Page 67 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

history of [a given country, a given cul- ture, a given aspect of past society]”.
The ‘objectives’ des-
cribe the purpose of
the project or the ma-
jor research questions
that it will address.
These could include
questions about tech-
nical developments, the history of a civilisation, or a historical event. The objective of a project can also be to facilitate site access, to test a method or to train a team, or to set an example that fits into an overall management strategy. Whether such objectives are commensurate with the importance and fragility of the site in question is for the competent authority to decide. It is important that the objectives and the project statement are formulated in a realistic and attainable fashion. See Rule 16
Methodology and techniques
‘Methodology’ refers to how the project is going to be undertaken. Which approach will be taken? Which techniques will be employed? It defines how the identified research questions will be answered. For example, if the question is about the age of the site, the methodology will be to establish that age through dendrochronology or radiocarbon dating, stratigraphy, studying the presence or absence of certain classes of objects at the site or the identification of specific marks or serial numbers on specific objects. See Rule 16
Funding
Funding plans need to consider all anticipated project costs before work begins on a site and equally comprise a contingency plan for funding losses. This ensures that the project can be completed successfu- lly and that the site and the artefacts it contains are not randomly and unnecessarily disturbed. Anticipated costs can include work vessels, dive
66
© Ships of Discovery.Wing of a Japanese bomber plane on the World War II Heritage Trail, Saipan Lagoon, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The project statement should
be concise and appealing in the same way that a single picture
can convey a more encompassing message.The establishment of a World War II Heritage Trail in
the Saipan Lagoon, is for instance conveyed in this image of the wing of a Japanese H8K Kawanishi “Emily” bomber plane.
Students and faculty from Flinders University (Australia) have led archaeological and historical investigations into submerged World War II heritage (planes, tanks, landing craft, ships) in Saipan Lagoon with the purpose of creating a World War II maritime heritage trail for both local people and diving tourists.This project aims at educating citizens and visitors about the importance of our submerged cultural heritage and to provide a sustainable heritage tourism product which will stimulate the economy of
the island of Saipan.Working
with local heritage and marine agencies, archaeologists have been surveying and mapping these
sites for public interpretation
and inclusion on the trail. Project personnel also have been conducting training courses in underwater archaeology to enable local divers to participate in the recording of the island’s history.
Project Design