Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts – Southeast Asian Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage (SEAMUCH)
Contact:
SEAMEO SPAFA Building, 81/1 Si Ayutthaya Rd, Thewet, Dusit, Bangkok, 10300 Thailand
Email: spafa@seameo-spafa.org
Background:
SEAMEO SPAFA has been active in the field of underwater archaeology since 1978, offering a number of ad-hoc training courses and meetings to Southeast Asian heritage professionals.
At different gatherings, heritage professionals have expressed the need for a more concrete regional programme in underwater archaeology, highlighting the role of a regional database of maritime and underwater cultural heritage as well as capacity-building and awareness-raising activities. Recognizing the need, it is necessary for a regional organization such as SEAMEO SPAFA to initiate the establishment of a comprehensive regional programme on underwater archaeology in order to promote an effective management and the study of maritime and underwater cultural heritage for their protection. The SEAMUCH database is a significant component of this regional programme.
Objectives:
- Collect data on various types of maritime and underwater cultural heritage including wreck sites as well as maritime sites, ports and jetties, and fresh water underwater sites
- Heighten the status of underwater archaeology knowledge in the region
- Provide a basis for future collaboration and better maritime and underwater cultural heritage protection and management under regional cooperation