Underwater reflectance transformation imaging: a technology for in situ underwater cultural heritage object-level recording

AbstractOn November 2, 2001, the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage provided a detailed state cooperation system and set out the basic principles for the protection of underwater cultural heritage. To date, the Convention has been ratified by 51 countries. One of the four main principles states that the In situ preservation of underwater cultural heritage should be considered as the first option before allowing or engaging in any further activities. In accordance with these principles and recommendations, in the last years many projects intended for developing and testing new techniques and tools to support In situ conservation of underwater archaeological remains have been funded and are now underway.This paper describes the contribution of the CoMAS project (In situ conservation planning of Underwater Archaeological Artifacts—<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" href="http://www.comasproject.eu">http://www.comasproject.eu</ext-link>), funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) and run by a partnership of private companies and public research centers. The CoMAS project aims at the development of new materials, techniques, and tools for the documentation, conservation, and restoration of underwater archaeological sites in their natural environment. The paper describes in detail the results achieved during the project in the development of innovative materials, mechatronic tools, and armed remotely operated vehicle systems that can efficiently support the restorers' work in all their activities for preserving underwater cultural heritage in its original location on the seafloor.

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Underwater Cultural Heritage and Maritime Archaeology in Croatia: An Overview

European Journal of Archaeology ◽

10.1179/1461957112y.0000000012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 285-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Irena Radić Rossi

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Maritime Archaeology ◽

Classical Antiquity ◽

Archaeological Sites ◽

Systematic Research ◽

Underwater Cultural Heritage ◽

Adriatic Coast ◽

Modern Era ◽

Maritime Environment

Archaeological sites in Croatia's shallow waters are mentioned in written sources from the sixteenth century, and since the eighteenth century they have been used as evidence for the sinking of the Eastern Adriatic coast. It was at the end of the same century that the first Roman shipwreck in Croatian waters was reported. Sponge divers and coral hunters raised archaeological finds from the seabed off the Croatian coast, thus contributing to the creation of many private and monastic collections. Isolated campaigns aimed at protecting underwater cultural heritage began in the 1950s, and by 1970 these efforts became part of a well-organized system. Although the lack of systematic research remains notable, a number of surveys and rescue excavations have enriched our knowledge of ancient seafaring along the Croatian coast and have contributed to the study of the maritime environment. Some well-preserved shipwrecks from classical antiquity and the modern era show excellent potential for thein situprotection and presentation of Croatian underwater cultural heritage.

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Challenges for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH), from Waterlogged and Weathered Stone Materials to Conservation Strategies: An Overview

Heritage ◽

10.3390/heritage3020024 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 402-411

Author(s):

Michela Ricca ◽

Mauro Francesco La Russa

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Underwater Cultural Heritage ◽

New Methods ◽

Stone Materials ◽

Key Factor ◽

The Subject ◽

Underwater Sites

Despite the growing attention to Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) in Europe and worldwide, the efforts in wholly enjoying underwater archaeological assets and sites are still remarkable; hence, the need for innovative research and solutions that are suitable for raising knowledge on the subject. In this way, this paper wants to be a review for highlighting all of the developments, potentials, and results achieved in the last decade to reach a good protection of UCHs related to the study of stone materials, degradation processes, and the new methods for protection/consolidation directly in situ. The present work is focused on the analysis of the main results obtained from several studies conducted to date, providing additional guidelines for operators in the UCH sector (i.e., restorers, archaeologists, conservation scientists, geologists, etc.). Such guidelines will be a very useful key factor in enhancing knowledge, management, protection, and promotion of underwater sites. In particular, the purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the state of the art on both consolidated techniques for studying materials coming from seawater and innovations in the field of protection and consolidation of UCH against biofouling, the main cause of damage in underwater environments.

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In-situ Preservation Sebagai Strategi Pengelolaan Peninggalan Arkeologi Bawah Air Indonesia

KALPATARU ◽

10.24832/kpt.v25i1.83 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 53

Author(s):

Agni Sesaria Mochtar

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Point Of View ◽

Underwater Cultural Heritage ◽

Archaeological Heritage ◽

In Situ Preservation ◽

2001 Unesco Convention ◽

Unesco Convention ◽

Descriptive Approach ◽

Near Future

Abstract. Indonesia is a renowned country of its richness of underwater archaeological heritage. Abundant maritime cultural activities had provided data to reconstruct the ancient maritime glory. In the matter of fact, the efforts to reconstruct the history are still facing many challenges especially in the lack of main point of view in managing the heritage. Considering that the Indonesian underwater archaeological heritage is of international significance, this paper discusses the opportunity to implement in-situ preservation in managing underwater archaeological heritage in Indonesia, as it is recommended by the 2001 UNESCO Convention. Some issues in the management of underwater cultural heritage, including activities undertaken and related regulation, were discussed through a descriptive approach. This paper then shows that although Indonesia might not ratify the 2001 UNESCO Convention in the near future, in-situ preservation is an ideal strategy to manage the underwater cultural heritage and is applicable in Indonesia, subject to some adjustment of current regulations. Abstrak. Indonesia sangat kaya dengan peninggalan arkeologi bawah air. Berbagai aktivitas budaya maritim telah meninggalkan data yang melimpah untuk merekonstruksi sejarah bangsa ini. Pada kenyataannya, upaya rekonstruksi tersebut masih menghadapi banyak tantangan terutama dalam hal perbedaan sudut pandang pengelolaan tinggalan-tinggalan tersebut oleh para pihak pengelola. Mengingat bahwa peninggalan arkeologi bawah air di Indonesia tidak hanya memiliki signifikansi nasional, tapi juga regional bahkan internasional, kajian ini mengurai kemungkinan penerapan in-situ preservation, sebagaimana tercantum dalam Konvensi UNESCO tahun 2001, sebagai strategi pengelolaan peninggalan arkeologi bawah air Indonesia. Pendekatan deskriptif digunakan untuk menggambarkan permasalahan yang ada dan menunjukkan bahwa meskipun Indonesia belum dapat meratifikasi Konvensi UNESCO tahun 2001 dalam waktu dekat, in-situ preservation merupakan strategi ideal pengelolaan peninggalan arkeologi bawah air yang dapat diterapkan di Indonesia dengan melakukan penyesuaian regulasi yang berlaku.

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Salvor in possession: friend or foe to marine archaeology

International Journal of Cultural Property ◽

10.1017/s0940739100771086 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 263-314 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P Fletcher-Tomenius ◽

PJ O'Keefe ◽

M Williams

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Common Law ◽

Legal Framework ◽

Underwater Cultural Heritage ◽

Marine Archaeology ◽

In Situ Preservation ◽

Economic Basis ◽

The Common ◽

Treasure Salvage

While the threat to the underwater cultural heritage from the treasure salvage industry is widely recognised, the approach to 'protection' ranges from absolute prohibition to the sale of state licences to the highest bidder. Even the former raises difficult problems of enforceability and the choice of mechanisms to determine whether in situ preservation is the preferred option for any particular wreck site. The common law jurisdictions have tended to prefer a regulated salvage regime, in which the courts themselves have a role in considering whether appropriate archaeological methodology is applied to the recovery of historic artefacts. This article examines the legal and economic basis of such an approach and evaluates whether the underwater cultural heritage has derived any discernible benefit from this judicial creativity. Inter alia, it concludes that the legal framework is itself flawed by uncertainty and that the deliberations of the court are hampered by procedural deficiencies.

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