Underwater Cultural Heritage Management - Essay Example

Name : xxxxxxxxxxx Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : underwater cultural heritage management Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx @ 2011 What is underwater cultural heritage management? Discuss the management and Protection of underwater cultural heritage in any state or territory of Australia. Introduction Underwater cultural heritage and management is about the control and regulation applied in conservation in order to preserve both inland and inshore waters, in shallow seas and in the deep oceans. It encompasses of cultural heritage trait which has any human being work, or a place that gives an evidence of human activity or has spiritual or cultural meaning, and that has been determined to be of historic value to a country, a community, or an aboriginal people (Staniforth & Nash 2006). The other side is of cultural heritage scenery which is usually a renowned landscape that has significant historic, prehistoric, educational, or scientific significance. Thus it comprises of, all vestiges of human existence and any place that has a bearing linking towards involvement or any expression of human activity, abandoned structures, and remains of all kinds, together with all the moveable cultural material associated with human beings alongside water (Kenderdine 2002). Underwater cultural heritage and management has a role of ensuring that there is protection of all traces of human existence that have cultural, historical and archaeological predisposition and have been partially or totally underwater for 100 years. This is achieved through ensuring that the country or territory concerned cooperate with international agencies in order to guard the under water cultural sites. It also makes sure that protection, mainteinance and security of these cultural heritage and sceneries are given the attention they deserve by ensuring that there is funding to accomplish this objective. In addition underwater cultural heritage and management ensures that these underwater cultural heritages are not commercially exploited by banning the sale of their fossils among other cultural products. Also these sites are well defended and secured to avoid poaching as well as to give the deserved tribute to human remains (Henderson, 2007). The underwater cultural heritage and management ensures that these facilities are known to the public through public alertness activities and programmes like through electronic news bulletins. In addition to these it ensures the country at stake has been accorded its merited respect by being permitted to exercise its sovereign rights and privileges to its water, vessels and aircrafts there in. On the other hand it ensures that these countries exercise their duties and responsibilities without violating the international under water guidelines that could cause global threat, misunderstanding, and even conflicts ((Staniforth & Nash 2006). They also provide useful information in their archives about the underwater cultural heritage and management that give persons an understanding in order to be in apposition to appreciate cultural diversities. It is also useful in the recognition of cultural diversity and how people acquire different lifestyles in order to coexist and how to survive in their respective ecosystem. On the other side it makes the indigenous communities embrace their rich cultural heritage background. Consequently this boils down to appreciation of different cultures which brings about global peace and understanding. All these information is of help to scholars, tourists, present and future generations in comprehending past way of life as well as for the daily routine and occasional happenings alongside oceans, seas, lake and rivers and the interrelated maritime activities (Staniforth & Nash 2006). The Underwater cultural heritage and management in conjunction with other international underwater cultural heritage see to it that scarce, at risk and minority cultural heritages are protected through vigilant empowerment of officers concerned by training them in order to equip them with the right skills. In addition to these, they still ensure that recruitment of some of these officials is from the aboriginal since they have an edge over others in terms of wealthy experience of their culture (Staniforth & Hyde 2001). For there to be effectiveness and efficiency stewardship of cultural heritage, management is carried out by various government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Since management principles and practices are developed by United Nations agencies, underwater cultural heritage and management recognizes and utilizes this high knowledge expertise in implementing conservation, management measures for cultural heritage sites and features (Staniforth & Hyde 2001). Underwater archaeological research and the connected histories, commenced in the 1960s as compared to land-based archaeology which can be traced as far as 14th century however development in diving technology has led to proliferation of underwater knowledge. In order for various countries to secure their territories, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has come up with universal strategic objectives in order to promote the drafting and execution of standard setting tools in culture preservation. Australian Cultural Heritage Management is one of Australia’s largest multi-disciplinary heritage management firms. Australia has ensured management and protection of underwater cultural heritage in its states by employing many approaches and techniques like marine and material science that use the modern technology. This is used in the advancement of its tools and equipments. It is also applied in the updating of the skills of its executives. Also they focus on all sites and their varying histories so as to have a rich heritage. The types of sites, bits and pieces range from prehistoric remains found underwater, cave paintings and engravings, shipwrecks, submerged settlements and cities, intact boats, fishing facilities such as fish weirs, aircraft, and land-based maritime facilities. All these are termed as tangible heritage. It also includes documentary records from researches carried out and/or the inclusion of oral histories (intangible heritage). This makes sure that there is no loophole left in maritime culture and preservation unattended (McCarthy 2005). One of the efforts that the Australian underwater cultural heritage has done is to come up with an intergovernmental agreement that establishes the roles and responsibilities for the identification, protection, management, conservation and interpretation of Australia’s Underwater Cultural Heritage in May 2010. This agreement is reached through mutual consensus of the parties involved who commit themselves by writing and signing. It lists the roles and responsibilities to be carried out in order to achieve optimal conservation of Australia’s maritime national heritage. Also it is to act as a guideline and a gauge in the implementation of the international outlined best practice of the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (Oceans Society of Australia 2007). This Intergovernmental Agreement is in line with the Commonwealth’s Historic Shipwrecks Act of 1976, Heads of Agreement of 1997 on the Commonwealth/States Roles and Responsibilities for the Environment and the National Heritage Protocol 2004.These acts ate followed to ensure that they are strictly adhered to. For there to be accomplishment of the management and preservation objectives, there are core principles that have been applied which entail the following; Leadership provided by the Commonwealth through a cooperative national approach among all the stakeholders involved like non governmental bodies and different governments. There is also coordination principle among the efforts carried out by these different stakeholders in order to avoid and minimize duplication and overlapping of projects thus avoid wastage of man power, time and fiscal resources and hence achieve efficiency. There should also be accountability in decision making and implementation of policies by being open and embracing transparency amidst the concerned parties and the general public at large. Practical policies and projects should be designed and undertaken to ensure optimal results are achieved which should be seamliness so as there is oneness with no loophole for disintegration in the implementation of preservation and protection policies. Then the entire process should be simple in order to have one common and clear understanding of the entire process in order to avoid ambiguity (McCarthy 2005). There is water that is under the management of commonwealth. The Commonwealth is thus responsibility for the waters neighboring the Australian shoreline to the outer edge of the continental shelf. Commonwealth ensures that the shore is preserved and that any foreign country abides with the set regulations governing shipping and other vessels in the Northern Australian coast. Also it makes sure that competent personnel are available and employed. It sees to it that the personnel have the right skills through periodical trainings and educational exchange programmes. Commonwealth still comes up with Commonwealth legislation and processes which entail coordinating the Australian Historic Shipwreck Program and the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 in order to recognize, make up with measures, protect, administer and supervise, preserve and read between the lines of any historic shipwrecks and other underwater cultural heritage (Staniforth 2003). In addition to these, Commonwealth makes notification to foreign States of the position of any shipwrecks or airplane in these waters bordering the Australian coastline to the outer border of the continental shelf, and makes effort to ensure that the foreign nation is in harmony and agreement with the management of such vessels or aircraft by Australia. As a matter of fact, commonwealth regularly monitors and evaluates its practices to ensure that they are up to standard and in line with the worldwide best practice policy (Jeffery & Amess 2001). There is also the Environment protection and heritage that works in collaboration with state government authorities to ensure that applicable policies and up to date strategies are put in place for effective and efficient implementation of management and protection of underwater national heritage in Australia. The Environment protection and heritage also monitors and evaluates the policies that have been put in place by having checks and balances at different levels during program implementation process (Allom 1995). It has also been given mandate to come up with appropriate mechanisms to tackle ever emerging issues in underwater cultural heritage affairs. In addition it publishes guides and gives advice to such matters. It is also involved in decision making, research projects whereby it injects its valuable inputs. On the other side, each state and the northern territory are accountability for the identification, protection, managing conservation and interpretation of shipwrecks found in waters within the boundaries of their countries that the bays, harbors and bodies of water within their territorial coverage and inland waters. They are also entitled to identification, protection, conservation and interpretation for all other underwater cultural heritage (except shipwrecks) within State coastal waters and within the limits of the State which includes bays, harbours and bodies of water within their territorial predisposition of the land and inland waters (Cairns & Henderson 2005). Both governmental and non governmental agencies are engaged in local researches. They liaise with aboriginal communities so as to gather as much information as possible. They also ensure that meetings are well facilitated through funding and provision of technical support to the secretariat. As a result they are engaged in collection and in preservation evidence, provision of heritage clearances and site recording on behalf of customary owners. They also make sure that funding is done in advance and is adequate to ensure that the necessities during research projects and other activities. Therefore every budgeted undertaking is well catered for in order to complete all stages of the project design. This is inclusive of report preparation, conservation and data dissemination. During data dissemination the communities involved are allowed to participate in order to give the input which guarantees rich data collection. Funding is also sustained thereby catering for or supporting documentation in the event of any interruption in anticipated funding. Project funding in Australia does not insist or demand the sale of underwater cultural heritage or the utilization of any strategy that will cause underwater cultural heritage and supporting documentation (Lawrence 2006). There is still the Australian underwater cultural heritage advisory committee that is due under way and is meant to provide guidance and knowledge to National and Environment Protection and Heritage on matters related to underwater cultural heritage and management and conservation. On the other side there is documentation of material and data. Verbal data as well as the observed one is stored in form of audio visual productions. Documentation tailored in a way that it provides an all-inclusive verification of the site, which includes the origin of underwater cultural heritage moved or removed in the course of investigation, field notes, plans and drawings, photographs and records in other media. Current professional standards of archaeological documentation are always followed to the letter (Oceans Society of Australia 2007). The Australia has also made treaty with Netherlands that was established in 1972. It is known as the Agreement between Australia and the Netherlands Concerning Old Dutch Shipwrecks (ANCODS), or the Australia-Netherlands Agreement. This agreement is enforced by Commonwealth through protecting shipwrecks and relics that are of Dutch origin but were wrecked in what are now Australian waters. Several Dutch shipwrecks lie off coast of Western Australia, although only the Batavia (see fig. 1), the Vergulde Draeck, the Zuytdorp and the Zeewyk have been located. The Act allows the Commonwealth to declare Dutch shipwrecks and remnants historic, as well as to protect them. ANCODS also gives the Commonwealth government the authority to exercise ownership of Dutch shipwrecks and the vestiges in itself, any other government department or authority, the Western Australian government or the Netherlands (Allom, 1995). Figure 1: Anchor of the Batavia (courtesy Flinders University Slide Library) The governments involved also ensure that there is smooth running of the Australian underwater cultural heritage by fulfilling their financial obligation commitment. They also ensure that any data collected as well as information is stored or recorded appropriately. Some of the employed in the conservation of Australian underwater cultural heritage include; Non-destructive procedures during survey and sampling process which are encouraged in preference to excavation technique. This is to keep away from or minimize disturbance of the fossil that may lead to wearing off of the vestiges. This means that exploration or any survey must not have a negative effect on the underwater cultural heritage more than is necessary for the research objectives of the project. This because the fossils are supposed to be given their due respect especially human vestiges. Thus any study must avoid needless disturbance of human remains or venerated sites. For any research to be carried out it must be supported with official permit documentation from the relevant authorities. This is meant to shun occurrence of dubious or questionable researches (UNESCO 2010). On the other side, any research to be carried out should be in accordance with the research design. The Australian underwater cultural heritage and management also makes sure that the investigations being carried are taking into account health and safety measures. It also ensures that the activities are done within the time frame set for there to be no time wastage. Ample time is allocated for every activity allocated to ensure that shoddy job is not done. This is to ensure time factor and other resources are within budget allocation. The sites where these researches are taking place are always maintained during the entire process. Research is usually carried out by experienced persons to ensure that reliable information is got. They are also supposed to understand the procedures through thorough briefing. As these researches are being carried out, the available relevant authorities are always consulted for their valuable contribution (Hosty 2007). In addition to the above, any Information gathered is disseminated to relevant authorities and made accessible to public. During the investigation process, monitoring and evaluation is carried out systematically so that corrective measures are taken in advance. Pre visits are normally made before actual research to know what to expect and make appropriate adjustment. It also helps researchers to familiarize themselves and make any modifications where necessary. South Australia is one of the first states to enforce legislation in order to conserve the European and Aboriginal communities. This is found in the Aboriginal and Historic Relics Preservation Act 1965.There is also the History Trust Act 1981 (SA), the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (SA), the National Parks and Wildlife Service Act 1975 (Cth) and the Native Title Act 1994 (SA). These acts ensure that management and conservation of these cultural sites is given in situ first priority. In addition it has a Heritage Act that was enacted in 1991. It is meant to foresee general preservation, management and protection of Australian cultural heritage and the culture sites (Anderson, 1997). The Australian government has held conventions with UNESCO cultural heritage management and preservation. These conventions have stressed the need to preserve cultural community with the backing of international community. There has been sharing and mutual exchange of ideas, views. In the same conventions trainings of officials has been taking place. There have also been exchange programmes among different nationalities. One of the conferences of UNESCO being involved with Australia was in 2010 whereby there was training and information sharing amidst many states. They also stress on acquisition of right skills, sensitize on universal protection of cultural heritage with no commercial exploitation of underwater cultural heritage. Lastly there is the inaction of Burra charter that has banned importation and exportation of cultural property and transfer of ownership. They have also put in place penalties to law breakers within and out of Australian territory. The penalties for disturbance, damage, destruction and removal of or interference with sites, objects or remains are a fine of $10,000 or six months imprisonment. For corporation is $50,000. Failure to report to the minister upon change of ownership or sale is $2,000. The Burra charter still has set laws to safeguard national monuments, rural and urban cultural sites as well as modest settlements. It also ensures continuity of Venice charter through preservation of professionals (Hosty 2007). Conclusion In conclusion, the Australian underwater cultural heritage protection and management has carried out immeasurable measures both locally and internationally towards achievement of conservation, protection of the highly prized sceneries and cultural heritage. Bibliography Staniforth, M. & Nash, M., 2006, Maritime Archaeology: Australian Approaches. Plenum Press, New York. Cairns, L and Henderson, G. 2005. Unfinished Voyages: Western Australian Shipwrecks 1881-1900, University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, WA. Hosty, K., 2007, Dunbar 1857 disaster on our doorstep. Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney. Jeffery, W & Amess, J., 2001. Papers from the Second Southern Hemisphere Conference on Maritime Archaeology, SA Department of Environment & Planning, Adelaide, SA. McCarthy, M., 2005, Iron ships and steam shipwrecks: Papers from the First Australian seminar on the management of iron vessels and steam shipwrecks, Western Australian Museum, Perth, WA. Kenderdine, S., 2002, Muddy Waters: Proceedings of the first conference on the submerged and terrestrial archaeology of historic shipping on the river Murray. State Heritage Branch, Adelaide, SA. Oceans Society of Australia, 2007, Papers from the First Southern Hemisphere Conference on Maritime Archaeology, Oceans Society of Australia, Melbourne. Staniforth, M., 2003, Material Culture and Consumer Society: Dependant Colonies in Colonial Australia. The Plenum Series in Underwater Archaeology, Kluwer/Plenum. New York. Staniforth, M. & Hyde, M., 2001, Maritime Archaeology in Australia: A Reader. Southern Archaeology, Blackwood, SA. Henderson, G., 2007, Unfinished Voyages: Western Australian Shipwrecks 1622-1850, University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, WA Lawrence, S, 2006, Whalers and Free Men: Life on Tasmania’s Colonial Whaling Stations. Australian Scholarly Publishers, Melbourne, VIC. Allom, R., 1995, ‘Heritage conservation, planning and practice with minimal legislation: a case study’ in Cultural Conservation: Towards a National Approach, Sullivan, AGPS, Canberra. Anderson, M, 1997, Material culture and the cultural environment: Objects and places, Australia: State of the Environment Technical Paper Series (Natural and Cultural Heritage), Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, Canberra. UNESCOMaritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage (MUCH) Activities 2010/2011 Read More