UNESCO Shipwreck Mission in Mediterranean Successfully Completed
News

UNESCO Shipwreck Mission in Mediterranean Successfully Completed

An archaeological mission under the auspices of UNESCO has concluded its 14-day exploration of the Skerki Bank (Tunisia) and the Sicilian Channel (Italy) in the Mediterranean. For the first time, international scientists from eight Member States have modelled the shipwrecks and improved the mapping of the area in order to protect important underwater cultural heritage in the long term.

Researchers from Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia collaborated for this mission. It took place over 14 days aboard the French scientific vessel the Alfred Merlin in international waters, first on the Italian continental shelf under the coordination of Italy, then on the Tunisian continental shelf under the coordination of Tunisia.

This mission is the result of unprecedented international cooperation. I thank the eight Mediterranean Member States that worked together to organize and conduct scientific research under the coordination of UNESCO, based on our 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, said Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO director-general. It concluded with significant advances, in particular high-resolution documentation of shipwrecks from the Roman period to the 19th century. This confirms that the Skerki Bank is of the greatest interest in terms of the worlds underwater cultural heritage.

High-resolution Mapping for the First Time

The archaeologists led a survey using two different robots, or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which adapted to the geographical and morphological submerged areas. The robot Arthur, designed especially for archaeological surveys in deep waters, was used to document shipwrecks on the Italian continental shelf.

Arthur documented three Roman shipwrecks discovered by American expeditions (Ballard-McCann) in the 1990s. Archaeologists were happy to find that the state of conservation of these shipwrecks and artefacts is almost the same as it was nearly 30 years ago, and that they had not been impacted by sedimentation, bioerosion or human activities (e.g. fishing nets).

The new data collected allows for higher resolution photos and videos that help to characterize and date the ships’ cargo. Documenting these sites has uncovered substantial new evidence.

Three New Shipwrecks Documented

On the Tunisian continental shelf, the archaeologists used the robot Hilarion to verify and document the targets of the newly mapped area. The seabed was also explored with multibeam sonar to obtain more information about this area, which is unknown and dangerous for navigation, and about the potential location of other archaeological remains.

The area around the Keith Reef was scanned for the first time in order to produce a detailed map showing the traces of underwater cultural heritage. This allowed the scientific and technical team to document three new shipwrecks dating from the Ancient to the Modern period (C19th), as well as several other areas of archaeological interest.

Processing the Photogrammetry of the Revisited Wrecks

In the coming months, the archaeologists will meet at UNESCO to unveil their preliminary findings, and a full, detailed report will be presented at a later date. This is the first step in a lasting relationship of multilateral cooperation in the Mediterranean.

The archaeologists plan to process the photogrammetry of the revisited wrecks located on the Italian continental shelf using the video taken by the robots, and they recommend continuing the mapping of the Skerki Bank area on the Tunisian continental shelf. They also want to organize several activities such as a scientific conference, follow-up missions and a reflection on the protection of these sites.

This multilateral mission is both an opportunity and an example to be shared with other countries as a best practice for the study, protection and promotion of underwater cultural heritage in international waters.

Source: UNESCO.

Marine robotics expert Vincent Creuze with the Arthur ROV. (Courtesy: Angel Fitor)
Hydrography Newsletter

Value staying current with hydrography?

Stay on the map with our expertly curated newsletters.

We provide educational insights, industry updates, and inspiring stories from the world of hydrography to help you learn, grow, and navigate your field with confidence. Don't miss out - subscribe today and ensure you're always informed, educated, and inspired by the latest in hydrographic technology and research.

Choose your newsletter(s)