Managing The Marine Cultural Heritage (MAG Conference)

Conference Aims

Recent decades have witnessed an expansion of archaeological activity under water and in the coastal zone. This work has raised awareness of the potential and importance of the resource. There has also been a realisation of the threats to this material from human and natural action, sea-level rise and erosion, increased development, industrial extraction, exploitation of marine resources and sporting activities which are all contributing to damage and loss.

This period of relatively rapid change has increased pressure on governments, heritage groups and agencies, coastal zone managers, diving groups and other users to formulate an approach to managing the maritime cultural resource. Initiatives in some areas of the UK have highlighted potential models and routes for site types or situations. However, other countries are considerably further advanced with their approaches.

The conference aims to inform those involved in managing the submerged cultural resource of trials, developments or best practice models from around the world

The objectives are four-fold:
i. To convene a range of international experts
ii. To present a series of papers on examples of managing submerged archaeology in themed sessions
iii. To provide a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas and approaches
iv. To publish the proceedings and disseminate to a wide audience

Sessions, Speakers & Abstracts

Session 1 - Defining and Quantifying the Resource

Session One - Quantifying the Resource

A resource cannot be appropriately managed without knowledge of its components, extent and potential. Quantifying submerged remains has been recognised as a high priority activity. The collection, recording, interpretation and storage of data encompasses many forms, desk-based studies, large scale manual searches, remote sensing and verification. These may have involved diverse organisations, groups or individuals including contractual units, academic departments, local trusts, diving and voluntary groups.

This session aims to examine a range of resource quantification approaches adopted.

Connie Kelleher - Underwater Archaeology Unit, Duchas, Ireland
The Quantification of the Underwater Archaeological Resource in the Republic of Ireland as a means to its Management and Protection

Justin Dix, University of Southampton, UK
Quantifying the Archaeological Resource - the role of remote sensing in Marine Archaeology

Fredric Lüth, Archaeological State museum Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
The Baltic coast - survey, scientific evaluation and protection of the submarine heritage

Mark Staniforth, Flinders University, Australia
Australian approaches to defining and quantifying underwater cultural heritage: learning from our mistakes

Session 2 - Management Themes and Issues

Session Two - Management Themes and Issues

Threats and challenges to the resource take differing forms across countries and areas, this is due to a variety of legislative frameworks, varying national and international priorities, and widely divergent approaches to funding. Submerged heritage, especially shipwrecks, have a particularly international relevance, leading to multi-national conventions for remains outside territorial waters, and also to international legal battles over 'ownership'. Due to this the development of management frameworks has been piecemeal, some taking a proactive stance to prevent problems emerging, others reacting as situations occur.

This session presents themes and issues involved in approaches to management.

Sarah Dromgoole, University of Leicester, UK
The Legal Framework for the Management of the Underwater Cultural Resource beyond Traditional Territorial Limits: Future Prospects

Francisco Alves, National Centre for Nautical Archaeology, Portugal
Underwater Cultural Heritage Management and Ship Archaeology

Ian Panter, English Heritage Conservation Unit, York
In Situ Preservation versus Active Conservation: Are We Prepared for the Deluge

Thijs Maarleveld, Faculty of Archaeology, Universiteit Leiden
Maritime Management Matters

Session 3 - Accessing the Resource

Session Three - Accessing the Resource

No management scheme must loose sight of the audience and end user for the resource. Making the submerged heritage accessible to all provides particular challenges. Public involvement in, and presentation of, the resource has been pioneered through volunteer input, diver access schemes, reconstruction and display utilising a variety of media.

This area of work is an expanding concern, and with growing numbers of divers, developing technology and a rising popularity for heritage matters, will pose an increasing challenge for managers.

Ian Oxley, Head of Maritime Archaeology, English Heritage
Making the submerged historic environment accessible - beyond the National Heritage Act (2002)

Jeremy Weirich, Maritime Archaeologist, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration
Recording and presenting deep water discoveries

Keith Wijkander, Director General, National Maritime Museums of Sweden
The role of the traditional museum

Christopher Dobbs - Mary Rose Trust
Visitors, Funding and Museums - Reflections on the Mary Rose experience

Conference Events

A number of events and attractions were arranged for conference delegates.

Results of poster competition
Stands and Displays at conference

The conference dinner was a popular event. HMS Warrior provided a highly appropriate and very atmospheric venue for the dinner. Photos of the conference dinner are available to view here.

Poster Competition
Conference Dinner
Stands and Displays
All-Ships Ticket & Discounts

Conference summary report
A summary of the conference sessions will be available here in the near future.

Publication of Conference Proceedings

The IFA Maritime Affairs Group intend to publish the proceedings of the conference.

News about the publication will be posted here!

European Involvement

Managing the Marine Cultural Heritage Conference brings together a wide variety of international speakers. We hope that representatives from many countries will attend, this should allow links to be built between practitioners across the globe.

We are particularly keen to encourage enhanced communication across Europe. This will be especially important with the enlargement of the European Union which begins on 1 May 2004.

We welcome delegates from the EU and the candidate EU countries.

To find out more about the enlargement of the European Union

Where To Stay

Holiday Inn are generously supporting the 'Managing the Marine Cultural Resource' Conference.

An early registration session will be hosted by the Holiday Inn on the evening of Tuesday 28 September in the Burgandy Lounge.

A special conference accommodation rate has been made available to delegates.

For details of the special rate and how to book phone Holiday Inn

from the UK phone: 0870 4009065
international phone: 44-870-4009065

Ask for Fiona McBride OR quote 'MAG'

Address:

Holiday Inn Portsmouth
Pembroke Road
Portsmouth
Hants
PO1 2TA