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Domestic Definition

The Law on Preservation of Underwater Cultural heritage was promulgated on December 9, 2015 in the Republic of China. “Underwater cultural heritage” means all traces of human existence having a historical, cultural, archaeological, artistic or scientific character which have been partially or totally under water, periodically or continuously such as:

  1. sites, structures, buildings, artifacts and human remains, together with their archaeological and natural context;
  2. vessels, aircraft, other vehicles or any part thereof, their cargo or other contents, together with their archaeological and natural context; and
  3. objects of prehistoric character.

Foreign Definition

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritagein 2001. "Underwater cultural heritage" means all traces of human existence having a cultural, historical or archaeological character which have been partially or totally under water, periodically or continuously, for at least 100 years such as:

  1. sites, structures, buildings, artefacts and human remains, together with their archaeological and natural context;
  2. vessels, aircraft, other vehicles or any part thereof, their cargo or other contents, together with their archaeological and natural context; and
  3. objects of prehistoric character.

Types of Underwater Cultural heritage

  1. 1
    wreck
    Ships and aircraft that sank underwater due to accidents have become underwater wreckage, serving as evidence of trade development and cultural exchanges between different groups.
  2. 2
    submerged ruins
    Ancient buildings, towns, and human settlements that were submerged due to environmental changes, such as subsidence, earthquakes, floods, landslides, or erosion.
  3. 3
    submerged land mass
    It used to be a landmass, but at the end of the Ice Age, the melting of ice caps caused sea levels to rise, submerging the remains of human settlements.
  4. 4
    Inundated wells and caves
    The remains of caves and wells where people once lived. These caves may have been below sea level or submerged when the sea level rose.
  5. 5
    Sea plunder, stone and fence, port ruins
    Remains of harbors, bridges, and fishing facilities along the coast provide insights into the lives of people who have lived by the water since ancient times.
The importance Of Underwater Cultural heritage
  1. 1
    Important cultural heritage
    These underwater cultural relics are important cultural heritage that record the wisdom, skills and abilities developed by human beings from prehistoric times to the present, and truly reflect the process of ship transportation or the social and economic conditions of the time, such as trade and war.
  2. 2
    Important academic research value
    Since ancient shipwrecks, relics or ruins sunk underwater have been “sealed” in their original state for a long period of time, they provide future generations with a lot of information about navigation, shipbuilding, trade, craftsmanship, agricultural and industrial products as well as historical events at that time, which is of great value to the study of human history and culture.
  3. 3
    Transmission of cultural knowledge
    Ancient shipwrecks and sunken ruins, the mysterious underwater world is always a source of curiosity. Showcasing underwater cultural heritage through museums or underwater viewing is an important form of cultural knowledge transfer.