Between Tradition and Innovation: Breaking the Surface in Underwater Cultural Heritage Management in Cyprus
New technologies have been closely linked with the development of underwater archaeology since its very beginnings. Advances in exploring what lies beneath the seabed and in mapping underwater sites provided the means to overcome the limitations imposed by the aquatic environment on the study and documentation of underwater remains. Cyprus has long served as a testing ground for new technologies in maritime archaeology, from Jeremy Green’s pioneering surveys at Cape Andreas in the late 1960s to more recent applications aimed at improving the documentation and interpretation of underwater sites. Today, Cypriot institutions are investing in equipment, training, and expertise to further explore the potential of marine robotics and advanced sensing technologies in the field. This presentation will provide a historical overview of the use of technological developments in underwater archaeological research in Cyprus. With the aim of examining how new and emerging technologies are reshaping the field, special emphasis will be placed on contemporary initiatives. The objective is to highlight that, at the intersection of new technologies and traditional research methods, interdisciplinary approaches in underwater archaeology can “break the surface” in the management of underwater cultural heritage by introducing an integrated framework for its protection, preservation, study and promotion.