Threats to underwater cultural heritage. The problems of unprotected archaeological and historic sites, wrecks and objects found at sea

Abstract

The discovery of the wreck of the Titanic and the recovery of artefacts from the site has highlighted the lack of legal protection for underwater cultural heritage on the outer continental shelf and the deep sea-bed. After the wreck was found in 1985 it became apparent that there was no way of protecting it from salvage. Virtually any wreck could now be located and it is vital that this new opportunity for gaining a deeper understanding of the maritime past is not squandered. Unless a solution to this problem is found, within decades there will be no more wrecks worth protecting.