Marine Archeology is a relatively new field in Cyprus. Since 2007, Marine Archeology courses have been included in the curriculum of the Department of History and Archeology of the University of Cyprus, making it one of the few Universities in Europe that offer corresponding courses at the undergraduate level.
The University of Cyprus has been operating since 2011 the Underwater Archaeological Research Laboratory (ERENAE) which belongs to the Department of History and Archeology. The purpose of its establishment was to integrate all the activities related to marine archeology until then and to be a dynamic area of research and education.
Maritime Archeology is a complex research field of archeology, with the object of studying the coastal and marine landscape.
In order for the public to get to know marine archeology up close, ERENAE in collaboration with MAT (Maritime Archeology Trust) and MAST (Maritime Archaeological Stewardship Trust) brings to Cyprus the maritime archeology bus the so-called MOB Maritime Archeology Outreach Bus. Funded by the Honor Frost Foundation.
The specially designed bus-van will be in Cyprus from May 5 to June 15 and will tour all major cities and smaller communities (Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Paralimni Ayia Napa, Kakopetria, Lefkara, Xylotympou, Mazoto , Polis Chrysochous).
The bus has started touring mainly in Britain and in recent years in other countries, more specifically France, Spain, Belgium. Cyprus is his next stop.
Anna Dimitriou, PhD student at the Underwater Archaeological Research Laboratory in PK, told KYPE that the bus will visit various schools in the cities and communities in the mornings and in the afternoons will be in public places for free visits by young and old.
"It is essentially a specially designed van which will host an exhibition on the underwater cultural heritage of Cyprus, there will be posters, video photos and some copies of objects," he said.
According to Ms. Dimitriou, educational activities will take place outside the bus and the process of underwater archaeological research will be explained to the public.
"Children and adults alike will be able to learn about diving, how to dig underwater, there will be the so-called ship building desk, a shipbuilding workshop and there will be a demonstration of the different methods of shipbuilding in antiquity, it's a remarkable program, interactive, for children and not only ", he told KYPE.
He explained that there was already communication with the Ministry of Education, a relevant permit was given and various schools were informed in which visits will be made.
"There was a lot of interest and we already have on our list specific schools that we will visit, which had contacted us and wanted this presentation to take place," he explained.
The bus starts its tour on May 5 from the environmental center of Akrotiri and will complete its visits on June 15 in Paphos.
"I would say that underwater archeology is a relatively new field, we believe that with this bus tour we will promote this field to the world, we will raise awareness and through awareness the citizens will learn how important the protection of the sea is. of our heritage ", said Mrs. Dimitriou.