Conference of Mediterranean Maritime Archaeology, Nicosia, Cyprus. 20-24 October 2017

As a part of Under the Mediterranean: 100 years on…The Honor Frost Foundation Conference of ‘Mediterranean Maritime Archaeology’ Nicosia, 20-24 October 2017, Prof. Dr. Emad Khalil Director of CMAUCH presented the aspects and some information about the Marsa Bagoush project season 2017 which has been extended between September 03 and 15, 2017. Furthermore, researchers of CMAUCH presented some posters that focus on researches of MA degree.

The world of maritime archaeology has undoubtedly changed significantly since Honor Frost wrote her seminal volume, Under the Mediterranean (1963). A milestone in the development of the subject in the Mediterranean came when in 1985 a symposium series began in Greece with the theme: TROPIS, International Symposium on Ship Construction in Antiquity. TROPIS soon became a meeting point for maritime archaeologists, working mainly (but not exclusively) in the Mediterranean, who presented papers on diverse research themes, including shipbuilding, ships and boats, ports and harbours, navigation and seafaring.

The last TROPIS conference took place on Hydra, in 2008. Honor was part of this meeting as she had been, with one exception, in every previous meeting. Since then TROPIS has not been followed up by any other Mediterranean maritime archaeological forum, and yet the discipline has continued to develop as more and more papers with maritime themes are presented in other archaeological conferences of more general interest. In other words, it seems that maritime archaeology has come of age and the 21st century finds it much better integrated into the world of Archaeology than ever before. However, we believe it is now time to provide a forum for maritime archaeologists working in the Mediterranean to regroup and to re-engage with the early TROPIS principles: to communicate more widely with others working in the region underwater, on the coasts, and on the land, and to share new finds, methodologies and ideas, including landscapes, trade, connectivity, scientific analysis, cultural management and new technological developments.