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Description
Water World was needed to address the stagnation and decline of Portugal’s National Centre for Nautical and Underwater Archaeology (CNANS), which had suffered from reduced resources, outdated equipment, and operational limitations due to socioeconomic constraints. It aimed to revitalise the CNANS by enhancing its technical capabilities, human resources, and methodologies for safeguarding underwater cultural heritage. The project addressed these challenges through four key activities: capacity-building for heritage management and conservation, underwater heritage conservation and monitoring, maritime cultural landscape management, and public dissemination. Key outputs included acquiring new equipment, hiring staff, operationalising a laboratory, conducting training, and establishing partnerships. The project achieved its goals, modernising the CNANS’s operations, clearing backlogs in archaeological records, and developing new workflows. Beneficiaries included heritage professionals and the public, who gained improved access to underwater cultural heritage. The collaboration with the Norwegian Maritime Museum was pivotal, enabling knowledge exchange in 3D documentation, geophysics, and conservation techniques.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several challenges faced by Portugal’s National Centre for Nautical and Underwater Archaeology (CNANS). Following a productive first decade after its establishment in 1997, which allowed Portugal to achieve methodological alignment with other emerging European nations in underwater archaeology, the CNANS experienced a period of stagnation due to socioeconomic constraints. Over the next decade, the centre suffered from reduced human resources, was housed in a temporary space, and saw a significant decline in operational capacity. This situation was marked by underinvestment, obsolescence of resources, and a lack of progress in its core activities.
The project sought to address these issues by supporting the centre’s relocation to new facilities and by revitalising its technical capabilities and human resources. The primary challenge was to develop a new national approach for safeguarding, protecting, conserving, preserving in situ, monitoring, and promoting Portugal’s nautical and underwater archaeological heritage, in line with the CNANS’s responsibilities. The project also aimed to tackle the backlog in managing the archaeological record and conserving artefacts, as well as to establish sustainable workflows and methodologies in underwater archaeology and conservation.
Additionally, the project intended to modernise the CNANS’s practices by introducing new technologies and fostering international collaboration, particularly with the Norwegian Maritime Museum, to bridge gaps in knowledge and methodologies.
The project was initiated to address the challenges faced by Portugal’s National Centre for Nautical and Underwater Archaeology (CNANS), which had experienced a decline in human resources, operational capacity, and outdated equipment. The project aimed to revitalise CNANS by developing a new national approach for safeguarding, protecting, conserving, and promoting underwater and nautical archaeological heritage.
To achieve this, the project implemented four key activity components. First, it focused on capacity-building for managing, conserving, and disseminating underwater cultural heritage. This included training and hiring new staff, as well as establishing methodologies and workflows for archaeological and conservation work. Second, the project emphasised the conservation and monitoring of underwater cultural heritage, which involved acquiring and operationalising new laboratory equipment. Third, it addressed the management of maritime cultural landscapes, integrating georeferencing and geophysical techniques for underwater archaeological sites. Fourth, the project prioritised dissemination and accessibility, sharing results through workshops, scientific meetings, and public outreach.
The project successfully acquired all proposed equipment, contracted necessary human resources, and set up CNANS'' laboratory. Training and formation activities were completed as planned, and new partnerships were forged with national and international institutions. The collaboration with the Norsk Maritimt Museum was particularly impactful, enabling knowledge exchange in areas such as 3D documentation, freeze-drying techniques for waterlogged materials, and geophysical surveys. Joint activities, including workshops, field campaigns, and study visits, helped bridge gaps in underwater archaeological practices between Portugal and Norway.
The project achieved its expected outcomes, revitalising CNANS by addressing backlogs in archaeological chart management and artefact conservation. It also introduced new working methods and stabilised employment positions within the institution. The project significantly improved CNANS'' operational capacity and aligned its practices with European standards in underwater archaeology.
The project aimed to revitalise Portugal’s National Centre for Nautical and Underwater Archaeology (CNANS), by enhancing its technical capabilities, human resources, and methodologies for safeguarding, protecting, conserving, and promoting Portugal''s underwater and nautical archaeological heritage.
The project achieved significant outcomes. It enabled CNANS to address work related to archaeological charting and artefact conservation, while also creating stable employment positions. The introduction of new working approaches and the modernisation of equipment and techniques brought CNANS closer to the standards of other European nations in underwater archaeology. The collaboration with the Norsk Maritimt Museum and other Norwegian institutions was particularly impactful, facilitating knowledge exchange in areas such as 3D documentation, freeze-drying techniques for waterlogged materials, and geophysical applications for underwater archaeological sites. Workshops, field campaigns, and scientific meetings helped bridge gaps in methodologies between Portugal and Norway, levelling the playing field in underwater archaeology practices.
The project''s success was evident in the revitalisation of CNANS'' operational capacity and its ability to contribute more effectively to the preservation and study of Portugal''s underwater cultural heritage. The improved methodologies and partnerships not only benefited CNANS staff but also enriched the broader archaeological community and the public, who gained better access to this heritage.
The long-term impact of the project lies in its contribution to the sustainable management of Portugal''s underwater cultural heritage, ensuring its preservation for future generations while raising public awareness and engagement. The project''s outcomes have positioned CNANS as a more capable and modern institution, better equipped to fulfil its national and international responsibilities in the field of underwater archaeology.
Summary of bilateral results
The project greatly benefited from the partnership with the Norsk Maritimt Museum, as it enabled the sharing of knowledge and expertise in key areas such as 3D documentation, freeze-drying techniques for waterlogged materials, and geophysical applications for underwater archaeological sites. Collaborative activities, including workshops, field campaigns, scientific meetings, and study visits, were instrumental in challenging existing paradigms and adopting new methodologies. This bilateral cooperation helped bridge gaps in Portugal’s underwater archaeology practices, aligning them more closely with Norway’s advanced standards. The involvement of other Norwegian institutions, such as the Bergen Maritime Museum and Riksantikvaren, further enriched the project’s outcomes. These project''s partners acknowledged the benefits of sustaining the relationship, recognising its potential to further advance their work in underwater archaeology.