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中文 | English
中文 | English
Recent decades have witnessed an expansion of activity directed at underwater cultural heritage which has raised awareness of the potential and importance of this heritage. There has also been a realisation of the threats to this material from human activities and natural action, sea-level rise and erosion, increased development, industrial extraction, exploitation of marine resources and SCUBA diving activities which are all contributing to damage and loss. This period of relatively rapid change has increased pressure on governments, heritage groups and agencies, coastal zone managers, diving groups and other users to formulate an approach to managing the underwater cultural heritage
The Asian Academy for Heritage Management held the Inaugural Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage in Manila, the Philippines from November 8 – 12, 2011. A wide range of people involved with underwater cultural heritage attended including those from universities, government agencies, museums, NGOs, IGOs, the private sector and the community. Keynote speakers included: Dr Pilar Luna Erreguerena, founder of the Underwater Archaeological Division in Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History; Dr Emad Khalil, director of the Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage at Alexandria University, Egypt; and Dr. Tim Curtis, head of the Culture Unit in UNESCO Bangkok office, responsible for the coordination and implementation of UNESCO’s Culture Program in South East Asia.
The beautiful island, Formosa – Taiwan, was highly evaluated by the well-known travel writer David Code as “A hidden gem of Asia.” He described Taiwan in his article as “a hugely underrated gem of Asia, and any time you spend here will be richly rewarded.”
The land area of Taiwan is approximately 36,000 km2 (14,400 square miles). It is located at southeast of mainland Asia and East Asia Island Arc in the west Pacific. With Japan and Ryukyu Islands to the north, and Philippine islands to the south, it’s been not only a hub connecting Asia regions, but also one of the earliest inhabitants of Austronesian people. Not only that, a recent study shows it might even be the origin of them.
In September, 2006, Bureau of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture entrusted The Underwater Archaeological Team of Academia Sinica to initiate a research project about an ancient shipwreck site near Magong Harbor, Penghu, and started the scientific conservator training program, these later became the beginning of development for Taiwanese underwater archaeology. For over a decade, about 100 underwater targets have been identified in the sea around Penghu, Dongsha Island, Green Island, southwest coast of mainland Taiwan, etc., and 17 of them have been verified as historical shipwreck such as: General No.1, Warship Guang Bing, Green Island No.1, and S.S. Sobraon. Underwater Cultural Heritage Preservation Act was formulated and implemented in Taiwan at the end of 2015 to echo the spirit of UNESCO 2001 convention. It then implement mid-term and long-term strategy for future development, including establishing national UCH preservation facility, continuing general survey and research of UCH, building fundamental database, registering and managing underwater heritage site, drawing and monitoring protection zone, developing scientific technique of survey, purchasing instruments necessary, cultivating professionals, increasing education to general public, and strengthening international cooperation. By achieving these goals, we can work with each other protecting the public property of all human being, and begin a new era of UCH conservation in Taiwan. (An Overview of Underwater Cultural Heritage Preservation in TAIWAN)
Although the development of underwater archeology in Taiwan began later than others, we would like to seek more opportunity in exchanging the newest knowledge, studying, and work with international community. We hope to have this honor hosting the 4th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Heritage, exchanging our information in professional area, building the foundation about protection of UCH, and eventually play an active role in of international underwater archaeology community. We want to encourage more young people to participate in UCH conservation, and cumulate more research energy. We’re looking forward to have this honor serving our colleague in 2020, and introduce the beautiful Taiwan to our colleague.
