Julie Satchell, Head of Research, Hampshire & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology, focuses on the importance and value of our marine cultural resource.

There is a lot more to the underwater cultural heritage beyond the obvious popular connections with pirates and treasure.

Within the waters of the UK lies a rich and diverse archive which spans from prehistoric times, when areas now underwater were the territory of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic communities, through millennia of maritime trade, transport and defence.

This resource is as much a part of the historic environment as sites, monuments, buildings and their associated collections which are on land, although to date the maritime environment has not enjoyed the same intensity of investigation or investment of resources as the ‘drier’ environment.

Developing understanding of the submerged maritime cultural heritage, its potential to provide information on a wide range of periods and themes, and the significance of this data to knowledge of the human past, is demonstrating the value of this under estimated aspect of heritage.

Key attributes of the resource which help bring a new dimension to archaeological and historical understanding include:

•     Preservation potential – the preservation of organic remains in the waterlogged marine environment has provided examples of objects that would not survive on land. Examples of items include worked Mesolithic wood, such as that from the submerged occupation site at Bouldnor Cliff, off the Isle of Wight, items of shipboard equipment or fittings, or crashed aircraft from more recent times.

•     Prehistoric landscapes – realising that large amounts of prehistoric territory is now underwater and can contain well preserved sites is a rapidly expanding area of research. Past climate and sea levels have fluctuated quite dramatically, causing early humans to adapt to their environment. This type of evidence has resonance in modern society facing a changing climate.

•     Ships and their assemblages - although the Mary Rose is perhaps the most well known of excavated shipwrecks, there are tens of thousands of other wrecks within UK waters that provide detailed evidence on a wide range of social, economic and technological changes from the Bronze Age to modern day. As many of these ships originated from other countries, or stopped at a range of ports on route prior to wrecking, they often have a truly international nature and trans-national relevance.

In the past maritime archaeological sites, particularly shipwrecks, have been seen as isolated ‘time capsules', however, new research is highlighting how analysis and understanding of the ships themselves and their associated assemblages can place them within their full social and historical context.

It is not only through research driven investigations that new and significant information is being generated; increased development in the marine zone through ports and harbours, aggregate extraction and wind farms, is generating a vast amount of new data across large areas of the seabed. In particular marine geophysical survey provides methods of ‘viewing’ the resource remotely, that can greatly enhance its accessibility and wider understanding.

Inevitably undertaking an archaeological project underwater involves some additional logistical considerations, especially the need for diving. However, once on the seabed the process and techniques of investigation are the same as those employed on terrestrial archaeological sites.

Common conceptions of underwater work are that it is expensive due to marine operations and resulting conservation of collections. While these are issues that require careful consideration, particularly on very large scale projects, in reality much of the work being undertaken on sites involves survey, sampling and excavation which generate very manageable archives.

Additionally the power of the resulting archive to add to research and understanding and to illicit public interest justifies additional investment. As underwater heritage lies outside of the reach of most of the population the recovered archives from sites have an additional value and importance as a means to make this element of our nation’s heritage accessible.

While it is acknowledged that structures are needed to be put in place to ensure more archives are deposited in museums, there is also a need to provide more routes for display and interaction. Whether access is provided as direct physical access with material, or more remotely through on-line mechanisms, increasing visibility and understanding is essential. The large public interest in underwater and maritime archaeology provides a range of opportunities for innovative approaches for involvement, whether through visiting exhibitions, through publications or more ‘hands-on’ involvement in the field.

As a maritime nation we are not currently promoting the fascinating and valuable maritime archaeological resource effectively.

With growing public awareness of these issues and an appetite to learn more about the underwater world it is hoped a more positive course can be sailed for the future.