Page 99 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

The impact of intrusion on the stability of a site should be assessed with the objective to anticipate and avoid, minimize or offset adverse effects, and site stability needs to be constantly monitored throughout the project and beyond.
Preliminary work and impact
assessment
In discussing preliminary work referring to the evaluation of field data and background studies, regular reference has been made to impact studies that are carried out in advance of major development projects. In fact, whether preliminary work is carried out in the context of a project design for an activity directed at underwater cultural heritage, or in the context of an impact study for an activity that will incidentally affect it, the approach is similar.
Alterations to coastlines and to sea and river beds in conjunction with shifting erosion and sedimentation patterns may have serious implications on the conservation of underwater cultural heritage. The natural causes for such processes include climate change whereas other causes are manmade and their impact can be mitigated. Development projects such as the construction of barriers, dykes and ports that change the course of sea and river currents, the intrusive exploitation of natural resources, especially mining for aggregates, oil extraction activities, the
 © E. Khalil. A diver recording the extension of the wreck site, Marsa Bagoush site, western Alexandria, Egypt.
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Preliminary work