Page 104 - TINA Dergi Sayi 11

TINA

Denizcilik Arkeolojisi Dergisi

This is a universal program launched, embracing the ber of divers and expansion of diving tourism have be-
perspectives of the United Nations Educational, Scien- gun to put pressure on the underwater cultural heritage.
tific and Cultural Institution (UNESCO) and the Interna- Thousands of sunken ships, artifacts and settlements that
tional Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and had barely been known to humankind until 1990s have
the principles and guidance by the Ministry of Culture been continuously visited by divers afterwards. The
and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey. The aim of the most important thing is that a vast majority of divers do
program and the book prepared in this context is to pro- not have any awareness in this regard. In most of the
mote understanding and awareness in order to avoid any ruins, which we consider submerged, ships’ wood have
harm to the archaeological material by divers. Another been destroyed or trapped under the bottom layers. The
important objective is to enable reporting the underwa- cargo of these ships consisting of loads such as ampho-
ter cultural values to the relevant institutions so that they ras, plates and tiles, and some of the wood that forms the
can be preserved and delivered to future generations as body have been probably lying under layers of sand or
well as bringing them to the world of science. The TINA filling. If a few remaining artifacts at the top of the sur-
Foundation for Underwater Archaeology has a very im- face are taken by divers, then they will risk being wiped
portant role in mobilizing and maintaining the program. out from that sunken history scene forever.
WHY SHOULD WE PROTECT IT? THE MAIN BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM
The archaeological values hidden under the blue cover Due to the lack of scientific research teams and rela-
of seas, lakes and streams are treasures of knowledge tively limited infrastructure facilities, the entire coast-
from the past. The remains of an ancient artifact that line of Turkey, which is thousands of kilometers long,
seems small and insignificant may hide an unknown that has not been investigated yet. Of course, it is true for
would shed light on the future. An artifact that looks the whole world, not only for Turkey. In fact, Turkey
very solid may break up like an egg-shell. A piece of is considered one of the best protected countries in the
art that stands alone at the bottom of the sea may be world within the framework of underwater cultural
an unfindable piece of a giant puzzle. Therefore, every heritage laws. The Law on the Protection of Cultural
artefact from mankind’s past under the waters represents and Natural Assets no. 2863 and the relevant decrees
a “messenger of the history” for understanding many un- require that the underwater artefacts be notified within
known things. It should always be kept in mind that the three days of the date of sighting. Consequently, it is
scientific value that these remains may have should be both a civic duty and a legal obligation to report the
transferred to future generations. Starting in the 1950s, historical remains encountered on the coastline and
surface-independent scuba diving technology has gradu- in the depths of the waters to the museums or district
ally progressed, and has undergone a rapid development offices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The
and expansion all over the world for the last 25 years. Turkish Underwater Sports Federation has already
Lowering hardware prices due to mass production, in- established a principle that will make a difference
creased purchasing power, and increase in cultural level compared to many other sports federations around the
of people have all led to an increase in the number of world, gaining a scientific perspective for protection of
divers. Along with many other factors, increasing num- the cultural heritage.

Kemer’de yapılan 1.TSSF Sualtı Kültür Mirasının Korunması programından bir kare.
A photo from the TSSF Underwater Cultural Heritage Protection Program meeting that took place in Kemer.

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