Malta’s strategic location at the centre of the Mediterranean, combined with its long maritime history, means that its sea-beds are rich with heritage. In this episode we explore Malta's astonishing underwater cultural heritage, managed by Heritage Malta.

Visiting the headquarters of Malta's Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, Dr Sam Willis speaks with Maja Sausmeka, the Senior Principal Officer for Maritime Archaeology at Heritage Malta. They discuss in depth Gozo's Phoenician shipwreck, the oldest known in the Central Mediterranean, located at 110 meters off Gozo's coast. The wreck, dating back to the 7th century BC, contains amphorae, urns, and grinding stones. They discuss recent projects, including shallow water excavations in Salina Bay and deep water excavations of a range of sites, including a wealth of sunken ships and planes from the Second World War. The team uses 3D photogrammetry for documentation and aims to create a sonar map of Malta's entire seabed to protect and manage underwater heritage effectively. They discuss in detail the richness of Malta's underwater heritage and the ongoing challenges of protecting it.

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