8 10 700 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/871225d8c8f8ddf27a623bf79ed29c0f.mp4 bd64bb0f3a7aa82c052c5d933f1d36c5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Proceedings of the 2023 Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Description An account of the resource Papers presented at the 2023 Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 2023 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Language A language of the resource English Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Moving Image A series of visual representations that, when shown in succession, impart an impression of motion. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2023 conference introduction video by Publications team member, Jay Mok. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jay Mok Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Asia-Pac 2023 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/f442cf2b7289382513ef47d05e696daf.pdf 777827d8cdd46663b118b2c89983b62e PDF Text Text Non-intrusive conservation focussed monitoring of underwater cultural heritage by the public Gathering Information via Recreational and Technical (GIRT) Scientific Divers Andrew Viduka PhD FSA M.ICOMOS-ICUCH Archaeology Department, University of New England, Australia ORCID 0000-0002-0348-4544 Phone: +61 456265470 / Email: girtscientificdiver@gmail.com / http://www.girtsd.org ABSTRACT The no-impact maritime archaeological conservation-focused citizen science program Gathering Information via Recreational and Technical (GIRT) Scientific Divers formally started in January 2019, after an approximately six-month pilot project in South Australia. GIRT Scientific Divers was designed and developed to encourage interested people, businesses, and groups to have an active and positive underwater archaeology role. Launching in New Zealand and across Australia, GIRT has expanded to include members in ten countries. From a 2020/21 survey of member motivations and characteristics, GIRT has been demonstrated to be a gateway into maritime archaeology for previously non-engaged individuals. However, GIRT is very much still an evolving citizen science program, and this paper discusses some of the key learning outcomes the author has gained from developing and training members of the public in GIRT over the last five and half years. The paper candidly looks at challenges experienced by GIRT to maintain an engaged and active membership specifically addressing the key issues of time and funding, IT, the andragogical methodology used, and survey structure and complexity. Lastly, drawing from recent training activities in late 2022-2023, the paper highlights changes to the teaching program and survey structure that occurred in early 2022, with the introduction of a scaffolded learning approach and a rapid GIRT survey option to enable members to develop confidence and build from success. Keywords: Citizen science, site monitoring, conservation, underwater cultural heritage management List of figures Figure 1 Greenpeace MV Rainbow Warrior I (1987), Cavalli Islands, North Island, New Zealand. Figure 2 Screenshots of the GIRT Scientific Divers website and the GRT Scientific Divers Sketchfab pages. Figure 3 Post processing collected data from fieldwork on the Othello at Kaipipi Shipyard Figure 4 Screenshot of photogrammetry of the Othello wreck generated by two trainees on their first effort 1. INTRODUCTION Gathering Information via Recreational and Technical (GIRT) Scientific Divers is a conservation focused no-impact citizen-science project. It aims to train members to systematically document observable physical and natural features of historic shipwrecks, submerged aircraft and other submerged underwater cultural heritage (hereafter referred to as UCH) to facilitate the site’s ongoing protection and management. The focus of the GIRT citizen science project is to both encourage interested people to have an active and positive public archaeology role and to enable better understanding of the condition of UCH and the factors driving its preservation or deterioration (Viduka 2021a, 1-2; 2021b, 2; 2021c, 44). Through the public’s voluntary participation in GIRT, they can assist others, especially non-divers, to see the condition or threats to UCH from natural or human activity more easily (Figure 1). GIRT members (individuals, groups and businesses) ‘adopt-a-site’ that is of interest to them and agree to monitor the site periodically using the GIRT survey methodology, outlined in more detail below. By surveying the same site systematically and periodically, members can, at a minimum, directly compare photos of up to 10 survey points for change, as well as site sketches for new or changed detail. Undertaking the full survey, members can also compare qualitative and quantitative site environmental data, video transects, photogrammetry, and marine life survey data. 1 �Figure 1 Greenpeace MV Rainbow Warrior I (1987), Cavalli Islands, North Island, New Zealand, surveyed 2019 and 3D model produced in 2020. This 3D model was the first GIRT photogrammetry model to include site condition photos to assist in site condition interpretation (Viduka, Sutton and Hutchison 2021, 10). An important element of GIRT is to encourage communication and information sharing between GIRT members and persons responsible for managing such heritage in the relevant jurisdictional waters. As GIRT members are able to download a PDF version of their submitted data into the GIRT relational database, each GIRT member can choose to share their data with the relevant site manager for the purpose of the information becoming a part of the site’s formal condition record (Figure 2). This can contribute directly to science-based decision making by UCH management agencies and potentially the prioritisation of activities by these relevant authorities to protect or undertake rescue archaeology of submerged sites. Figure 2 Screenshots of the GIRT Scientific Divers website and the GRT Scientific Divers Sketchfab pages. Starting in the first year of observations, GIRT members are asked to also identify potential or known threats to their site, and to estimate the likelihood and consequence of those threats. Based on member’s subjective data, and sometimes following moderation discussions with a GIRT instructor, members allocate a ‘traffic light’ indication of threat to their adopted site’s preservation (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red). GIRT member’s indications of threat are shown on the publicly viewable adopted sites map as their site’s location icon. This can be viewed at https://www.girtsd.org/wrecks. 2 �All survey records entered by members through the Survey Reporting tab in the internal members pages of the GIRT website are linked to the names of the members who undertook the survey and their adopted site. Once data has been collected, GIRT members are encouraged to compare their results with other members, lead the analysis of aspects of research (i.e. site formation, marine life, correlation of storm data with observed sediment movements, modelling observed change to other proximal sites…..) or simply conduct further archival research on their adopted site, and present the results of their surveys or broader analysis of data to dive clubs or at conferences. Separate to their initial training, GIRT members are ongoingly supported through three options. The first option is a regularly updated version of a guidance document which can be downloaded, with current survey sheets, at the register to JOIN page on the GIRT website ( https://www.girtsd.org/register ). The second option is through content added in the members internal TRAINING pages. The third option is by being able to contact local GIRT instructors through the members BLOG pages, via email or via phone. 2. RESOURCES In order to collect data on a site, besides standard dive gear, members need: ● access to a camera with an underwater housing; ● 30m fibreglass tape; ● at least three photogrammetry scales; ● one photography scale; ● slate and pencil; and ● relevant GIRT monitoring templates printed on waterproof paper. In addition, members need access to a computer and the internet. 3. FRAMEWORK - KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES The GIRT citizen science program has now been taught for five and half years. In that time, the author has gained a better understanding of issues faced by the public to be an engaged and active citizen science member and of in-built barriers in the initial design, architecture and teaching of GIRT to their active and fulfilling participation. Below, I highlight some of the key issues encountered. Time and Funding The two biggest issues which crosscut and exacerbate all other problems are the classic, time and money. GIRT remains a very small citizen science program predominantly led solely by the author. Time constraints are real issues to building the program. While efforts are underway to bring in GIRT instructors (see below), issues around insurance and work-place health and safety make it necessary for any potential GIRT instructors to deliver the training under their existing workplace arrangements. Equally, as a full-time employee in a busy role, GIRT is very much managed around the margins of daily life with an occasionally focussed training activity. 3 �Money is always the main problem in small projects. Currently, funding for GIRT is mainly covered by myself and my wife (please don’t tell her!). Periodically, GIRT is partially compensated to deliver training in a particular country or jurisdiction. This funding typically does not cover the cost of delivery, or the time of the instructor to prepare, travel and deliver the training. In business terms, a fairly non-sustainable product. IT The website and relational database in GIRT are key to the programs objectives of recognising the public's input, connecting members with each other, and making collected data saved, searchable, comparable, and openly accessible to all (Viduka, Illukkumbura and Abeygunawardena 2020, 7-8). Another facet of the impact of the lack of money and time is delayed development of the IT infrastructure. This has been perhaps the most problematic aspect of running the project in the terms of making the project fulfilling for members, and an issue that is not fully resolved to date. Members who have undertaken surveys and who have their data, have struggled to enter the data into the SURVEY REPORTING tool because of IT issues. This has resulted in frustration for all and certainly impacted enthusiastic ongoing member participation. Maintaining the website, and developing and refining the survey reporting tool and associated relational database, so it aligns with the latest version of the survey sheets, takes development time. As a non-IT developer, I am currently totally reliant on working with free or very cheap third parties to deliver changes, including updating features of the website that annually need refreshing. The andragogical methodology GIRT was developed as an adult based learning programme. This is because GIRT is targeted at individuals over 18 years of age who have more than 50 logged dives. Adult learning (androgogy), as different to children focussed learn (pedagogy), recognises that adult learners bring their varied experience and are more self-directed and self-motivated. Adult learning also has a focus on hands-on learning (learn through play). Since 2018, GIRT has been taught in several ways to meet community interest to dive with a purpose and monitor underwater cultural heritage sites. Initially GIRT was only taught as a one-day face-to-face program. The GIRT one-day training sought to explain why members should participate, what would be the value of their contribution, and then how to apply the methodology. The choice of one-day teaching was initially driven by financial expediency and available time. The one-day training program quickly evolved into a two-day training program, with the second day focused on using the GIRT method as a team. This was in recognition of the need to reinforce class-based learning with hands-on activities. In all training options, GIRT is taught as an activity broadly comprised of three parts: 1. planning and preparing for a survey activity; 2. doing the survey activity, and saving and labelling the data on the day; and 3. post-processing the collected data and entering it as a report. The reason it was taught in this way was to emphasize the importance of each stage and to assist members to recognise that the survey is not finished until a survey report is submitted. During COVID, GIRT training was delivered online, with an adaptation of the original one-day workshop delivered during two blocks of three hours over two days. It was recognised at the time that this was not the ideal for teaching GIRT however it was seen as an opportunity to offer 4 �something to the community during COVID, an opportunity to promote GIRT, raise broader awareness of the threats to underwater cultural heritage, and to identify people who wished to participate who could receive further support in the future. Retrospectively, both the one day intensive and online teaching versions were found to be simply too much information for participants with very little ongoing activity by individuals who took part in this type of training. In addition, several factors, which in hindsight are key to adult participation, were not sufficiently initially highlighted in the teaching of the program. These include: the need to focus on promoting working with a group (make it a friends based activity); being inclusive of people with a marine science focus (broadening the groups knowledge base and ensuring site and environment are equally considered); the rule of three parts to a survey (recognising that planning, doing and post fieldwork data processing all require time); and highlighting the need to plan a diving day to leave sufficient time to save, label data and backup results. Survey structure and complexity The GIRT survey requirements were initially based on what a non-impact maritime archaeological conservation survey of a site would endeavour to do to obtain a baseline of date for longitudinal site monitoring. Early on in the process of delivering GIRT, and with good advice from other people who deliver citizen science programs, it became evident that the initial structure of the GIRT survey methodology in totality, was too much for most new members who had little scientific diving background. 4. RESULTS - CHANGES TO THE TEACHING PROGRAM AND SURVEY STRUCTURE While no change has occurred to the issues of IT, or time and money, since 2022 GIRT Scientific Divers has operated within a Pty Ltd company structure, with a constitution that only allows the company to pursue charitable purposes. The GIRT Director is now supported by three other Board members who separately specialise in law, IT, and public archaeology. The andragogical methodology updated In 2022, significant adjustments were made to the training presentations and a restructuring of the survey activity, reflecting a response to the issues outlined above. To support members, the GIRT guidelines were also updated to the currently available version 3. The new guidelines outline the updated GIRT teaching program approach, which will hopefully go some way to remedy the issues of the identified critical need to immediately reinforce learning activities through doing, and making the initial learning outcomes more achievable so that people can build from success. To better understand who is interested to participate in GIRT, why, and what it is they seek to get out of their participation, a survey was sent out to the first 119 people who undertook training. Prior to the survey’s close on 30 June 2020, 100 people responded providing information about the demographics of participants, their background in heritage and protection, diving, science and conservation, and volunteering. Survey results show that GIRT is acting as a gateway into maritime archaeology for previously non-engaged individuals (Viduka and Edney 2021a, 14). This further emphasises the need to re-scale initial expectations of a citizen scientist to a more achievable level for a group largely previously not engaged by other public archaeology programs. The new teaching approach recognises that many people trained to be GIRT members to date, have not yet completed a survey report. Putting IT issues aside, which are anecdotally the most explained reason, this still leaves the majority of members not having completed a survey and or not attempting to input the data. 5 �While a number of people outside Australia continue to request the online training option, the updated GIRT teaching program solely incorporates the two-day GIRT training model and re-structures the curriculum, so it is more achievable for members. A key facet of the two-day program is post-processing collected data to finalise a clean site sketch, save Figures, video and data and label everything properly immediately after diving (Figure 3). Since its implementation, the two-day training program has been trialled in Norfolk Island, Australia (20-21 August 2022), Adelaide, South Australia (17-18 September 2022), and Rakiura/Stewart Island, New Zealand (25-26 February 2023) (Figure 4) with increasing success demonstrated by participants at Stewart Island completing the training having done the rapid survey elements and all four additional survey activities. Another significant recent development is endeavouring to have regionally located GIRT instructors to drive training and engagement with divers locally and to amplify opportunities for interested people to be trained. The first dedicated GIRT Instructor training occurred on 18 February 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand with Dr Kurt Bennett. GIRT is still in discussions with Kurt’s employer to ascertain if he can deliver GIRT training as a workplace activity so as to get around the current GIRT insurance/workplace health and safety/funding Gordian knot. Figure 3 Post processing collected data from fieldwork on the Othello at Kaipipi Shipyard, Raikura/Stewart Island, New Zealand, February 2023 and an early screen shot of the developing 3D model from images collected by participants in the training event. 6 �Figure 4 Screenshot of photogrammetry of the Othello wreck generated by two trainees on their first effort and processed by Dr Andrew Hutchison. GIRT Rapid Survey In the updated guidelines a scaffolded learning approach is outlined for the survey activity. This approach aims to systematically build on a members’ experiences and knowledge so they can learn new skills more comfortably. The scaffolded learning program uses the original GIRT survey components however it breaks the learning down to a small core survey component (GIRT rapid survey), that can be more easily done underwater and followed with simple and quicker post processing of data requirements before successfully submitting a survey report. Up to four additional survey activities are then outlined. These additional survey activities can be undertaken to any scale and in any combination, subject to a members’ knowledge level, comfort, interest, the environmental conditions, diving safety parameters and commitment. The GIRT rapid survey is designed to be completed in one or two dives by a buddy pair and is less complex and time consuming both underwater and during data post-processing for members. This rapid survey comprises completing a site identification sheet, a site sketch sheet, and a photo condition sheet. Members joining GIRT, and who do not bring experience in collecting data, should first use the GIRT rapid survey method until they are comfortable with the in-water survey process, post-diving data management, post-survey data processing and submission of their survey report. Once a member is comfortable with undertaking a GIRT rapid survey and can complete all aspects, members are then encouraged to choose to undertake one, some, or all of the four additional survey activities: a video-transect survey; photogrammetry of features/site; collecting additional site and conservation data; and or undertaking a marine-life survey. Survey sheets for the video-transect survey; photogrammetry survey and site and conservation data survey are available to be downloaded from the GIRT website at https://www.girtsd.org/register. Any data collected by a member for a marine-life survey simply needs to be saved as a PDF to be included in the final site SURVEY REPORT. To undertake a complete GIRT survey, even in shallow water on a relatively small site, more than two dives by a dive buddy pair will be required. It is important to note that, while it is ideal to collect as much data as possible in each survey activity, for any and all activities, the survey method is scalable. Only complete as much of each survey sheet as possible within the limitations of your safe diving and conditions. When entering data into the Survey Reporting tab in the GIRT website, the 7 �reporting tool only requires a few mandatory data fields from the Surface Sheet. All other data fields need only be populated as data is available. The GIRT method includes a video transect survey of the site environment, on the site and off the site, which acts as a minimum of environmental data being recorded. However, members are encouraged to also collect data for another established marine citizen science program on their site (undertaking a marine-life survey). More broadly, and to emphasise the importance of understanding the marine environment associated with a site, members are encouraged to include a GIRT diver who is primarily interested in the marine environment in their survey team. CONCLUDING REMARKS While GIRT Scientific Divers has been operating for five and half years, some critical milestones for success are yet to be met. The most significant of these is a fully functioning website and associated relational database that aligns with the rapid and additional survey reporting sheets. Secondly, while GIRT has expanded to include members in ten countries, the ability to train and have GIRT regionally based instructors is a significant limiting factor to GIRT’s broader uptake. Thirdly, the most ideal training model, two-days, is also the costliest. While developing a funding stream can resolve this, the author is determined to try and develop GIRT so that it can operate without charging people so there is no barrier to participation in site monitoring to the interested public. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would particularly like to thank Jessica Viduka for her ongoing support for the development and delivery of the GIRT Scientific Divers citizen science program and her ability to not notice the credit card expenses. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Prasanna Illukkumbura for his fantastic and unwavering support to develop and maintain the GIRT website and SRA Information Technology for their support. Lastly, I would like to thank GIRT member Dr Andrew Hutchison for his dedication to helping members, including myself, process their images into 3D photogrammetry. BIBLIOGRAPHY Viduka, Andrew. “Going for the win-win: including the public in underwater cultural heritage management through citizen science.” International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 49 (2020a): 87-106. https://doi.org/10.1111/1095-9270.12412. Viduka, Andrew. “A maritime archaeological conservation focussed citizen science program for individual benefit and public good outcomes: the GIRT Scientific Diver programme.” Journal of Community Archaeology and Heritage 9:2 (2020b):71-87. https://doi.org/10.1080/20518196.2020.1858544. Viduka, Andrew. “A View from Across the Ditch: Public Engagement, Community Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage Management and The Impact of GIRT Scientific Divers in New Zealand.” Australasian Journal of Maritime Archaeology 44: (2020c): 23-40. Viduka, Andrew; Illukkumbura, Prasanna and Abeygunawardena, Sajana. “Electric Oceans: The Features, Functionality and Utility of the GIRT Website and Associated Database for Citizen Science, Site Conservation and Underwater Cultural Heritage Management Outcomes.” Australasian Journal of Maritime Archaeology, 44 (2020): 3-21. Viduka, Andrew; Sutton, Brett; Hutchison, Andrew et al. “A Report on the GIRT Scientific Diver Survey of the Rainbow Warrior, Cavalli Islands, New Zealand.” J Mari Arch 16 (2021): 3–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-020-09279-5 Viduka, Andrew and Edney, Joanne. “GIRT Scientific Divers citizen science programme: Volunteer motivations and characteristics.” Journal of Community Archaeology and Heritage, 9:3 (2021a): 143-160. https://doi.org/10.1080/20518196.2021.2005411. 8 � Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Non-intrusive conservation focussed monitoring of underwater cultural heritage by the public -Gathering Information via Recreational and Technical (GIRT) Scientific Divers Description An account of the resource The no-impact maritime archaeological conservation-focused citizen science program Gathering Information via Recreational and Technical (GIRT) Scientific Divers formally started in January 2019, after an approximately six-month pilot project in South Australia. GIRT Scientific Divers was designed and developed to encourage interested people, businesses, and groups to have an active and positive underwater archaeology role. Launching in New Zealand and across Australia, GIRT has expanded to include members in ten countries. From a 2020/21 survey of member motivations and characteristics, GIRT has been demonstrated to be a gateway into maritime archaeology for previously non-engaged individuals. However, GIRT is very much still an evolving citizen science program, and this paper discusses some of the key learning outcomes the author has gained from developing and training members of the public in GIRT over the last five and half years. The paper candidly looks at challenges experienced by GIRT to maintain an engaged and active membership specifically addressing the key issues of time and funding, IT, the andragogical methodology used, and survey structure and complexity. Lastly, drawing from recent training activities in late 2022-2023, the paper highlights changes to the teaching program and survey structure that occurred in early 2022, with the introduction of a scaffolded learning approach and a rapid GIRT survey option to enable members to develop confidence and build from success. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Andrew Viduka Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Language A language of the resource English Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Viduka, Andrew. 2023. “Non-intrusive monitoring of underwater cultural heritage by the public - Gathering Information via Recreational and Technical (GIRT) Scientific Divers.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Veronica Walker-Vadillo. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/2001 Asia-Pac Session 19 2023 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/01e7978df9e3d025cb858b49dd30f844.pdf 9012c0d1b0959d5963c828843b806770 PDF Text Text Geophysical techniques for non-intrusive documentation of UCH: Comparative analysis of the methodology developed in three study areas in Spain. Soledad Solana Rubio,1 Felipe Cerezo Andreo2, Sebastián Federico Ramallo,3 Dario Bernal Casasola,4 Miguel Ángel Cau Ontiveros,5 Francisco López-Castejón6 1 (University of Cádiz, Researcher) 0000-0001-5571-7453 (University of Cádiz, Associate Professor) 0000-0003-0025-1726 3 Asensio (University of Murcia, Professor) 0000-0003-1828-3996 4 (University of Cádiz, Professor) 0000-0003-1107-5318 5 (ICREA, and IAUB, University of Barcelona, Professor) 0000-0002-1138-157X 6 (Cartagena Oceanographic Research Institute and Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Researcher) 0000-00024196-4100 2 ABSTRACT Generally, the combined use of different geophysical instruments and archaeological fieldwork provides enough information for the classification and preliminary study of sites. However, the application of these techniques in detailed analysis of specific archaeological sites is still in its early stages. In this paper, we present the results of the geophysical survey work carried out in three different underwater contexts, as part of three research projects, in three areas of Spain: Algeciras (Cádiz), Cartagena (Murcia) and Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands). Geophysical survey allows for the application of non-intrusive techniques to achieve the documentation of UCH, as recommended by the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Heritage, without altering the archaeological material in any way. Therefore, we have used the Sub Bottom Profiler in several archaeological works, with varying depths and conservation conditions, to address our research questions of how much information can we obtain non-intrusively on the UCH and how can we best use the equipment to innovate in the development of non-intrusive methodology. Based on the results obtained in each area, we can draw several methodological conclusions that lay the groundwork for a method that can be applied to other case studies. Keywords: non-intrusive techniques, geophysical survey, Sub Bottom Profiler, monitoring UCH. List of figures Figure 1 – Location of the case studies and surveyed areas. Figure 2 – Equipment used on board the vessel for fieldwork. Figure 3 – Signal processing example using ISE 2.9 INNOMAR software. Figure 4 – Types of anomalies recorded. 1. INTRODUCTION We present an innovative and non-intrusive method of monitoring and documenting Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH), in which we have taken advantage of the opportunities offered by the development of new technologies. We analyse the methodology implemented in three case studies, in which we have surveyed the UCH in different areas using a Sub Bottom Profiler (SBP). This is an equipment that emits acoustic pulses that penetrate the sediment, resulting in the image of a stratigraphic profile of the seabed and the artefacts or anomalies that may be buried beneath it. In this way, without disturbing the seabed, we can see what is buried, what is anomalous and how deep it is. This research has been the result of a collaborative effort of the University of Cádiz (Spain), through three different projects, with the universities of Murcia, Cartagena, Barcelona, Balearic Islands and the Consell de Mallorca. 1 �2. CASE STUDIES This methodological study took into consideration three case studies (see figure 1), each with different characteristics related to the archaeological heritage to be studied and the geological conditions of the environment in which it is located. Furthermore, although the research goals of each project were distinct, they all shared the methodological questions that we aim to address in this paper. 2.1. HERAKLES Project (Algeciras, Cádiz) As a pioneering project for this research, the HERAKLES Project (FEDER-UCA18-107327)7 was the first scenario to test the SBP techniques. We undertook the geophysical survey in a specific zone of the Bay of Algeciras: the harbour area (see figure 1.1). As the main objectives of the HERAKLES project were to document the UCH of Algeciras Bay and to assess the impact of port and industrial constructions on it, the goals of this survey were two: 1. To determine the existence of anomalies buried under the sediment. 2. To understand the stratigraphy of the area and how successive dredging and harbour works have modified the natural sedimentation processes. 2.2. ALADROQUE Project (Cartagena, Murcia) The second scenario was the harbour area of Cartagena, which differed significantly from the previous case study. The zone of intervention covers the mouth of the Benipila Rambla (stream) and the Algameca Chica, up to a depth of approximately -50 m, an area of detrital and rocky seabed with plenty of archaeological materials (see figure 1.2). The ALADROQUE project8 arises after the high impact weather event known as coold drop (Depresión aislada en niveles altos – DANA) that affected the Region of Murcia in September 2019. One of the most serious consequences of this episode was the overflowing of the streams, such as the Benipila, causing a large amount of sediment and rubbish to be dragged into the sea. Thus, the ALADROQUE project aimed to assess the impact of this event on the seabed and on the UCH. The objectives of the geophysical survey were therefore two: 1. To identify possible anomalies that might correspond either to UCH or to objects dragged by the floods. 2. To evaluate the rate of sedimentation caused by floods and sea currents by monitoring the burial process in two known archaeological sites. 2.3. ARQUEOMALLORNAUTA Project (Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands) The third case study involved the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck (Munar et al., 2022; Soler et al. 2021), located in shallow waters, with sandy seabed, offering ideal conditions for studying its state of preservation and the probable dispersion of its materials. The ARQUEOMALLORNAUTA project9 aimed to document and excavate this unique Late Roman shipwreck, and a geophysical survey was conducted as a preliminary activity before archaeological fieldwork (see figure 1.3). Therefore, our objectives were threefold: 1. To obtain a three-dimensional visualization of the shipwreck that would allow the evaluation of its state of preservation. “Entre las Columnas de Hércules, Arqueología Subacuática de un espacio privilegiado. La bahía de Algeciras” (FEDERUCA18-107327 HERAKLES) 8 “ALADROQUE: El impacto de los eventos climáticos tipo DANA en la conservación de los entornos subacuáticos de los accesos al puerto de Cartagena (España)”, an initiative of the Cartagena Oceanographic Research Institute (CORI), in collaboration with the University of Murcia (UM), the University of Cadiz (UCA) and the Navy Diving Centre (CBA), 9 Joint project of the Consell de Mallorca and the universities of Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and Cádiz. 7 2 �2. To provide stratigraphic details especially about the characteristics of marine sedimentary levels. 3. To detect the existence of anomalies that can be analysed in the interpretation phase of the results of the archaeological fieldwork. Figure 1 – Location of the case studies and surveyed areas: 1. Bay of Algeciras; 2. Harbour of Cartagena; 3. Palma de Mallorca. 3. RESOURCES The resources available to conduct the work include the equipment used (see figure 2), property of the Laboratory of Archaeology and Prehistory (LABAP) of the University of Cádiz (UCA), consists of: - Sub Bottom Profiler (SBP) model SES-2000 standard, manufactured by the German company INNOMAR. It is parametric in nature, which allows a high resolution in the detection of strata and layers of sediments. The signal penetrates, on average, twice the depth at which it probes. - Motion correction sensor (MRU) to correct and improve precision of the spatial location of the signal. - Mobile RTK GNSS Leica GS18 Antenna, which ensures the positioning of the data readings with a millimetre error margin. Besides, different boats were used in each case study. For the survey in Algeciras, we used the Tarpán, a fiberglass rigid boat with inboard motor, and a draft of 0.5 m. Secondly, in Cartagena we had two fiberglass vessels from the University of Murcia, the Betsaida, with 0.3 m draught, and the Universitas, with 0.6 m draught. In the third case study, a semi-rigid inflatable boat with an outboard motor was used, with a draft of 0.4 m, named Mustelus. A very important variable for the reliability of the results in geophysical surveying with SBP is the expertise of the boat captain. In the three case studies, they 3 �were very skilled, showing great ability, not only in handling each boat, but also in understanding what the team needed. Regarding the human team, the works were performed by two archaeologists from the University of Cádiz, trained in the use of geophysical techniques thanks to the activities coordinated by the Nautical and Underwater Archaeology Line. Figure 2 – Equipment used on board the vessel for fieldwork. 4. FRAMEWORK Given the three case studies presented, the methodological inquiries of this research aim to determine the limitations of the SBP technique. Furthermore, we have identified various types of anomalies in all three geophysical surveys, which have been subsequently cross-checked with other techniques such as historical information, magnetic anomalies, test pits, and visual surveys. This has allowed us to create a comprehensive catalogue of anomalies that can be utilized in future SBP surveys (Cerezo Andreo et all, 2022; Higueras-Milena and Cerezo Andreo, 2021). Following the principles established by UNESCO in the 2001 Convention (Maarleveld, Guérin and Egger, 2013; VVAA., 2010), surveying with SBP allows prioritising in situ conservation of UCH, exploration over recovery and non-destructive techniques. The precision of the transects over the area to be studied is fundamental for the interpretation of the data, so once the working areas have been defined, the density level of each survey grid must be planned, considering the objectives proposed for each survey. In the framework of the HERAKLES project, given the large extension of the Bay of Algeciras, we have focused on understanding the general stratigraphy and the degree of preservation of original sediments in “El Saladillo”, one of the ancient harbour spaces. 4 �Before conducting the survey in the port of Cartagena, we had access to valuable information that aided in our planning process. Specifically, we were aware of certain anomalies that had been detected during a previous survey conducted in 2008 by the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQVA). During our SBP surveys, undertaken in 2021 and 2022, we detected new anomalies and checked the levels of burying or unearthing in sites. Some of the anomalies were documented by diving or using a ROV. We also verified their archaeological potential and established a protocol for the periodic monitoring of their state of preservation. For the ARQUEOMALLORNAUTA project, two work areas were surveyed: the one where the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck is preserved and a larger one to document its general sedimentation dynamics and to detect anomalies that could be related to the site. The seabed in the study area is generally sandy but with a strong muddy matrix that allowed the signal to penetrate several metres below, reaching - 5.5 m in some profiles. The Ses Fontanelles shipwreck was protected by sandbags, resulting in a 2.5 m deep tumulus. That makes the water column between the transducer and the shipwreck very small. After the data analysis and processing (see figure 3), we obtained a series of anomalies that we classified according to their archaeological interest and their accessibility. Subsequently, a fieldwork season to check the most significant anomalies was planned. Figure 3 – Signal processing example using ISE 2.9 INNOMAR software. 5. RESULTS 5.1. HERAKLES Project (Algeciras, Cádiz) On the El Saladillo research area we have successfully identified the paleochannel from the Last Glacial Maximum period (see figure 4.A). This unknown geological feature was not easily silted by sediments, so it kept its depth for a long time, which explains why this area was used as an anchorage throughout history. Our surveys led to notable discoveries, including the identification of the basement levels of Isla Verde Island. This now-destroyed island was once one of the main landmarks on the maritime landscape in the ancient Bay and provided a reliable source of fresh water. 5 �5.2. ALADROQUE Project (Cartagena, Murcia) The intensive use of the SBP in the port of Cartagena has yielded high-resolution stratigraphic profiles, enabling the documentation of the impact of the flooding caused by the 2019 DANA. The resulting data about the impact of the flood on the UCH holds potential for advancing monitoring and conservation efforts. In addition, we have assessed the burial or erosion factor that some archaeological sites are suffering, especially the Cartagena 1 shipwreck, located at 63 m depth, one of the best-preserved shipwrecks from the 2nd century BC in the Iberian Mediterranean. Cross-checking data between 20082021-2022, we have been able to verify that the shipwreck has been unearthed between 70 and 80 cm. The cargo is now scattered over a space twice the size it was in 2008, which means that the tumulus is falling apart (see figure 4.B). On the contrary, there are areas that have been significantly buried, hiding known elements since the 2008 surveys. This process is partly positive because burial offers good guarantees for the conservation of the heritage, but also it makes access to it impossible. Finally, dives to verify the selected anomalies have revealed the presence of rubbish and other debris which are altering the structural integrity of some objects. Figure 4 – Types of anomalies recorded. A) Paleochannel with continental sedimentation; B) Shipwreck C) Pipeline D) Buried object (in this case an amphora) E) Natural anomaly corresponding to the bottom of a paleochannel. 5.3. ARQUEOMALLORNAUTA Project (Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands) The results have been very positive, as we have achieved a stratigraphic visualisation of both the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck and its surroundings. Among the 31 significant anomalies detected, those of special archaeological or stratigraphic interest were selected. Thus, we configured three categories of priority for intervention according to their accessibility: size, morphology, and depth below the seabed. After the second processing of the signals and the comparative analysis of the anomalies, three of them were identified with paleochannels, one with the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck, five provided relevant information on the stratigraphy and six were considered to be a pipeline (see figure 4.C). Therefore, we made eight archaeological test pits to verify this interpretation. Only one test pit was positive as far as the presence of archaeological material was concerned, finding a fragment of ancient pottery. The artefact was found under a layer of shells and coarse gravel, covered by another layer of dead seagrass. 6 �The hyperboles shown by the acoustic signal corresponded to points where the archaeological material was buried (see figure 4.D). The anomalies of natural origin correspond to a layer of rubble, coarse gravel, and pebble rocks that we consider to be the seabed of a paleochannel, with continental sedimentation phases (see figure 4.E). This provides interesting information about the palaeolandscape in the pre-Holocene period. With respect to the anomaly identified as the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck, collected in 53 stratigraphic profiles, we could document the different levels that comprised the shipwreck's protective tumulus. 5.4. Conclusions The results achieved in the three case studies demonstrate that the use of the SBP has been proven effective for UCH surveying, providing high-resolution stratigraphic profiles and detailed information on the morphology of the seafloor and any anomalies present. Overall, the use of the SBP is a useful tool in the field of UCH research, allowing for non-intrusive and precise surveying of underwater archaeological sites. To conclude, here are some generalities regarding the use of the SBP for the UCH surveying, although each site and its characteristics, the equipment used and the objectives of each research will determine the configuration and final results. - - - - - - Regarding the type of seabed, the signal penetrates better in mud than in sand, where there is usually more noise. The boat used for the survey should be small, to ensure manoeuvrability, but stable and with rigid gunwale, as vertical as possible to the water surface. The most important thing is to prevent engine vibrations from being transmitted to the SBP. The recommended speed for conducting SBP surveys is typically less than 4 knots. We have achieved optimal results at speeds between 2 and 2.5 knots. It should be noted that slower survey speeds can result in longer survey durations and increased vulnerability to wave interference, ship vibration, and reduced ability to correct heading. It is important to note that obtaining accurate and reliable results with the SBP is highly dependent on the sea state. It has been observed that waves exceeding 30-40 cm significantly impact the quality of the data collected, rendering them unreliable. In theory, the penetration distance of the SBP signal is twice the water column below the transducer. Nevertheless, at greater depths, the number of pulses emitted must be increased due to the prolonged time it takes for the signal to return. From our experience, optimal results are obtained at depths ranging between 10 to 20 meters. Regarding frequency, increasing it will yield higher resolution, but at the expense of losing penetration depth. Conversely, lowering the frequency will increase penetration depth, but reduce resolution. Finding the optimal frequency setting requires thorough testing and experimentation on a case-by-case basis. As for the research objectives, this technique is highly recommended for anomaly detection or for monitoring known sites. It is very useful for surveying UCH at different times and for analysing, by comparing the signals, the rate of sedimentation. It is also very useful for the study of the paleolandscape or to check the impact of dredging on the seabed, but for stratigraphic studies it must be combined with geotechnical cores (Torres et al, 2022). In the future we have planned more surveys to test this methodology in new and different case studies, therefore we will add more conclusions to this research. A methodology based on the results obtained here will undoubtedly contribute not only to a better knowledge of the UCH, but also to a greater awareness and impact of the research at the international level. 7 �ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The work in the Bay of Algeciras has been co-financed by the 2014-2020 ERDF Operational Programme and by the Department of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University of the Regional Government of Andalusia. Project reference: FEDERUCA18-107327. The Cartagena case study has been co-financed by CORI and the ARQUEOTOPOS III Project, Grant HAR201785726-C2-1-P (Carthago Nova desde su entorno litoral: Paleotopografía y evolución medioambiental del Sector central del Sureste Ibérico. Dinámica poblacional y productiva) funded by MCIN. The case of Ses Fontanelles is part of the activities of the research group ERAAUB of the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Barcelona (IAUB), Consolidated Group (2021 SGR 00696), thanks to the support of the Comissionat per a Universitats i Recerca del DIUE de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Some of the activities have been possible thanks to the synergies created with the projects “Arqueología y Arqueometría aplicadas al estudio de la cerámica y el poblamiento de la ciudad romana de Pollentia y su hinterland (Mallorca, islas Baleares)” (ARQCERPOL) (PID2021-123223NB-I00) (ARQCERPOL) (PID2021-123223NB-I00), funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”, GARVM III (PID2019-108948RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), Gobierno de España/FEDEAR; ARQUEOSTRA (FEDER-UCA18-104415) Programa Operativo FEDER 2014-2020 and Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades, Junta de Andalucía; and ARQUEOFISH (P18-FR-1483) Programa de Ayudas a la I+D+I, Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación (PAIDI 2020). We thank this conference for accepting us and for providing a methodological session, which is important for the whole scientific community. Thanks to the three projects, the four universities and the LABAP, which provided us with the equipment. To the owners and captains of the boats. To all the researchers who seek knowledge underwater. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cerezo Andreo, Felipe, Solana Rubio, Soledad, López-Castejón, Francisco and Ramallo Asensio, Sebastián Federico. “El impacto de los eventos climáticos tipo Dana en la conservación de los entornos subacuáticos de los accesos al puerto de Cartagena (España). Primeros datos del proyecto Aladroque.”, NANS: Noticiario de Arqueología Naútica y Subacuática, ISSNe 2952-1149, Nº. 0 (7), (2022): 4-18. Available in: <https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=8758191>. Higueras-Milena Castellano, Aurora and Cerezo Andreo, Felipe. “Investigaciones arqueológicas mediante métodos geofísicos marinos en el entorno de La Caleta Antecedentes y novedades de la campaña de 2019”. In La Caleta (Cádiz): Entre la Tierra y el Mar. Un estudio diacrónico de uso, edited by en Alberto Gullón Abao, Lilyan Padrón Reyes and Carlota Pérez-Reverte Mañas, 19-34. Sevilla: Aconcagua, 2021. Maarleveld, Thijs, Guérin, Ulrike and Egger, Barbara. Manual para actividades dirigidas al patrimonio cultural subacuático: directrices para el Anexo de la Convención de la UNESCO de 2001. Paris: UNESCO, 2013. Available in: <https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000220716>. Munar Llabrés, Sebastià, Cardell Perelló, Jaume, de Juan, Carlos, Cau Ontiveros, Miguel Ángel, Bernal-Casasola, Darío, Picornell, Llorenç and García Riaza, Enrique. “Ses Fontanelles Shipwreck (Mallorca, Balearic Islands): An Exceptional Late Roman Vessel and Its Cargo”, Journal of Maritime Archaeology, 17 (2022): 487–505. Available in: <https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-022-09331-6>. Soler i Nicolau, Antònia, Font Jaume, Alexandre, Berni Millet, Piero, García Riaza, Enrique, Bernal-Casasola, Darío, Cau Ontiveros, Miguel Ángel, Cardell Perelló, Jaume and Munar Llabrés, Sebastià. “El singular conjunto de tituli picti del pecio de Ses Fontanelles (Mallorca, islas Baleares) y su contribución a la epigrafía anfórica tardorromana hispánica”, Cuadernos de Arqueología y Prehistoria de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CUPAUAM) 47(1), (2021): 287-317. Available in: <https://doi.org/10.15366/cupauam2021.47.1.010>. Torres, Trinidad, Ortiz, José E., Ramallo, Sebastián, Ros, Milagros, Sánchez Palencia, Yolanda, Blázquez, Ana, Cerezo, Felipe, López-Cilla, Ignacio, Galán, Luis, A., Borrego, Ángeles G., Ruiz Zapata, Blanca, Gil, María José, Manteca Ignacio and Rodríguez-Estrella, Tomás. “Development of the marine Holocene environment in a drowned paleovalley with final anthropic influence in the Cartagena Bay (Murcia, SE Spain)”, The Holocene, 32 (6), (2022): 554–568. Available in: <https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836221080759>. VVAA. Libro Verde del Plan Nacional de Protección del Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático Español. Madrid: Ministerio de Cultura, 2010. Available in: < https://www.calameo.com/read/000075335b012b37e3d4b>. 8 � Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Geophysical techniques for non-intrusive documentation of UCH: Comparative analysis of the methodology developed in three study areas in Spain. Description An account of the resource Generally, the combined use of different geophysical instruments and archaeological fieldwork provides enough information for the classification and preliminary study of sites. However, the application of these techniques in detailed analysis of specific archaeological sites is still in its early stages. In this paper, we present the results of the geophysical survey work carried out in three different underwater contexts, as part of three research projects, in three areas of Spain: Algeciras (Cádiz), Cartagena (Murcia) and Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands). Geophysical survey allows for the application of non-intrusive techniques to achieve the documentation of UCH, as recommended by the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Heritage, without altering the archaeological material in any way. Therefore, we have used the Sub Bottom Profiler in several archaeological works, with varying depths and conservation conditions, to address our research questions of how much information can we obtain non-intrusively on the UCH and how can we best use the equipment to innovate in the development of non-intrusive methodology. Based on the results obtained in each area, we can draw several methodological conclusions that lay the groundwork for a method that can be applied to other case studies. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Soledad Solana Rubio Felipe Cerezo Andreo Sebastián Federico Ramallo Dario Bernal Casasola Miguel Ángel Cau Ontiveros Francisco López-Castejón Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Language A language of the resource English Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Solana Rubio, Soledad , Felipe Cerezo Andreo, Sebastián Federico Ramallo Asensio, Darío Bernal Casasola, Miguel Ángel Cau Ontiveros, Francisco López-Castejón. 2023. “Geophysical techniques for non-intrusive documentation of UCH: comparative analysis of the methodology developed in different study areas at various depths.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Carlota Perez-Reverte. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/2000 Asia-Pac Session 19 2023 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/b7b1391419a70bac218a8f9ba8b4f8e9.pdf a42b10714fe4e0a56cb571ac9d8d868d PDF Text Text Community Driven Marine Archaeology: NOAA Ocean Exploration Operations in the Pacific Basin 2024-2026 Philip A. Hartmeyer*1, Jeremy Weirich2, Hans Van Tilburg3, Adrienne Copeland4, Mashkoor Malik5, Frank Cantelas6, Sam Cuellar7, Kelley Suhre8, Kasey Cantwell9 1 Marine Archaeologist, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Director, NOAA Ocean Exploration 3 Maritime Heritage Coordinator, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 4 Grants Program Manager and Synergistic Team Lead, NOAA Ocean Exploration 5 Science and Technology Division Chief, NOAA Ocean Exploration 6 Science and Technology Division Advisor, NOAA Ocean Exploration 7 Expedition Coordinator, NOAA Ocean Exploration 8 Expeditions and Exploration Division Deputy Chief, NOAA Ocean Exploration 9 Expeditions and Exploration Division Operations Chief, NOAA Ocean Exploration 2 *Contact: phil.hartmeyer@noaa.gov ABSTRACT With priority placed on the exploration of deep waters, NOAA Ocean Exploration applies the latest tools and technologies to explore previously unknown areas of the ocean, making discoveries of scientific, economic, and cultural value. As both a valuable cultural resource and habitat for marine organisms, NOAA Ocean Exploration’s priorities include maritime archaeology and the discovery of our underwater cultural heritage (UCH). Between 2024 and 2026, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners will conduct exploratory seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) explorations in the Pacific basin. This article details the tools, technologies, and typical datasets collected by our program and opportunities for the Asia-Pacific community of archaeologists, historians, and resource managers to contribute to our UCH research prioritization and participate in our live, publicly accessible telepresence-enabled operations. Using this community-driven archaeology model, we ensure this exploratory work will have the greatest impact and provide a publicly accessible platform for sharing our common cultural heritage. List of Figures and Tables Table 1: File formats typically collected during seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicle operations Figure 1: Remotely Operated Vehicle Deep Discoverer at the bow of Amakasu Maru No. 1 Figure 2: Telepresence-enabled exploration. Source: NOAA Ocean Exploration Figure 3: Foundations of the Explorer Model 1 �INTRODUCTION NOAA Ocean Exploration10 is dedicated to exploring the unknown ocean, unlocking its potential through scientific discovery, technological advancements, and data delivery. By working closely with partners across the public, private, and academic sectors, we are filling gaps in our basic understanding of the marine environment. This allows us, collectively, to protect ocean health, sustainably manage our marine resources, accelerate our national economy, better understand our changing environment, and enhance our appreciation of the importance of the ocean in our everyday lives. With priority placed on the exploration of deep waters, NOAA Ocean Exploration applies the latest tools and technologies to explore previously unknown areas of the ocean, making discoveries of scientific, economic, and cultural value. And, through live exploration video, online resources, training and educational opportunities, and public events, we share the excitement of ocean exploration with people around the world and inspire and engage the next generation of ocean scientists, archaeologists, engineers, and leaders. Since the program’s inception in 2001, NOAA Ocean Exploration has been a substantial source of U.S. public funding for the prioritization, discovery, and protection of underwater cultural heritage (UCH) that opens windows into the past to improve understanding of the history of human interaction with the ocean. These activities are executed through a host of mechanisms, including NOAA Ocean Exploration-led operations as well as partner operations supported through a competitive grant program, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, and the NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, which includes Ocean Exploration Trust and its Exploration Vessel Nautilus, a partner vessel in exploration. Discoveries and technological advancements made through these mechanisms improve and enhance our understanding of the oceans. Through its support to and involvement of partners, NOAA Ocean Exploration makes it possible for them to discover and explore significant UCH sites (e.g., World War II maritime cultural landscapes11, outer continental shelf paleolandscapes12, historic shipwrecks13); improve UCH survey techniques (e.g., synthetic aperture sonars14, laser line scanners15, autonomous underwater vehicles16, photogrammetry for archaeological documentation17); and enhance community engagement, data sharing, and relationships with Indigenous communities (e.g., Deepwater Wonders of Wake Island18, Maritime Maya19) (Figure 1). 10 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ 11 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/23guam/welcome.html 12 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/22sunfish/welcome.html 13 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/19microbial-stowaways/welcome.html 14 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/development-partnerships/ex1904/welcome.html 15 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/development-partnerships/ex1904/logs/july31/july31.html 16 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/22shipwreck-detection/welcome.html 17 https://www.boem.gov/environment/virtual-archaeology-museum 18 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1606/logs/jul30/welcome.html 19 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/11maya/welcome.html 2 �Figure 1: Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer approaches the bow of the Japanese cargo ship Amakasu Maru No. 1. (Source: NOAA Ocean Exploration) Input from the archaeological community is pivotal to the success of NOAA Ocean Exploration-led UCH operations, in particular. This input includes suggestions for UCH areas to explore, as well as guidance on best practices for archaeological documentation and data collection. Over the years, NOAA Ocean Exploration has successfully incorporated input from academic, public, private, local, and Indigenous partners in their exploration of UCH resources as well as the improvement of the technologies used for UCH surveys. This paper focuses on NOAA Ocean Exploration-led operations. It describes how members of the AsiaPacific archaeology community can engage with upcoming operations and contribute to a prioritization matrix for site selection in the region. NOAA Ocean Exploration Operations NOAA Ocean Exploration follows a nested approach to expedition planning that entails packaging individual weeks-long expeditions into a series of expeditions — and sometimes multiyear campaigns — forecasting operations three to five years out. This lead time ensures staff have enough time to plan expeditions and consider ocean science community priorities in the development of mission objectives and identification of areas of operation. Presently, NOAA Ocean Exploration is scoping priorities for a Pacific basin campaign between 2024 and 2026. Though subject to change as mission planning evolves, areas of operation under discussion include: Line Islands, Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (Johnston Atoll, Wake Atoll, Howland Island, Baker Island), Marshall Islands, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Cook Islands, Palau, and Guam. As part of this upcoming campaign, NOAA Ocean Exploration will conduct operations in the Pacific basin including aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer20 using four types of sonars to collect high-resolution seafloor and water column data (Table 1), a dual-body remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system capable of 20 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/about.html 3 �diving to depths up to 6,000 meters, and a suite of other instruments to help characterize the ocean, including a dynamic positioning system. Unlike many other ocean expeditions supported by NOAA, most of the scientists participating in NOAA Ocean Exploration’s expeditions do so from shore, thanks to telepresence technology21. Table 1. Data, and the respective file formats, typically collected during seafloor and water column mapping and remotely operated vehicle operations (adapted from Cuellar, 2023). File Type File Format Multibeam Echosounder (EM304) .kmall, .raw, .idx, .bot, .asc, .sd, .xyz Split-Beam Echosounder (EK60/80) .raw, .idx, .bot Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP; Teledyne Workhorse Mariner 300kHz and Teledyne RDI Ocean Surveyor 38kHz) .raw Sub-Bottom Profiler (Knudsen Chirp 3260) .xtf, .keb, .txt, .segy Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD; SeaBird SBE9-11 .asvp, .hrd, .hex, .xmlcon Plus and SBE32 Carousel With 12 10-liter Niskin Bottles) ROV High-Definition Video .mov ROV High-Definition Still Images .tiff, .jpeg, .jpg Geospatial Data .kmz, .shp, .tif, .kml, .txt Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) .xbt Event Logs and Dive Summaries .txt, .pdf NOAA Ocean Exploration uses a high-bandwidth satellite communications system capable of transmitting mapping and oceanographic data and real-time, high-definition video feeds from the ROVs through network connections to scientists on shore. Thus, a theoretically unlimited number of scientists can add their expertise to expeditions. At the same time, members of the public can also join in the excitement of ocean exploration and discoveries from their classroom, newsrooms, or home (Figure 2). 21 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/telepresence/telepresence.html 4 �Figure 2: With telepresence-enabled exploration, scientists and the public can participate in NOAA Ocean Exploration expeditions from anywhere in the world. (Source: NOAA Ocean Exploration) Sensitive Data Protection Many of the UCH sites explored by NOAA Ocean Exploration require sensitive data stewardship and protection measures. The United States has several laws and regulations in place to protect UCH sites and safeguard sensitive information and data from improper release. To meet federal preservation mandates applicable to sensitive data management, including the National Historic Preservation Act 22 (NHPA) and the Sunken Military Craft Act23 (SMCA), NOAA Ocean Exploration follows strict internal planning, acquisition, post-processing, and archiving protocols for all seafloor mapping, ROV, and location-bearing data collected on UCH sites. In addition, NOAA Ocean Exploration determines the eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places of every UCH site where data is collected. Should a site be determined eligible for listing, NOAA Ocean Exploration initiates a National Historic Preservation Act Section 304 consultation with the Keeper’s Office of the National Register of Historic Places and relevant UCH site partners with research, management, or jurisdictional interest, including partners who suggested exploration of the site.24 If the site is a sunken U.S. military craft, NOAA Ocean Exploration and NOAA General Counsel work with Defense Secretaries to protect sensitive data under the SMCA. Community-Driven Archaeology NOAA Ocean Exploration has adopted a unique model of community-driven exploration that serves broad community interests and addresses data gaps while being responsive to specific community, agency, administration, and global priorities and drivers. This “Explorer Model” brings together the ocean science and resource management communities to collaboratively plan expeditions and explore areas of the deep 22 achp.gov/sites/default/files/2018-06/nhpa.pdf 23 https://www.history.navy.mil/research/underwater-archaeology/policy-and-resource-management/sunken-military-craft-act/smca.html 24 Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to withhold from public disclosure information about the location, character, or ownership of a historic property if disclosure of such information may cause a significant invasion of privacy, risk harm to the historic property, or impede the use of a traditional religious site by practitioners. Section 304 is only applicable to UCH sites eligible for, or listed on, the National Register of Historic Places. 5 �ocean where data are scarce (Cantwell et al. 2020) (Figure 3). NOAA Ocean Exploration is employing the Explorer Model in the 2024-2026 campaign in the Pacific basin. The Explorer Model also applies to UCH exploration planning. Input regarding archaeological priorities from all interested parties, including state, local, and tribal governments and Indigenous communities, is fundamental to ensuring that NOAA Ocean Exploration activities in the Pacific address priorities of the archaeology community and help meet the heritage management and research needs of partners. Figure 3: Foundations of the Explorer Model (adapted from Cantwell et. al. 2020). Archaeologists, historians, resource managers, and others who engage in and research UCH from all sectors are invited to submit UCH priorities directly to NOAA Ocean Exploration. These submissions usually contain sensitive information that may include geographic coordinates of known or potential archaeology material, literature reviews of after-action reports, eyewitness accounts, and other primary source material. Dataset sensitivity is prioritized by NOAA Ocean Exploration and exchanges of sensitive information are brokered through a non-disclosure agreement, with data access limited to NOAA Ocean Exploration and submitting partner(s). By signing this agreement, all parties agree not to share these sensitive data without explicit permission from the partner(s). Once data sharing agreements are in place, NOAA Ocean Exploration creates an internal document containing contextual maps, site summaries, and links to relevant remote sensing data to inform operations planning. 6 �UCH recommendations are then added to an ArcGIS Pro 3.1.0 database and prioritized by historical and traditional significance, amount of community interest, environmental factors (estimated depth, existing data, substrate, confidence in existing coordinates), and potential hazards that affect probability of mission success. Expedition planners then correlate the recommendations with the planned operating areas of the ship and decide which UCH sites to consider for exploration. This process is exemplified by the following two case studies that showcase the Explorer Model and the importance of partner contributions to marine archaeology investigations. B-29 CASE STUDY The Explorer Model is best exemplified by the 2016 discovery and characterization of a B-29 Superfortress aircraft lost in the Saipan Channel (Cantwell et. al. 2020a). This site and the potentially 10 other aircraft lost in this area include 53 service personnel missing in action. As such, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency25 (DPAA), which is responsible for the repatriation of unaccounted for Americans, became intrinsically involved and was able to support the mission by providing subject-matter expertise and information on open aircraft case files for the area. Additional historical and archaeological data were provided by the B-29 Restoration Team, the Seattle Museum of Flight, aviation historians, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) University’s Nautical Archaeology Program, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, East Carolina University’s Maritime Studies Program, the United States Air Force, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Division of Historic Preservation, and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (Lickliter-Mundon et. al. 2018). The discovery of this resource furthered public appreciation for, and academic understanding of, the B-29s lost near the Tinian North Field and served as a case study for deepwater ROV characterization of aircraft wreckage. The investigation also resulted in a successful National Historic Preservation Act Section 304 consultation with the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places. The Keeper concurred with NOAA Ocean Exploration’s determination that the B-29 was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A: Military through its participation in Pacific theatre World War II (WWII) combat operations off Tinian Island and C: Design/Construction as a rare, submerged example of a significant design advancement in aviation history (NPS 1990). Public release of B-29 location data was determined to introduce risk of harm by increasing the likelihood of looting or other disturbance. Partner collaboration on the B-29 was pivotal at every step, from submitting it as a priority target to site discovery, characterization, peer-reviewed publication of research, and sensitive data protection and stewardship. Only with the collaborative and collective research of the partners listed above was the eligibility determination possible. AMAKASU MARU NO.1 CASE STUDY The WWII Battle of Wake Island claimed an estimated 900 to 1,000 Japanese soldiers and 100 American soldiers during the 16-day siege. The bravery and memory of these Japanese soldiers are entombed in 21 aircraft, one submarine, and two destroyers lost during their attempted taking of Wake Island. The Americans also lost several aircraft during the island’s defense. On August 11, 2016, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners from the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, University of Hawaii, the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration, and multibeam echosounder expert Gary Fabian investigated an anomaly thought to be the potential remains of the Imperial Japanese Navy Kamikaze-class destroyer Hayate. ROVs Deep Discoverer and Seirios provided the first glimpse of the hull, whose side markings, 25 https://www.dpaa.mil/ 7 �armament, and cabin structure revealed it was not Hayate, but the Japanese water tanker Amakasu Maru No. 1 (Figure 1). Amakasu Maru No.1 was sunk by the USS Triton on December 24, 1942, after sustaining heavy torpedo damage on the port side off Wake Atoll, now located in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. The ship now sits upright and serves as a habitat for anemones, glass sponges, anglerfish, squat lobsters, and other animals. Its remains were fully documented by the exploration team, and the entire ROV dive was broadcast live to engage participating scientists ashore and to share this important UCH site with the public (Cantelas and Wagner 2016). Data from this dive became the subject matter for a master’s thesis that further characterized the site and its place in history (Yoxsimer 2022). Yoxsimer’s thesis exemplifies student-led products supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration-collected data and potential student engagement opportunities for upcoming missions in the Pacific basin. From beginning to end, UCH partnerships allowed NOAA Ocean Exploration to discover Amakasu Maru No. 1 and memorialize the sacrifices made by the sailors aboard. Now, Amakasu Maru No. 1 is known in the archaeological record and its story can be shared with the world. CONCLUSION Between 2024 and 2026, NOAA Ocean Exploration will continue its community-driven exploration in the Pacific basin. This presents an opportunity for the Asia-Pacific UCH community to participate in the planning, execution, and post-expedition data workup. While there are no guarantees on the amount, location, and frequency of UCH operations, NOAA Ocean Exploration is looking to the Asia-Pacific UCH community to help guide the Pacific campaign. This will lean heavily on partnerships, both familiar and new, including international collaborative efforts. Together, we can prioritize, explore, discover, and protect the important deep water UCH resources of the Pacific Basin and broaden understanding of our collective past. Information about how to participate in the Pacific basin campaign is available on NOAA Ocean Exploration website’s NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Get Involved26 web page and through the authors of this paper, who can facilitate participation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The processes and capacities discussed have been steadily built across the NOAA Ocean Exploration program and its partners over the past 23 years. This includes contributions and leadership from the program’s Outreach and Education, Expeditions and Exploration, Administration and Finance, and Science and Technology divisions. Special thanks to the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration27 and NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aircraft Operations28 for helping execute our mission. 26 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/getinvolved.html 27 https://www.engineeringfordiscovery.org/ 28 https://www.omao.noaa.gov/ 8 �BIBLIOGRAPHY Cantelas, Frank and Katie Wagner. 2016. “NOAA Discovers and Explorers Japanese Cargo Ship, Amakasu Maru.” NOAA Ocean Exploration Website. Published August 14, 2016. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1606/logs/aug14/welcome.html. Cantwell, Kasey, Shirley Pomponi, Patty Fryer, Derek Sowers, Frank Cantelas, Amanda Netburn, Michael Ford, and Amy Bowman. “EX-16-05 Leg 3 Expedition Report: 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas (ROV/Mapping).” NOAA Ocean Exploration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. United States, 2020a. https://doi.org/10.25923/xy0q-0f35. Cantwell, Kasey, Brian R.C. Kennedy, Mashkoor, Malik, Kelley P. Suhre, Rachel Medley, Elizabeth Lobecker, Shannon Hoy, Caitlin Adams, Matt Dornback, and Megan Cromwell. “The Explorer Model: Lessons from 10 Years of Community-Led Ocean Exploration and Open Data.” Journal of Ocean Technology 15:3 (2020b): 67-76. Cuellar, Sam. “NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer FY23 Field Season Instructions.” NOAA Ocean Exploration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. United States, 2023. https://doi.org/10.25923/f06c-5x38. Lickliter-Mundon, Megan, Frank Cantelas, Wendy Coble, Jeremy Kinney, Jennifer McKinnon, Jeffrey Meyer, Andrew Pietruszka, Brad Pilgrim, James R. Pruitt, and Hans Van Tilburg. “Identification of a Deep-Water B-29 WWII Aircraft via ROV Telepresence Survey.” Journal of Maritime Archaeology, 13 (2018):167-189. (NHPA) National Historic Preservation Act. 54 U.S.C. §300101 et. seq., 2021. https://www.achp.gov/sites/default/files/201806/nhpa.pdf. NPS (National Park Service). “How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation.” United States, 1990. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/NRB-15_web508.pdf. (SMCA) Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004. 10 U.S.C. §113 note., 2021. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/underwaterarchaeology/policy-and-resource-management/sunken-military-craft-act/smca.html. Yoxsimer, Andrea. 2022. “Amakasu Maru No.1: An Analysis of a Remotely Operated Vehicle Survey on a WWII Japanese Requisitioned Shipwreck in the Pacific.” Master’s thesis, East Carolina University, 2022. 9 � Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Community Driven Marine Archaeology: NOAA Ocean Exploration Operations in the Pacific Basin 2024-2026 Description An account of the resource With priority placed on the exploration of deep waters, NOAA Ocean Exploration applies the latest tools and technologies to explore previously unknown areas of the ocean, making discoveries of scientific, economic, and cultural value. As both a valuable cultural resource and habitat for marine organisms, NOAA Ocean Exploration’s priorities include maritime archaeology and the discovery of our underwater cultural heritage (UCH). Between 2024 and 2026, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners will conduct exploratory seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) explorations in the Pacific basin. This article details the tools, technologies, and typical datasets collected by our program and opportunities for the Asia-Pacific community of archaeologists, historians, and resource managers to contribute to our UCH research prioritization and participate in our live, publicly accessible telepresence-enabled operations. Using this community-driven archaeology model, we ensure this exploratory work will have the greatest impact and provide a publicly accessible platform for sharing our common cultural heritage. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Philip A. Hartmeyer Jeremy Weirich Hans Van Tilburg Adrienne Copeland Mashkoor Malik Frank Cantelas Sam Cuellar Kelley Suhre Kasey Cantwell Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Language A language of the resource English Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Hartmeyer, Philip A., Jeremy Weirich, Hans Van Tilburg, Adrienne Copeland, Mashkoor Malik, Frank Cantelas, Sam Cuellar, Kelley Suhre, Kasey Cantwell. 2023. “Community Driven Marine Archaeology: NOAA Ocean Exploration Operations in the Pacific Basin 2024-2026.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Veronica Walker-Vadillo. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1999 Asia-Pac Session 19 2023 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/d7f56e9439d1fe281d6a5f349547cdc5.pdf 30a940b23170e5f01b66b5bf337e3637 PDF Text Text The Herakles project: Towards a minimum intervention methodology for the study of Underwater Cultural Heritage in harbour complex spaces. Felipe Cerezo Andreo1, Soledad Solana Rubio,2 Raúl González Gallero,3 Alberto Salas Romero,4 Nicolás C. Ciarlo,5 Carlota Pérez-Reverte Mañas,6 José Bettencourt,7 Elisa Fernández Tudela8 and Alicia Arévalo González9 1 (University of Cádiz, Associate Professor) 0000-0003-0025-1726 2 (University of Cádiz, Researcher) 0000-0001-5571-7453 3 (University of Cádiz, Technician) ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8862-0516 4 (University of Cádiz, Researcher) 0000-0002-2855-166X 5 (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) –University of Buenos Aires (IA, FFyL-UBA), Argentina, Researcher) 0000-0002-1995-6227 6 (University of Cádiz, Researcher) ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1833-815X 7 (Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Associate Professor) 0000-0002-7722-5115 8 (University of Cádiz, Technician) 0000-0003-4565-7690 9 (University of Cádiz, Professor) 0000-0001-8114-3385 ABSTRACT In recent years, several researchers are focusing their efforts on the development of documentation methods and techniques according to the principles of minimal and non-intrusive intervention on underwater cultural heritage (UCH), as advocated by the UNESCO 2001 Convention. These methods have been used successfully to locate and document some shipwrecks without excavation. However, few works have succeeded in investigating and extracting all available information from an underwater archaeological site with the minimum possible intervention. Within the framework of the Herakles project, we have developed a working methodology that aims to apply different non-intrusive techniques for the documentation and research of the UCH. We have developed a field workflow that has allowed us to document 35 shipwrecks in just one year, identify 151 archaeology sites and deepen our knowledge of a privileged nautical space such as the Strait of Gibraltar.We have used geophysical methods with USV survey, magnetometer, sub bottom profiler, photogrammetry either with ROV or scientific diving, underwater GPS survey and in situ archaeological monitoring and drawing. All data have been processed in a geographic information system for management and risk analysis of this UCH. Finally, this work methodology has been useful for generating virtual resources such as 3D models or 3600 videos. Keywords: non-intrusive techniques, monitoring UCH, geophysical survey, new technologies applied to UCH, Strait of Gibraltar. List of images Figure 1 – Location of the case study and surveyed areas. Figure 2 – Methodology workflow. Figure 3 – Some techniques applied during the fieldwork. A) Magnetometer; B) USV Multibeam; C) SBP; D) GPS survey results example; E) Archaeological drawing and Photogrammetry. Figure 4 –Map of results with identified underwater sites. 1 (University of Cádiz, Associate Professor) 0000-0003-0025-1726 (University of Cádiz, Researcher) 0000-0001-5571-7453 3 (University of Cádiz, Technician) ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8862-0516 4 (University of Cádiz, Researcher) 0000-0002-2855-166X 5 (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) –University of Buenos Aires (IA, FFyL-UBA), Argentina, Researcher) 0000-0002-1995-6227 6 (University of Cádiz, Researcher) ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1833-815X 7 (Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Associate Professor) 0000-0002-7722-5115 8 (University of Cádiz, Technician) 0000-0003-4565-7690 9 (University of Cádiz, Professor) 0000-0001-8114-3385 2 1 �1. INTRODUCTION The research Project HERAKLES, led by Felipe Cerezo, aims to record and study the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) in the Bay of Algeciras (Figure 1). The results will allow us to analyse and document the maritime history of the Bay. 2. CASE STUDIES Figure 1 – Location of the case study and surveyed areas. The Strait of Gibraltar is a historical meeting point between the Europe and Africa, a significant maritime cross path connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and also a passage to America. Located at this strategic naval crossroads, the Bay of Algeciras is a privileged maritime space, being a wide, deep and safe bay, which allowed the development of an intense occupation with clear maritime links. However, considering the historical importance that the sea and nautical activities have played, the level of knowledge and documentation of the UCH in these waters was very low util 2019. Of the approximately 125 archaeological sites of different chronologies known in the area, only four were underwater, and of these only one could be considered a shipwreck, that of Ballenera. In addition, there are several factors that pose a great challenge to the study of the UCH in this area. - Port development: Algeciras is the largest industrial port in Spain and one of the most important in the world. The UCH is threatened by the works to handle the huge container traffic, the dredging for the ever-larger ships or the effect of the heavy anchors and chains of the merchant ships anchored in this Bay. 2 �- Industrial activity: Shipyards, oil refineries, shipbuilding and logistics are the main industries in the Bay. Their development and expansion into the sea since the 1990s has affected and continues to affect the shallow water UCH. - Climate Change and Ocean Dynamics: The effects of climate change are being felt in the area, particularly through changes in the dynamics of local ocean currents and sediment transport - Invasive species and environmental hazards: As a port of global importance, it is frequented by large merchant ships from different parts of the world. This has led to the arrival of various exogenous species, notably Rugulopteryx oukamurae, which in just five years has covered the seabed of the Bay, damaging local ecosystems and hiding archaeological sites. - Looting and ignorance: The risk of looting has always been present in an area with a rich UCH. Educational activities to raise awareness are therefore very necessary in this context. Finally, we must not forget that we are in a geopolitically complex area where underwater surveys are not permitted near the British colony of Gibraltar, even though the waters are under Spanish sovereignty. Therefore, to overcome this series of limitations, we have developed and applied a multidisciplinary methodology that combines known underwater survey techniques and developed low-cost applications in order to undertake a multi-proxy research with minimal impact on the UCH (see figure 2). The main objective of this methodology is to answer the initial questions about the chronology, typology and state of preservation of each underwater site surveyed. These answers are not always straightforward when dealing with geophysical data or seafloor information. Therefore, our methodology is developed with an individual approach for each site. This allows us to decide which technique is best suited to the questions we want to answer and to apply it effectively. In this way, the work methodology is divided into different actions to develop each of the specific goals of the project. Figure 2 – Methodology workflow. Consequently, our working method is defined by the principles promulgated in the 2001 UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (Maarleveld, Guérin and Egger 2013, 20-59), mainly those of in situ conservation as a first option, impact limitation and prioritisation of non- 3 �destructive methods. Thus, in developing our methodology, we prioritise the documentation of UCH as a first step. In line with the above principles, we prioritise exploration over recovery and are therefore innovate in the use of geophysical techniques that allow us to map the seabed without altering it, identifying what is buried, what is anomalous and at what depth, as well as helping to monitor the degree of preservation of the UCH. Once found, our priority is to leave the underwater archaeological artefacts in their original location and to document it through interventions in which we establish a proportionate relationship between the impact caused and the scientific information obtained. Our specific action is therefore based on graphic documentation using various techniques (photogrammetry, video, 360º video, scanning, drawing, etc.). Once processed and studied, these results give rise to virtual models that we use to continue researching the UCH or to communicate it to society10. 3. RESOURCES For geophysical survey: Kongsberg SIMRAD EM2040 High resolution multibeam echo sounder. Variable frequency from 200 to 400 kHz and parametric frequency from 10 to 60 kHz. Equipment installed and operational on small hydrographic vessels of the Spanish Hydrographic Institute. Sub Bottom Profiler (SBP) model SES-2000 standard, manufactured by the German company INNOMAR. It is parametric in nature, which allows a high resolution in the detection of strata and sediment layers. Marine Magnetics Seaspy2 magnetometer. High-sensitivity, ship-towed magnetometer that measures the magnetic field using an Overhauser sensor. USV equipped with a high resolution Norbit iWBMSe multibeam echosounder. Variable frequency from 200 to 700 kHz, mounted on a USV Otter-Pro, an autonomous surface vehicle that allows high accuracy in shallow water environments. For satellite navigation: - Leica GS18 mobile RTK GNSS antenna, which provides position readings with millimetre accuracy. - Garmin 78s GPS with underwater housing and buoy antenna. For underwater photogrammetry: - 4 Go Pro Cameras (GP10, GP8 y GP7) Olympus EP-7 with underwater housing. For drawing and recording: - Monitoring templates/sheets printed on waterproof paper. Slate/board and Pencil Fiberglass metric scales For UCH Access: - The majority of the sites recorded or studied by photogrammetry or sketches were done by diving from the coast. 10 For an example, visit: https://bit.ly/3wXrCvy 4 �- In the cases where we have used vessel support, we have used the UCADIZ research vessel from the UCA; and the Tarpán, a small one from a collaborating dive centre. For data processing: - Agisoft Metashape Professional for Photogrammetry processing Adobe Illustrator for digitalising sketches and drawing planimetries. All geophysical survey equipment has its own software for signal acquisition and processing. ArcGIS Pro for data collecting and integrate processing. Regarding the human team, the works were performed by the team of underwater archaeologists and some students from the Master of Nautical and Underwater Archaeology at the UCA. 4. FRAMEWORK This study aims to identify potential UCH sites by applying surveying methods for future monitoring and preservation. Considering the diversity of the environment in the study area, we divided it in different sectors according to the harbour morphology, previous archaeological information, casual findings or accessibility. Given some time and financial constraints of this study, we had to plan the fieldwork in all areas simultaneously. The theory of our approach, from macro to micro, meant that in a first phase we had to work with geophysical data and, in addition, geo-reference historical information on finds and shipwrecks that might be known to divers and fishermen in the area. As a result, we obtained a first set of possible anomalies. Furthermore, before starting the fieldwork, a virtual survey of the shallower areas was conducted using aerial photographs and satellite images from 1954 to the present day. In this way, we were able to understand the processes of shoreline mobility caused by the impact of port works and climate change, and to identify several shipwrecks visible in the photographs. Once the areas of interest had been defined, the following surveys were undertaken: Multibeam survey: The bathymetry in our study area is very variable, ranging from shallow areas to depths of 400 metres. Two types of multibeam surveys were conducted. One in shallow areas (from the shoreline to -20 metres depth), to obtain a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for spatial analysis and to document various wooden shipwrecks of modern times that have been unearthed. This work was made using the USV Otter Pro and the Norbit echosounder (see figure 3.B). The other type of fieldwork was the mid-water survey, from -15 m to - 80 m depth, to document the seabed and to assess the impact of anchoring activities of large cargo ships in areas where UCH may be present. Magnetometer survey: The main result of using the magnetometer in this survey has been to obtain a large number of anomalies, the interpretation of which has allowed us to verify the existence of numerous underwater archaeological sites. In addition, and most useful of all, we have been able to locate shipwrecks that were previously known only from very isolated and difficult-to-interpret material (see figure 3.A). However, one must not forget the challenge of using such sensitive equipment in port areas, where rubbish, chains, lost anchors and other objects can cause interference Sub Bottom Profiler survey: The use of this equipment had as main objectives to determine the existence of anomalies buried under the sediment and to understand the stratigraphy of the area. Furthermore, we aimed to assess how successive dredging and harbour works altered the natural sedimentation processes (see figure 3.C). 5 �The data obtained with this equipment are very interesting but complex to interpret. For this reason, it is better to combine it with bathymetry results, to understand the presence of objects on the seabed, and with the magnetometer to know what kind of objects may be buried. Figure 3 – Some techniques applied during the fieldwork. A) Magnetometer; B) USV Multibeam; C) SBP; D) GPS survey results example; E) Archaeological drawing and Photogrammetry. GPS survey: Using the above techniques, a database of possible UCH anomalies was compiled, which was subsequently cross-checked with information obtained from the local community, museums or archives. Combining this information in a Geographical Information System (GIS) allowed us to define the areas to be surveyed using scientific diving techniques. For these tasks we used a Garmin 78s GPS with an underwater housing and a buoy with a surface antenna connected by a 20 m coaxial cable. By carrying the GPS pad underwater, the divers always knew their position, heading and distance to the points to be checked. In addition, the pad can be accessed via buttons and the exact position of underwater archaeological finds can be marked underwater. This low-cost technique was very efficient in providing a map of the points of underwater archaeological artefacts, the precise location of sites or, by recording the route, an estimate of the areas covered by the survey. It was also very useful for planning surveys, as predefined routes were entered into the device, so that scientific divers could follow them safety. Finally, the data uploaded to the GIS were used to produce density maps and other spatial analyses to define future research and site monitoring strategies (see figure 3.D). Detailed site recording drawings, sketches and underwater photogrammetry: Graphic documentation by means of drawings or photogrammetry is a simple and effective technique that has allowed us to obtain precise data of each site in a non-intrusive manner and with a high level of detail (see figure 3.E). Unlike geophysical techniques, drawing or photogrammetry provides a very precise spatial resolution, which is essential to understand certain types of sites. Once we had located a site using the techniques previously explained, we planned a fieldwork of graphic documentation that could be made in two or three working days, depending on the depth. 6 �The procedure was as follows: 1) A dive on the site was made to take general measurements, to get to know the marine environment (visibility, currents, sedimentation), to identify the elements that could be diagnostic in order to define the typology and chronology, as well as the degree of coverage by flora or sediments. 2) On the ground, the necessary resources were defined and the tasks of cleaning, marking and photogrammetry were planned. 3) In a second dive, one group manually cleaned the surfaces of the site, or at least the areas that could provide diagnostic information. Another group made detailed drawings, sketches and marked the main architectural features of the site with targets, scales or labels. 4) Once the site was prepared, and taking into account the tides, swell and visibility, the photographic and photogrammetric documentation was performed with as few people as possible in the water to avoid soiling the site. 5) Finally, on a last dive, control measurements were taken to scale the photogrammetric model using a GNNS antenna with RTK corrections. To protect the site, areas where more sediment had been removed were re-covered. Not all techniques were used in all case studies. The methods used were those considered most useful, economical and effective for each site, depending on the kind of questions to be answered. Moreover, the entire project has sought to identify the limitations of this non-intrusive methodology. Although there are aspects of a site that cannot be known without intrusive research, we have found that the methodology applied and the workflow developed are very useful and transferable to other complex sites. RESULTS This section summarises the results and the strengths and weaknesses of this methodology: - The integrated use of multibeam data, magnetometer, historical information and GPS surveys has yielded very positive results (see figure 4). - The multi-proxy use of these techniques has made it possible to identify, assess and diagnose UCH more accurately and quickly than with traditional methods. - The use of SBP in former harbour areas, together with historical mapping information, provides a clear understanding of the extent of the impact of dredging on stratigraphic levels containing archaeological remains. - Photogrammetry with divers on an annual or biannual basis is a very useful method to monitor the degradation of a site. - A large area has been covered in a short time and at very low cost with good results. - Sandy bottoms and shallow waters are excellent areas for the application of this methods. - This is a methodology developed specifically for UCH in coastal environments and shallow water contexts. Applying it without modification to UCH found in different geographical environments or at great depths is a challenge that we have yet to experiment with. - Finally, we consider it important to underline that this methodology is in line with the DNSH principle, which is particularly relevant in this Ocean’s Decade. F i g u r e S 7 �Figure 4 –Map of results with identified underwater sites. Underwater Cultural Heritage (shipwrecks, wrecks or harbours) is the evidence of a maritime past that is currently submerged and poorly known. The lack of mapping of this heritage is a threat to its preservation and is sometimes seen as an obstacle to maritime spatial planning and economic growth in coastal and port areas. The growth of port areas is one of the major challenges of the coming decades, linked to the industrial and economic development of certain coastal regions that depend to a large extent on their activity. In 8 �this context, UCH is one of the forgotten issues in maritime strategies, although it represents an opportunity for development in the field of the Blue Economy. The digitisation and dissemination of UCH through the application of new technologies, using nonintrusive, geophysical and virtual methods, must be a priority. Otherwise, we risk losing the memory of our maritime past. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work has been co-financed by the 2014-2020 ERDF Project reference: FEDER-UCA18-107327. We thank this conference for accepting us and for providing a methodological session, in which we can share our experience with the whole scientific community. Thanks to the HERAKLES team and all collaborators, researchers, professors and students. To Félix Rodríguez Lloret, pioneer in the surveying of the UCH in the Bay of Algeciras. To all those who are curious about maritime culture. BIBLIOGRAPHY Maarleveld, Thijs, Guérin, Ulrike and Egger, Barbara. Manual para actividades dirigidas al patrimonio cultural subacuático: directrices para el Anexo de la Convención de la UNESCO de 2001. Paris: UNESCO, 2013. Available in: <https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000220716>. 9 � Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Herakles project: Towards a minimum intervention methodology for the of Underwater Cultural Heritage in harbour complex spaces Description An account of the resource In recent years, several researchers are focusing their efforts on the development of documentation methods and techniques according to the principles of minimal and non-intrusive intervention on underwater cultural heritage (UCH), as advocated by the UNESCO 2001 Convention. These methods have been used successfully to locate and document some shipwrecks without excavation. However, few works have succeeded in investigating and extracting all available information from an underwater archaeological site with the minimum possible intervention. Within the framework of the Herakles project, we have developed a working methodology that aims to apply different non-intrusive techniques for the documentation and research of the UCH. We have developed a field workflow that has allowed us to document 35 shipwrecks in just one year, identify 151 archaeology sites and deepen our knowledge of a privileged nautical space such as the Strait of Gibraltar.We have used geophysical methods with USV survey, magnetometer, sub bottom profiler, photogrammetry either with ROV or scientific diving, underwater GPS survey and in situ archaeological monitoring and drawing. All data have been processed in a geographic information system for management and risk analysis of this UCH. Finally, this work methodology has been useful for generating virtual resources such as 3D models or 3600 videos. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Felipe Cerezo Andreo Soledad Solana Rubio Raúl González Gallero Alberto Salas Romero Nicolás C. Ciarlo Carlota Pérez-Reverte Mañas José Bettencourt Elisa Fernández Tudela Alicia Arévalo González Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available 2023 Language A language of the resource English Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Andreo, Felipe Cerezo, Soledad Solana Rubio, Raúl González Gallero, Alberto Salas Romero, Nicolás C. Ciarlo, Carlota Pérez-Reverte Mañas, José Bettencourt, Elisa Fernández Tudela, Alicia Arévalo González. 2023. “The Herakles project: Towards a minimum intervention methodology for the study of Underwater Cultural Heritage in harbour complex spaces.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Carlota Perez-Reverte. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1998 Asia-Pac Session 19 2023 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/4437703c05046c156b19dbf319efe76e.pdf c13c3cc56dd6716c240b3e77ecc9df49 PDF Text Text 2001 Convention and UNESCO’s Capacity Building in Asia-Pacific Chihiro NISHIKAWA ABSTRACT The topic of this paper fits best within this Session 18: Revisiting the UNESCO Foundation and Advanced Courses for Asia-Pacific: Status, Development, and Challenges because it reviews UNESCO’s capacity building efforts and activities with an aim to identify challenges and propose future course of action relating to underwater cultural heritage in the region. 2001 CONVENTION The Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (the 2001 Convention) was adopted in 2001 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to fight against commercial exploitation of underwater cultural heritage (UCH). According to the Convention, UCH is “an integral part of the cultural heritage of humanity and a particularly important element in the history of peoples, nations and their relations with each other concerning their common heritage” (UNESCO 2001: Preamble), and provides vital evidence and information about human history and the interaction of civilizations with all kinds of waters, e.g. oceans, lakes, rivers, flooded caves and swamps. The 2001 Convention aims to assure UCH protection and sustainability at the same level as those provided to land-based heritage. To this end, the 2001 Convention regulates site protection measures and obliges its States Parties to impose sanctions in cases of violations of the measures. It also provides ethical principles such as in situ preservation and the respect of all human remains located in maritime waters. The 2001 Convention moreover underlines the importance of research, information and education to the protection and preservation of underwater cultural heritage and contains, in its Annex, 36 rules for activities directed at UCH, providing practical guidelines for underwater scientific and archaeological interventions. Today the rules have become internationally recognized scientific standards for underwater archaeology and research, applied by many specialized institutions and universities. UNESCO regional meetings and training workshops The 2001 Convention entered into force with 20 ratifications in 2009. To promote the principles of the 2001 Convention and help countries develop capacity in the protection and management of underwater cultural heritage in line with the objectives of the Convention, UNESCO organized a series of regional meetings and technical workshops. For Southeast Asia, UNESCO organized, between 2009 and 2011, extensive training workshops in underwater archaeology to build regional capacity in identification, research and protection of underwater cultural heritage, owing to the generous financial contribution from Norway. Five UNESCO training workshops, including three foundation courses and two advanced training courses, took place at the regional training centre on UCH in Chanthaburi, Thailand. The workshops all together trained nearly 100 underwater archaeologists from over 15 countries in Asia (UNESCO 2013b). Building on the training workshops, UNESCO further published the Training Manual for the Foundation Course on the Protection and Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage in Asia and the Pacific in 2012, to facilitate the development of capacity building programmes in underwater archaeology for the region (UNESCO 2012). At the same time, UNESCO organized regional policy meetings (Ko Kong, Cambodia in 2012, Indonesia in 2017 and 2019 in cooperation with ASEAN) to gain support for the 2001 Convention 1 �and enhance its ratification in the region. Several large-scale conferences were also undertaken at the initiatives of governments, universities and non-governmental stakeholders, including the Asia-Pacific Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage (APCONF) in Manilla (2011), Honolulu (2014), Hong Kong (2017), and Taiwan (2020) which provided a regional platform for academic exchange and information dissemination regarding underwater archaeology and UCH (Kimura and McCann 2019). While the 2001 Convention has progressively gained its influence and recognition as the international scientific standard and effective legal instrument for UCH protection, its ratification in Asia-Pacific remains the smallest among all regions, with only four countries1 having ratified the Convention. In Southeast Asia, only one state, Cambodia, has ratified the Convention in 2007. Table 1: Number of States Parties and ratification rate by UNESCO regional groups (electoral)2Source: UNESCO Europe & Latin North America America and Asia and Africa Pacific Arab Total States Caribbean Number of 20 21 4 15 12 72 50 33 44 47 19 193 40 63 9 31 63 37 States Parties Number of Member States Ratification rate (%) In the Pacific, two countries, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Niue, have ratified the Convention respectively in 2018 and 2019. Moreover, UCH in the Pacific has begun to gain attention and has been increasingly integrated in the regional policies and initiatives such as the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway, Climate Change, Disaster Resilience and Environmental Protection of the United Nation Pacific Strategy 2018–2022, and the Regional Culture Strategy: Investing in Pacific Cultures 2010–2020. With numerous unexplored submerged sites, ranging from sunken villages, prehistorical dwellings to the shipwrecks from World War II, UCH is increasingly researched and recognised as a driver for sustainable development and as an effective means for community engagement and economic incentive through tourism (UNESCO 2017). In September 2014, UNESCO organized a side event on Underwater Cultural Heritage and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during the SIDS Conference. It published two publications related to UCH in Oceania (2010) and related legislation and programmes in the five countries in Micronesia (2018) in collaboration with UCH experts from the region. The recent ratification of FSM and Niue is likely to be followed by other Pacific states, including Australia currently working toward the ratification3 and potentially the Solomon Islands and the Republic of the Marshall Islands for which UNESCO carried out studies on the gap analysis between their national legislations and the 2001 Convention in 2021, the preparatory work towards the ratification. 1 Cambodia, Federated States of Micronesia, Iran, and Niue 2 According to UNESCO Executive Board groupings https://pax.unesco.org/cp/ListeMS_Indicators.asp See: Australia must do more to prevent ‘looting and destruction’ of underwater heritage, report says | Oceans | The Guardian 3 2 �In Asia where a series of trainings and workshops were conducted between 2009 and 2011, no other states have joined the Convention since Cambodia’s ratification in 2007. To take stock of the development and progress made to safeguard UCH in the region, UNESCO held a meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2019 in cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat inviting the representatives and experts of eight Southeast Asian countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam)4. Most underwater archaeology experts at the meeting, notably from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, were the beneficiaries of the UNESCO trainings conducted between 2009 and 2011. During the meeting, the national reports on the status of safeguarding UCH were presented by the country representatives, which clearly showed that some progress have been made in the region to fight against commercial exploitation through various measures, e.g. the adoption of national laws to ban commercial salvage or to reinforce national capacity building and awareness-raising activities of the submerged cultural heritage (UNESCO 2019c). For example, underwater heritage is part of the policy for integrated coastal zone management in Indonesia today, and since 2010, the country has stopped UCH salvaging activities by imposing a moratorium on Ministerial Decree No. 30/200013 which permits commercial salvage of UCH in the country.5 A marine heritage gallery is permanently held inside the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia, open to the public and used for awareness-raising seminars and activities. In Thailand, the Underwater Archaeology Division of the Fine Arts Department in the Ministry of Culture, established in 1974, systematically undertakes a series of underwater archaeological surveys according to proper scientific and archaeological standards. The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, with its Regional Centre for Archaeology and the Fine Arts (SEAMEO-SPAFA) in Bangkok, Thailand, has been actively promoting regional cooperation in underwater protection and archaeology and organising technical and policy workshops on UCH issues. Malaysia introduced three legislations affecting UCH, i.e. Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, Antiquities Act of 1976 and National Heritage Act 2005. The 2005 National Heritage Act defines underwater heritage and authorises the Heritage Commissioner to regulate salvage or excavation activities. In Vietnam where a great number of UCH was commercially salvaged and most archaeological sites had been seriously damaged and deformed over the years, the government has established the Department of Underwater Archaeology in 2013, which was later changed to the Centre of Underwater Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology in 2016 to enhance its capacity in underwater archaeology and management of submerged historical sites. The Vietnamese government officials are more conscious of the historical and cultural value of its UCH (Dissanayake 2014). While certain positive developments to protect UCH have been observed and the national legislative measures to halt commercial exploitation have begun to be put in place, there still remains many challenges to overcome in Southeast Asia. Despite the increasing recognition of the importance and the potential attached to this heritage in recent years, there is the general absence of political will and adequate financial support to research and protect UCH in the region. Many countries still lack the capacity and expertise to undertake systematic research on their own with the exception of a few countries that have adequately trained national underwater archaeologists such as Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, albeit with limited financial means. Lacking funding and expertise, certain countries have also chosen to work with commercial salvage companies to carry out archaeological research and excavation in exchange for a share of recovered artefacts, which are then distributed to the commercial companies and eventually to auction sales. There are also issues with legal legislation and law enforcement which are not always strictly applied in practice, leaving room for unlicensed excavation and commercial exploitation. Even today, 15th century Vietnamese ceramics from the Hoi An shipwreck or 19th century Chinese porcelain bowls from the Tek Sing shipwreck can be purchased through commercial websites. In the southern coast of Cambodia, a man was arrested in 2020 for illegally collecting and possessing some 281 ancient jars recovered from the sea. In Vietnam, many artefacts were clandestinely recovered from the 7th to 8th century Châu Tân 4 The author attended the meeting. However, this moratorium was revoked in Indonesia through the Jobs Creation Law in March 2021. By reversing course, Indonesia has allowed treasure hunting by private investors and foreigners again. See https://www.southeastasianarchaeology. com/. 5 3 �shipwreck and kept by a private collector (Kimura 2016). Low visibility of this heritage and the lack of public awareness and ethical conscience are also factors to overcome while more awareness-raising efforts are generally necessary at local and national levels to gain public support to safeguard this heritage for future generations. Future course of action During the past decade, Latin America and the Caribbean, which possesses extremely rich underwater cultural heritage as Asia-Pacific, had continuously suffered from commercial exploitation and destruction of the heritage by treasure hunters. However, the region today has been most successful in the ratification and implementation of the 2001 Convention with reinforced human capacity and infrastructure, owing to growing awareness and efforts made by states to enhance the regional collaboration and adopt a roadmap to prioritize the protection of underwater cultural heritage through the ratification of the 2001 Convention (UNESCO 2015). As such, many courses of action can be envisaged and should be reinforced in line with the principles and rules contained in the 2001 Convention. To protect and establish a good management of underwater cultural heritage in Asia, the provision of adequate trained underwater heritage specialists are prerequisite. It will further help the establishment of competent national authorities, establishment of national research agenda and national inventories, public awareness raising and development of solid research and training programmes. To ensure the long-term preservation and use of this heritage, the elaboration of the national need assessments and capacity building strategies should be elaborate. In this vein, UNESCO launched a series of new initiatives, including the first Regional Meeting on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage and the UNESCO 2001 Convention in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea Region. The meeting took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, participated by the representatives of 8 countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) which highlighted the existing potential of the cultural heritage in the region. Following the recommendations of the meeting, a “Capacity Building Strategy” was developed for the region with an aim to help develop the necessary skills and knowledge for researching and managing the underwater archaeological sites found in the region. As a follow-up to the Almaty meeting in 2019, national policy consultations took place in 2021 with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan on the legal framework of the 2001 Convention. In cooperation with the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar, Croatia, technical workshops were organized for the Central Asian countries in May and September 2023, to help states develop their capacity in underwater archaeology and conservation and restoration of underwater archaeological finds. In Southeast Asia, a training workshop on conservation and restoration of underwater archaeological finds took place in June 2023, attended by heritage experts from ASEAN countries. This workshop was realized thanks to the first tripartite collaboration among UNESCO, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and the Fine Arts (SEAMEO-SPAFA) and Underwater Archaeological Division (UAD) of the Fine Arts Department, Thai Ministry of Culture. This model of regional and international cooperation should be further reinforced to develop capacity and raise experts in underwater cultural heritage. With huge potential for development with underwater cultural heritage and as seen in the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific states further invest in the UCH protection, develop regional cooperation and adopt a roadmap to prioritize its protection and the ratification of the 2001 Convention. In recent years, the contribution of UCH to sustainable development began to be underlined in the Development Agenda, such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in particular SDG 14 setting up ten targets to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, and the UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030). To better respond to the emerging global challenges and safeguarding UCH for future generations, it is about time that UCH protection should be prioritized in the national agenda of the Asian-Pacific countries with the legal framework provided by the 2001 Convention. 4 �Bibliography Asia-Pacific Regional Conferences on Underwater Cultural Heritage. 2017. https://www.apconf.org/call-for/past-conferences/ (accessed 20 November 2020). Australian Government. 2018. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Underwater Cultural Heritage Act. https://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ underwater-heritage/underwater-cultural-heritage-act# (accessed 30 August 2020). of the Federated States of Micronesia. 2018. A resolution: Ratifying the 2001 UNESCO convention on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage. https://www.cfsm.gov.fm/ifile/20%20congress/PASSED%20RESOLUTIONS/ CR_NO_20-29.pdf (accessed 30 August 2020). Curtis, T. 2011. TheCongress 2001 Convention: A framework for international cooperation in safeguarding our underwater cultural heritage. The 2011 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings. http://www.themua .org/collections/files/original/401ddde8a071a00c4ad9c29d6608af46.pdf (accessed 13 September 2020). Henderson, J. 2019. Ocean without history? Marine cultural heritage and the sustainable development agenda. Sustainability 11 (18): 5080. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su11185080 Holmes, O., Ulmanu, M. and Roberts, S. 2017. The world’s biggest grave robbery: Asia’s disappearing WWII shipwrecks.TheGuardian. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2017/nov/03/worlds-biggest-grave-robbery-asias-disappe aring-ww2-shipwrecks (accessed 6 October 2020). Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. 2020. United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021–2030: Implementation Plan Version 2.0. https://oceanexpert.org/document/27347 (accessed 15 November 2020). Kimura, J. 2016. Maritime archaeological perspectives on seaborne trade in the South China Sea and East China Sea between the seventh and thirteenth centuries. Crossroads: Studies on the History of Exchange Relations in the East Asian World 11: 47–61 Kimura, J. and McCann, I. 2019. Current state of underwater cultural heritage in the ASEAN region. Information note [unpublished]. Manders, M. R. et al. 2021. Battle of the Java Sea: One event, multiple sites, values and views. Maritime Archaeology 16: 39–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-020 -09287-5 Marzeion, B., and Levermann, A. 2014. Loss of cultural world heritage and currently inhabited places to sea-level rise. Environmental Research Letters 9: 1–7. Pearson, N. 2019. Protecting and preserving underwater cultural heritage in Southeast Asia. In The Palgrave handbook on art crime, eds. Hufnagel, S. and Chappell, D., 685– 730. London: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54405-6_31 Perez-Alvaro, E. 2016. Climate change and underwater cultural heritage: Impacts and challenges. Journal of Cultural Heritage 21: 842–848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. culher.2016.03.006 Rey da Silva, A. 2020. Sailing the waters of sustainability. Reflections on the future of maritime cultural heritage protection in the global sea of development. Post-Classical Archaeologies (PCA) 10: 107–134. Scott-Ireton, D., and McKinnon, J. 2015. As the sand settles: Education and archaeological tourism on underwater cultural heritage. Public Archaeology 14 (3): 157–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/14655187.2016.1191925 Trakadas, A. et al. 2019. The ocean decade heritage network: Integrating cultural heritage within the UN Decade of Ocean Science 2021–2030. Journal of Maritime Archaeology 14: 153–165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-019-09241-0 The Independent. 2020. Diver arrested with almost 300 centuries’ old jars, 29 September. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/cambodiaman-arrested-jar-earthenware-shipwreck-b696287. html?fbclid=IwAR047DevPV0McHTQ3IMl-GF8VKwVIbNl7yBWbPdefqc0IN_7ED_XCPjUwY0. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). 2012. Training manual for the UNESCO foundation course on the protection and management of underwater cultural heritage in Asia and the 5 �Pacific.Bangkok:UNESCO.https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000217234?posIn Set=1&queryId=c8798b7e-8a07-415a-ae26-440753242aab (accessed 7 February 2021). . 2013a. The benefit of the protection of underwater cultural heritage for sustainable growth, tourism and urban development. www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/ MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/pdf/UCH_development_study_2013.pdf (accessed 14September 2020). . 2013b. Secretariat report. Convention of the protection of the underwater cultural heritage: Meeting of States Parties; Fourth session. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000219546 (accessed 14 September 2020). . 2015. Underwater cultural heritage in Latin America and the Caribbean. Culture and Development 13: 16–21. http://www.lacult.unesco.org/lacult_en/docc/CyD_13_en.pdf (accessed 10 October 2020). . 2016. The impact of treasure-hunting on submerged archaeological sites. http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/pdf/Brochure PillageADOPTEDdec2.pdf (accessed 10 October 2022). . 2017. Safeguarding underwater cultural heritage in the Pacific: report on good practice in the protection and management of World War II-related underwater cultural heritage. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000260457 (accessed 28 October 2020). . 2019a. Evaluation of UNESCO’s standard-setting work of the Culture Sector, part VI: 2001 Convention on the protection of underwater cultural heritage. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000368446?posInSet=2&queryId =16a17f7c-2e9c-498a-b8df-26e7a2b39c20 (accessed 10 November 2020). . 2019b. Summary note: Safeguarding and reviving the shared maritime cultural heritage of South-East Asia (5–9 November 2019), Jakarta and Belitung, Indonesia [unpublished]. . 2019c. UN Decade of Ocean Science for sustainable development. https://www.oceandecade.org/about (accessed 28 October 2020). . n.d. Best practices of underwater cultural heritage. new/en/culture/themes/underwater-cultural-heritage/underwater-cultural-heritage/ best-practices-of-underwater-cultural-heritage/ (accessed 10 November 2020. 6 http://www.unesco.org/ � Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2001 Convention and UNESCO’s Capacity Building in Asia-Pacific Description An account of the resource The topic of this paper fits best within this Session 18: Revisiting the UNESCO Foundation and Advanced Courses for Asia-Pacific: Status, Development, and Challenges because it reviews UNESCO’s capacity building efforts and activities with an aim to identify challenges and propose future course of action relating to underwater cultural heritage in the region. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Chihiro Nishikawa Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Language A language of the resource English Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Nishikawa, Chihiro . 2023. “Underwater Cultural Heritage and UNESCO’s Capacity Building in Asia and the Pacific.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, Bobby Orillaneda, and Brian Fahy. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1997 Asia-Pac Session 18 2023 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/529bc670c824352dee22b69f904b2a1a.pdf 66d48b269ad704a9048c360608fb44c0 PDF Text Text The Impact on the Development of Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka through the UNESCO Regional Maritime Archaeology Field Schools. Wijamunige Chandraratne (wijamunigechandraratne@gmail.com) ABSTRACT Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka began in 1992 with focus on the historic port of Galle, but most of those programs were supported by foreign funds and involved foreign consultations. The Avondster (1659) Marine Archaeology Project carried out from 2001 to 2004 contributed to an extent in the creation of a group of local archaeologists and conservators. This was useful when the Sri Lankan team took over the research and conservation independently in 2005, after the tsunami disaster. In 2006, UNESCO initially provided funding to Sri Lanka so that an Asia-Pacific Regional Field School Program for Maritime Archaeology could be set up in Galle. The first and second sessions for Training the Trainers Program took place in 2006 and 2008. However, the lack of support from the Sri Lankan government as well as the ongoing war in the country, prompted the transfer of the field school project to Chanthaburi, Thailand. Three Foundation Courses and two Advanced Courses for GIS and In-situ Conservation were conducted. From 2009 to 2012, 76 participants from 17 different countries joined the training courses, with 11 representatives from Sri Lanka. This paper deals with measuring the development of maritime archaeology in Sri Lanka, especially after the field school program. This will focus on developing infrastructure, field research, conservation, and human resources of the Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU). This will also discuss the steps taken to start collaboration projects in the Asia-Pacific region and among the participants of the previous field schools. Further, the progress of the ratification process of the UNESCO 2001 Convention in Sri Lanka will be examined. Key words: UNESCO, Maritime Archaeology, Field Schools List of Figures Figure 1: The UNESCO field School 2006 Figure 2: The UNESCO Second Field School (2010) Figure 3: UNESCO Second Field school 2010 (Thailand) Figure 4: Godawaya First international Collaboration research Project Figure 5: Cover page of national Shipwreck database INTRODUCTION In 1992, maritime archaeology fieldwork in Sri Lanka started on the historic port of Galle in cooperation with foreign maritime archaeologists and supported by foreign funds. As a milestone for the field activities, the Avondster Research and Conservation Project (2001-2004) focused on the shipwreck Avondster (1659) that sank in Galle harbour. The project involved maritime archaeologists from Australia, the Netherlands, England, and the United States of America among others (Parthesius 2007). The Dutch government provided the funding while conservationists comprised the human resource. The project helped produce a group of Sri Lankan maritime archaeologists as well as conservators for underwater artifacts. The project laid the foundation to complete the building construction and other infrastructure, the purchase of equipment and chemicals needed to run field operations. The unfortunate tsunami disaster that took place at the end of the project hampered all the improvements gained and caused confusion. Although the tsunami disaster did not cause harm to the maritime archaeology staff, other physical resources were greatly damaged (Bonke, 2007). The necessary financial and labor investment to restart the fieldwork was done with the intervention of countries like Australia through the Australian Institute of Maritime Archaeology (AIMA), and the Netherlands through the Cultural Emergency Response (CER). Furthermore, the process of establishing the maritime archaeology training center in the Asia-Pacific region in Galle also commenced with funds coming from the Royal Norwegian Grant and UNESCO. Under this program, two field schools for Training the Trainers were conducted in 2006 and 2008 held in 1 �Galle (Figure 1 & 2) participated by local maritime archaeologists, conservationists, and foreign trainees. However, UNESCO decided to transfer the Asia-Pacific Regional Center to the Underwater Archaeology Division (UAD) in Chanthaburi, Thailand. The new training program hosted three Foundation Courses, one Advance Course for Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and one Advance Training Course for In-situ Conservation (Figure 3). These were attended by 11 representatives from Sri Lanka (Menders, 2002). An expectation is to conduct a follow-up on the development of maritime archaeology in Sri Lanka concurrently with the above courses and thereafter. Figure 1: The UNESCO field School 2006 Figure 2: The UNESCO Second Field School (2010) Figure 3: UNESCO Second Field school 2010 (Thailand) The Inter-cooperative Research Project at the Archaeological Wooden Shipwreck Site in Godavaya in 2010. The main topic of discussion at the experts meeting held in conjunction with the Second Foundation Course in Chanthaburi, Thailand, was to implement a preliminary research project based on international cooperation regarding the recent discovery of the Godavaya wooden shipwreck in the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU) in Galle proposed to organize the expedition and shoulder the initial expenses of the experts to participate through the UNESCO Bangkok Office and the Netherlands Cultural Fund. Maritime archaeologists representing India, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia participated in the first two weeks of December 2010 and conducted an initial maritime archaeological exploration in the aforementioned site (Chandraratne, 2017) (Figure 4). 2 �Figure 4: Godawaya First international Collaboration research Project In parallel with the implementation of this research process, several research papers were published in international journals that helped make relative and scientific chronologies concerning this archaeological site. The archaeological assemblage included pots, grindstones, glaze ingot, and copper ingot established the date of the shipwreck to the 1st century CE (Common Era). The glazed and copper ingots had been among the major trade components in the ships during that period. Further, the management and conservation of Sri Lanka’s coastal belt and internal waters as part of its maritime cultural heritage was assigned to a team of four (4) maritime archeologists and two (2) conservationists who were working at that time at MAU. The severe lack of human resources meant the team was unable to deal with the existing heritage issues and concerns, and therefore it was emphasized that the development of human resources in the field had to be improved. Human Resource Development in the Maritime Archaeology Unit Most of the heritage managers who joined the archaeology field schools in Sri Lanka and Thailand, as well as in the Avondster project were affiliated with the Department of Archaeology, Department of Museum, and the Sri Lanka Navy. Thus, they did not always have direct access in taking part of the MAU fieldwork. Due to this, applications were called for the recruitment of archaeology graduates to the MAU. Ten archaeology graduates with a special interest in the field of maritime archaeology and who participated in the short-term residential maritime archaeology field schools were selected for further training from the initial 39 applications received by the unit. In 2011, field training activities and diving training activities were started for the newly recruited graduates. With the addition of the new recruits, the number of the Diving Research Section members of the MAU increased to 14. Also in 2011, the Northwest Coast Archaeological Research Project started work on the coastal areas from Chillaw to Mannar to expand the maritime archaeology research activities to other parts of the islands. These areas were previously limited to the southern coast of Sri Lanka for more than two decades. The civil war situation that had started in the 1980s in Sri Lanka completely ended in 2009. By the beginning of 2012, the work of removing the landmines and death traps in the northern and eastern coastal areas had also been completed. In the same year, archaeological explorations were extended to the 3 �Eastern coastal belt, and, in the following year, in the Northern coastal belt. It is a special achievement of the MAU to be able to start maritime archaeological activities in the Western coastal area in 2013. Due to the monsoon weather conditions, diving research activities in Sri Lankan coasts can only be done from November to March in the Southern and Western seaboards, whereas from April to October, in the North Eastern and North Western seaboards. Thus, the annual work plan of the MAU’s Research Section was limited to two months or less per coastal area each year. Opportunities for training in international maritime archaeology field schools were very rare for the second generation of maritime archaeologists. The main factor that affected it was the field school training activities in Chanthaburi, Thailand by the UAD (Underwater Archaeology Division). Also, as a low-income country, Sri Lanka’s institutional economy was in a weak state and political inadequacies created a disadvantageous situation for MAU members to attend international training and postgraduate opportunities. However, some members were able to take advantage of opportunities based on their initiative. For example, the participation of two trainees and one trainer representing MAU in the International Maritime Archaeology Field School held from 15 June to 12 July 2015 in Vietnam. This training program was hosted by the Institute of Archaeology in Vietnam in coordination with UNESCO and the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA) with the financial support of the Netherlands RCE (RIJKSDIENST V00R Net Cultureel Erfgoed). The newly recruited MAU archaeology graduates will undergo theoretical and practical training programs designed to develop their knowledge in maritime archaeology, document and maintain underwater databases, and study possible damages and solutions. Studying the weaknesses in the existing legal framework and making proposals for amendments was also included. Due to the increase in the number of new coastal archaeological sites discovered annually by the maritime archaeology regional exploration projects that started in 2011, the existing human resource capacity of the MAU was not sufficient at all to protect and manage those sites. As a result, the MAU joined hands with the Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Coastal Guard, Sri Lanka Fisheries Department, and the National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA) to manage the situation through an inter-ministerial committee to control the damage caused to the maritime heritage sites by the fishing industry, old iron collectors, and the ones who are using prohibited fishing strategies such as dynamiting. After the establishment of this committee, a great effort was made to protect heritage sites from the very damaging and deterministic influence that had been in place until then. That is, the authority given to the Divisional Secretaries to issue licenses to the private sector to cut and remove metal ships or other vessels sunk in the Sri Lankan coast is subject to the recommendations of the above-mentioned inter-ministerial committee. It is a victory to be able to control the destruction of metal vessels of historical value that have been pilfered through false licenses of the Divisional Secretaries and pretending these vessels to be recent. Further, although it is legal to conduct an Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) of the land on which medium and large-scale development projects are started, the implementation of that legal situation around the coastal belt of Sri Lanka is very slow. However, legal amendments in the year 2000 provided some relief to overcome this situation. Further, awareness programs organized for the guides of the tourism diving centers that had taken the diving tourists to the maritime cultural heritage sites were arranged to give an understanding of what their responsibility should be in maritime heritage management. Also, despite long discussions for Sri Lanka’s inclination to adhere to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Preservation of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, the negotiations have not been effective enough to reach a final agreement. This can be attributed to the disorganized communication and lack of focus in the organizational structure. This can be due to political instabilities that arise from time 4 �to time as well as unstable policies and plans have had a strong impact on the study of the process of updating national legal systems and adapting to international conventions related to the sustainable existence of maritime cultural heritage. Also, regarding the existing legal status of Sri Lanka's Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) and taking necessary actions to increase its capacity, MAU and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) works very closely with its subsidiary the International Committee on the Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH) in the formulation of necessary policies. National and International Activities of the MAU After the year 2010, MAU embarked on many initiatives of national importance such as the establishment of the Museum of Maritime Archaeology (MMA) in 2010. Even though MAU was established in Galle in the same year, the necessity of creating a museum to exhibit the artifacts recovered from it was strongly emphasized. The old Dutch warehouse building in the historic Galle Fort was converted into the MMA after it was removed from its state institutional use and was thereby conserved. Currently, this museum attracts thousands of tourists daily. Consisting of four galleries, the museum is dedicated to the knowledge and entertainment of the public by constantly updating science with discoveries. Conducting short-term maritime archaeology residential field schools for archaeology undergraduates in the Department of Archaeology of the National University System. The MAU has been conducting in-house field schools for archaeology undergraduates in universities since 2008 but was done only for a limited number of selected candidates. After 2010, the course structure of those field schools is patterned after the course structure of the UNESCO maritime archaeology field school. Consequently, the archaeology study departments of the respective universities involved all the final year undergraduate students and recommended that the program be sustained. Because of this, all archaeology graduates are equipped with a wide range of knowledge about maritime archaeology. In relation to the collaborative maritime archaeology projects between the MAU and the Underwater Archaeology Unit (UAU), the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka possesses the legal authority to impose policies. However, since 2001, all aspects of marine cultural heritage exploration, reporting, publishing, and exhibition are being implemented by the MAU, which is controlled under the Central Cultural Fund (CCF). Nevertheless, the UAU, with limited human and physical resources, also functions under the Archaeology Department. Accordingly, a limited number of maritime archaeologists who have acquired knowledge from the UNESCO field schools are working with both MAU and UAU. Post 2010 emphasis was placed on maintaining maritime archaeology projects in collaboration with both these units. The UAU members were regularly involved in all the maritime archaeology projects carried out in connection with all aspects of the Godavaya excavation. The MAU also collaborated with UNESCO-supported projects in 2010. From 2011 to 2014, the UAU also cooperated with MAU. The MAU was involved with collaborative projects with the American Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) organization, centered around the historic wooden shipwreck Godavaya. This cooperation between MAU and UAU was the main reason for the development achieved so far in the field of maritime archaeology. 5 �CREATION OF NATIONAL SHIPWRECK DATABASE The MAU planned from the beginning to include all the data into the system that identified underwater archaeological sites discovered since the beginning of maritime archaeology research in Sri Lanka. Since this is not a task that can be done alone, the volunteer services of the Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Studies (IAHS), a private-sector heritage research institute, have been obtained. Thus, the Sri Lankan National Shipwreck database was published in the year 2022 and it contains data on 109 marine archaeological sites discovered by the MAU (Figure 5). This is not a database prepared with complete data entry and is created based on data updates. 6 �Figure 5: Cover page of national Shipwreck database CONCLUSION The maritime archaeology research that started three decades ago in Sri Lanka was done gradually and was unorganized in the first two decades. However, beginning in 2010, developing research activities were on a more organized and sustainable basis. The civil war situation in the country had ended and a peaceful atmosphere was created. The socio-economic situation that had been unstable previously had improved to a significant level, which enabled maritime archeological activities to be gradually directed to an organized approach. In the third decade, the MAU was able to create the necessary background for developing human resources in maritime archaeology to produce a group of professional maritime archaeologists and experts in the conservation of underwater artifacts. The programs implemented for the participation of professionals in related fields and the general public in managing marine cultural heritage were attainable. The projects implemented so far for the publication of maritime archaeological heritage discoveries together with the Maritime Archaeology Museum and MAU have been extremely successful. The awareness programs about maritime archaeology to university undergraduates, the confirmation by local people's participation for the protection of maritime archaeological sites discovered regionally, and the awareness programs such as educating the school student community regarding underwater cultural heritage has been effective. An important achievement is the discovery of underwater archaeological heritage sites hidden in the regional coastal belt around the island by the regional maritime archeological explorations. Also of equal significance is the publication of a national shipwreck database carried out in parallel with the recording of the identified heritage sites. Finally, the UNESCO Maritime Archaeology Field Schools was a great help for all these developments achieved by Sri Lanka in the field of maritime archaeology. 7 �Bibliography Bonke.H., Parthesius .R., Ketel.C.V.D.P., Avondster Project Artifact Catalogue, 2007,Center for International Heritage Activities , special Publication No.1,The Netherlands. Clark, A.C., 1964. Ceylon and the underwater archaeologist.Expedition,Vol,6(3):18-21. Chandearathne, W., 2017, Past Present and future of Asean maritime heritage (Eds.)., Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka, Underwater Archaeology Division, Fine arts Department, ministry of Culture. Excavation Report on Ambalangoda Fisheries’Harbour.2012, (Unpublished in Sinhala), The Maritime Archaeology Unit, Central Cultural Fund, Galle. Devendra,S., 1996. Under the waters of Galle. The Galle Harbour Maritime Archaeology Project. The D.T. Devendra Memorial Lecture, 1999. Colombo. Daily News: 21st and 22nd April 1999. Devendra.s.,Muthucumarana.P.R.,Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka. Twenty Five Years Old and New Beginning, 2013. (Unpublished) The Maritime Archaeology Unit, Central Cultural Fund, Galle. Godfrey.I.M.,1998.Report on Wood Identification – Sri Lanka1997.Western Australian Maritime Museum,Perth. Green.J.,and Parthesius .R.,(Eds.),1997,Galle –A Port in History. Seminar Papers,Australian National Centre for Excellence in Maritime Archaeology, Special Publication No.2. Gaur, A.S., and etal. "Preliminary Assesment of an Early Historic (2000-Yeras-old) Shipwreck at Godawaya, Sri Lanka." Bulletin of the Austrolassion lnstitute for Maritime Archoeology,2OTl,:9-L7. Green.J., Devendra.S., and Parthesius.R., (Eds.),1998, Report for the Sri Lanka Department of Archaeology: Galle Harbour Project1996-97. Special Publication No.4 of the Australian National Centre of Excellence for Maritime Archaeology, Fremantle,1998,ISBN1-876465-6-9:. Green.J., Devendra.S.,( Eds.),1993, Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka:The Galle Harbour Project1992,Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka, Central Cultural fund, Western Australian Maritime Museum, and Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology, Colombo. Green.J., Devendra.S.,1993,Interim report on the joint Sri Lanka-Australian maritime archaeology training and research programme1992-3.International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, Vol.22(4):331-43. Jayathilaka.G., De silva.N.,1998,Ambalangoda Shipwreck: Report on a Preliminary Investigation, Unpublished Report to the Director General, Dept. of Archaeology, Sri Lanka. Maritime Archaeological Exploration Report on The Eastern Coastal Area,2012-2013, (Unpublished in Sinhala), The Maritime Archaeology Unit, Central Cultural Fund, Galle. Maritime Archaeological Exploration Report on The Northern Coastal Area,2013-2014, (Unpublished in Sinhala), The Maritime Archaeology Unit, Central Cultural Fund, Galle. Parthesius .R.,(Eds.), Avondster Project Excavation Report 2007.,Center for International Heritage Activities, special Publication No.1,The Netherlands. Martijn R. Manders and Christopher J. Underwood., (Eds.), 2012, Training Manual for the UNESCO Foundation Course on the Protection and Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage in Asia and the Pacific , Published by UNESCO Bangkok Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education Mom Luang Pin Malakul Centenary Building 920 Sukhumvit Road, Prakanong, Klongtoey Bangkok 10110, Thailand. 8 � Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Impact on the Development of Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka through the UNESCO Regional Maritime Archaeology Field Schools. Description An account of the resource Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka began in 1992 with focus on the historic port of Galle, but most of those programs were supported by foreign funds and involved foreign consultations. The Avondster (1659) Marine Archaeology Project carried out from 2001 to 2004 contributed to an extent in the creation of a group of local archaeologists and conservators. This was useful when the Sri Lankan team took over the research and conservation independently in 2005, after the tsunami disaster. In 2006, UNESCO initially provided funding to Sri Lanka so that an Asia-Pacific Regional Field School Program for Maritime Archaeology could be set up in Galle. The first and second sessions for Training the Trainers Program took place in 2006 and 2008. However, the lack of support from the Sri Lankan government as well as the ongoing war in the country, prompted the transfer of the field school project to Chanthaburi, Thailand. Three Foundation Courses and two Advanced Courses for GIS and In-situ Conservation were conducted. From 2009 to 2012, 76 participants from 17 different countries joined the training courses, with 11 representatives from Sri Lanka. This paper deals with measuring the development of maritime archaeology in Sri Lanka, especially after the field school program. This will focus on developing infrastructure, field research, conservation, and human resources of the Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU). This will also discuss the steps taken to start collaboration projects in the Asia-Pacific region and among the participants of the previous field schools. Further, the progress of the ratification process of the UNESCO 2001 Convention in Sri Lanka will be examined. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Wijamunige Chandraratne Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Language A language of the resource English Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Chandraratne, Wijamunige. 2023. “The Impact on the Development of Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka through the UNESCO Regional Maritime Archaeology Field Schools.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, Bobby Orillaneda, and Brian Fahy. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1996 Asia-Pac Session 18 2023 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/6255004e5893a8cbb3576e84f743f0cc.pdf 1ca69512ee981942c8419ceec0d1b4e6 PDF Text Text Underwater Archaeological Remains in Matano Lake, South of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Evidence of Iron Age Civilization Muslim Dimas Khoiru Dhony1, Shinatria Adhityatama2, R.R. Triwurjani3, Dida Yurnaldi4, Ahmad Surya Ramadhan5, Joko Wahyudiyono6, Aldhi Wahyu Pratama7, Suryatman8, Abdullah Abbas9, Alqiz Lukman10, David Bulbeck11 1Master Student of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Underwater Archaeologist 2Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, PhD Candidate and Archaeologist 3Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, Pusat Riset Arkeologi Prasejarah dan Sejarah at Organisasi Riset Arkeologi, Bahasa dan Sastra, Senior Researcher 4Pusat Survei Geologi Bandung, Geologist 5Sentra Selam Jogja, Underwater Archaeologist 6Pusat Survei Geologi Bandung, Geologist 7RIJANG Research Institute, Archaeologist 8Universitas Hasanuddin, Lecturer and Archaeologist 9Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya Sulawesi Selatan, Underwater Archaeologist 10Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional , Pusat Riset Arkeologi Maritim, Lingkungan dan Budaya Berkelanjutan at Organisasi Riset Arkeologi, Bahasa dan Sastra, Archaeologist 11Department of Archaeology and Natural History at the Australian National University, Visiting Senior Lecturer ABSTRACT Matano Lake is a natural freshwater lake located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia that has a depth of roughly 590 m, making this lake the deepest lake in Southeast Asia. The existence of cultural heritage in land surrounding Matano Lake was revealed in 1998, based on research conducted by OXIS projects, which found a quantity of artifacts dated approximately between the 6th and 16th. From 2016 to 2022 The National Research Centre of Archaeology Indonesia (now the Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional) conducted research in underwater and terrestrial observation relating to submerged landscapes in the Matano Lake environment. This research reveals the civilization of the iron age that has been developed since during much of the second millennium CE regarding mass iron production and iron smelting in Matano Lake. The agency utilized several approaches such as geography and geology as well as the method to collect primary archaeological data in terrestrial excavation and geology survey and also underwater observation using SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) to directly identify archaeological remains on the bottom of the lake. Based on the survey, literature study, and spatial analysis utilizing ArcGIS, there are five sites consisting of Sebengkuro, Pulau Ampat, Pontada, Sukoiyo, and Onetengka with various of human cultural remains such as iron tools , iron slag, pottery, tuyere, wooden poles, ore, charcoal, and fragments of an animal tooth which were laying on the bottom of the lake in 4 to 20 m. The result of the archaeological remains and geological analysis reveals that each site has a different type, contour, and period. Furthermore, based on a literature study, the existence of mass iron production was mentioned in Nagarakrtagama (a Javanese poem in the 14th century) proving iron production in Matano has been exported from Sulawesi Island to Java Island. Keywords: Matano Lake, Underwater Archaeology, Submerged Landscapes, Iron age, Indonesia List of Figures Figure 1. Maps of the distribution of underwater archaeological site in Matano Lake. Figure 2. The divers take archaeological remains for analysis sample. Figure 3. Variations of cultural remains in Pulau Ampat site. Figure 4. Maps of grid baseline and spread of wooden poles in Pontada Site. 1 �INTRODUCTION The topic of this abstract fits best within this Session 18 (The Archaeology of Submerged Landscapes and Inland Waters) because of the current existence of underwater archaeological sites in Matano Lake that sank due to natural disasters. Underwater archaeological research on the lake has not been conducted in Indonesia before. Matano Lake is located in Malili Region, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia and has a depth of approximately 590 m and 382 m above sea level with an area of 16,408 ha. This became Matano Lake, the eighth deepest lake in the world and the deepest lake in South East Asia (Herder 2006). Based on a geology survey and map, Matano Lake is considered to be 1-4 million years old and lies on the Matano Fault Zone which is still active with tectonic movement of roughly 2 cm per year (Tamuntuan et al. 2010). Previous archaeological research in Matano Lake was conducted in 1998 by the OXIS project which involved Indonesian and foreign researchers. The research revealed that mass iron production and iron smelting was developed on the northern shore during much of the second millennium CE and the western shore of the lake dating from 1500 to 1900 (Bulbeck and Caldwell 2000). From that, the National Research Center for Archaeology (Now Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional) carried out research on the lake in terrestrial and underwater to collect various archaeological data. Beginning in 2016 to 2021, the research demonstrated that there are five underwater archaeological sites with cultural remains. This research attempted to elaborate on the causes of the sunken sites and the age of iron tools discovered underwater. CASE STUDIES The research project explores five underwater archaeological sites which are distributed in Matano Lake namely Sebengkuro, Pulau Ampat, Pontada, Sukoiyo, and Onetengka (Figure 1). Each site has different characteristics and forms of archaeological data which is still in situ within the context. Sebengkuro, Pulau Ampat, and Pontada are located on the southern shore of the lake. However, all these sites have a variety of types and shapes. For instance, in Sebengkuro, underwater archaeologists found cultural material at a depth of about 5 to 7 meters consisting of pottery fragments, clamshells, and a stone beater fragment. In Pulau Ampat and Pontada, the archaeological remains are more complex in a depth of 4 to 8 meters including fragments of pottery, accumulated iron slag, dispersed charcoal, tuyeres from a smelting furnace, iron tools, wooden poles, animal teeth, and bone, as well as stone flakes (Triwurjani et al. 2018-2021). Sites on the north shore of the lake including, Sukoiyo and Onetengka did not reveal as much cultural material as the southern shore sites. However, in these sites, there is evidence of tectonic activity in the past; geologists called the evidence graben (Subsidence areas) (Triwurjani et al. 2019). It is proven that the location of Matano Lake in the main Matano Fault which is still active today makes the environment around the lake become more dynamic. 2 �Figure 1. Maps of the distribution of underwater archaeological site in Matano Lake (Muslim Dimas KD). RESOURCES This research has been carried out from 2016 to 2022. During the research project, team members conducted surveys and excavations in terrestrial and underwater for collecting the archaeological data. After collecting, the team also did database recording and documentation of the samples for further analysis. The archaeological data consist of fragments of pottery, iron tools, animal teeth and bone, charcoal, flakes of stone, tuyeres, and a stone beater fragment which are kept in storage at Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional (now Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional). Moreover, for spatial analysis, the team utilized ArcGIS to show the distribution of underwater archaeology sites and the existence of the site in a geology map. In addition, we also studied literature related to mass iron production in Matano in the ancient text of Negarakertagama, a Javanese poem in the 14th century. Within the text it was written that the Majapahit Empire had imported the iron tools from the Matano Lake region (Mulyana 2006; Robson 1995). FRAMEWORK This project exerts underwater archaeology and submerged landscape studies to understand the cause of the sinking of the archaeological site in Matano Lake. Furthermore, this research uses inductive reasoning which in archaeology means taking material culture as the primary evidence (Tanudirjo 1995). Explorative and comparative-descriptive approaches were conducted focusing on primary archaeological data with the context of the remains in terrestrial and underwater environments. The observation was conducted by diving, using SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing 3 �Apparatus) equipment for underwater objects and an underwater camera for documenting archaeological objects and landscapes. The team also recorded and measured using underwater archaeological techniques such as the baseline and quadrant methods (Bowens 2009). Moreover, database recording was also done to achieve complete archaeological data collection of the findings at Matano Lake. The team also employed ArcGIS for spatial analysis, to demonstrate the distribution of archaeological remains and sites in Matano Lake and three dimensional photogrammetry recording and analysis on objects and sites located at the bottom of the lake. RESULTS Description of each site ● Sebengkuro This site is located on the southern shore of the lake. The underwater team conducted surveys in 2019 and 2022 for collecting archaeological remains and observation of the environment on the bottom of the lake with a depth of approximately five to eight meters. From the survey, the team succeeded in finding several kinds of remains such as pottery fragments, clamshells, iron slag, and a stone beater fragment (Figure 2). In addition, regarding the environment, the contour is quite declivous with sand material covered by grass on the bottom of the lake. Figure 2. The divers take archaeological remains for analysis sample (Triwurjani et al. 2019 and 2022). 4 �● Pulau Ampat Pulau Ampat is 2 kilometers to the east of the Sebengkuro site. This site has an area of about 4,6 ha with plenty of archaeological remains on the bottom. Based on observation by the team, the remains consist of fragments of pottery, accumulated iron slag, dispersed charcoal, tuyeres from a smelting furnace, iron tools, animal teeth and bone, and flakes of stone lying in a depth roughly 3 to 10 meters (Figure 3). Thus, the underwater team made a 10 by 10-m baseline and quadrant crossing the concentration of finds and recorded it by taking 3D photogrammetry for analysis (Adhityatama et al. 2022). In this site, it was interesting to observe the stone flakes that are spread on the bottom in context within iron slag and metal artifacts. Based on research analysis, the stone flakes were used by the Matano indigenous iron smelters for strike-a-lights and in particular for the combustion of fuel for iron smelting (Suryatman et al. 2021). Regarding the environment, the material is sand with rock boulders on steep slopes. In order to know the age of the site, the sample of charcoal was sent to the Bandung PSG laboratory for processing by the C14 calendar. The calibrated results show that samples date from between mid-7th and mid-8th centuries (Adhityatama et al. 2022) Figure 3. Variations of cultural remains in Pulau Ampat site (Triwurjani et al 2018). ● Pontada Located about 12 kilometres to the east of the Pulau Ampat site, the 14th century Pontada site has evidence of people and iron production (Adhityatama et al. 2023). Compared to the two sites before, Pontada Site is a more complex related form of material culture in a depth of about 2 to 8 meters with material sand covered by grass. Due to the density of archaeological remains, the underwater team made a grid baseline for recording and taking samples. Based on the observation, the remains were still intact within the context; for instance, a machete was found with fragments of pottery, charcoal, and tuyere. Additionally, there are wooden poles which had not been discovered on the previous investigations (Figure 4). 5 �Figure 4. Maps of grid baseline and spread of wooden poles in Pontada Site (Adhityatama et al 2023). ● Sukoiyo This site is located on the northern shore of the lake. Regarding archaeological data, this site is not as abundant as the sites on the southern shore of the lake. Based on the survey, the team found several pottery fragments exposed on the slopes of the rocks in depths of 15 to 20 meters. ● Onetengka During this research project, this site was visited twice for documenting and taking samples for geology analysis. It is located five kilometres to the west of the Sukoiyo Site. Based on observation, there is no cultural material on this site. However, at a depth roughly from 20 to 30 meters there is evidence of tectonic activity which geologists called graben (Subsidence areas). Geological interpretation According to geologists’ interpretations, Matano Lake was formed due to the pull-apart mechanism, where two opposite segments move apart. Thus, the mechanism will affect the middle to form a basin or graben. Then this graben will fill with water and form a lake (Triwurjani et al. 2018). Lake Matano is estimated to be one to four million years old and is a crypto depression lake, that is, a lake whose bottom is deeper than the seabed nearby (Tamuntuan et al. 2010). Concerning underwater archaeological sites, the availability of sites that sank on the shore of the lake is due to the location being in the Matano fault zone (Tamuntuan et al. 2010). The fault which is active with tectonic movement and is prone to major earthquakes in the past and present. 6 �CONCLUSION The archaeological research project in Matano Lake is significantly important to identify the chronology and development of the iron age civilization in Indonesia. By showing the cultural material as evidence of mass iron production activity and the result of the radiocarbon dating, people in Matano Lake had been conducting iron smelting since the early first millennium. In Addition, the chronology of the Matano Lake formation has a long dynamic process that lies on the Matano Fault Zone. Therefore, the underwater archaeological sites that are located on the shore of the lake were prone to destruction and sinking which is caused by tectonic movement and earthquakes. BIBLIOGRAPHY Adhityatama, Shinatria, Triwurjani, R.R., Suryatman, Priyatno Sulistyarto, Utomo, Bambang Budi.” Underwater Archaeological Study on Prehistoric Material Culture in Matano Lake, South Sulawesi, Indonesia”. Journal of Southeast Asian Archaeology, no 37 (2017): 37–49. Adhityatama, Shinatria, Triwurjani, R.R., Yurnaldi, Dida, Janssen, Renee, Dhony, Muslim Dimas Khoiru, Suryatman, Abbas, Abdullah, Lukman, Alqiz, Bulbeck, David. “ Pulau Ampat site: A submerged 8th century iron production village in Matano Lake, South Sulawesi, Indonesia”. Archaeological Research in Asia, no 29 (2022). Adhityatama, Shinatria, Triwurjani, R.R., Yurnaldi, Dida, Wahyudiono, Joko, Ramadhan, Ahmad Surya, Dhony, Muslim Dimas Khoiru, Suryatman, Abbas, Abdullah, Darfin, Lukman, Alqiz, Pratama, Aldhi Wahyu, Bulbeck, David. “ The Mid-Second Millennium A.D. Submerged Iron Production Village of Pontada in Lake Matano, South Sulawesi, Indonesia” . Asian Perspectives: The Journal of Archaeology for Asia and The Pacific (2023) (Preprint). Bowens, A. (Ed.). Underwater Archaeology: The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice, Second edition. Nautical Archaeology Society, London, 2009. Bulbeck, David, Caldwell, Ian. Land of Iron: The Historical Archaeological of Luwu and the Cenrena Valley. The University of Hull, Centre for South-East Asian Studies, Hull, 2000. Herder, Fabian, et al. “Preliminary checklist of sailfin silversides (Teleostei: Telmatherinidae) in the Malili Lakes of Sulawesi (Indonesia), with a synopsis of systematics and threats”. Band 5 ,139–163, Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft fürIchthyologie, 2006. Mulyana, Slamet. Tafir Sejarah Nagarakrtagama. Yogyakarta: PT. LKiS Pelangi Aksara, 2006. Robson, Stuart. DeśaWarnana (Nāgarakŗtāgama) by Mpu Prapanca. Translation. Leiden: KITLV Press Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde, 1995. Suryatman, Triwurjani, R.R, Adhityatama, Shinatria, Bulbeck, David, Yurnaldi, Dida, Murdihastomo, Ashar, Wahyudiono, Joko, Abdullah, Dhony, Muslim Dimas Khoiru. “Flaking stone activity in the tradition of iron smelting from the 8th to 17th centuries AD in the Matano region, South Sulawesi, Indonesia”. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, no 36 (2021). Tamuntuan, Gerald, Bijaksana, Satrioa, Gaffar, Eddy, Russell, James, Safiuddin, La Ode, Huliselan, Estevanus Kristian. “The magnetic properties of Indonesian lake sediment: a case study of a tectonic lake in South Sulawesi and Maar Lakes in East Java”. ITB J. Sci, no 42 (1) (2010): 31–48. Tanudirjo, Daud. Theoretical trends in Indonesian archaeology. In: Ucko, P.J. (Ed.), Theory in Archaeology:A World Perspective, 61-75. Routledge, London, 1995. Triwurjani, R.R, Shinatria Adhityatama, Priyatno Hadi Sulistyarto, Suryatman, Dida Yurnaldi, Hendra, Abdullah Abbas, Muslim Dimas Khoiru Dhony. Mengungkap Peradaban Danau Matano, Sorowako, Masa Paleometalik Hingga Masa Sejarah, Di Kabupaten Luwu, Sulawesi Selatan. Laporan Penelitian Arkeologi, Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional, 2018. Triwurjani, R.R, Shinatria Adhityatama, Sukmandaru Prihatmoko, Trinirmalaningrum, Suryatman, Abdullah Abbas, Joko Wahyudiono, Ashar Murdihastomo, Muslim Dimas K.D, Joko Dermawan. Mengungkap Peradaban Zaman Besi dan Mitigasi Bencana Gempa di Danau Matano, Sulawesi Selatan Melalui Kajian Arkeologi. Laporan Penelitian Arkeologi, Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional, .2019. 7 �Triwurjani, R.R, Shinatria Adhityatama, Alqiz Lukman, Suryatman, Dida Yurnaldi, Muslim Dimas Khoiru Dhony, Indah Permatasarie Tjan.. Mengungkap Peradaban Besi di Kawasan Danau Matano, Sulawesi Selatan. Laporan Penelitian Arkeologi, Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional, 2020. Triwurjani, R.R, Shinatria Adhityatama, Dida Yurnaldi, Joko Wahyudiono, Suryatman, Abdullah Abbas, Ahmad Surya Ramadhan, Joko Wahyudiono, Alqiz Lukaman, Muslim Dimas K.D, Indah Permatasarie Tjan, Aldhi Wahyu Pratama, Putra Hudlinas Muhammad. Mengungkap Peradaban Zaman Besi dan Mitigasi Bencana Gempa di Danau Matano, Sulawesi Selatan Melalui Kajian Arkeologi. Laporan Penelitian Arkeologi, Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional, 2021. 8 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2023 Session 15: The Archaeology of Submerged Landscapes and Inland Waters Subject The topic of the resource Session 15 papers Description An account of the resource Papers presented at Session 15 of the 2023 Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 2023 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Language A language of the resource English Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Underwater Archaeological Remains in Matano Lake, South of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Evidence of Iron Age Civilization Description An account of the resource Matano Lake is a natural freshwater lake located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia that has a depth of roughly 590 m, making this lake the deepest lake in Southeast Asia. The existence of cultural heritage in land surrounding Matano Lake was revealed in 1998, based on research conducted by OXIS projects, which found a quantity of artifacts dated approximately between the 6th and 16th. From 2016 to 2022 The National Research Centre of Archaeology Indonesia (now the Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional) conducted research in underwater and terrestrial observation relating to submerged landscapes in the Matano Lake environment. This research reveals the civilization of the iron age that has been developed since during much of the second millennium CE regarding mass iron production and iron smelting in Matano Lake. The agency utilized several approaches such as geography and geology as well as the method to collect primary archaeological data in terrestrial excavation and geology survey and also underwater observation using SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) to directly identify archaeological remains on the bottom of the lake. Based on the survey, literature study, and spatial analysis utilizing ArcGIS, there are five sites consisting of Sebengkuro, Pulau Ampat, Pontada, Sukoiyo, and Onetengka with various of human cultural remains such as iron tools , iron slag, pottery, tuyere, wooden poles, ore, charcoal, and fragments of an animal tooth which were laying on the bottom of the lake in 4 to 20 m. The result of the archaeological remains and geological analysis reveals that each site has a different type, contour, and period. Furthermore, based on a literature study, the existence of mass iron production was mentioned in Nagarakrtagama (a Javanese poem in the 14th century) proving iron production in Matano has been exported from Sulawesi Island to Java Island. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Muslim Dimas Khoiru Dhony Shinatria Adhityatama R.R. Triwurjani Dida Yurnaldi Ahmad Surya Ramadhan Joko Wahyudiyono Aldhi Wahyu Pratama Suryatman Abdullah Abbas Alqiz Lukman David Bulbeck Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Language A language of the resource English Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Dhony, Muslim Dimas Khoiru, Shinatria Adhityatama, R.R. Triwurjani, Dida Yurnaldi, Ahmad Surya Ramadhan, Joko Wahyudiyono, Aldhi Wahyu Pratama, Suryatman, Abdullah Abbas, Alqiz Lukman, and David Bulbeck. 2023. ‘‘Underwater Archaeological Remains in Matano Lake, South of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Evidence of Iron Age Civilization.’’ Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Jennifer McKinnon. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1995 Asia-Pac Session 15 2023 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/c3ef358232376f6bacefe915e670a91d.pdf 64b4f9c08837516700ea70c958d00d92 PDF Text Text Searching for the evidence of disaster from the sunken village of Lake Hibara, Japan Randy Sasaki (Associate Professor, Teikyo University Research Institute of Cultural Properties) Wataru Tanikawa (Senior Researcher, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) Jun Kimura (Associate Professor, Tokai University) Hisashi Nakagawa (Curator, Toyohashi City Museum of Art and History) Shintaro Yamasaki (Associate Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University) Yuhji Yamamoto (Professor, Kochi University) ABSTRACT In 1888, the eruption of Mount Bandai in the Fukushima prefecture of northern Japan created a dammed lake, resulting in the submergence of the entire village of Hibara. A multi-disciplinary research team has been organized to extract both archaeological and historical information as well as environmental information. The focus of the research is not only on the material culture, but also on topics such as the process of submergence and how people's lives were affected. The study of the submerged village of Hibara is a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of natural disasters on human settlements. To locate the periphery of the site, the team is using remote sensing technology including Side Scan Sonar, Sub-bottom Profiler, and underwater drones. Additionally, soil coring is being used to study the event sequence and the environment, and archaeological techniques are being used to record the material culture. This is one of the first studies of its kind conducted in Japan, and the team aims to develop methodologies for investigating submerged sites. Ultimately, this research will contribute to the study of local history and enhance our understanding of cultural heritage. List of Abbreviations SSS Side Scan Sonar JpGU Japan Geoscience Union Keywords: Japan, Fukushima, Submerged Landscape, Natural Disaster INTRODUCTION This article discusses the scientific potential of studying disaster sites located on an inland lake. So-called disaster archaeology at submerged archaeological sites is not a well-known topic of research in Japan. In 2022, to promote the study of underwater disaster archaeology at inland lakes, researchers from various fields came together to conduct an archaeological expedition. This paper focuses on a research project led by Senior Researcher Wataru Tanikawa, being conducted at the submerged site of Hibara Village in Fukushima Prefecture. The village was submerged by the formation of a dammed lake following the 1888 eruption of Mt. Bandai (Central Disaster Management Council 2005, 1). The site records the tangible heritage of village life, the mechanisms of a disaster, and how people reacted to the disaster. The project is a joint effort by archaeologists and natural scientists to extract records of disasters by investigating historical records, archaeological remains, as well as acquired data from remote sensing technologies and soil science technologies. The importance of understanding past disaster sites is apparent because such studies not only provide an understanding of our past but also contribute to today’s policy-making in better disaster prevention. Disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, change the landscape drastically and the lives of people. The study of submerged landscapes and the material culture left behind underwater due to a disaster can provide insight into our past interaction with the environment. Research in this sub-field has been challenging because of the small number of investigated sites, the lack of uniting themes, and how to glean information through available scientific methodologies. The team hopes to create momentum for further research on disaster archaeology at submerged sites by providing possible themes and research methods to be followed. This paper discusses the history of Hibara Village, how the research came about, results from the 2022 season, and as a conclusion, a plan for future research. The preliminary results of the 2023 fieldwork will be discussed in the presentation. 1 �HISTORY OF HIBARA VILLAGE Hibara village is strategically located along an East-West path in a mountainous region of northern Japan. The major development came during the Edo period (1603-1867 CE) when the village was designated as a post town or Shukuba-Machi, on the Aizu-Yonezawa Highway. The village has little farmland, but it flourished as an “inn” for merchants and travelers. However, in the Meiji era (1868-1912 CE), when the highway system was abolished, the town declined in its importance. Despite losing its function as a station, the village was a well-known spot along the highway for rest (Kita-Shiobara Village Board of Education 2018, 1-2). On 15 July 1888, the sudden eruption of Mt. Bandai changed the course of the village forever. This was the first major disaster that received international attention in the Meiji period. A part of the mountain collapsed and the avalanche buried several villages, killing close to 500 people (Sato 2021, 49-50). Hibara village first appeared to have been saved from the devastation, as the debris from the collapsed mountain did not reach the village. However, the debris from the mountain dammed the existing streams creating lakes. The water level began to rise slowly, and after several months, the government ordered the villagers to evacuate and the village was relocated to a higher ground. The newly formed Hibara Lake eventually swallowed the entire village (Kita-Shiobara Village Board of Education 2022, 36). The location of the village was not forgotten. The focal point for the villagers then and now is the shrine, located at the ridge of a hill, above the current water-level. The passageway, or the approach to the shrine, is marked by rows of trees. After the submergence, these trees were cut down, leaving the tree stumps behind partially submerged. These stumps can be seen today along the two Torii gates, leading up toward the shrine. One Torii gate is standing close to the current shoreline and another Torii is in the lake. The water level of the lake is controlled, and seasonal fluctuation is high due to the heavy snowfall in the area. Usually, the water-level is kept low during winter. During summer seasons, one of the Torii is completely below water, but when the water level is low, one can walk beyond this Torii on dry land. The submerged section of the village has been designated as a known site by the local municipality (Kita-Shiobara Village Board of Education 2022, 35). In 2000, Hosei University carried out a preliminary diving survey around the village and found several ceramic fragments. Hosei University organized further research in 2002, and they recorded some features, including rock foundations and raised ground. The work was done by the university's Explorer Club and not by trained archaeologists (Tanikawa 2021). The video and the drawings they made, however, provided clues about what to look for during research. In addition to these underwater expeditions, the Kita-shiobara village conducted an in-depth walking survey during a historic low tide in 2016; they found gravestones and other stone-built structures, as well as some artifacts including ceramics and iron objects (Kita-Shiobara Village Board of Education, 2022). HOW THE RESEARCH CAME ABOUT For years, Tanikawa had a vague idea of studying past disasters and their impacts on human society by combining natural and social sciences. Between 2015-2019, Tanikawa investigated "Kuroda-gori," a village in Kochi Prefecture that is believed to have been submerged by the Hakuho Earthquake of 684 (Tanikawa et al. 2016, 17-18). Based on historical documents and sedimentation history, several areas in Kochi Prefecture were surveyed, finding underwater remains, such as blocks of stones and stone pillars (Tanikawa et al. 2019). However, it was not possible to identify direct links between the features, sedimentology data, and written records. Tanikawa realized the need for collaborative research, especially from the archaeological community. Randall Sasaki, hearing the story of Tanikawa’s research, offered help. To discuss the possible collaboration of research, a session titled `Natural hazard and human activity recorded in underwater geoarchaeological structure` was organized at the Japan Geoscience Union and American Geophysical Union joint meeting held at 2 �Makuhari, Japan (JpGU Session H-QR05, 2020). At this session, the need to investigate a known submerged site as joint research was proposed, and Hibara village was selected as a case study. The research team, mainly from three different fields, was formed. Besides the archaeological team, one team focuses on remote sensing surveys to gather an overall image of the site, and another team conducts scientific analysis including the soil profile. The Lake Hibara underwater site is a suitable location for research for several reasons. Written records of the disaster are available and the reason for the submergence is known. The location of the site is certain and the local municipality is eager to support the project. Figure 1. A Historic Map (Azaippitsukagirichizuchou, Hibara-Mura) of Hibara Village, displayed at the Local Museum (Photographed by the research team) In 2021, the team gathered at Hibara Lake for a preliminary investigation; a sonar survey, snorkel survey, and underwater monitoring by a drone were conducted. The sonar survey revealed rows of tree stumps along the approach and showed some strong reflections. The snorkel survey identified rows of trees and some building blocks. The underwater drone survey revealed stone structures, and possible locations of a temple by the presence of gravestones. The main source for identifying the general plan of the village is the land allocation map (Azaippitsukagirichizuchou, Hibara-Mura) from the early Meiji period (Aizu -Yonezawa Kaido Main Road, Hibara Historical Museum). It depicts streets, canals, housing blocks, and important buildings including a shrine, a temple, and administrative buildings (Figure 1). The results from the 2021 season appeared to correspond well with the allocation map. A meeting with the local municipal office was held, sharing the results and discussing the research plan. Based on the results, the team was able to draw a research plan. The team applied for a research grant and was approved, starting a four-year project in 2022 (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) Clarification of underwater ruins of Lake Hibara and the volcanic disaster that caused the submergence of the lake). THE 2022 SEASON This was the first main season of the research and was focused on gleaning information from various methods to see the overall picture of the site and fine-tune the research plan for the coming seasons. The team conducted various remote sensing surveys and diving investigations. Soil samples and wood samples were also collected for analysis. 3 �Remote Sensing Survey The success of underwater archaeology is all about knowing where to look, and this study is to know the general distribution or the plan of the village. The above-mentioned allocation map is an important source; the map contains information on the length/size of the village blocks. Remote sensing was planned to orient and adjust the map to be used for archaeological surveys (Figure 2). Figure 2 A Photo of the Lake, the Torii Gate, and the Team Conducting a Survey (Photographed by the research team). Sonar surveys were conducted on several occasions using Side Scan Sonar (SSS) (Imagenex Model 872 YellowFin: 800 kHz). The images showed reflections from the submerged Torii, rows of trees, stone walls and foundations, intersecting roads, and some other unknown features. Approximately an area of 0.2㎢ was surveyed, and a mosaic image was generated. The SSS image appears to correspond well with the land allocation map, showing some of the building blocks with sharp corners. A general land formation and small streams can be vaguely seen but require a visual inspection to identify (Figure 3). A Sub-bottom Profiler survey (SyQwest Bathy 2010-PC: 3.5 kHz) was conducted to investigate the features buried below the lake sediment. The survey focused on the proposed village area; transact lines were made from both north-south and east-west directions. The result showed that the site was covered by about 20-30 cm thick soft lacustrine sediment. The land slopes downwards towards west-northwest directions and appears to show a greater change in elevation at the edge of the village, which is also seen in the SSS data. All water sources run from west to east, following the natural land formation. The irrigation channel made at the village followed this natural drainage direction. 4 �Figure 3 A Side Scan Sonar Mosaic Image overlayed; Showing the Outlines of the Village in Reflections (image provided by the research team) A magnetometer survey (OH Marine Magnetics SeaSpy2) was also conducted. Around the supposed village, 12 magnetic anomalies were found, mainly concentrated in the northern part of the survey area. These anomalies could potentially be associated with iron artifacts discarded by villagers when leaving. Archaeological Investigation The underwater investigation was conducted to see if the SSS data corresponded with the map and the accuracy of the map. If the team can “learn” how underwater features appear, it may be able to reconstruct the village by looking at the SSS data, and also be able to pinpoint the location to dive. Silt accumulation is the main problem for an archaeological diving survey. The visibility becomes close to zero, if divers are not careful to disturb the bottom surface. The datum was set at the submerged Torii, and a 100 m line was established extending out from the approach. Since this survey was a preliminary expedition, this is a temporary datum and a fixed datum point will be established in the following season. The submerged Torii is about 71 m offshore. The resident informed the team that these Torii gates were constructed about 40 or 50 years ago, close to the original locations. Stacked Stone Wall The diving survey revealed the remains of a two-story stacked stone structure with an L-shaped plan, located 120 meters offshore (about 50 m from the datum). This is thought to be the junction of the approach and the main highway. The structure was composed of rectangular stones measuring roughly 70 cm x 30 cm. The feature is partially buried, especially showing heavy accumulation towards the west. The wall was at least two stones high, 18 stones lined north-south (along the approach), and at least five stones east-west (along the main highway). This wall can be seen clearly on the SSS image. Rock Accumulation A wide area of gravel accumulation was discovered approximately 15 meters from the datum. The exact extension is unknown, and the size and the shapes are irregular. Several stones were cut to make into shapes, and a circular hole was drilled in at least one of the stones, which is broken in half. It is 5 �considered to be the foundation of the Torii. The feature appears as cloudy reflections in the SSS image. Earthen Embankment An elongated earthen embankment was discovered parallel to the east of the approach road, extending approximately 25 m in length. The embankment was made primarily of sand mixed with gravel. The embankment measures four meters wide and has a low rise of two meters. To the north of this feature is an area with scattered rocks and the remains of building foundations. Based on the land allocation map, a temple was located at the northern end of the embankment. The embankment may be an access road to the temple. The feature is shown as a mix of spotted strong and weak reflections in the SSS image. Landform The SSS image shows an abrupt change in color at several locations, and these correspond well with the elevation change. A slanted S-shaped change in landform seen in the image can also be seen in the land allocation map. The abrupt change in the elevation was confirmed during the diving survey as well. The houses, or village blocks were built along this ridge. The main highway runs along the lower edge of this ridge. Some houses, a shrine, and a temple were built on the upper ridge and the rest of the town below. Core Samples Wood Species analysis The core samples were taken at four locations, two samples each (Samples A and B), counting eight cores in total. Samples A were subjected to destructive analysis while Samples B were only used for non-destructive analysis. The baseline for collecting samples was set along the approach to the shrine, establishing the zero point at the submerged Torii. The core sample was collected at 30m (Core I), 52m (Core II), 70m (Core III), and 100 m (Core IV) from the zero point. Core samples were collected by divers pounding polycarbonate pipes directly into the lake bottom. Samples up to 35 cm in length/depth were collected. Nondestructive observations of internal structure in lake sediments were made using X-ray computed tomography. Density and magnetic susceptibility measurements were made using a nondestructive multi-sensor core logger, density and porosity measurements were made using the nitrogen gas displacement method, grain size analysis using laser diffraction, and mineral identification using powder X-ray diffraction. All cores had fine-grain sediments in the shallow/top layer (Layer I) and mixed sediment with some angular gravel in deeper layers (Layer II). Layer I had a lower bulk density, magnetic susceptibility, percentage of grains larger than 1 mm in diameter, and dispersion of grain size distribution. In terms of bulk density, a clear physical property gap was observed between the layers. Layer I showed a larger proportion of diatoms and volcanic glass and a smaller proportion of quartz than Layer II. In addition, no illite or chlorite, both of which are andesitic origin, was found in Layer II. The results indicate that Layer I is a soil layer deposited after the formation of Hibara Lake. To our surprise, pottery fragments were found in Core IV. These pottery sherds had engraved stripes on the interior, suggesting that it is a fragment of mortar for grinding, which is a typical artifact found in a site dating to the Early Modern period or later. Core IV showed higher porosity, indicating heavy land use. Perhaps, this area was used as farmland or trash pits existed nearby. Core III, which is located near the intersection of the approach and the main highway, showed compacted soil. Rows of trees along the approach create the key scenes of the site. To identify the species and to date the tree, core samples were drilled into several trees. The species were identified as cedar. The trees date to around the mid-19th century from the radiocarbon dating. The date confirms that the growth of trees stopped soon after submerging. 6 �CONCLUSIONS AND 2023 SEASON PLAN Interdisciplinary investigation of the Lake Hibara underwater site is a challenging and complex endeavor, but the first season shows promising results. The research team hopes to obtain a comprehensive understanding of natural disaster mechanisms as well as the people’s interaction with the event. With the data and knowledge gathered in the first season, the research team is well-positioned to find out more about the complex dynamics of the underwater site, and the wider implications of natural disasters. During the 2023 season, small-scale excavations both on land and underwater are being planned. This may provide an insight to the changes in material culture before and after the village was relocated. The detailed season plan has not been finalized at this point of writing, but the season's preliminary results will be introduced at the conference.    Acknowledgements We acknowledge the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research for funding our project. We are deeply grateful for numerous individuals and groups whose contributions were essential to their success. Particularly, appreciation should be given to the residents and municipal officers for their hospitality and invaluable support, which greatly facilitated our research. BIBLIOGRAPHY Aizu -Yonezawa Kaido Main Road, Hibara Historical Museum “Azaippitsukagirichizuchou, Hibara-Mura” A photo-copy of Historical Map 字一筆限地図帳　第四大区七小区　岩代國耶麻郡 檜原村, Author not recorded, Date Unknown, (Photographed by the research team) Central Disaster Management Council. 1888 Mt.Bandai Eruption Report, Tokyo:Central Disaster Management Council, 2005. Kita-Shiobara Village Board of Education. Kita-Shiobara Village Excavation Report, No. 5, Fukushima: Kita-Shiobara Village Board of Education, 2022. Kita-Shiobara Village Board of Education. Historic Road, Aizu-Yonezawa Highway - Hibara History Trail, Fukushima: Kita-Shiobara Village Board of Education, 2018. Sato, Hiroshi. “Eruption of Mount Bandai in 1888 and Recovery from Disaster.” Water Science 65, no. 3 (2021): 45-69. Tanikawa, Wataru. Collaborative Research and Meeting of Natural Hazard Science and Archaeology for Submerged Ruins. Disaster Prevention Research Institute Kyoto University, Kyoto: Kyoto University, 2021. Tanikawa, Wataru., Go-ichiro Uramoto, Yohei Hamada, Masafumi Murayama, Yuhji Yamamoto, Takehiro Hirose, Osamu Tadai, Kouki Tanaka, Hiromasa Ozaki, Minoru Yoneda, and Hidekazu Tokuyama. “Provenance of submerged stone pillars in an earthquake and typhoon hazard zone, coastal Tosashimizu, southwest Japan: A multidisciplinary geological approach.” Marine Geology 415 (2019) 105962. Tanikawa, Wataru., Go-Ichiro Uramoto, Hidekazu Tokuyama, Masafumi Murayama, and Yuhji Yamamoto. “A Review on Estimation of Subsidence Records of Nankai Earthquakes from the Tradition of the Submerged Village Kuroda-gori.” Rekishi Jishin 31 (2016):17-26. 7 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2023 Session 15: The Archaeology of Submerged Landscapes and Inland Waters Subject The topic of the resource Session 15 papers Description An account of the resource Papers presented at Session 15 of the 2023 Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 2023 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Language A language of the resource English Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Searching for the evidence of disaster from the sunken village of Lake Hibara, Japan Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Randy Sasaki Wataru Tanikawa Jun Kimura Hisashi Nakagawa Shintaro Yamasaki Yuhji Yamamoto Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Language A language of the resource English Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Sasaki, Randy, Wataru Tanikawa, Jun Kimura, Hisashi Nakagawa, Shintaro Yamasaki, Yuhji Yamamoto. 2023. “Searching for the evidence of disaster from the sunken village of Lake Hibara, Japan.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Jennifer McKinnon. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1994 Asia-Pac Session 15 2023 https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/files/original/f3aad38b7722f3ead8359debc883f444.pdf 08fba8438cd399df3769458227b1c591 PDF Text Text Excavation, conservation, and preservation of the Mt Gambier underwater fossil deposits Julien Louys (Associate Professor, Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane Australia) ABSTRACT This paper will examine the history of underwater fossil research in the Mt Gambier region, Australia, focusing on ongoing efforts to study, conserve, and protect underwater resources found in the freshwater sinkholes and limestone caves of the region; as such, the topic of this abstract fits best within the session The Archaeology of Submerged Landscapes and Inland Waters because it is concerned with cave sites that have become flooded. I will describe the considerable past efforts that were undertaken to extract fossils from Green Waterhole, as well as recently successful efforts to have this site registered as a South Australian Heritage Listed site, ensuring legislated protection for the cave and its deposits into the future. In addition, a new research program funded by the Australian Research Council and in collaboration with the Cave Divers Association of Australia and the South Australian Museum will be presented. The new work includes efforts to successfully recover fossils with as much contextual information as possible, especially geochronological and environmental data. Using these data, we expect to determine the geological age of the extinct megafauna recovered from the sites and the environments they inhabited; data critical for determining the degree to which humans or environmental change contributed to their demise. We will also evaluate the impact of such research on the preservation of the caves, ongoing efforts to conserve the geoheritage potential of the sites, and means of educating the public on the unique underwater resources they represent. Keywords: megafauna, Pleistocene, geoheritage, South Australia LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ARC – Australian Research Council CDAA – Cave Divers Association of Australia ka – thousand years INTRODUCTION The topic of this paper fits best within the Session Archaeology of Submerged Landscapes and Inland Waters because the underwater caves of the Mt Gambier region are freshwater deposits in a young, terrestrial karstic landscape (Figure 1). The Mt Gambier caves are found in the latest Eocene to Miocene limestones of the Gambier Limestone within the Gambier Basin, although rarer younger caves are also formed in the Quaternary dune calcarenites (Grimes et al. 1999; Webb et al. 2010). The limestones are relatively soft and weakly consolidated, and both limestones and calcarenites show synergetic karst features such as development of solution pipes and calcreted caprocks (Grimes et al. 1999). Collapse dolines are frequently recorded in the Mt Gambier region, and those that fall below the waterline form cenotes. These are up to 125 m deep, and generally circular, sheer-walled, and floored by large rubble cones (Webb et al. 2010). Cave and cenote dissolution is thought to be the result of volcanogenic CO2 acidified groundwater resulting from Pleistocene–Holocene volcanic eruptions, in particular the 28 ka Mt Gambier eruption (Webb et al. 2010). The phreatic caverns formed by this dissolution collapsed possibly during the low sea levels of the Last Glacial Maximum (Webb et al. 2010), forming sites such as Hells Hole, Umpherstons, The Sisters, Little Blue Lake, One Tree, and Gouldens; The Shaft is a rare example of cave dissolution with a solution pipe entrance that has not yet collapsed (Grimes et al. 1999). Flooding of the cenotes is thought to have occurred approximately 8 ka based on radiocarbon dates associated with a stromatolite from Black Hole (Kelly 1998). There does not appear to be any hydrological or speleological connection between the cenotes and the phreatic caves of the region (Webb et al. 2010). 1 �Figure 1. Location of some of the major cave diving locations in the Mt Gambier region. Adapted after Lewis and Stace 1982. The phreatic caves of the Mt Gambier region are shallow, horizontal, joint and bedding-plane controlled systems (Grimes et al. 1999; Webb et al. 2010). Passages are primarily epiphreatic, fissure-style, and solution features associated with previous water table levels such as incuts and undercuts are frequently observed (Grimes et al. 1999; Webb et al. 2010). The bulk of the cave systems are underwater, and some have been heavily modified by breakdown, forming collapse domes and rubble filled passages (Grimes et al. 1999). These sometimes reach the surface, such as Green Waterhole (Fossil Cave). There are over 50 caves recorded around Mt Gambier (Webb et al. 2010), many of which have been mapped and/or discovered by the CDAA; the most extensive cave system in the region is Tank Cave with over 10 km of passages, one of which was recently (2018) connected to Green Waterhole. Fossils from the underwater caves in Mt Gambier were first reported to palaeontologists in the 1960s. The following history is recounted from Pledge (1980) and Horne (1988). In 1964 G. McKenzie passed some possum and sthenurine (extinct short-faced kangaroos) fossils he found from Green Waterhole to amateur palaeontologist and caver F.W. Aslin, who subsequently passed them on to B. 2 �Daily at the South Australian Museum. In 1965 Daily collected kangaroo and pig remains from near the entrance to the cave that probably represent more modern specimens. In 1968 divers B. Brawley and G. McKenzie recovered substantial sthenurine material including crania in ‘excellent condition’. A second extraction occurred later that same year, with a third expedition in 1969 yielding considerable postcranial material. Fossil material had also been recovered at some point from the Pines Cave, but this material was only discovered in the Australian Museum in 1968, and it is not clear in Pledge (1980) or Horne (1988)’s accounts when or by whom this was collected. The fossil collecting exploits of some divers, however, was sensationalised in the 15 February 1969 issue of Pix magazine. In 1974 a further extraction took place from Green Waterhole after reports of ‘unauthorised’ divers in this cave who were planning on returning; presumably these divers were interfering with the fossil deposits. Further dives in 1978 by cave divers from Flinders University recovered more bones, which were passed on to R. Wells, palaeontologist at Flinders. This resulted in the first systematic efforts to recover bones from Green Waterhole, as described by Horne (1988). At the end of 1978 a grid system was laid out across the southern exposures of fossils, and much material was again collected, this time however with more specific locality information preserved. In 1987 and 1988, through the South Australian Underwater Speleological Society (SAUSS) and Flinders University, further collection of fossil material in reference to the grid system was made. The results of these collections are described in Horne (1988) and Newton (1988). Fossils representing extinct and extant Quaternary vertebrate faunas have also been reported from numerous other cenotes and caves from the Mt Gambier region (Figure 1); however, unlike those from Green Waterhole (Fossil Cave), none have been subject to systematic or extensive excavations. Underwater sites yielding fossils include Ewen’s Ponds, Ten-Eighty Sinkhole, Goulden’s Hole, Tank Cave, Engelbrecht Cave, Blue Lake, Kilsby’s Sinkhole (Reed and Bourne 2000). Nevertheless, there has been little published in the scientific literature concerning the underwater fossils of Mt Gambier. Pledge (1980) provided descriptions of the initial finds from Green Waterhole, and the birds from the site were published by Baird (1985). Baird (1991) also discussed some aspects of the taphonomy of the site. Reed and Bourne (2000) summarised what was then known about the fossil taxa found in the Mt Gambier caves. Green Waterhole was listed as one of the most important Australian fossil sites in Australia’s Fossil Heritage (The Australian Heritage Council 2012). In late 2018, further megafauna fossils were discovered in pristine condition in the Bone Room chamber of Tank Cave (Green 2018). This represented one of the most significant finds of this kind in Mt Gambier since the excavations of Green Waterhole in the 1980s. Unfortunately, these finds coincided with reports of unauthorised fossil extractions in Green Waterhole. The history and potential of the fossil deposits in the Mt Gambier region, the dearth of published scientific studies, and the recent finds and incidences have highlighted the need to (1) conduct further scientific study of the underwater fossil deposits; and (2) ensure adequate protection and conservation of the cave systems and the fossils therein. CASE STUDIES The case studies under consideration are the following: (1) An Australian Research Council Linkage Project between Griffith University, CDAA, South Australian Museum, the University of Adelaide, and the University of Queensland, aimed at undertaking new scientific analyses and excavations of the fossil underwater deposits of the Mt Gambier Region. (2) The South Australian Fossil Heritage Working Group and their efforts to add Green Waterhole and Tank Cave fossil deposits to the state heritage list. 3 �RESOURCES The resources available to conduct the work include funding from the ARC, the CDAA, Griffith University, as well as the expertise and time from these organisations and those from University of Adelaide, University of Queensland, Flinders University, South Australian Museum, South Australia Department for Environment and Water (DEW). Griffith University and partners were awarded $268,529 in March 2022 by the ARC for a project entitled Deep time extinctions and environments in Australian underwater caves. FRAMEWORK ARC Linkage Project Deep time extinctions and environments in Australian underwater caves The following summarises the goals of this project (from Australian Research Council, 2019): This project aims to investigate the unique submerged Mt Gambier fossil deposits to determine the role environmental change had on large Australian mammal extinctions. By using a combination of technical diving and scientific expertise to study untouched fossil deposits from underwater caves, this project expects to provide greater understanding of past ecosystems and animals, advancements in geochronological techniques, and data critical to prepare Australians for action in protecting our biological heritage. Expected outcomes include insights into cave conservation and protection of underwater cave systems, updated policies on cave management, and promotion of our understanding of Australian geo-heritage through education and displays. This project consists of a partnership between Griffith University, CDAA, South Australian Museum, the University of Adelaide, and the University of Queensland to undertake new studies on the underwater fossil deposits of the Mt Gambier region, with results feeding back directly to the CDAA, the South Australian Museum, and other interested parties for education and conservation purposes, in addition to the scientific contributions. The focus of this project is on four caves and cenotes: Gouldens, Engelbrect’s East, Green Waterhole, and Tank Cave. It will combine new excavations as well as novel (for the region and underwater setting) sampling, namely geochronological (uranium-series, optically stimulated luminescence, electron spin resonance dating) and palynological, alongside underwater palaeontological sampling and analyses. To prepare for this project, a thorough review of current underwater palaeontological techniques was published (Louys 2018), and pilot data were collected. Since the award of ARC funding, the project has grown to include photogrammetry analyses in collaboration with the CDAA and Flinders University. The production of 3D models of the underwater systems will not only be of enormous benefit to the taphonomic and speleological analyses planned, but can also be fed directly into current cave conservation efforts, such those of the Project Baseline team monitoring Tank Cave (https://projectbaseline.org/), and displays and educational resources for the South Australian Museum. The project has also embraced new methodologies, such as environmental DNA studies, with recent efforts successful in securing additional funding for these analyses. The South Australian Fossil Heritage Working Group This group was set up in recognition of the need to establish a collaborative group of palaeontologists, conservationists, speleologists, and government members to further the protection of natural sites with significant fossil deposits in South Australia. South Australia has a strong and proud tradition of fossil conservation at the world and state level, exemplified by the World Heritage Listing of the Naracoorte cave system (alongside Riversleigh, as the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites; Bourne and Reed 2009), as well as State Heritage nominations of individual caves and multi-site areas in the Naracoorte Caves 4 �National Park (Lewis 2019). Although the heritage importance of Green Waterhole had been recognised for some years (Australian Heritage Council 2012; Lewis 2019), the initiation of a new research program through the ARC Linkage Project and the new finds made in Tank Cave in 2018 provided the impetus for the formation of the group and the nomination of Green Waterhole – Tank Cave complex for State Heritage Listing. Members of the working group included representatives from Griffith University, CDAA, University of Adelaide, the South Australian Museum, Flinders University, and the South Australia Department for Environment and Water (see Acknowledgements for individuals involved). The South Australian State Heritage Register is a list of areas protected under the Heritage Places Act 1993 from alteration, damage, or removal without formal prior consultation and permission (South Australian State Heritage, https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/heritage/sa-heritage-register). State Heritage listing provides legal protection to fossil sites that would otherwise not be provided even if such sites are designated Geological Heritage Sites by the Geological Society of Australia (Lewis 2019). Current federal or state laws in Australia do not provide adequate or consistent protection for fossils (Percival 2014). Significant education and awareness training for cave divers has been in place for decades (e.g., Louys 2019), however, recognition of the State Heritage Register of the importance of the caves will, it is hoped, add impetus and focus on their preservation. Like the nomination of the Naracoorte Caves National Parks to the State Heritage Register linked to the Natural (as opposed to Built) environment, the nomination of the Green Waterhole – Tank Cave Complex was orientated towards Geological, Archaeological, Palaeontological and Speleological heritage (GAPS heritage; Lewis 2019), and was a multi-site nomination. Specifically, it focused on the palaeontological, speleological, and geological significance of the caves and their deposits, as follows (South Australian Heritage Register 2022): The Green Waterhole - Tank Cave Fossil Complex contains the only known extensive underwater vertebrate fossil deposits in Australia. This unique freshwater depositional environment has ensured the preservation of extinct species not found anywhere else, with several additional species new to science recovered and awaiting description. The underwater deposits have also resulted in a completeness and preservation of fossil assemblies almost unique for Australia. This provides an important opportunity to investigate the evolution of South Australian mammals and birds. The impacts of this type of site on the age and nature of the fossil remains have yet to be fully studied. The complex represents unusual geological formations including the occurrence of a shallow fresh waterhole not usually found in sinkholes in the South East, and evidence of rare volcanogenic influences in the formation of the cave system. The cave complex also demonstrates rare speleological features, including length of cave passageways, clarity of water, underwater speleothems, and being a type locality for stygofauna. The complex also holds importance for the development of cave diving in the country and is closely associated with the Cave Divers Association of Australia. It is also acknowledged as a place of significance for the Boandik people. The nomination was assessed under the following criteria under Section 16 of the Heritage Places Act 1993: (b) it has rare, uncommon or endangered qualities that are of cultural significance; (c) it may yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the State’s history, including its natural history; and (g) it has a special association with the life or work of a person or organisation or an event of historical importance. These criteria recognise both the palaeontological (and associated geological and speleological) features of the caves, but also the history and connection with Indigenous groups as well as more recently, the cave divers. RESULTS The first field season from the project Deep time extinctions and environments in Australian underwater caves took place over 10 days in early April 2023. The season had three primary 5 �objectives. First, collect surface samples and associated geochronological samples from the megafaunal deposits in Engelbrecht’s East deposits. These are unique for the project in that they represent a fissure fill deposit actively eroding out in a dry section of the cave. It is included in this project because it requires diving through an underwater passage to access, but more importantly is actively eroding into a wet section of the cave. This provides significant contextual data for the taphonomic aspects of the project seeking to determine whether skeletal elements were deposited in wet settings pre or post fossilisation. Second, three sample cores, one optically stimulated luminescence, one pollen, and one eDNA, were collected from each of the three sites of interest, Gouldens, Green Waterhole, and Engelbrecht’s East from the underwater passage mentioned above; previous pilot data had suggested that sediments in this section could be as old as 95 ka (Arnold, pers comm., 2021). To preserve stratigraphic integrity within these cores, as well as any viable DNA, all cores collected during this season were frozen in the orientation in which they were taken. Sampling was made considerably more difficult in Green Waterhole and, to a lesser extent, Gouldens, due to the amount of fine particulates on the cave floor. Once disturbed, these sediments became suspended in the water column and reduced visibility to almost nothing, and most of the sampling and exit from the cave was done via tactile signalling. Figure 2: The author examining a cow femur, Green Waterhole, Mt Gambier (image courtesy of Steve Trewavas). Third, surface reference material, much of recent age (specifically, less than about 200 years old as represented by European domesticates) was collected from Gouldens and Green Waterhole (Figure 2). These were collected to provide modern baselines for faunal dating and taphonomic analyses. Species recovered thus far include sheep, cow, and murids. In addition to these objectives, the photogrammetry surveys were begun in all three caves. These will require numerous dives and trips to complete. With regards to the protection of the sites, the Green Waterhole - Tank Cave Fossil Complex was officially confirmed as a State Heritage Place in the SA Heritage Register on 23 June 2022. The South 6 �Australian Fossil Heritage Working Group continues their work listing other fossils sites on the registry; however, to date none of any additional sites relate to underwater fossil deposits. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Cave Divers Association of Australia have been integral to this project and their immense contribution is acknowledged here. In particular, many thanks Peter Wolf who was instrumental in setting up the Linkage Project, and Joseph Monks who has since been intimately involved with the planning and execution of the project and fieldwork. The CDAA National Directors are thanked for their ongoing support. Dive field support was graciously provided by Joseph Monks, Damian Bishop, Ellyse Klein, Hiro Yoshida, Tim Featonby, Steve Trewavas, and Kelvin Ball, with surface support provided by Meg Walker, Gilbert Price, and Jody Kreuger. Scientific support was provided by Lee Arnold, Martina Demuro, and Liz Reed. The members of the South Australian Fossil Heritage Working Group involved in the listing of Green Waterhole – Tank Cave complex (Julien Louys, Peter Wolf, Peter Horne, Liz Reed, Diego Garcia-Bellido, Mary-Anne Binnie, Neville Pledge, Trevor Worthy, Rod Wells, Gavin Prideaux, Ian D. Lewis, Steve Bourne, and Anna Pope) are warmly thanked for their tremendous efforts in having the site entered in the State Heritage Register. Funding for this project is provided by ARC Linkage LP210200704 and The Australia Pacific Science Hermon Slade Research Fund HSF23047. BIBLIOGRAPHY Australian Heritage Council. Australia's Fossil Heritage: A Catalogue of Important Australian Fossil Sites. Canberra: CSIRO Publishing, 2012. Australian Research Council, 2019. LP210200704 — Griffith University (funded by Australian Research Council). https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/RGS/Web/Grants/LP210200704, accessed 28/4/2023. Baird, R.F. “Avian fossils from Quaternary deposits in ‘Green Waterhole Cave’, south-eastern South Australia.” Records of the Australian Museum 37, no. 6 (1985): 353-370. Baird, R.F. “Taphonomy of late Quaternary cave localities yielding vertebrate remains in Australia.” In Vertebrate Palaeontology of Australasia, edited by Patricia Vickers-Rich, J.M. Monaghan, R.F. Baird and T.H. Rich, 267–309. Melbourne: Pioneer Design Studio and the Monash University Publications Committee, 1991. Bourne, Steve, Reed, Liz. “Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte).” World Heritage 52 (2009): 46-47. Green, Selina. 2018. “Cave diver finds prehistoric bones in 'new room' of underwater cave network.” ABC News 13th December 2018. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-13/cavediver-finds-large-fauna-bones-south-australia/10599218 Grimes, Ken, G., Mott, K. and White, S. “The Gambier karst province.” Proceedings of the 13th Australasian Conference on Cave and Karst Management (1999): 1-7. Kelly, M.D. Freshwater Stromatolites as Potential Environmental Indicators: A Case Study from Lower Southeast South Australia. B.Sc. Hons thesis, Department of Geography, University of Newcastle, 1998. Lewis, Ian, D. “South Australian geology and the State Heritage Register: an example of geoconservation of the Naracoorte Caves complex and karst environment.” Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 66, no. 6 (2019): 785-792. Lewis, Ian, Stace, Peter. Cave Diving in Australia, Revised Edition. Adelaide: Ian Lewis and Peter Stace, 1982. Louys, Julien. “Practice and prospects in underwater palaeontology.” Palaeontologia Electronica 21, no. 2 (2018): 1-14. Louys, Julien. “A cave diver’s guide to fossil discoveries – our obligations.” Guidelines 148 (2019): 12-15. Percival, I.G. “Protection and preservation of Australia’s palaeontological heritage.” Geoheritage 6, no. 3 (2014): 205-216. Pledge, Neville S. “Macropodid skeletons, including: Simosthenurus Tedford, from an unusual “drowned cave” deposit in the south east of South Australia.” Records of the South Australian Museum 18 (1980): 131-141. South Australian Heritage Register. Department for Environment and Water, Government of South Australia, 2022. https://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=28119 Reed, Elizabeth H. and Bourne, Steven J. “Pleistocene fossil vertebrate sites of the South East region of South Australia.” Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 124 (2000): 61-90. Webb, J.A., Grimes, K.G. and Lewis, I.D. “Volcanogenic origin of cenotes near Mt Gambier, southeastern Australia.” Geomorphology 119, nos. 1-2 (2010): 23-35. 7 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2023 Session 15: The Archaeology of Submerged Landscapes and Inland Waters Subject The topic of the resource Session 15 papers Description An account of the resource Papers presented at Session 15 of the 2023 Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 2023 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Language A language of the resource English Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Excavation, conservation, and preservation of the Mt Gambier underwater fossil deposits Description An account of the resource This paper will examine the history of underwater fossil research in the Mt Gambier region, Australia, focusing on ongoing efforts to study, conserve, and protect underwater resources found in the freshwater sinkholes and limestone caves of the region; as such, the topic of this abstract fits best within the session The Archaeology of Submerged Landscapes and Inland Waters because it is concerned with cave sites that have become flooded. I will describe the considerable past efforts that were undertaken to extract fossils from Green Waterhole, as well as recently successful efforts to have this site registered as a South Australian Heritage Listed site, ensuring legislated protection for the cave and its deposits into the future. In addition, a new research program funded by the Australian Research Council and in collaboration with the Cave Divers Association of Australia and the South Australian Museum will be presented. The new work includes efforts to successfully recover fossils with as much contextual information as possible, especially geochronological and environmental data. Using these data, we expect to determine the geological age of the extinct megafauna recovered from the sites and the environments they inhabited; data critical for determining the degree to which humans or environmental change contributed to their demise. We will also evaluate the impact of such research on the preservation of the caves, ongoing efforts to conserve the geoheritage potential of the sites, and means of educating the public on the unique underwater resources they represent. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Julien Louys Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Museum of Underwater Archaeology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Language A language of the resource English Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Louys, Julien . 2023. “Excavation, conservation, and preservation of the Mt Gambier underwater fossil deposits.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Jennifer McKinnon. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1993 Asia-Pac Session 15 2023