According to a statement released at the start of this week, the Excavation, Reconstruction, Restoration and Public Presentation of the Arles-Rhône Barge (France), the Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Banco Chinchorro reef (Mexico), the Subaquatic Archaeological Charter of the Azores (Portugal), the Ljubljanica River Phenomenon (Slovenia) and the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes Project (Spain) were designated by UNESCO as five top examples representing best practices for the protection of underwater cultural heritage.


The statement said the five projects were appointed on the recommendation of UNESCO’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Board (STAB) as leading examples of good practice through projects promoting responsible public access to heritage, scientific research, and which ensure the sustainability of archaeological sites.


UNESCO adopted the Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage in 2001 to increase the preservation of archaeological remains of cultural and historical value.


Cited in the statement, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, said that the organisation’s designation of these best practices promoted “concrete and directly-applicable solutions for the protection of underwater heritage”.


He called on “all States and stakeholders concerned to draw inspiration from them to amplify the drive to protect these remains, which bear the memory of our human history”.


Adopted in 2001, the Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage aims to better protect the millions of relics and historical debris preserved on the seabed, the statement said, adding that this international treaty is “a response to the increased destruction of underwater heritage exposed to treasure hunters”.


The convention also aims to promote public access to this heritage and to encourage archaeological research and, to date, has been ratified by 61 countries.