Development of Tools and Techniques to Survey, Assess, Stabilise, Monitor and Preserve Underwater Archaeological Sites

SASMAP’s purpose was to develop new technologies and best practices in order to locate, assess and manage Europe’s underwater cultural heritage in more effective ways. SASMAP took holistic- and process- based approaches to investigate underwater environments and the archaeological sites contained therein.

SASMAP aimed at supporting the management of underwater cultural heritage in Europe and in the rest of the world by providing valuable tools to plan the preservation of offshore archaeological sites and their contents in accordance with both the Treaty of Valletta (1992) and research driven investigations.[ER1] Within SASMAP, a holistic approach has been taken to locating, assessing, monitoring and safeguarding underwater cultural heritage. This involved developing and utilising tools and technologies to allow “down-scaling” from the large-scale regional level, moving on to the local site level and finally to the individual components of a site. Results obtained from the downscaling approach at the proposed study areas showed the effectiveness of such an approach for locating and detailed mapping of archaeological sites and their preservation potential. Results of this approach were used to develop a plan for assessing archaeological sites in European waters. From a management point of view, this is an up-scaling approach to planning (bottom up). All information and experiences obtained during the course of the project have been utilised to enhance and develop existing legislation and best practice for mapping and preserving Europe’s underwater and coastal heritage.

Funding Programme:

Funding Programme:

Sea Basin(s):

Countries:

Status:

Completion Year:

Website/Source:

Contact Person(s):

Project partners