Dive & Dig

In the last of a series on coastal archaeological sites and climate change, Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Dr Alex Kent, Coastal Connections Lead, a global partnership between English Heritage and World Monuments Fund.  Learn how Hurst Castle, a coastal fort built on England's southern coast is falling into the sea due to undercutting of the shingle due to storm surges and, like hundred of other sites globally, is suffering from the impacts of climate change.  By bringing together communities around the world that face similar issues, hear how Coastal Connections network aims to share common challenges and a range of solutions, including nature based ones and innovative regional ones. Aided by a series of online workshops and discussions, it became clear that there are many similarities faced by sites around the world.  Alex maps out the goals of Coastal Connections, including site information sheets, creating a worldwide network of coastal site managers and practionners sharing and showcasing solutions, as well as training hubs to equip across generations practical skills to sustainably manage heritage sites. 

In the third of our four-part series on climate change and the threat to maritime cultural heritage, Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Dr Georgia Holly, Project Manager of the Cultural Heritage Framework Programme (CHFP), that sits under the umbrella of Ocean Decade Heritage Network (ODHN).  Remarkably, it is the only programme that integrates the marine cultural heritage into the Ocean Decade and is recognised by mainstream ocean sciences. Discover how the CHFP engages with maritime cultural projects from around the globe and once a project is endorsed, it gets access to a whole host of benefits including training and networking, and support and visibility of the Network. Hear how SeaVoice, their online magazine champions projects by people who work and live near water and encourages us not only to appreciate these precious resources but inspires constructive action in terms of promoting and protecting marine cultural heritage. Dr. Georgia Holly thanks the CHFP and SeaVoice teams for making these projects and activities possible 

Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Dr Athena Trakadas, Co-founder and Co-Chair of the Ocean Decade Heritage Network (ODHN) about the role of cultural heritage within the United Nation's Ocean Decade, as part of our mini-series on climate change and its impact on marine and coastal heritage. Hear how the Ocean Decade endeavours to bring marine cultural heritage experts together with the other ocean scientists.  Sitting within the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-30), is an initiative of housed in the UN's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and aims was set up to meet the goals of sustainable development, particularly goal STG SDG 14 – life under water - as part of the UN's 2030 Agenda. Whilst the value of cultural heritage might be intuitive to heritage practitioners working with communities that live on the sea, it was more difficult to demonstrate to others in the oceanographic sciences the necessity of addressing heritage.  However, the inclusion of cultural heritage in the discussions expanded the number of societal outcomes of the Ocean Decade, and participation in conferences and policy forums has helped bring visibility to cultural heritage at the inter-governmental and national levels.  Nonetheless, changes in policy and governance are still needed to create a more integrated, holistic, and sustainable approach, and working to change minds remains the biggest challenge! The hope is that the UN Ocean Decade will change perspectives and bring about the ‘Ocean We Want' inclusive of cultural heritage. 

 Professor Lucy Blue asks Dr Colin Breen, Associate Head of School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Ulster University to outline the issues of climate change and its impact on marine and coastal heritage, in the first of this new Dive and Dig Series that explores this pressing theme.  Although the climate has been changing over many millennia, we are now seeing the pace of change occurring at a much greater rate together with increased intensity of storms, all driving loss to heritage in the coastal zone. Colin explains the impact of this destruction through a range of climate, as well as anthropogenic threats, and illustrates with examples from the North and East African coasts, the devastating impact of these storm bombs on the coastal and marine heritage. Colin emphasises the importance of documenting coastal heritage and assessing the impact of threat and potential preservation, a methodology being developed by the Arcadia funded MarEA project that he co-directs (https://marea.soton.ac.uk/). Not everything can be saved, however, might a joint nature-culture approach be a better way forward? Colin suggests that it is and that we must move out of our silos and create an integrated heritage network to protect and manage these precious resources. 

Professor Lucy Blue is in Egypt with a team of specialists co-directing a project with the Universities of Southampton and Ulster as part of the MarEA (Endangered Maritime Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa) project.  Together with experts from the Universities of Alexandria and Mersa Matruh, Egypt they are utilizing satellite imagery and other technologies to explore the western section of the north African coastline of Egypt.  This approach has revealed an extraordinary number of ancient sites, many dating back over 2,000 years. The findings shed new light on the rich maritime history of the region, including trade, settlement, and cultural interactions along the Mediterranean coast. This large-scale survey is crucial for documenting and preserving vulnerable archaeological sites, many of which are under threat from modern development and environmental changes.  Speaking with members of the team, including Dr Nicholas Ray, MarEA, Ulster University and Dr Ziad Morsy and Hagar Wafik from the Centre of Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage, University of Alexandria, and Dr. Basma Khalili, a ceramic expert from the University of Mersa Matruh, we learn that the project has uncovered remarkable archaeological finds from pottery production sites to rock-cut tombs. Some of the discovered sites span several kilometres, highlighting the scale of these ancient settlements and hinting at the vibrant trade networks of the time.  MarEA is a research project based in the University of Southampton and partners in University of Ulster, funded by Arcadia and the NW Egypt coastal survey is largely funded by the Honor Frost Foundation.

 Professor Lucy Blue is in Naples speaking with Pierre Poveda (Center Camille Jullian, CNRS), a maritime archaeologist who is co-leading, with his colleague Franca Cibecchini (DRASSM, french ministry of Culture), the excavation of a shipwreck lying in French waters between Cannes and the Île Sainte-Marguerite, home to Fort Royal. The wreck dating to around 180 BC is well preserved, with its entire port side buried beneath masses of dead roots of Posidonia seagrass. A few small wooden artefacts, including writing tablets have been recovered, as well as Italian amphorae that were transporting wine. Despite its hidden location the site has proven vulnerable to looting, and Pierre shares the dramatic story surrounding approximately 100 amphorae taken mostly from the wreck and also from other archaeological sites.  Further seasons of work are planned, with the goal of displaying the finds at the Museum of Fort Royal offering the public a closer look at these ancient maritime treasures and the ship's role in Mediterranean trade.    The excavation of the Hellenistic wreck Fort-Royal 1 is being carried out under the joint direction of Franca Cibecchini (Drassm - Ministry of Culture) and Pierre Poveda (CCJ-CNRS-AMU), who offer the following thanks: We would particularly like to thank the direction of the French Ministry of Culture's Department of Underwater Archaeological Research (DRASSM), as well as the direction of the Camille Jullian Center (CNRS, Aix-Marseille University). We would also like to thank the City of Cannes, and our collaborators: the Institut Arkaia (Aix marseille Université), the Musée départemental Arles antique (MdAa), the MAC-Centre d'Arqueologia Subaquàtica de Catalunya (CASC), the Scoop Ipso Facto and, of course, all those involved in the excavation: archaeologists and members of the Alfred Merlin crew. 

 Travel with Professor Lucy Blue to the village of Imbotero, Guyana to meet Dr Robert (Bob) Holtzman an expert in traditional boatbuilding to learn about the Warrau dugout canoe. Twice daily tides in the tropical mangrove swamp mean canoes are essential for survival of the indigenous Warrau people.  Not only are they used for transportation, but also for foraging in the forest for land crabs, fishing and visiting neighbours. Over two field seasons Bob paddled around the villages in a canoe observing how the Warrau connect to their environment and fashion their canoes. Learn how these canoes - that can be up to 10 meters long, are hollowed out of a single tree trunk using chainsaws and adzes by skilled artisans.  And, why a consistent thickness achieved by eye, feel and even sound is crucial to the final stages when it is placed over a fire to expand the wood allowing it to be spread apart without cracking, capturing the boat making techniques of this art before they are lost in the tide of modernisation.  

Professor Lucy Blue delves into the wreck of The London, a 17th century warship, with diver and licensee Steve Ellis.  The ship exploded and sank in the Thames Estuary in 1665 and was rediscovered in 2005 when a ports authority survey was being conducted.  Since 2010, Steve has been directing the survey of the vessel and recovering artefacts with permission from Historic England.  A Second Rate vessel in the English Navy, The London was carrying 76 guns and a mix of over 300 crew and family readying to join a fleet preparing to fight in the Second Anglo-Dutch War, when tragedy struck. This significant archaeological site offers insights into 17th-century naval warfare, however despite it being a protected wreck of great historic value, there has been little funding or support from government sources. Over 1200 finds have been recovered and Steve will reveal his most recent discovery that is truly remarkable. A special thanks to Mark Beattie-Edwards and the Save the London campaign for their wonderful support in helping to continue to dive this site.  Find out more about the London Shipwreck Project here: https://www.facebook.com/TheLondonShipwreckproject To donate, please visit the project website: https://thelondonshipwreckproject.com/save-the-london/

Professor Lucy Blue speaks with associate Professor in Egyptology, Dr Claire Somaglino from the Sorbonne, about two decades of excavation at the site of Ayn Soukhna at the northern end of the Red Sea in the Gulf of Suez. During Pharaonic times, this important site was occupied over an extensive period, as not only was it close to the important centre of Memphis, but there was a spring, an oasis with trees and a sheltered anchorage, making it a perfect harbour.  Rock inscriptions led to its discovery and seasons of excavation have revealed it was a hive of activity with workshops, dwellings, redox furnaces for processing ore and galleries housing some of the oldest seagoing vessels in the world.  Discover how the boats were used to bring food to the mining areas of the South Sinai and returned with copper ore required for making tools and precious turquoise, which was fashioned into jewellery prized by the Pharaohs.       Ayn Soukhna is an Egyptian-French excavation (dir. C. Somaglino, M. El-Weshahi), supported by : IFAO, CNRS, Sorbonne University, Suez Canal University, and the Honor Frost Foundation. 

Recorded live on the island of Cyprus, Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Dr. Constantinos Nicolaou a leading expert in Cypriot traditional boat building. Costantinos recently headed up a training workshop hosted by the Honor Frost Foundation's Cyprus Regional Development Project, that brought together experts from the eastern Mediterranean region working on traditional boat recording.  Costantinos directs a project that documents the remaining working boats in Cyprus and maps out different topologies and the influences that have shaped Cypriot vernacular boat building over time.  Hear how by looking at this development you learn about the history of the island, including the islands independence from British colonial rule and the Turkish invasion, and how these events changed boat shape construction. Is there a boat construction history on the island? What is the legacy of boat building in Cyprus?  Costantinos also reveals how his interviews with living boat builders, has further exposed their contribution to the history of vernacular boat building on the island.  

Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Professor Giulia Boetto from the French National Centre for Scientific Research about what is possibly the oldest fully hand-sewn boat to be discovered in the Mediterranean. First spotted by fisherman in Zambratija Bay off a beach in northern Croatia, closer examination by archaeologists revealed small holes in the planks. Could this be a boat sewn together rather than built by the more common mortise and tendon method?  Hear how French and Croatian researchers set about to date the boat, initially using carbon-14 dating, revealing it is likely to date from around the end of the Bronze Age to the early Iron Age. It has since been raised and is now in Croatia, but is heading to conservation labs in Grenoble, France where it will undergo treatments before it returns to Croatia to be displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Istria, Pula.    Prof. Boetto would like to thank the following people for work on the project:  Christian Petretich, Ida Koncani Uhač, Marko Uhač, the team of the Archaeological Museum of Istria, in particular the restorers Andrea Sardoz and Monika Petrović, Pierre Poveda, Vincent Dumas, Loïc Damelet, Philippe Soubias, Philippe Groscaux, Kato Nees, Alba Ferreira Domìnguez, and Henri Bernard-Maugiron. The main supporters: Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Region of Istria, Archaeological Museum of Istria, Pula (special thanks to - Darko Komšo, director of the museum), Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France, National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France, Mediterranean Archaeology Institute - ARKAIA, Aix-Marseille University.

Professor Lucy Blue speaks with archaeologist Dr Harald Lübke from the Leibniz Centre for Archaeology about a recent discovery in the Baltic Sea off Germany that may be Europe's oldest human-made underwater megastructure. Christened the ‘Blinkerwall', it's a continuous low wall made of hundreds of granite stones that stretches for around a kilometre. Could it have been constructed by hunter-gathers more than 10,000 years ago and if so, what was its purpose? Hear how by bringing together archaeologists, geophysicists and experts in landscape reconstruction the team is piecing together a now submerged landscape that was very different than the one today. The project team includes: Maine Geophysics:  Peter Feldens, IOW & Jens Schneider von Deimling, CAU Kiel Marine Geology: Jacob Geersen, IOW Archaeology: Jens Auer, LaKD MV,  Marcel Bradtmöller, Univ. Rostock, & Harald Lübke, LEIZA

Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Dr Mohamed Mustapha Abd El-Maguid, from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt.  An expert in ancient ship construction, he has installed a reconstruction of a late Roman-early Byzantine ship in the recently re-opened Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, Egypt.  The pearl of the Mediterranean, Alexandria was the centre of trade and commerce. To illustrate the city's importance in trade during ancient times, Mohamed was asked to use amphora from the museum store dating from the Roman period and place them in a reconstructed section of the cargo hold of a ship. Hear how together with the craftsmen at the shipyard he has beautifully reconstructed a boat based on the Saint Gervais 3 wreck of a similar period found in southern France.  Allowing students to see the ship take shape using the shell-first method of construction with mortise-and-tenon joints, gave them a chance to truly appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity of a Roman ship builder. 

Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Dr Crystal el Safadi who has recently recovered from a series of unfortunate events sailing the Kyrenia- Liberty.  It is the third replica reconstruction of the 4th-century BC Greek merchant ship discovered in 1965 off the coast of northern Cyprus.  Built in 2002, it has been on several voyages, however this one in September last year proved to be challenging.  As part of the Eastern Mediterranean Experimental Sailing project, Crystal and her team set sail from Limassol only to encounter unexpected weather conditions.  Find out what happened and what they have learned from the experience.   To learn more about the Kyrenia-Liberty and the on-going repair work, please visit the Facebook page dedicated to the ship. 

Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Chris Dobbs who has been working at the Mary Rose Trust for over 40 years, initially as an Archaeological Supervisor excavating King Henry VIII's flagship off Portsmouth and in the last few decades as Head of Interpretation at the Mary Rose Museum. Believing that you need to tell the stories behind the objects and the people who used them, he uses smells and sounds to help bring the Tudor artefacts alive and bring maritime archaeology to the larger public. He was instrumental in developing the new immersive 4D cinema experience that is enabling visitors to join divers and discover ship via archive footage.  

Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Professor Dave Parham from Bournemouth University who has been diving on the remains of 1944 Valentine Tank assemblage in Poole Bay. Made buoyant by the addition of a canvas skirt they proved essential in getting armoured support onto the beach during the historic D-Day landings.  Scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act means they are protected by law. On a recent inspection the turret on one tank was found to have been pulled off.  There were no obvious clues as to the culprit, so the police were called in to help solve this crime.  Who did it? How can such sites be policed? Can you help solve this crime?  Learn more about the importance of these tanks that sank in bad weather during Exercise Smash in the run-up to this historic manoeuvre.    

Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Dr Lisa Briggs and Dr Peter Campbell from the University of Cranfield who have been searching the deep waters of the Straits of Sicily using micro-AUVs - autonomous underwater vehicles.  Deployment of these small, agile vehicles has enabled the team to map large areas of this busy maritime highway of the Mediterranean.  The team aim to locate historic remains and ancient shipwrecks, and have consulted local fisherman for potential targets as they trawl the seabed and often snag remains in their nets, even including statues.  These mini autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) can be deployed in multiples, thus covering large areas of the seabed.  They are relatively cheap to purchase and easier to use and programme than larger AUV's.  Fitted with cameras might they become a principal tool not only for maritime archaeology, but also other disciplines such as marine biology. Learn how these vehicles have democratised survey previously limited to researchers with much larger budgets.  

Join Professor Lucy Blue as she discovers why the loch waters in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland are peppered with hundreds of artificial islets, known as crannogs. Here she speaks to a director of The Islands of Stones project team, Professor Fraser Sturt from the University of Southampton who has been investigating these small islands built of stones and layers of timbers.  Originally thought to be settlements dating to the Late Bronze-Age and medieval periods, their work reveals they are a succession of accumulated settlements dating back 6000 years to Neolithic Britain. Were they constructed as defences, burial grounds or for ceremonial purposes? Among the well-preserved pottery found in the surrounding waters are pots from the Orkney Islands demonstrating the connectivity between the island chains. While scientific analysis of pot residues reveal cereals and dairy products cooked up to produce a kind of porridge!

Professor Lucy Blue is captivated by the Nabataeans – the ancient Arab traders best known for their rock-cut capital of Petra. Here she speaks to Michele Stefanile from the University of Naples Federico II about two recently located submerged Nebataean temples in the Bay of Naples. Prodigious traders, the Nebataeans traded in luxury goods from the Arabian Peninsula such as frankincense and shipped grain and bitumen from Egypt via Alexandria to Rome through the ancient harbour of Puteoli (now known as Pozzuoli).  Hear how these discoveries reveal the role of the Nabataeans at this Republican period port and why these wealthy merchants built temples with Italian marble clad altars inscribed with Latin dedications to their Gods. 

Dr Lucy Blue speaks with a number of team members working under the direction of Professor of Simon James at the site of Dreamer's Bay on the southern tip of Akrotiri Peninsula in Cyprus.  At this ancient port complex discoveries range from an ancient mole – or massive stone breakwater, a wreck with a cargo of tiles, and stone anchors among other remains possibly dating to the Roman or Byzantine periods.  The site poses many questions, including why the breakwater is where it is and what was the relative sea level would have been.  By comparing it to other ancient harbours in Cyprus can these and other questions be answered?  

Professor Lucy Blue chats with maritime archaeologist, Dr Daniel Pascoe about discovering the 17th century 70-gun warship, the HMS Edgar.  Dan explains how a combination of boundless determination, in-depth archival research and geophysical investigations helped identify mounds that appeared to be the remains of the ship blown apart by sloppy storage of gun powder.  By probing these mounds and digging test pits Dan and his team uncover artefacts and human remains that identified them as remains from the Edgar and the crew who went down with it. 

Maritime archaeologist, Lauren Tidbury speaks with Garry Momber, Director of the Maritime Archaeology Trust about what they have been discovering in the intertidal zone along the coast of Britain.  This area between high and low water is revealing amazing ancient structures. Learn how during recent work off the New Forest has revealed posts dating back 3000 years to the Bronze Age and others even older – 5,200 years dating to the Neolithic.  Learn how these are being interpreted by mapping their distribution to find out if these might be fish traps, causeways or other structures.  Not only do these sites provide evidence of past land connections to other parts of the world, they help determine early sea levels and are climate change indicators. 

Join Lucy Blue as she discusses the ancient Red Sea Port of Berenike in Egypt with Steve Sidebotham, site co-coordinator.  Excavations at this trading hub have been conducted since the mid-90s, discovering evidence that it was connected to extensive areas of the world and was operating for around 800 years since the 3rd century BCE.  According to Steve, greed drove the extensive trade here, but success required help from the gods, and recent work has unearthed Buddhas at the Temples of Isis and Serapis. Listen to learn why headless falcons have also been found and why more remains to be discovered under the sands of the amazing site.  #maritime #archaeology #heritage #egypt #buddhas #isis #serapis #excavations 

Welcome to Dive & Dig news, presented by Dr Lucy Blue, the podcast that takes you on an underwater journey deeper than you might have imagined ! In this episode, Lucy speaks to Mark Beattie-Edwards, CEO of the Nautical Archaeology Society, about the recent discovery of the Klein Hollandia off the coast of Sussex. How have Mark and his team been able to identify this shipwreck so accurately to solve a centuries old mystery? 

In this episode we are in Malta at the Under the Mediterranean conference, Lucy catches up with Julie Satchell and Anna Demetriou to talk about maritime archaeological archives and oral histories. They have such huge potential to tell us about the history of our discipline and to uncover previously untold stories about our maritime past. 

To celebrate International Women's Day we are excited to share this interview on Deep Water Archaeology with Barbara Davidde and Franca Cibecchini, using advanced technology they are exploring ever greater depths and discovering ancient shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. #IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity

In this episode we hear about three fascinating research projects on wrecks discovered under the Mediterranean. Presented as part of the Under the Med conference in Malta these projects include a Roman cargo ship, the remains of an ancient sea battle off the Egadi Islands, and a 16th century merchant ship off Croatia. The team delve in to the archaeology and the archives to tell the stories of our ancient past. 

In this episode we head to the Mediterranean and discover more about Inclusive Maritime Heritage in Southeast Sicily. We explore the ancient fishing traditions of the Marzamemi, discuss shipwrecks, connectivity, and the innovative, reflexive ways the team are working with local communities to tell the story of their maritime past.  #maritimeheritage #sicily #mediterranean #inclusive #histories #marzamemi #tunafishing #ethnography #archaeology

In this episode, we look back to Honor Frost's first dive in a well in Wimbledon 70 years ago this week, a pivotal moment for the field of maritime archaeology. We also speak with Claire Calcagno about her discovery of an unknown and unfinished book in Honor's archive, the Second Life of a Phoenix, all about her work on the 3rd Century BC Punic Shipwreck off Sicily. 

We head back 8,000 years this week! Agios Petros is the earliest submerged site in the Aegean. This Neolithic site is 8000 years old and reveals astonishing insights into how the farmers, fishermen and seafarers that lived there, were part of an expansive Neolithic network connected by sailing ships – far more sophisticated than ever imagined. The team even found remains of tuna bones and specialized fishing equipment, indicating that they were capable of deep sea fishing. Domesticated animal remains also suggest that these Neolithic farmers were transporting cows and other livestock by boat! Bettany talks to the site director about the discoveries and Lucy delves into ancient seafaring to uncover evidence of how people were crossing the Aegean thousands of years ago. We also learn about obsidian, a rare volcanic glass which gives insights into ancient trade. 

In this episode, Bettany heads to Turkey. The site of Yenikapi, in Istanbul, is home to one of the largest archaeological digs in the world, covering over 58,000 square metres, discovered during development work. Most of the remains relate to the artificial Theodosian Harbour from the Byzantine period including over 37 remarkably well-preserved shipwrecks, the largest group of Byzantine shipwrecks ever found. The site is a treasure trove of finds, from preserved camel skeletons to a container of cherries. Bettany heads to the conservation lab to see some of these remarkable finds first-hand, and Lucy speaks to one of the archaeologists working on the shipwreck remains. 

Welcome to Episode 3 of our Ancient World series, in this episode Bettany heads to the Bay of Naples, where in the middle of a volcanic landscape a Roman city now lies underwater. The Roman city at Baia is now submerged due to volcanic movement, the site has become a vast archaeological marine park, with statues, villas and mosaics visible underwater. Often referred to as the Las Vegas of the Roman world, it was the playground of the Roman elite. Bettany heads to Baia to see the site and Lucy finds out more about how it has become an archaeological park, allowing visitors to explore the remains by diving or snorkelling in the clear waters of the bay. 

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Dive & Dig Ancient World Series. In this episode, finds from two key 4th century BC shipwreck sites in Cyprus at Mazotos and Kyrenia tell us about trade and connectivity in Classical Greece.  Olive stones, amphorae and small vessels bring the crews of one ancient ship back to life and the art of ancient seafaring and navigation is revealed through a series of ship replicas. Bettany visits the conservation lab in Cyprus to see some of the remarkable finds from the Mazotos shipwreck, including evidence of a sailor's packed lunch! And Lucy speaks to Glavkos, who helped to build and sail a reconstruction of the Kyrenia, a 4th Century BC ancient Greek merchant ship. 

Welcome to the first episode of our new series! Presented by historian, Professor Bettany Hughes, and maritime archaeologist, Dr Lucy Blue who journey across the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. In this episode we explore Wadi El Jarf, the site of the oldest known artificial sea harbour in the world. Located on the Red Sea of Egypt, it was built about 4500 years ago.  It reveals around 30 caves housing finds including amazingly preserved dismantled wooden boats, rigging material, and a papyrus archive, consisting of the oldest known papyrus in the world, that tells the story of the site. The site was built during the 4th Dynasty, around the time of the Pharaoh Khufu, who built the Great Pyramid of Giza. The papyri found on the site contain daily logbooks and for the first time ever, allow us to hear from individual workers. Bettany speaks to the site director to find out more about what they found and what this can tell us about the ancient Egyptians and Lucy chats with the lead underwater archaeologist to discover more about the ancient artificial harbour. #WorldArchaeologyDay 

Lucy Blue talks to the team behind a new smartphone app, allowing users to explore the ancient harbour of Amathus off the coast of Cyprus. This EU-funded project allows visitors to explore the site with both walking and swimming tours, and for those unable to visit you can use the app to explore the site through immersive photos, videos, 3D models and an interactive map. 

In this episode, we speak to Tom Cousins and Dave Parham from Bournemouth University about a recently discovered 13th Century shipwreck off the Dorset Coast. The team were surprised to discover ship timbers surviving after 700 years, and the site, which contains a rather unusual cargo, is now the oldest protected wreck in the UK. #maritime #archaeology #shipwreck #dorset #newdiscovery 

In the third and final part of our special IKUWA conference series, we hear about initiatives to protect and promote our underwater heritage at risk from looting, climate change and a multitude of other threats. #underwater #archaeology #shipwrecks #treasurehunters #looting #protection #heritage 

In part II of our special IKUWA conference series, we reveal that maritime archaeology is not just about shipwrecks, exploring Neolithic lake settlements, ancient fishing and boats in bogs, as well as the first project of its kind in Pakistan.  #underwater #archaeology #neolithic #prehisoric #pakistan #norway #logboats #bogs #fishing #cyprus 

Part I of the special IKUWA conference edition of our podcast looks at Shipwrecks - Timecapsules from the Deep! We hear from five speakers all of whom are working on a range of shipwreck sites, including warships, royal ships, merchant ships and even U-Boats. #archaeology #underwater #shipwrecks #warships #wwI #wwII 

We recently attended the International Congress for Underwater Archaeology (IKUWA) in Helsinki and spoke to some fascinating researchers, from Shipwrecks to prehistoric lake settlements, and from battles against treasure hunters to the opening of dive parks, we gained insights into some of the fascinating research being undertaken around the globe to better understand our maritime past. 

In this news piece, we travel to Tallinn, Estonia's capital, and get to see the ongoing excavation of a medieval shipwreck discovered during coastal development. The team are also believed to have found the oldest compass whilst excavating the site! This is the second medieval merchant ship found in the area, back in 2015 another ship was discovered, and is now on display in the Maritime Museum, housed in a medieval tower in the old town, known as the 'Fat Margaret'! #shipwreck #medieval #tallinn #estonia #newdiscovery 

This month an exhibition about the ground-breaking Phoenician Shipwreck Project is being held at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, Malta. The ship was found in 110 metres of water and dates back to the 7th Century BC. It is the first archaeological excavation by divers in more than 100m of water, not only is the site revealing more secrets about the Phoenicians but it is also breaking new ground in underwater technology. We talk to Timmy Gambin about the site and the exhibition. 

In the latest episode of Dive & Dig News we spoke to Rawda Abdelhady from the Raquda Foundation about their amazing project to document the tangible and intangible heritage of a remarkable coastal community in El Max, Alexandria, which is under threat from development. #coastalcommunities #intangibleheritage #maritimearchaeology #Egypt #Alexandria #ElMax

We talk to ocean scientist Dr Nic Flemming about his new book - Apollonia on my Mind - The memoir of a paraplegic ocean scientist. The ocean conceals secrets, ancient, modern, and future. Nic Flemming's memoir recounts the life of a pioneer in ocean science. Each chapter describes a thread that structured his work: underwater cities, submerged Ice Age caverns dripping with stalactites, the limits to ocean exploitation, ocean climate change, prehistoric settlements on the continental shelf, ocean law, and safe scientific diving. Flemming is paralysed from the chest down and has used a wheelchair for the past 52 years; one chapter assesses how he has continued to work in rough conditions and at sea, visiting 60 countries since his accident. 

This week we talk to Brendan Foley and Gitte Ingvardson from Lund University about their use of new scientific techniques to uncover ancient coins from the wreck of the 15th Century royal Danish warship Gribshunden. This remarkably well-preserved wreck in the Baltic contains a fascinating array of artefacts, here they tell us about the techniques they are using to uncover more about this significant site.  

To mark International Women's Day the University of Helsinki held a roundtable discussion as part of their global conversations in maritime archaeology, this discussion was on Women in Maritime Archaeology - Four different women, four different stories, and four equally passionate and culturally diverse narratives. Hosted by Dr Lucy Semaan from the Honor Frost Foundation team in Lebanon, we spoke to her afterwards to find out what was discussed, what key messages we can take from this and what we need to do to advance true gender equality in the field. #InternationalWomensDay

Beirut is one of Lebanon's most extensively excavated, surveyed, and published coastal archaeological sites. The horrific explosion at the port city on August 4th, 2020 left over 200 dead, 6500 injured, and displaced over 300,000 people after catastrophic damage to residential and commercial structures up to 20 km from the point of detonation. The blast caused irreparable damage not only to the modern city and its inhabitants, but also struck at the heart of Lebanese cultural heritage. The ancient maritime landscape, historic coastal buildings and structures, and archaeological features in and around the port all sustained significant harm and are in dire need of restoration, preservation, and proper management. Listen to find out more about the Beirut Port Project which aims to assist current and future archaeological teams working in the city.

The first episode in our exciting new 'news' series! Bringing you the latest discoveries from the world of maritime archaeology. In this episode, Dr Timmy Gambin reveals what they have discovered from a human tooth found on a 2,700-year-old shipwreck! 

Join maritime archaeologist, Stella Demesticha from the University of Cyprus to hear what she has found on the Mazotos shipwreck off the coast of Cyprus.  She describes amphorae – ceramic containers of the ancient world - what they contained and how they were made.  Together with Cynthianne Spiteri – a scientist who analyses lipids,  oil and fat compounds from inside amphorae, they are able to identify what containers found on a 2500-year-old Phoenician shipwreck, were carrying.  This in turn can tell us about the origin of the cargo and the trading routes of ancient merchants.   #shipwrecks #amphorae #science #maritimearchaeology #underwater #scuba #diving #cyprus #heritage

Discover how maritime archaeologist, Jon Adams has used re-breathers and mixed gases to allow archaeological divers to go deeper and stay longer on sites.  Jon also explains how digital technologies have revolutionised maritime archaeological investigation, allowing research to be conducted more accurately and efficiently underwater.  We no longer need to spend hours drawing by hand, today new technologies enable the production of a 3-D printed model of a ship in just a few hours! Jon also talks about his groundbreaking work in the Black Sea, where the team discovered 65 shipwrecks dating from ancient Greece to WWII.  #shipwrecks #deepsea #maryrose #blacksea #maritime #nautical #scuba #rov #oceanexploration  SxoHDrzkI9OM6SWtZzmZ