Fighting Treasure-hunting from Africa to the Americas:Safeguarding the World's Sunken History
12-3-2020
Brief
Looting, commercial exploitation and treasure hunting are silently destroying the archaeological remains that are found under the waters of our seas and oceans. With the promises of saving the nation's cultural heritage and bringing economic profit and public investment, treasure-hunting companies convince governments and national authorities -lacking the appropriate knowledge, expertise and infrastructures for maritime or underwater archaeological research- to engage in salvage endeavors without realizing that they were eventually condemning their own heritage and, thus, missing important possibilities for long-term sustainable growth. The conference will show the damage done by the ethicless treasure-hunting actions in Africa and Latin America, as well as will present how the international community's fight for heritage preservation is changing this situation.