Imagine a world where history's greatest underwater secrets are vulnerable to theft, where the treasures of sunken ships are being plundered before they can be studied and preserved. That's the chilling reality facing maritime archaeologists today, a reality highlighted by the renowned Mensun Bound, often called the "Indiana Jones of the deep.” He's sounding the alarm about a growing threat: the increasing ease with which looters can access and exploit shipwrecks, thanks to rapid advancements in technology.
Bound, the man who famously located Sir Ernest Shackleton's lost ship Endurance in the crushing depths of the Antarctic, expresses a deep sense of urgency. He describes his life as “a race against the bands of looters and plunderers.” These aren't just amateur treasure hunters; Bound warns of “rogue organizations” with the resources to reach virtually any shipwreck, anywhere in the world's oceans.
But here's where it gets controversial... While technology offers incredible opportunities for discovery and research, it simultaneously empowers those who seek to profit from these historical sites, often at the expense of scientific understanding and preservation.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), for example, are revolutionizing underwater exploration. These sophisticated robots can operate independently of surface ships and remain submerged for extended periods, allowing them to map vast areas of the ocean floor and locate previously undiscovered wrecks. While this is a boon for archaeologists, it also provides looters with unprecedented access. Surveying and excavation techniques have also improved dramatically, leading to more discoveries but also raising concerns about clandestine salvage operations.
Bound's concerns are deeply personal. Born in the Falkland Islands, he understands the value of maritime heritage. He recalls making “heartbreaking decisions” about which wrecks to survey, haunted by the memory of one he initially dismissed, only to find it completely plundered years later. This regret underscores the difficult choices faced by archaeologists who must prioritize their limited resources. And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about the monetary value of the artifacts; it's about the irreplaceable historical information lost when these sites are disturbed without proper documentation.
Consider the Endurance, resting at a staggering 10,000 feet below the surface. Bound worries about artifacts like the ship's bell, which remain on board. While the wreck is protected by the Antarctic Treaty, Bound fears that determined looters could still target it. "The bell of the Endurance is just sitting there. Yes, protected under the Antarctic Treaty but there are rogue organisations which I know would go there and help themselves to that," he stated, highlighting the vulnerability even in protected locations.
Bound's regret extends to a Roman shipwreck he dismissed early in his career. Told about a “virgin wreck” in the Mediterranean in the mid-1980s, his youthful arrogance led him to believe that only pre-antiquity wrecks were important. He later realized the wreck's archaeological significance, but when he returned five years later, it had been completely erased, leaving only a "stain in the sand." This experience serves as a stark reminder of the irreversible damage caused by looting.
The depths themselves offer little protection. The deepest known shipwreck, the USS Samuel B. Roberts, lies nearly 23,000 feet down. Bound believes that even this extreme depth may soon be within reach of future expeditions, further increasing the risk of looting.
The question of ownership adds another layer of complexity. Mark Frary, who co-authored "Wonders in the Deep" with Bound, points to the case of the San José, a Spanish galleon potentially holding $17 billion in gold and silver. Discovered in Colombian waters, the San José presents a tangled web of competing claims. “It’s in Colombian water, it’s a Spanish galleon with dead Spanish sailors on board, the English sank it, the treasure on board was looted from Bolivia and there are various American companies who say they found it first,” Frary explained. The legal battles over ownership are delaying its retrieval, illustrating the challenges of balancing technological capabilities with ethical and legal considerations. Who truly owns the past?
Technological advancements have undeniably made it easier to locate and potentially recover shipwrecks. But are we truly ready for the consequences? As we gain the ability to reach the deepest secrets of the ocean, are we prepared to protect them from exploitation and ensure that these historical treasures are preserved for future generations? What ethical guidelines should govern deep-sea exploration and salvage? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
