Dive & Dig

This month an exhibition about the ground-breaking Phoenician Shipwreck Project is being held at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, Malta. The ship was found in 110 metres of water and dates back to the 7th Century BC. It is the first archaeological excavation by divers in more than 100m of water, not only is the site revealing more secrets about the Phoenicians but it is also breaking new ground in underwater technology. We talk to Timmy Gambin about the site and the exhibition. 

In the latest episode of Dive & Dig News we spoke to Rawda Abdelhady from the Raquda Foundation about their amazing project to document the tangible and intangible heritage of a remarkable coastal community in El Max, Alexandria, which is under threat from development.
#coastalcommunities #intangibleheritage #maritimearchaeology #Egypt #Alexandria #ElMax

We talk to ocean scientist Dr Nic Flemming about his new book - Apollonia on my Mind - The memoir of a paraplegic ocean scientist. The ocean conceals secrets, ancient, modern, and future. Nic Flemming’s memoir recounts the life of a pioneer in ocean science. Each chapter describes a thread that structured his work: underwater cities, submerged Ice Age caverns dripping with stalactites, the limits to ocean exploitation, ocean climate change, prehistoric settlements on the continental shelf, ocean law, and safe scientific diving. Flemming is paralysed from the chest down and has used a wheelchair for the past 52 years; one chapter assesses how he has continued to work in rough conditions and at sea, visiting 60 countries since his accident. 

This week we talk to Brendan Foley and Gitte Ingvardson from Lund University about their use of new scientific techniques to uncover ancient coins from the wreck of the 15th Century royal Danish warship Gribshunden. This remarkably well-preserved wreck in the Baltic contains a fascinating array of artefacts, here they tell us about the techniques they are using to uncover more about this significant site.  

To mark International Women’s Day the University of Helsinki held a roundtable discussion as part of their global conversations in maritime archaeology, this discussion was on Women in Maritime Archaeology - Four different women, four different stories, and four equally passionate and culturally diverse narratives. Hosted by Dr Lucy Semaan from the Honor Frost Foundation team in Lebanon, we spoke to her afterwards to find out what was discussed, what key messages we can take from this and what we need to do to advance true gender equality in the field.

#InternationalWomensDay

Beirut is one of Lebanon’s most extensively excavated, surveyed, and published coastal archaeological sites. The horrific explosion at the port city on August 4th, 2020 left over 200 dead, 6500 injured, and displaced over 300,000 people after catastrophic damage to residential and commercial structures up to 20 km from the point of detonation. The blast caused irreparable damage not only to the modern city and its inhabitants, but also struck at the heart of Lebanese cultural heritage. The ancient maritime landscape, historic coastal buildings and structures, and archaeological features in and around the port all sustained significant harm and are in dire need of restoration, preservation, and proper management. Listen to find out more about the Beirut Port Project which aims to assist current and future archaeological teams working in the city.

The first episode in our exciting new 'news' series! Bringing you the latest discoveries from the world of maritime archaeology. In this episode, Dr Timmy Gambin reveals what they have discovered from a human tooth found on a 2,700-year-old shipwreck! 

Join maritime archaeologist, Stella Demesticha from the University of Cyprus to hear what she has found on the Mazotos shipwreck off the coast of Cyprus.  She describes amphorae – ceramic containers of the ancient world - what they contained and how they were made.  Together with Cynthianne Spiteri – a scientist who analyses lipids,  oil and fat compounds from inside amphorae, they are able to identify what containers found on a 2500-year-old Phoenician shipwreck, were carrying.  This in turn can tell us about the origin of the cargo and the trading routes of ancient merchants.  
#shipwrecks #amphorae #science #maritimearchaeology #underwater #scuba #diving #cyprus #heritage

Discover how maritime archaeologist, Jon Adams has used re-breathers and mixed gases to allow archaeological divers to go deeper and stay longer on sites.  Jon also explains how digital technologies have revolutionised maritime archaeological investigation, allowing research to be conducted more accurately and efficiently underwater.  We no longer need to spend hours drawing by hand, today new technologies enable the production of a 3-D printed model of a ship in just a few hours! Jon also talks about his groundbreaking work in the Black Sea, where the team discovered 65 shipwrecks dating from ancient Greece to WWII. 

#shipwrecks #deepsea #maryrose #blacksea #maritime #nautical #scuba #rov #oceanexploration 
SxoHDrzkI9OM6SWtZzmZ