A vast treasure trove of information about human history is currently submerged under oceans, lakes, or rivers. In this class, students will gain an understanding of the importance of what UNESCO calls "Underwater Cultural Heritage." We will discuss these key questions:

1. What are some different events which can cause the formation of an underwater archaeological site? 
2. What determines how well or poorly artifacts are preserved underwater?
3. How do archaeologists get large artifacts out of the water, and how do they preserve them on land?

Students will be asked to brainstorm and predict the answers. Then we will take a look at pictures of real life examples of some of the world's most important underwater archaeological sites, and see how our key questions are answered. Examples will include the Skuldelev ships, the Athlit ram, and the Belitung shipwreck.

We will also discuss some of the ethical questions raised by UNESCO's 2001 "Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage;" should "treasure hunters" be allowed to recover valuable objects from shipwrecks? Who decides how underwater heritage should be preserved? Are there times when underwater artifacts should just be left at the bottom of the sea?