First Meeting of the Regional Centres for Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe: Cooperation, Partnerships, Funding 23 March 2012. Zadar, Croatia

1. International Centre for
Underwater Archaeology in
Zadar - Croatia
UNESCO Category II Centre
under the auspices of UNESCO
Luka Bekić, director

2. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
History
• Croatia’s rich underwater cultural heritage sparked the idea of a centre for its within
expert community many decades ago
• the find of sculpture of Apoxyomenos in 1998 had brought a final decision
• after a decades of unsuccessful attempts of a local museum in Zadar, Ministry of
culture turned the initiative to Croatian conservation institute in 2005

3. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2007
• in two years, Croatian conservation institute established a Centre for underwater
archaeology
• in 2007, a opening ceremony of the Centre's workshop for conservation of underwater
finds
• phase one of the centre with its conservation workshop, lecture hall, library and
dormitories, and a museum for underwater archaeology including the "underwater
museums"
• the developing centre was nominated for a UNESCO category II centre, what was
accepted in 2008

4. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2009
• the Government of Croatia established International centre or underwater
archaeology in Zadar as an independent institution
• after successful adaptation of further two buildings another opening of the now
independent International centre for underwater archaeology in Zadar, as UNESCO
centre of II category, took place in 2009
• series of activities, besides the continuing conservation processes of more and more
underwater archaeological finds, webpage, international expert seminars, lectures,
book promotions and exhibitions were organized

5. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• two-week beginner level training course in diving and underwater
archaeology for international participants

6. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• a world congress of underwater archaeologist in Zadar IKUWA 4
with more than 200 participants from more than 40 countries from all
continents

7. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• written, translated and published a first Manual on conservation of
underwater finds

8. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• carried out advanced three months course for underwater
archaeological finds restoration and conservation for international
participants

9. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• collected and inventoried more than 500 books for a ICUA expert
library

10. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• published a special edition magazine Submerged heritage to promote the
congress, the work of UNESCO, ICUA centre and to popularise underwater
heritage

11. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• built a digital underwater heritage database for the Adriatic Sea and
the preparatory work related to the development of the GIS base

12. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• carried out underwater archaeological research in Pakoštane in
collaboration with the University of Zadar, the Han-Vrana Agency and the
Römisch-Germanische Kommission institute of Germany

13. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• carried out reconnaissance of the waters of the Istrian peninsula in
search of new archaeological sites

14. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
2011
• archaeological research of Veštar Cove has been carried out with the
participation of the Bayerischen Gesellschaft für Unterwasserarchäologie
(BGfU), the Croatian Conservation Institute and the Rovinj Heritage
Museum

15. Situation - Organization chart

16. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
Difficulties
• the centre has difficulties facing its development
• some of them are financial, but more are organisational inconsistencies and
institutional lack of understanding
• lack of a stronger political support with concrete measures taken
• complicated national regulations for cooperation with foreign individuals students or
experts and organisations and institutions
• lack of communication and coordination between the Nat-com's, Ministries and
Centres
• uncertain future for the framework without the determined support of the steering
institutions: UNESCO and the Ministry of culture

17. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
Perspectives
• centre has a plan and a potential for complete cycle in field of underwater heritage
management
• the centre is to become a focal point of underwater heritage activities in a
Mediterranean and SEE region
• it could serve to Croatia, and all of the countries with a underwater heritage
• small and underdeveloped underwater archaeological activities in countries in SEE
and Mediterranean could benefit
• centre's activities in region can foster protection of sites and finds, cooperation,
awareness-raising, capacity-building, scientific research and public access

18. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
Workshop on conservation of underwater
archaeological finds can provide income for ICUA
• conservation and restoration work for other institutions
• offering educational activities as courses

19. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
Museum of underwater archaeology in St.Nicholas
church can provide income for ICUA
• space for public events, concerts, seminars and lectures
• exhibition gallery of underwater finds
• place for temporary exhibitions on underwater and maritime projects

20. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
Management of underwater museums in Croatia
provide income
• spots for tourist divers
• licensing the diving clubs
• reinvesting the collected funds in protection

21. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
Educational activities could provide income
• Scuba School International - SSI of USA, a network for diving courses
• Archaeological Society - NAS of UK for providing the archaeology courses
• Divers Alert Network - DAN of Italy to provide the divers with the courses on diver
security and first aid skills
• ICUA / UNESCO courses and seminars on underwater archaeology and conservation
of underwater finds

22. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
International funding can provide income
• projects in scientific cooperation
• various EU funds
• donations from companies and foundations

23. International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA)
How to continue development
• difficulties are primarily institutional and organisational and then financial
• centre has an national and international priority and should to be treated
that way
• more determined support from Ministry of culture and UNESCO
• more international cooperation, support