It is desirable that one day a world inventory of the significant and characteristic elements of the maritime heritage be created and kept by an international body.
By :Dr. Galal Refay
Expert of Museology and Human Heritage
Deputy Director, Antiquities Museum, Library of Alexandria
Underwater Archaeology is the recovery of information from submerged artifacts and underwater sites for the interpretation of past human cultures.
It is the systematic documentation and recovery of information from submerged artifacts and underwater sites for the interpretation of past human cultures.
Locations of past human activity
Artifacts and sites the locations of past human activity, possess information about human behavior in both the nature of the objects and in their exact distribution on or under the seafloor. Projects may be non-intrusive when no excavation or disturbance of the site is conducted, or intrusive, requiring careful excavation and selected recovery and conservation of material.
Historic shipwreck sites
Initially associated with historic shipwreck sites, it is increasingly clear that the methods and uses of underwater archaeology are equally applicable to a wide variety of resources, including aviation properties, submerged habitation sites, historic landings and anchorages, etc. Underwater archaeology also includes the interpretation of site and artifact data, in order to generate new information on past human behavior.
Beginning only in the early 1960
The roots of the academic field are relatively young, beginning only in the early 1960; s. Underwater Archaeology today is strongly influenced by anthropological and historical trends and reliant on associated multidisciplinary fields, such as material cultural analysis, geography/GIS, and oceanography.
The majority of projects today
The majority of projects today involve diving, and these capabilities and inherent risks must be understood by the marine protected areas manager. Cultural and historic properties like underwater archaeological sites are non-renewable resources which often possess unique information about the past
Heritage resource
They often consist of public property on public bottom lands, a heritage resource owned by the people. The careful investigation of these sites can literally open a new window on voyaging and nautical technology, cultural contact and trade, marine resource use, ancient habitation, and provide insight into our past unavailable from any other source.
A host of threats
The information held by these sites, however, is vulnerable to a host of threats, including biochemical deterioration, coastal development, and human impacts such as illegal looting or inadvertent site damage.
The methods associated with Underwater Archaeology emphasize the information content of the submerged site and the careful systematic approach to data collection that most protects and preserves the resource for current and future generations.
Once a site or its artifacts are damaged or haphazardly removed, there is no way to access its information and recreate the story it might have told.
Safeguarding the maritime heritage
Heritage and history are bound up with each, other: heritage bears witness to the history which constructs the culture of each people during the course of time.
Since the Second World War, the world has witnessed a birth of interest in safeguarding the maritime heritage. Contrary to what too many people believe, the maritime heritage is not restricted to models, charts, and sundry objects to be found in showcases.
A great number of elements
It comprises a great number of elements ranging from the smallest objects to the boats themselves and to large historic buildings. It can be found at the bottom of the sea invaluable wreckage – on sandbanks – and in out-of-the-way docks of ports where abandoned boats are kept. It can be found along the coast in the form of historic buildings, fortifications, semaphores and lighthouses.
The maritime heritage in shipyard
The maritime heritage can also be discovered in shipyards and workshops, in the houses and even attics of families descended from sailors in the form of souvenirs brought back from voyages, and sundry documents, including letters which sometimes provide valuable testimonies.
Maritime heritage is international in character
Wherever it may be and whatever the country safeguarding it, the maritime heritage is undeniably international in character. It bears witness to the history of ships and the sailors who through their world voyages forged, and still forge, links between nations, regions and ports.
A world inventory
It is thus desirable that one day a world inventory of the significant and characteristic elements of the maritime heritage be created and kept by an international body. It could involve the transnational compilation of inventories. Researchers of all types would find in it a precious tool afforded them by the magic of computer science.
Another, and no less significant, advantage would be that this world inventory would facilitate and even lead to transnational collaboration, not only for joint studies but also for exchanges and the lending of objects belonging to the maritime heritage. This would make it easier to prepare and organize joint exhibitions which could be staged from country to country.
The traditional maritime museum
The primary focus of the traditional maritime museum is the history of events on the surface of the sea and in the open, whereas underwater research centers show events taking place beneath the surface. the two thus complement each other to provide the public with information and broadly based instruction concerning the sea, ships and the lives of seafarers .The research centers, with their aquarium, marine mammals and laboratories, are not museums properly speaking, though this name is sometimes extended to include them.
Assist seafarersÂ
They use fossils to present the past, study the present in order to assist seafarers and, more especially, fishermen, and try to establish forecasts about the future by analyzing changes in fauna, maritime currents and climates.
Maritime museums serve as guardians
For centuries, the sea has been a source of inspiration, adventure, and innovation. Maritime museums serve as guardians of this rich maritime heritage, preserving the tales of seafaring explorers, the evolution of naval technology, and the cultural significance of coastal communities. In this article, we set sail to explore the importance of maritime museums around the world, each offering a unique glimpse into our nautical past.
Maritime museums serve as portals to a bygone era, allowing visitors to connect with the maritime heritage that has shaped cultures and civilizations around the globe.
The intricacies of maritime technology
From the grandeur of naval vessels to the intricacies of maritime technology, these museums offer a captivating voyage through time. Whether you’re a history buff, a maritime enthusiast, or a curious traveler, exploring the maritime museums of the world provides a deeper appreciation for the vast and influential world that lies beyond the horizon
The primary purposes of the maritime museumÂ
On the other hand, the primary purposes of the maritime museum are a study and documentation of our maritime history, a preservation and projection of maritime heritage, as well as a emergence of a country with its long lasting maritime history, into a dynamic factor of the international scientific community in the marine history and tradition research.
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