UCL-Baltic Workshop
Working with Underwater Cultural Landscapes
Underwater cultural landscapes—shipwrecks, submerged settlements, harbours, sea routes, and natural features—form a vital part of our shared heritage. The UCL-Baltic project, a joint initiative between partners from Estonia (Muinsuskaitseamet), Finland (Åland Govern) and Latvia (Nacionālā kultūras mantojuma pārvalde), works to develop a methodology that will help identify, protect, preserve, and promote these landscapes across national borders.
The Government of Åland, together with the UCL-Baltic project team, invites you to a two-day workshop on 26–27 November 2025 in Mariehamn, Åland Islands.
This workshop brings together archaeologists, heritage professionals, marine scientists, policymakers, and community representatives to:
· Explore international and national practices;
· Discuss values and criteria for significance;
· Consider methods for mapping, assessing, and managing underwater cultural landscapes;
· Jointly shape a working definition and evaluation framework.
We warmly welcome your participation in building knowledge and networks for the sustainable safeguarding of our maritime heritage.
Please register to the workshop using the following LINK
Contact: Riikka Tevali – riikka.tevali@regeringen.ax
Preliminary Programme
Wednesday, 26 November
10:00 – 12:00
- Welcome and introductions
- Why define and protect underwater cultural landscapes?
- Introductory presentations:
- International perspectives (UNESCO, ICOMOS)
- National practices
- Archaeological and natural contexts (seafloor development, traces of human activity)
12:00 – 13:00 LUNCH
13:00 – 15:00
- Framing the concept:
- What is an “underwater cultural landscape”?
- Components: wrecks, harbours, infrastructures, natural elements, sea routes
- Discussion of values (historical, scientific, community, aesthetic, economic)
15:00 – 15:30 COFFEE
15:30 – 17:00
- Drafting consolidated definitions
- Day summary
Thursday, 27 November
09:00 – 10:45
- Case studies: Åland Islands, Latvia and Estonia
10:45 – 11:00 COFFEE
11:00 – 12:30
- Methods and criteria:
- How to map and assess cultural landscapes?
- How to implement UCL in national registries? Should it be done?
- How to present benefits of underwater cultural landscapes to the planning community and users of marine areas?
- Which criteria are suitable for determining significance (archaeological, natural, landscape values)?
- Should regional or international standards be applied?
12:30 – 13:30 LUNCH
13:30 – 15:00
- Joint summary of results:
- Proposed definition
- Evaluation criteria
- Next steps
- Final discussion and agreements
