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Heritage Malta and UN Ocean Decade Collaborate on WreckLife Underwater Heritage Initiative
August 16 2024 07:05 by PCLMedia
Heritage Malta, the national agency responsible for museums, conservation practices, and the cultural heritage of the Mediterranean archipelago, and its Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU) have announced a significant partnership with the United Nations Ocean Decade. The collaboration centers on the WreckLife project, a pioneering initiative designed to explore the complex relationships between historic shipwrecks in Maltese coastal waters and their surrounding marine environments.
Advancing Underwater Cultural Heritage Preservation
The WreckLife project tackles the pressing issues of shipwreck degradation and its effects on marine ecosystems. The endorsement by the United Nations underscores the global significance of preserving underwater cultural heritage, highlighting the need to protect these submerged historical sites. The project is set to enhance our understanding of how these shipwrecks interact with their marine surroundings, providing crucial insights into their future preservation.
WreckLife aims to predict future degradation patterns and develop effective preservation strategies. By studying shipwrecks as ecological islands, the project merges archaeological methodologies with biological research, offering a holistic approach to underwater heritage conservation. It focuses on identifying essential ocean knowledge, building research capacity, and promoting the widespread use of this knowledge.
Heritage Malta’s Commitment to Exploration, Documentation, and Public Engagement
Heritage Malta’s UCHU is guided by three core principles: Explore, Record, and Share. This commitment is demonstrated through various initiatives designed to make underwater discoveries accessible to the public. In collaboration with the University of Malta, WreckLife is developing innovative research methodologies, promoting academic and public engagement through open-access publications, educational programs, and interactive online platforms. This approach ensures that the research findings reach a broad audience, fostering ocean literacy and encouraging environmental stewardship.
A key component of this public engagement is Heritage Malta’s Virtual Museum, an online platform that invites users to explore historical sites beneath Maltese waters. Additionally, the Dive into History 360 program brings these sites to life through immersive, high-resolution 360-degree virtual reality experiences, making the underwater world accessible to everyone.
The Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit: Guardians of a Global Legacy
Malta’s rich underwater cultural heritage is a global treasure, with well-preserved sites that offer insights into the shared history of humankind. Recognizing its responsibility to manage and protect these sites, Heritage Malta established the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU). The UCHU’s main objectives include identifying and documenting underwater sites, enhancing their value, protecting them, and ensuring public access while maintaining the authenticity and integrity of Malta’s underwater cultural heritage. These efforts align with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, reinforcing Malta’s commitment to global heritage preservation.
Heritage Malta: Stewards of 8,000 Years of History
Heritage Malta serves as the guardian of over 8,000 years of Maltese history, overseeing a vast portfolio that includes archaeological sites, baroque auberges, palaces, catacombs, forts, natural landscapes, and UNESCO-listed Neolithic monuments. The agency is dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Maltese Islands, ensuring that the rich history of this unique archipelago is accessible to all. Through its work, Heritage Malta offers a mirror to society, reflecting the shared cultural heritage that shapes our identity.
Discover Malta: A Mediterranean Jewel
Malta, along with its sister islands Gozo and Comino, forms an enchanting archipelago in the Mediterranean. Known for its year-round sunny climate and 8,000 years of captivating history, Malta is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the capital city Valletta, built by the Knights of St. John. The islands boast the world’s oldest free-standing stone architecture and showcase some of the British Empire’s most formidable defense systems. With a rich mix of domestic, religious, and military structures from various historical periods, Malta is a cultural treasure trove. The archipelago also offers vibrant cultural events, stunning beaches, excellent yachting opportunities, a traditional gastronomical scene, and a thriving nightlife, making it a year-round destination for visitors from around the world.
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