Challenging the taken-for-granted in the management of underwater cultural heritage : ethical and legal perspectives
Management of cultural heritage depends on ethical decisions. These ethical decisions will bestow the heritage with a value and will protect it by establishing legal frameworks. However, sometimes, these legal frameworks can have the opposite effect and damage the heritage if they are not continuously revised and updated according to the new ethical challenges of the development in the field of cultural heritage. Although underwater cultural heritage has a legislative element that protects it from the relatively minor threat of treasure hunters, it pays little attention to ethical concerns that expose the heritage to more serious menaces. This study proposes (contrary to the traditional view of land heritage management as an example to underwater heritage management) a new vision where underwater cultural heritage challenges principles that in land heritage management have been taken for granted: valuation, use, management and preservation. The work presents four case studies as models both for illustrating the key ethical issues and for offering solutions: the violin of the Titanic, ancient lead for particle physics experiments, watery graves and the effects of climate change on underwater cultural heritage.
Perez-Alvaro, Elena
AM Museums (General). Collectors and collecting (General) ; CC Archaeology
Challenging the taken-for-granted in the management of underwater cultural heritage : ethical and legal perspectives. Management of cultural heritage depends on ethical decisions. These ethical decisions will bestow the heritage with a value and will protect it by establishing legal frameworks. However, sometimes, these legal frameworks can have the opposite effect and damage the heritage if they are not continuously revised and updated according to the new ethical challenges of the development in the field of cultural heritage. Although underwater cultural heritage has a legislative element that protects it from the relatively minor threat of treasure hunters, it pays little attention to ethical concerns that expose the heritage to more serious menaces. This study proposes (contrary to the traditional view of land heritage management as an example to underwater heritage management) a new vision where underwater cultural heritage challenges principles that in land heritage management have been taken for granted: valuation, use, management and preservation. The work presents four case studies as models both for illustrating the key ethical issues and for offering solutions: the violin of the Titanic, ancient lead for particle physics experiments, watery graves and the effects of climate change on underwater cultural heritage.
challenging taken for granted management underwater cultural_heritage ethical legal perspective management cultural_heritage depend ethical decision ethical decision bestow heritage_value protect establish legal_framework however sometimes legal_framework opposite effect damage heritage continuously revise update accord new ethical challenge development field cultural_heritage although underwater cultural_heritage legislative element relatively minor threat treasure hunter pay_little attention ethical_concern expose heritage serious study_proposes contrary_traditional view land heritage_management example underwater heritage_management new vision underwater cultural_heritage challenge principle land heritage_management take_grant valuation use management preservation work_present four_case study model illustrate key ethical_issue offer_solution ancient lead particle physic watery graf effect climate_change underwater cultural_heritage