Introduction
A ship or any other vessel susceptible to shipwreck carries with it a whole series of objects, machinery, documents and designs that inevitably correspond to that moment of sinking. The same applies to isolated objects that fall into the water and to places and spaces that, by human will or fortuitously, end up permanently flooded.
From the moment all this disappears beneath the surface, the remains become a "sealed box" of memories from the past that remain almost intact in their original state.
For those who practice diving and are passionate about history, this offers a real physical space that belongs to the past and resurfaces after many years, with valuable information to be deciphered.
Do remains have to be very old to have archaeological interest?
An archaeological object doesn't necessarily have to be ancient. Current legislation considers any historical remains as archaeological objects, regardless of their age.
What is a wreck?
A wreck is any means of transport submerged underwater, even if it's just part of its structure or cargo. Thus, when we talk about a wreck, we must understand that a cannon, the remains of a galleon, an old railway machine sunk in a reservoir, etc., are all included in this definition.
Generally, a wreck is a submerged remnant. A submerged remnant of human manipulation and origin that lies underwater, and here we can include ancient flooded buildings, isolated objects or remains of port structures.
Recreational diving around wrecks and other submerged remains can be practised where the law permits. For historically significant remains, protection measures are stricter, and access may be restricted. It's worth remembering that diving is prohibited in many areas of Greece or Turkey. When, for scientific, political or economic reasons, remains require study, the methodology used in terrestrial archaeology may be adapted for the aquatic environment.
Underwater archaeology isn't just about ships
The field of underwater archaeology isn't limited to shipwrecks or their cargo. Its scope extends to anything submerged underwater that's worthy of study. Each case will have its specific technique. Naturally, studying the remains of a Greek-era wreck at 40 metres depth in the Mediterranean won't be the same as diving to investigate and excavate a Neolithic village covered by the shallow waters of an Alpine lake.
What does underwater archaeology involve?
"Doing underwater archaeology" isn't, as many believe, arbitrarily collecting whatever fragments or pieces appear in the water and storing them in museum warehouses. This is a completely outdated concept of reality.
Underwater archaeology is another tool for the study of history, investigating traces left by humans underwater. This provides information to answer questions posed by history as a science.
An underwater archaeologist is like a detective. Through scientific and verified interpretation of the distribution of remains at a site, they can determine the direction the vessel was heading at the time of sinking, how the cargo was stowed onboard, and even the cause of the sinking.
By delving deeper into research, they can uncover the era of the shipwreck, the crew's diet, ports of origin, stopovers and destination during the voyage, and the reasons that led the ship to embark on its final journey, to name a few examples. From here onwards, these seemingly simple and unspectacular details can be cross-referenced with similar sites and chronologically or otherwise related terrestrial research. Gradually, the puzzle of history comes together.
Hence the importance of not disturbing the original placement of objects we find underwater. It's crucial to understand that an archaeological remnant removed from its original context loses all its informative value for archaeologists. Aside from breaking the law, we'd be destroying data that might be essential for future research of the site.
A collective effort
Underwater archaeology requires the effort of many professionals and enthusiasts. The work of those who dive and fishermen reporting their findings is as important as that of geologists and surveyors mapping the site.
Photographers and filmmakers, chemists, mechanics and sailors, among other specialists, are essential to ensure the research process of a site is completed. A whole multidisciplinary team that helps enrich our understanding of human use of seas and lakes over millennia in the past.
Can I put a bronze cannon in my living room?
It might be the dream of many divers, but... mind the law! All countries usually have specific legislation regarding their heritage, particularly submerged heritage. There are international agreements by which many states have actively committed to protecting submerged cultural heritage, with numerous purposes and laws in this regard.
In some countries, the research and possible recovery of submerged objects involves economic agreements between the state and private investors in the project, as in the United States. Others, like Greece, extremely limit access to historically significant sites. In many cases, commercial criteria prevail over scientific ones.
The worst that can happen to a recreational diver? The country having no relevant laws. Then, the application and interpretation of the law can be so arbitrary that the penalty imposed might be disproportionately severe relative to the diver's alleged offence.
