Academic and government organizations are exploring and preserving underwater cultural heritage.
Tsang Cheng-hwa (臧振華) is a pioneer in underwater archaeological studies. In October last year, he received the Cultural Association Medal from the Ministry of Culture (MOC) alongside 14 other luminaries in recognition of their research and advocacy of understanding the multifaceted history and culture of Taiwan. Tsang, as the director of the Institute of Anthropology at National Tsing Hua University in the northern city of Hsinchu, was honored for his active engagement in research projects that have contributed to the reconstruction of human evolutionary history in Taiwan for more than 40 years.
Tsang’s career began in 1976 as a researcher at Academia Sinica’s Institute of History and Philology, but it was not until he began pursuing a doctorate at Harvard University in the early 1980s that he was introduced to underwater archaeology. It enthralled him, and when he returned to Taiwan in 1986 with a degree in anthropology and East Asian languages and civilizations, he started advocating for exploration of Taiwan’s underwater cultural heritage.
“Archaeology is the scientific study of past human life through the recovery and analysis of material culture—whether it’s buried under earth or deep underwater,” Tsang explained. He likened the sea floor to a sprawling museum where sunken ships and downed airplanes provide researchers with opportunities to study trade, shipbuilding and significant historical events as they uncover wrecks and fossils that evoke a rich context for previous societies. “These places and our findings are valuable cultural assets belonging to all of humanity,” Tsang said, adding that underwater heritage can be an engine for cultural, economic and social development.
A variety of items recovered from submerged archaeological sites are exhibited at the Penghu workstation. (Photo by Lin Min-hsuan)
Legal Groundwork
As Taiwan is an island nation, it is only natural to look to the sea for insights into its history. “The Taiwan Strait has long been an important waterway,” Tsang said. “Throughout history, many ships have sunk to the seabed due to factors ranging from extreme weather conditions to warfare to submerged reefs.” The preservation of those wrecks and their artifacts provides a unique perspective on human history and culture.
Taiwan’s first systematic project in underwater archaeology was organized by the Taipei City-based National Museum of History from 1995 to 1998 to investigate a Qing dynasty (1644-1911) wooden cargo ship first found in 1987 at a depth of around 20 meters in the Penghu archipelago by a local scuba diver. The ship, called Jiangjun No. 1 after a nearby islet, was a victim of the region’s treacherous waters.
In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage to preserve traces of human existence that have a cultural, historical or archaeological character and have been under water for at least 100 years. Lin Hung-lung (林宏隆), chief of the Archaeological Sites Division under the MOC’s Bureau of Cultural Heritage, said that Taiwan quickly followed suit to develop policies, regulations and measures of its own relating to the protection of the marine environment and underwater cultural heritage in conformity with international law and practice.
The Executive Yuan promulgated the National Oceans Policy Guidelines in 2004 and published the National Ocean Policy White Paper in April 2006, followed by the Underwater Cultural Heritage Preservation Act in 2015. Under the law, the MOC is designated as the competent authority for research, preservation, promotion and restoration of underwater cultural heritage. The law also requires impact assessments prior to initiating marine construction projects. “This legal and regulatory framework was an essential step in developing a heritage preservation policy,” Lin said. “It empowered us to implement and supervise activities that conserve underwater cultural heritage and punish violations.”
Underwater operations involve unique challenges and risks as such sites are subject to limited visibility, strong currents and potential entanglement hazards. (Courtesy of Research Center for Underwater Archaeology and Heritage of National Tsing Hua University)
Complex Operations
The archaeological team formed in August 2006 has made notable achievements in its endeavors to record heritage sites in the waters surrounding Taiwan. Led by Tsang, the survey group has thus far located and identified about 100 sites of interest for further investigation. Among them, 20 are confirmed historical shipwrecks, with six marked as cultural assets for protection.
Penghu is a particularly rich area for undersea research: the archipelago is home to 13 shipwrecks of interest including four catalogued as heritage properties. In light of the region’s importance, the MOC’s cultural heritage bureau established the Penghu Workstation of Underwater Archaeology in 2018 and appointed Tsang as project leader. Besides being a major base for archaeological work, the facility holds exhibitions and film screenings to showcase replica artifacts, scuba equipment and underwater operations through augmented reality, virtual reality and multimedia technologies.
Henry Hwang, second left, former president and honorary chair of Taipei-based Taiwan Society of Underwater Cultural Heritage, participates in underwater archaeology both as an on-site investigator and as a diver trainer. (Courtesy of Henry Hwang)
Though the opportunities for exciting research are many, underwater archaeology presents unique challenges and risks as such sites that are difficult to access and subject to limited visibility, strong currents and potential entanglement hazards. “Working underwater requires advanced diving skills, proper training and specialized equipment,” Lin said. “Even with careful attention to a dive plan, there’s a higher risk of decompression sickness when staff dive deeper than 40 meters and stay there for more than 15 minutes.”
The expertise of highly experienced divers like Henry Hwang (黃漢勇), former president and honorary chair of the Taipei-based Taiwan Society of Underwater Cultural Heritage, is critical to the success of such archaeological expeditions. The organization was founded in 2003 to assist in the exploration of submerged sites and recovery of underwater artifacts, provide training to those interested in archaeological diving and launch public awareness campaigns centered on conservation. Today the society, which brings together archaeologists, professional divers, technicians and underwater photographers, works on behalf of public and private entities to conduct underwater cultural heritage surveys.
Spirited Explorers
Based on clues found in old documents and information provided by local boat captains and fishers, Hwang and fellow divers have embarked on numerous adventures in Taiwan’s waters. When they find material remains such as aircraft propellers, ceramics, stone coffins, or even structures that appear manmade, they report the findings to the MOC.
Divers from the society shoot stereoscopics images and take measurements between cultural materials to create an accurate record of an underwater archaeological site. (Courtesy of Henry Hwang)
For Hwang, there is a particular allure to the hidden wonders of the deep. “Scuba diving amazes me in a variety of ways. Every minute spent below the waves is an opportunity to encounter astonishing creatures and explore new wrecks,” the seasoned diver said. “And even better, my friends and I also dive with a higher purpose: to help protect the human history that lies underwater.”
Hwang also cherishes the chance to connect with heritage sites, not just as a spectator but as an engaged preservationist who can utilize his expertise to mentor the next generation of professionals. “It’s incredibly satisfying to give back by participating in underwater archaeology, whether on-site as an investigator or as a trainer for other divers,” he said. “My mission is to turn divers into underwater archaeology advocates.”
As for Tsang, he is staunchly committed to researching underwater archaeology and advancing his vision for an underwater museum. Having completed preliminary planning and design of a museum commissioned by the Penghu County Government in 2022, he is one step closer to accomplishing this goal. The national-level ecotourism facility, to be located in Baisha Township, will combine education, recreation and tourism in a safe and relaxed setting while augmenting the region’s economy. “Maritime heritage can add an important dimension to our understanding of Taiwan’s rich seafaring legacy,” Tsang said. “Once established, the underwater museum will play a central role in preserving and managing these resources for the enjoyment and appreciation of current and future generations.”
Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw