Underwater Museums

UNDERWATER MUSEUMS

Once out of the water and exhibited on land, objects from submerged archaeological sites are deprived of their context and lose part of their significance. Therefore, first initiatives have been undertaken to offer visitors in situ experiences. They include dive trails, submersible tours for non-divers and the construction of aquaria or underwater museums.

The Baiheliang Underwater Museum, China The Guangdong Maritime Silk Road Museum The Alexandria Underwater Museum Project, (Nanhai No. 1 Museum), China Egypt The museum of Baiheliang has been built over a Following the discovery of statues and precious rock ridge, an archaeological site in Fuling, China, The wreck of the ancient ship called now Nanhai No. now submerged under water of the Yangtze, artefacts in the Eastern harbour of the port of Alex- 1 was found in the western part of the mouth of the andria (Egypt), it is planned to build a special mu- blocked by the newly built Three Gorges Dam. It Pearl River (Zhu Jiang) in China. This Chinese displays some of the world’s oldest hydrological seum in the Bay of Alexandria. This museum will wreck is in exceptional condition and the largest of display the artefacts found in the palace of the Ptol- inscriptions, recording 1,200 years of changes in the that age until now discovered in China. It is esti- water level of the Yangtze River. The Baiheliang emies (also called the palace of Cleopatra), from the mated to contain 60,000 to 80,000 precious pieces sites of the sunken cities in the nearby Bay of Abukir stone ridge is 1,600 meters long and 15 meters of cargo, especially ceramics. The Nanhai No. 1 wide. It reaches 138 meters at its peak height and is as well as the remains of the famous lighthouse of Museum, which is also called Silk Road Museum, as Alexandria, one of the seven Wonders of the World. now submerged under 43 meters water with the the ship travelled on that route, features the ship- completion of the Dam. The Baiheliang museum It may include an exhibition space above the sea wreck in an aquarium setting characterized by the level and possibly also an underwater space. It is offers access to the ancient carvings under water same water quality, temperature and environment with the help of an escalator bringing visitors to the furthermore intended to become a center of excel- as the spot in which the wreck was discovered. The lence for the region. riverbed of the Yangtze. Here he can see through wreck was recovered in its surrounding block of silt bull eyes the stone ridge and the carvings, which are and archaeologists have now started to excavate The special worldwide importance of the finds of the preserved in their original setting in water, but pro- the vessel inside the aquarium, enabling visitors to tected by a no-pressure arched container roof. Bays of Alexandria and Abukir gives this museum a observe their work. The remains of the ancient ves- particular attraction. sel are expected to yield critical information on an- The Baiheliang Museum is the first major underwa- cient Chinese ship building and navigation technolo- ter museum worldwide. gies. It also impressively illustrates the importance of underwater cultural heritage for understanding the history of the Silk Road.

The aquarium setting for this shipwreck museum is a world first and will help to smooth the way for other such undertakings.

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