Challenging the taken-for-granted in the management of underwater cultural heritage: Ethical and legal perspectives

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Perez-Alvaro, Elena (2015). Challenging the taken-for-granted in the management of underwater cultural heritage: Ethical and legal perspectives. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Management of cultural heritage depends on ethical decisions. These ethical decisions will bestow the heritage with a value and will protect it by establishing legal frameworks. However, sometimes, these legal frameworks can have the opposite effect and damage the heritage if they are not continuously revised and updated according to the new ethical challenges of the development in the field of cultural heritage.
Although underwater cultural heritage has a legislative element that protects it from the relatively minor threat of treasure hunters, it pays little attention to ethical concerns that expose the heritage to more serious menaces.
This study proposes (contrary to the traditional view of land heritage management as an example to underwater heritage management) a new vision where underwater cultural heritage challenges principles that in land heritage management have been taken for granted: valuation, use, management and preservation.
The work presents four case studies as models both for illustrating the key ethical issues and for offering solutions: the violin of the Titanic, ancient lead for particle physics experiments, watery graves and the effects of climate change on underwater cultural heritage. Finally this work explores themes of value, ethics and the process in which a common object becomes heritage.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):