Page 195 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

 © P. Larue / FMC. Divers of the national marine remove a pounder canon from the wreck
of the Astrolabe that sunk during the famous La Pérouse expedition in 1788 off the Island of Vanikoro, Solomon Islands.
The lifting of artefacts is very sensitive and it requires careful pre-planning and adaptation
to suit the specific needs of individual projects, depending on the fragility, significance, location, size and mass of objects as well as project objectives and available resources.
 Artefacts must be maintained in a humid state during the duration of transport, as far as possible regarding their dimensions and weight. Artefacts do not always have to remain immerged during transport. However, if they do remain immerged, they have to be properly secured to avoid contact with each other, which can cause damage. Also, the movement of a splashing water mass inside a plastic sheet or a container can be very destructive and should be avoided.
 Artefacts must be correctly wrapped in order to avoid being subjected to shocks during transit. The receptacle or tank in which they are placed must be hermetic, airtight and rigid enough to support their weight. A thin layer of
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 © UNESCO. Remains of
a byzantine ship excavated of
the commercial harbour of Theodosius,Yenikapi-Istanbul, Turkey.
While investigating the site of the ancient harbour of Theodosius, archaeologists found the remains of 34 ships that were temporarily stored in a humidified tent.
Conservation and site management