Page 167 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

• thorough understanding of the way in which scientific knowledge is produced;
• ability in a range of field techniques from pre- disturbance surveys to complex excavations;
• training in artefact recovery;
• familiarity with at the least basic artefact
handling and conservation techniques;
• skills in research and laboratory analysis;
and
• ability and commitment to report and
publish the detailed results of investigations and analysis.
All these abilities and competences need to be learned through patient application, time and effort. Rule 22 and Rule 23 of the Annex imply that just as competence and qualifications are non-negotiable and expected of members of any professional field, from medicine to engineering, they are just as applicable and important to the practice of underwater archaeology.
 © Archivo IAPH – CAS. Training course in underwater survey techniques, Cartagena, Spain.
In addition to university courses on underwater archaeology, practical training in the application of the methodology of the displine complete the profile of an underwater archaeologist.Training sessions are regularly organized by a number of institutions and research centres worldwide.
the importance of ethics:
It is training and qualifications, underpinned by a professional commitment to ensuring that interventions are carried out to the highest professional and ethical standards that sets archaeologists apart from treasure hunters and those with an interest in underwater cultural heritage which is at odds with its proper investigation and conservation.
Archaeologists have an ethical obligation to the archaeological record and to society. This is a very important part of what makes an archaeologist – just as important as the technical skills needed to competently carry out an archaeological investigation. It is what separates archaeologists from treasure hunters and others that only claim to do archaeology.
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Competence and qualifications