20.04.2017
On 30 May 2017, UNESCO invites to an exclusive evening event comprised of a photo exhibition, film screenings and a reception on the theme of underwater cultural heritage, with a special focus on the Danton shipwreck, excavated by French experts, and Turkish underwater cultural heritage sites.
One hundred years ago, in the midst of World War I, the French Danton ship was sunk by a German submarine with almost 300 men on board. 92 years later, in 2009, a geosciences company stumbled upon the wreck during an underwater survey for a gas pipeline. The Danton was found in remarkably good condition, just off the coast of Sardinia (Italy), sitting upright in over 1,000m of water. Several gun turrets remained intact, and the remains of 296 sailors were retrieved inside the wreck. The research work of the French Underwater Archaeology Department will be featured in a film by Gedeon, first shown at the UNESCO event.
The Danton images will be followed by the presentation of new discoveries of Turkish underwater archaeology, also featured in a photo exhibition, organized in marge of the evening event.
Subsequently the archaeologists that have worked on the sites, Michel L’Hour (France), Hakan Öniz and Harun Özdas (both Turkey) will be speaking on their work and answer to questions.
The event, which is open to the public, constitutes a unique opportunity to discover the world of underwater cultural heritage. It is organized in the framework of the sixth Meeting of States Parties to the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and of World Oceans Day.
Registration closes on 26 May.
Tuesday, 30 May 2017 at 6.30pm
UNESCO Headquarters, Room I,
7 Place de Fontenoy, Paris, France
Source : UNESCO