For the public, underwater heritage parks amalgamate the thrill of sports diving with the educational enjoyment of a museum. Consequently, underwater heritage parks have been a popular medium to...Show moreFor the public, underwater heritage parks amalgamate the thrill of sports diving with the educational enjoyment of a museum. Consequently, underwater heritage parks have been a popular medium to present in-situ underwater cultural heritage (UCH) in countries, such as Australia, the UK, Finland, Sweden, Canada and the US. However, this method to present insitu UCH is not used in the Netherlands. Within the context of the Dutch government’s recent decision to ratify the Faro Convention (Council of Europe 2005) and the growing blue tourism economy and diving community within the country, this thesis assesses the effectiveness of underwater heritage parks and explores the plausibility of utilising this approach within the Netherlands. Through an analysis of literature and case studies pertaining to the global use of underwater heritage parks, this thesis first analyses the challenges and opportunities that underwater heritage parks present for heritage management and determines that the challenges can be mitigated. This makes underwater heritage parks an effective tool for heritage management. However, this also highlights a need to explore the challenges and opportunities that underwater heritage parks potentially bring nearby residents. Through an analysis of the case study of the Museum of Underwater Art, Australia, this thesis found that underwater heritage parks can bring societal, environmental, and economic benefits to the communities that they are located nearby. This can be achieved sustainably when mitigating the harmful impacts of heritage tourism through working with the ongoing consent of nearby residents, providing honest and positive experiences for tourists, and competitiveness cluster strategies. However, all of this can only be accomplished when the sustainability of the UCH resources of an underwater heritage park can be ensured. Through an analysis of case studies in Croatia, Sweden and Finland, this thesis determines that sustainable diver access can be achieved through protective methods of site protection, which use prohibitive equipment or create tour guides through commercial dive operators. However, sustainable access can also be achieved through admissive methods of site protection, which allow unrestricted access but protect UCH through community stewardship, legislation, or initiatives that have successfully changed attitudes towards UCH. However, changing attitudes towards UCH also necessitates reaching the non-diving community. This thesis explores how underwater heritage parks have accomplished this and through the case study of Fathom Five Marine Parks, Canada, states that a multi-faceted approach that provides a broad range of ways to interact with UCH is most effective. Having established the effectiveness of underwater heritage parks and the best methods to provide access to UCH and ensure the sustainability of the resource, this thesis then assesses where this approach could be utilised within the Netherlands. Through building on O’Brien and colleagues (2011, 87) matrices of activities that contradict cultural heritage conservation, based from Ehler and Douvere (2009, 58-59), this thesis found that underwater heritage parks could present in-situ UCH at Cuijk, Europoort, Grevelingen, Hellevoetsluis, IJsselmeer, Maasdriel, Oostvoornse Meer, and the Wadden Sea.Show less
This thesis is about the 19th century Plantation Esthersrust and the military post on the confluence of the Warappa Canal and the Atlantic Ocean. Archaeology in Suriname is a growing field. Most of...Show moreThis thesis is about the 19th century Plantation Esthersrust and the military post on the confluence of the Warappa Canal and the Atlantic Ocean. Archaeology in Suriname is a growing field. Most of the archaeological research that has been conducted throughout the years were mainly focused on pre-Columbian cultures. Recently archaeologists (both professional and in training) started archaeological research on different cultural periods. Although water played an important role in the history of Suriname, it is often not the focus. Both history and archaeology sources were written using the terrestrial point of view. This thesis therefore tries to contribute to the maritime perspective of Suriname's history and archaeology disciplines. For this theories by Christer Westherdahl are used as a basis. The focus lies on the role the water had on the plantations and defence system and the also looks at relationship between humans and the surrounding waters. For this study, a wide range of primary sources were studied to answer the research question, alongside a week of fieldwork on Plantation Esthersrust.Show less
When archaeologists mention their profession during a party, the first thing they hear is “Oh, like Indiana Jones! I wanted to be and archaeologist when I was little, finding gold seems so exciting...Show moreWhen archaeologists mention their profession during a party, the first thing they hear is “Oh, like Indiana Jones! I wanted to be and archaeologist when I was little, finding gold seems so exciting”. This short text illustrates that the image of archaeologists seems to be different from reality. There seem to be several stereotypes about archaeologists, these can seem innocent, but they can have real effects on the field of archaeology as a whole. All kinds of wild stereotypes that are attached to archaeologists can have influence on their work and on the importance of archaeology in the eye of the public. This is not beneficial for public support or professional relations. This thesis investigated the current image of archaeologists in the Netherlands. A survey was launched to find out what the Dutch public thinks archaeologists are like and what they do in their line of work.Show less
This study focuses on illegal excavation as a threat to underwater cultural heritage in the Netherlands. More specifically, it deals with enforcement of legal protection of the Dutch underwater...Show moreThis study focuses on illegal excavation as a threat to underwater cultural heritage in the Netherlands. More specifically, it deals with enforcement of legal protection of the Dutch underwater cultural heritage against the destructive effects of illegal excavation, whether by recreational divers or by professional salvors, to shipwrecks and other archaeological remains underwater. It aims to provide an overview of the enforcement practices currently in operation under the 1988 Monuments and Historical Buildings Act in the inner waters, the terrestrial sea and the contiguous zone of the Netherlands. As a result, Article 45 of the Act, providing a prohibition on illegal excavation, plays a key role. Furthermore, it aims to provide suggestions for improvement of the current enforcement mechanism in a time of turbulent developments within the underwater domain. This is established by means of an analysis of available literature and interviews with governmental stakeholder organizations which are involved in the protection of underwater cultural heritage in daily practice.Show less
