protected. More
Twenty thousand sites under the sea
Maritime archaeology in Denmark offers surprising insight into the life and landscapes of the early Stone Age, more than archaeology on dry land can provide. And it bears witness to the fact that climate change – a threat today to underwater heritage - is not only a modern phenomenon. More
The Hulks of Forton Lake
They do not draw crowds and guide books ignore them, but they have old stories to tell. No need for special equipment to explore the hulks of Forton Lake, near Portsmouth in the United Kingdom – you simply wait for low tide. These modest, easily accessible shipwrecks are stimulating memory and initiative in the local community. More
Visiting submerged treasures
Underwater museums and parks, replicas and digital reconstructions of wrecks are all ways to encourage the public to discover our underwater cultural heritage without damaging it. Some cost more than others, but they may also be more magical. Take the museum in the Bay of Alexandria, for example. More
Beneath the water, heritage in search of international protection
The new UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage is the first legal instrument to safeguard underwater archaeological sites on an international scale, providing protection against treasure-hunters, while regulating international cooperation. More
