Search Results (72)

The SS Thistlegorm, a British World War II cargo vessel sunk in 1941 in the Red Sea, is one of the world’s most visited wreck dives, attracting thousands of divers annually. This popularity has accelerated structural deterioration and artefact loss through unsustainable mooring practices, looting, and unintentional diver impacts. The Thistlegorm Project—a collaboration between Alexandria University and the University of Edinburgh—conducted high-resolution underwater photogrammetric surveys in 2017 and 2022 to create the first comprehensive baseline for monitoring change. Comparative analysis revealed both subtle and significant alterations to the wreck and its debris field, including displacement of heavy structures, artefact removal, and expanded mapping of the debris field to 21.9 ha. The study demonstrates how repeat photogrammetry enables precise documentation of deterioration, informs conservation strategies, and supports heritage management in high-traffic dive sites. The Thistlegorm serves as a model for integrating digital recording, site monitoring, and collaborative stewardship of underwater cultural heritage. Full article

Historically, the Mediterranean Sea has been an area of cultural exchange and maritime commerce. One out of many submerged archaeological sites is the Roman shipwreck that was discovered in 2006 off the coast of Santo Stefano al Mare, in the Ligurian Sea, Italy. The wreck was dated to the 1st century B.C. and consists of a well-preserved cargo ship of Roman amphorae that were likely used for transporting wine. In this study, we present the results of the first underwater survey of the wreck using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) industrialized by Graal Tech. The AUV was equipped with a NORBIT WBMS multibeam sonar, a 450 kHz side-scan sonar, and inertial navigation systems. The AUV conducted multiple high-resolution surveys on the wreck site and the collected data were processed using geospatial analysis methods to highlight local anomalies directly related to the presence of the Roman shipwreck. The main feature was an accumulation of amphorae, covering an area of approximately 10 × 7 m with a maximum height of 1 m above the seabed. The results of this interdisciplinary work demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating AUV technologies with spatial analysis techniques for underwater archaeological applications. Furthermore, the success of this mission highlighted the potential for broader applications of AUVs in the study of the seafloor, such as monitoring seabed movements related to offshore underground energy storage or the identification of objects lying on the seabed, such as cables or pipelines. Full article

The objective of this article is to provide a critical analysis of maritime heterotopia as a category for reinterpreting ships, shipwrecks and maritime landscapes between the 16th and 18th centuries. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining history, underwater archaeology, heritage theory and literary analysis, it explores the ways in which maritime spaces, especially ships and shipwrecks, functioned as ‘other spaces’–following Foucault’s concept of heterotopia–in the articulation of imperial projects, power relations, experiences of transit and narratives of memory. A particular focus has been placed on the examination of shipwreck accounts, which are regarded as microhistories of human behaviour in contexts of crisis. These accounts have been shown to offer insights into alternative social structures, dynamics of authority, and manifestations of violence or solidarity. A review of the legal framework and practices related to shipwrecks in the Spanish Carrera de Indias is also undertaken, with particular emphasis on their impact on maritime legislation and international law. This article proposes a reading of maritime heritage as a symbolic and political device in constant dispute, where material remains and associated narratives shape collective memories, geopolitical tensions and new forms of cultural appropriation. Shipwrecks thus become sites of rupture and origin, charged with utopian, dystopian and heterotopic potential. Full article

Museums offer significant value by preserving cultural heritage, fostering education and intellectual curiosity, and promoting social interaction, contributing to economic development and environmental sustainability. Underwater museums are relatively new and innovative and the Museum of Underwater Art, (MOUA) installed in 2017 in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, offers an inspiring and educational experience that encourages positive conversations and garners significant media attention. Through a blend of art and science, MOUA provides a unique educational opportunity and initiates reef conversations on the challenging issues of citizen science, climate change, and coral bleaching, inviting snorkelers, divers, and the general community to protect the Great Barrier Reef. The MOUA asset is valued at $4 M and generates approximately $100 K per year from grants and earned income. The MOUA sculptures are seen by approximately 1.5 M people per year with the highest interactions associated with The Ocean Siren sculpture and approximately four thousand snorkelers and SCUBA divers a year visit the remote Coral Greenhouse and Ocean Sentinels sculptures at John Brewer Reef on commercial tourism trips. The MOUA has a large media reach of over 22 million. The Museum of Underwater Art demonstrates how art and culture can amplify reef conservation, achieving global research and community engagement beyond its small scale. This case study also exposes gaps in how ocean sustainability is measured across reef organizations and highlights the methodologies to fulfill those knowledge gaps. Our paper assesses Key Performance Indicators across other institutions and proposes methods to shift and improve conservation paradigms by the inclusion of cultural storytelling, citizen science, education, and carbon neutral events. Full article

This article explores the converging challenges and opportunities at the intersection of underwater cultural heritage, digital archaeology, and participatory science. In an era of accelerated climate change, data fragmentation, and rapid technological advancement, underwater archaeology is being reshaped by the rise of generative artificial intelligence (GAI), FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data governance, and the growing role of public archaeology. We argue for an ethical and epistemologically inclusive framework that recognizes the importance of co-authorship, data transparency, and multisensory narratives in interpreting submerged sites. Drawing on case studies from Latin America and Europe, this article demonstrates how socio-technical networks, collaborative models, and culturally sensitive ontologies offer a pathway toward a decolonized, accessible, and sustainable archaeology. This paper concludes with recommendations for integrated public policy and citizen-driven heritage protection, highlighting digital archaeology’s transformative potential in the Anthropocene. Full article

In addition to their historical relevance, underwater sites of cultural heritage (e.g., shipwrecks, archeological sites) represent secondary habitats for marine life. However, despite a growing interest in their ecological role, studies focusing on these artificial environments remain limited. In this study, we performed the first systematic assessment of the marine biodiversity associated with the submerged structures of the ancient roman port of Egnazia. In particular, we conducted a seasonal (summer 2022 and winter 2023) comparative analysis of the qualitative and quantitative variations in the observed nektonic and benthic taxa between the submerged piers and two surrounding control areas. For benthopelagic and vagile benthic taxa, two seasonal samplings with four transects (of 10 m × 4 m) and three replicates per transect were conducted to analyze taxon diversity, abundance, and variability of individual size. The photo-quadrat method was employed to characterize sessile benthic taxa, using PVC frames measuring 40 cm × 40 cm, randomly placed on the study substrates with 20 replicates for each pier and the two controls. Our results highlight the occurrence of 75 taxa (67 associated with the submerged piers and 63 with the surrounding control areas), including 17 benthopelagic species, 26 vagile benthic and 32 sessile benthic taxa. Overall, our findings highlight that the submerged ancient structures of Egnazia represent a stable and functional marine habitat, promoting an increase in the local biodiversity and abundance of individuals of different species. Full article

This work explores the application of robotic systems in archaeology, highlighting their transformative role in excavation, documentation, and the preservation of cultural heritage. By combining technologies such as LiDAR, GIS, 3D modeling, sonar, and other sensors with autonomous and semi-autonomous platforms, archaeologists can now reach inaccessible sites, automate artifact analysis, and reconstruct fragmented remains with greater precision. The study provides a systematic overview of underwater, aerial, terrestrial, and other robotic systems, drawing on scientific literature that showcases their innovative use in both fieldwork and museum settings. Selected examples illustrate how robotics is being applied to solve key archaeological challenges in new and effective ways. While the paper emphasizes the potential of these technologies, it also addresses their technical, economic, and ethical limitations, concluding that successful adoption depends on interdisciplinary collaboration, careful implementation, and a balanced respect for cultural integrity. Full article

The article examines possible amendments to the Australian legislative regime regulating and protecting Indigenous cultural heritage in an offshore, including underwater, context. It suggests that there are significant reforms that are needed to bring the existing domestic legislative regime into conformity with the expectations of contemporary international law, particularly as manifested in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In reaching this conclusion, the article proceeds by examining recent Australian jurisprudence and archaeological studies, considering offshore Indigenous cultural heritage as well as the current Australian domestic legislative framework. It then proceeds to examine the relevant provisions of both UNDRIP and the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH Convention). The article identifies that the UCH Convention operates to ignore any legitimate role for Indigenous peoples and does not provide an appropriate foundation for legislative reform. The article concludes by suggesting the content of appropriate legislative reforms that accord with the expectations in UNDRIP. Full article

Internationally, there is a modern understanding of cultural heritage, including maritime/underwater cultural heritage (MUCH)—not merely as a passive relic of the past, but as a transformative driver for sustainable growth and innovation. The paper discusses the position of maritime cultural heritage (MUCH) in relation to the smart specialization strategies (S3) and its evolving role as a driver of sustainable growth, particularly within the context of the blue economy and smart specialization strategies (S3, S4) in Europe. It then focuses on the Greek context, where UCH-driven activities, particularly soft multi-use (MU) activities that combine UCH, diving tourism, and nature conservation, are gaining momentum, especially within marine protected areas (MPAs). Despite the growing interest, there is a lack of data, regulations, and a clear strategy for such activities, although the “National (Hellenic) Spatial Strategy for the Marine Space” (issued in 2025) suggests promoting low-impact diving tourism incorporating UCH. The research paper examines the benefits and barriers to implementing UCH-driven MUs, recommending the use of maritime spatial planning (MSP) to address relevant challenges. It suggests that integrating UCH with nature conservation and diving tourism in soft MUs could support a sustainable blue economy, through balancing cultural, ecological, social, and economic goals and fostering innovation through S3/S4 on a regional level. Full article

For two centuries, metallic shipwrecks have been relics of the history of navigation, trade, and wars. They are also hotspots of marine biodiversity. The degradation of these shipwrecks not only threatens their environment through the release of polluting compounds, but also the reef ecosystems that have developed. Microorganisms are at the root of both degradation and reef-building, and their roles are still more hypothetical than validated. The aim of this review is to focus on the known or suggested relationships between bacteria and metallic shipwrecks and to identify issues that highlight the need for multidisciplinary studies to better understand the mechanisms at play in these ecosystems with the aim of protecting both the environment and these sites of underwater cultural and natural heritage. Full article

Since 2011, five of Austria’s 29 known prehistoric pile dwellings have been part of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps”. These remarkable archaeological sites have been preserved for over 7000 years in lakes and moors. Due to their hidden location underwater or in the soil of bogs, the sites are inaccessible to the public, making it difficult to convey the full scope of this heritage. To address this, the national project “Surfaced—the digital pile dwellings” was launched, aiming to create a virtual bridge connecting the sites, collections, and exhibitions across Austria. It involved digitizing 500 objects, scanned in high resolution, and presenting them as 3D models in an open-access web application. The web application PfahlbauKompass allows users to explore these 3D models, view information about the artefacts and the sites, and create digital collections. It provides access to finds from national museums, regional heritage houses, and private collections. The project offers scientific potential as well as opportunities for virtual exhibitions and educational initiatives. It aims to preserve and visualize an essential part of Austria’s cultural heritage and was designed not only to archive finds but also to raise awareness of the hidden sites among the public. Full article

Photogrammetry is the process of creating three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions from two-dimensional images. In this paper, a novel method is introduced that significantly enhances 3D reconstruction by improving image quality through a combination of RGB stretching, Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE), and colormaps. This approach effectively increases the number of keypoints and matches between images, resulting in more accurate and detailed 3D reconstructions. Additionally, a heuristic methodology is proposed to identify the optimal colormaps for each dataset based on keypoint matches between image pairs. This approach saves valuable time by recommending the most effective colormaps, eliminating the need to test each individually. A new dataset comprising two real-world image collections from underwater cultural heritage sites is presented to validate the algorithm, characterized by challenging environments such as low visibility and varying lighting conditions. The limitations of existing techniques are addressed by this method, providing a robust solution for enhancing image quality in demanding underwater scenarios. Experimental results show that image enhancement can lead to a 7.91% and 11.4% improvement, and the enhancement fusion with colormaps improves reconstruction accuracy by 10.82% and 64.11%. These findings render the proposed methodology a promising tool for 3D reconstruction in challenging environments, like underwater. Full article

The combination of future changes in sea levels and wave climate in coastal areas represents one of the greatest threats to the preservation of underwater cultural heritage (UCH). This study presents a new methodology to assess climate change’s impacts on UCH preservation in shallow waters, focusing on wave-induced hazards like decontextualization, scouring, and wear erosion. The approach uses hybrid downscaling of bias-corrected wave fields from the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 CMIP5 scenarios. The methodology was applied in the Bay of Cadiz, where an overall reduction in wave energy flux was observed. However, local increases were detected in rocky outcrops and coastal areas with high UCH density. As a result, the shallow zones exhibited significant changes in decontextualization and scouring hazards. However, the most relevant risk changes were linked to wear erosion, particularly at sites on rocky outcrops near Cadiz. The methodology proposed in this study is essential for identifying areas with higher risk and for evaluating UCH preservation under future climate conditions. It offers an effective tool for discriminating sites at risk and for conducting a long-term assessment of these risks in coastal environments affected by climate change. Full article

Underwater cultural heritage (UCH) is a valuable resource that preserves humanity’s historical legacy, offering insights into traditions and civilisations. Despite its significance, UCH faces threats from inadequate regulatory frameworks, insufficient conservation technologies, and climate-induced environmental changes. This paper proposes an innovative platform combining the internet of underwater things and edge computing technologies to enhance UCH’s real-time monitoring, localisation, and management. The platform processes data through a central unit installed on a buoy near heritage sites, enabling efficient data analysis and decision making without relying on cloud connectivity. Integrating acoustic communication systems, LoRa technology, and nonterrestrial networks supports a robust multilayered communication infrastructure for continuous operation, even in remote maritime areas. The platform’s edge node deploys artificial intelligence models for real-time risk assessment, focusing on key environmental parameters to predict and mitigate corrosion rates and climate-related threats. A case study illustrates the system’s capabilities in underwater localisation, demonstrating how edge computing and acoustic triangulation techniques enable precise tracking. Full article

Cultural assets are all movable and immovable assets that have been the subject of social life in historical periods, have unique scientific and cultural value, and are located above ground, underground or underwater. Today, the fact that most of the analyses conducted to understand the technologies of these assets require sampling and that non-destructive methods that allow analysis without taking samples are costly is a problem for cultural heritage workers. In this study, which was prepared to find solutions to national and international problems, it is aimed to develop a non-destructive, cost-minimizing and easy-to-use analysis method. Since this article aimed to develop methodology, the materials were prepared for preliminary research purposes. Therefore, it was limited to four primary colors. These four primary colors were red and yellow ochre, green earth, Egyptian blue and ultramarine blue. These pigments were used with different binders. The produced paints were photographed in natural and artificial light at different light intensities and brought to a 256 × 256 pixel size, and then trained on support vector machine, convolutional neural network, densely connected convolutional network, residual network 50 and visual geometry group 19 models. It was asked whether the trained VGG19 model could classify the paints used in archaeological and artistic works analyzed with instrumental methods in the literature with their real identities. As a result of the test, the model was able to classify paints in artworks from photographs non-destructively with a 99% success rate, similar to the result of the McNemar test. Full article