2nd international colloquium on maritime and fluvial archaeology in the southern North Sea area in Bruges on 21-23 September 2006

Until recently, maritime archaeology was not given priority to in Belgium. This changed in 2003, when strategies were developed for the study, the disclosure and the management of this valuable heritage. The 2nd international colloquium ‘To Sea or Not To Sea’, organised by the Flemish Heritage Institute (VIOE) together with several partners including VLIZ, wants to contribute to this process, as well as to optimise the international cooperation of maritime archaeologists in the southern North Sea area.

In three days the colloquium brings oral presentations and poster presentations on maritime and fluvial archaeological research, conservation, disclosure and legislation. A complete review will be given of all larger and important maritime archaeological research projects in the North Sea and Baltic area: the flagship of Hendrik VIII, the Mary Rose, the oldest known ‘kogge’ discovered a few years ago near Antwerp; the hundreds of ship wrecks in the IJsselmeer; the ‘kogge’ of Bremen, the Vasa, the Kronan …

Professor Dr. Donny Hamilton of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology in Texas will bring a ‘keynote lecture’ on the flagship of Lodewijk XIV ‘La Belle’, that was lost in the Matagorda Bay in 1686. Ten (native and foreign) speakers will present the diversity of our own, Flemish heritage. The legislation on maritime archaeology in the different countries of the North Sea will be compared and discussed. The colloquium also wants to give the floor to scuba divers and amateur maritime archaeologists. Several informative examples have to cast light on conservation issues. Seven project of disclosure to the public will be illustrated. Other speakers will present results on the study of the biodiversity of shipwrecks, maritime trade and hydrographical detection techniques.

Venue is the Proviciaal Hof (Markt 2) in Bruges, Belgium. Simultaneous translation Dutch/English, Dutch/French and English/French will be provided. Registration is possible until the 15th of June 2006. The programme, inscription form and other information can be found on the colloquium-website http://www.vliz.be/marcol.