16.04.2023
5 Dakika
Oceans and seas... Even if we think we have discovered every inch of the world, it still holds adventures full of unknowns for us. Underwater adventures sometimes open the dusty pages of history, and sometimes they bring civilizations to their lost treasures. In this adventure, underwater archaeology and archaeologists play the main role. How about a journey where we know the main role of this adventure? If your answer is "yes", let us start with the first blog post of this journey!
Perhaps you are familiar with underwater archaeology, perhaps this is the first time you are hearing about this field. So let us first talk about what underwater archaeology is, and then go into the details.
When it comes to archaeology, many of us think of Earth. Archaeological studies conducted underwater often do not come to mind. Yet there is at least as much history and artifacts left behind by civilizations underwater as there is on Earth.
Underwater archaeology, like the archaeology we know, reveals the history of societies and cultures through the study of physical remains and brings us close to the remains of that time. However, unlike the concept of archaeology that we are familiar with, this is done through underwater artifacts, shipwrecks or finds.
Compared to archaeology on land, one might think that underwater archaeology yields less robust finds. However, the waters are ideal for protecting valuable artifacts, shipwrecks and cities. It is not possible to protect artifacts, cities or valuable mines when wars and looting are taking place on the ground, but underwater, as a world we have only learned about and discovered relatively recently, the artifacts and shipwrecks they house are protected for hundreds of years. Of course, it is not possible to ignore the damage that water can cause to artifacts. Water can protect artifacts from decay and looting, but it can also cause damage through erosion and corrosion. For this reason, underwater archaeologists work very carefully when developing and restoring artifacts and strive to preserve sites for future generations.
In addition, underwater archaeology provides us with information about the artifacts and shipwrecks it houses, ancient trade routes, maritime technologies, and the lives of people who lived near water. Especially in the face of rising sea levels and changing weather patterns that inundate many coastal areas, underwater archaeology can still help us today by allowing us to understand the effects of climate change on human populations through evidence from the past.
Underwater archaeology must use some different techniques than archaeology on land because of the physical difficulties. Underwater archaeologists discover artifacts and shipwrecks underwater using a variety of methods such as remote sensing and side-scan sonar. They use a variety of techniques to study underwater areas for their work, including underwater video and excavation. They also use specialized equipment such as scuba gear, underwater cameras and underwater metal detectors.
Therefore, underwater archaeology, like archaeology on land, involves the recovery of artifacts of cultural and historical significance. It is critical that underwater archaeologists work with local communities and stakeholders to ensure that artifacts are preserved and displayed in a culturally sensitive and caring manner.
Underwater archaeology is a fascinating field that combines the skills of archaeologists, historians, marine scientists and divers to unravel the mysteries of the past. In our quest to understand the history and culture of past civilizations, underwater archaeology helps us do just that. To learn more about underwater archaeology, you can watch our video “Uncovering the Underwater Archaeology: On the Water” on the YouTube channel of the Turkish Museums.
