The Uluburun Shipwreck: The Practice Of Underwater Archaeology

The discovery of the Uluburun shipwreck was a key moment for the practice of Underwater Archaeology. Underwater Archaeology has created a new and unique method of discovering historical artifacts from thousands of years ago. The scientific study of underwater archaeology is a recent revolutionary tool that can surge past what archaeology on land can do. The shipwreck of the Uluburun exemplifies the importance of this practice. The Uluburun shipwreck reveals the importance of trade during the bronze age in the Mediterranean. It also shows the vital connection of trade between different Mediterranean and Middle East civilizations. The Uluburun shipwreck shows that underwater archaeology can expand beyond the reaches of archaeology on land with the …show more content…
George Bass, the founder of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology is instrumental to the study of underwater archaeology. Cynthia Jones, writes in Expedition, that Bass, “Spearheaded developments in the mapping, measuring, photographing, excavating, and conservation of underwater sites, revolutionizing our understanding of ancient maritime history” (Jones, 2014). Bass saw his sights past archaeology on land and, “believed that ignoring the evidence provided by scientifically excavated shipwrecks was tantamount to tearing out entire chapters from history book” (Jones, 2014). With Bass’s efforts, a field dedicated to archaeology underwater was created. Katerina Velentza, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southampton and who gave a lecture in class gives in-depth information about underwater archaeology. She adds that, “Underwater Archaeology is part of maritime archaeology which is the study of sites and the material remains related to human activities on, in, and around aquatic