Underwater archaeology is often seen as a recreational activity and as the paradigm of the latest adventure of our time. However, it is a branch of archaeology practised underwater.
Underwater archaeology and heritage, seen, in turn, as a scientific practice and as a cultural resource, has been the subject of growing concern both by the public and by the public bodies with responsibilities in this area.
An interventionist management in this archaeology heritage area emerged all over the world as an answer to the threats posed by its protection, study and enhancement, which are clearly scientific and cultural domains.
Underwater archaeology, as a global project, emerged in Portugal in the early 1980s within the framework of José Leite de Vasconcelos’ National Museum of Archaeology. It was a pioneering experience that pooled the efforts of different personalities and institutions. It was not until 1997, however, that Portuguese archaeology went through major changes that issued from the Côa Valley stone engravings preservation movement, and led to the creation of the Nautical and Underwater Archaeology National Centre (CNANS), within the former Portuguese Institute of Archaeology.
During Lisbon’s Expo 98, CNANS promoted, in liaison with the Navy Academy, an International Symposium on Medieval and Modern Vessels of Ibero-Atlantic Tradition. The latest and most remarkable findings in this area were shown before some of the world’s top nautical and underwater experts.
Since then, CNANS has not stopped dealing with accidental findings and emergency situations, conducting research projects, carrying out technical surveillance and interventions on coastal areas and providing expert opinion, apart from developing scientific and cultural dissemination actions both on a national and international scale.
Bearing in mind that archaeology and the underwater archaeological heritage cannot be developed without the collaboration of sea users like amateur divers, CNANS has always recognised the value and rights of those who declared their accidental findings, encouraged close collaboration with amateur volunteers and a close relationship with amateur divers. Examples of this was the priority, since it was set up, to giving recognition rewards to those who declared accidental discoveries, the adoption in the year 2000, of the principle under which those who declare their findings have a right to become their custodians, and the development of conditions to promote access of amateur divers to normally interdicted areas.
The Institute for Managing the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage was set us as a result of merging the Portuguese Institute of Archaeology with the Portuguese Institute of Architectural Heritage in 2007. Management of this heritage is now under the Nautical and Underwater Archaeological Division which is responsible for studying, safeguarding and enhancing this moveable or immoveable heritage, regardless of it being legally protected or located in archaeologically protected areas.
This Division is also responsible for monitoring and surveilling the implementation of nautical and underwater archaeological works, as well as promoting and encouraging the implementation of a nationwide nautical and underwater archaeological chart.