Maritime archaeology in the Mediterranean

Abstract

The archaeological study of the Mediterranean sea and its coasts is, for the most part, thought of as underwater archaeology, and the history of maritime archaeology in the Mediterranean has conventionally been conceived as the story of underwater exploration. However, the discipline of archaeology as a whole has continued to develop, and the concern with conceptual issues which has characterized much archaeological scholarship in recent years is having an effect on the study of cultural remains found, not just on land, but in the sea as well. This paper will start with a brief review of the history of maritime archaeology in the Mediterranean region, and proceed to consider some of the new approaches which promise to deliver stimulating insights into the function of the sea and the role of seafarers during prehistoric and historic times.