Seminar report

Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage in International Waters adjacent to the UK

Seminar held at the Society of Antiquaries of London on November 12, 2010

Roundtable Discussion: Conclusions

In the light of the information presented during the day, it was agreed that there was a strong case for the UK Government to review its position on the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001.

It is clear that the risk of adverse impact on the underwater cultural heritage (UCH) in international waters adjacent to the coast of the United Kingdom, as well as to UCH around the world in which the United Kingdom has an interest, continues to grow.   It is also clear that the UNESCO Convention 2001 offers a comprehensive framework that could help us to address this problem.
 
It was agreed that a sound ‘business case’ for the Convention would need to be made.  Members of the wider heritage community and the UK National Commission for UNESCO present at the Roundtable Discussion offered their support to the Joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee in preparing a paper setting out this case, which would encompass all aspects of the Convention and identify the potential costs and benefits to the UK of ratification.

As part of the preparation of the paper we propose to consult with the UK national heritage agencies before presenting the finalised paper to the UK Government.

Seminar Programme
 
Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage in International Waters adjacent to the UK

ONE-DAY SEMINAR
Friday 12th November 2010

Venue: Society of Antiquaries of London
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J OBE

Programme

10.00 REGISTRATION AND COFFEE
10.20 Welcome – John Lewis- General Secretary and CEO, Society of Antiquaries of London
10.25 Introduction – Robert Yorke: Chairman, Joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee
SESSION ONE:     Threats and Solutions
Session Chair: David Blackman
10.40 Michael Williams, Honorary Professor, Institute of Archaeology, University College London and David Parham, Senior Lecturer, Bournemouth University: “Outline of the nature of the threat to UCH in International Waters.”
11.10 Antony Firth, Head of Coastal and Marine, Wessex Archaeology: “Underwater Cultural Heritage off England: character and significance.”
11.40 Sarah Dromgoole, Professor of Maritime Law, University of Nottingham: “Why the UK should reconsider the UNESCO Convention 2001.”
12.05 Ulrike Guerin, Secretary of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001) at UNESCO: “The UNESCO Convention: its implementation, the benefits to States Parties, and progress of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body.”
12.30 Questions
12.45 LUNCH
SESSION TWO:     Approach of other States
Session Chair: Robert Yorke
1.45 Mariano Aznar Gòmez, Professor of Public International Law, Universitat Jaume I, Spain: “Spain’s position having ratified the Convention.”
2.15 Francisco Alves, Head of Nautical and Underwater Archaeological Branch, IGESPAR (Portugese Heritage) Ministry of Culture: “Portugal’s position having ratified the Convention.”
2.45 International Updates
       Croatia:    Jasen Mesic, Director of Archaeology Division, Ministry of Culture
       Ireland:    Sean Kirwan, Senior Archaeologist, National Monuments Service
       USA:     Ole Varmer, Attorney-Advisor, NOAA, (presented by Sarah Dromgoole)
       France:    Michel L’Hour, Chef du Département, DRASSM, (presented by Ulrike Guerin)

3.15 TEA
3.45 Thijs Maarleveld, Professor of Maritime Archaeology, University of Southern Denmark, President of ICOMOS - ICUCH,  “A perspective from other countries.”
4.15 Questions and round-table discussion – with all speakers.
4.50 Re-adoption of Burlington House Declaration 2005
5.00 CLOSE