From October 19, 2024, to November 3, 2024. Professor Cheng-Hwa Tsang, Director of the National Tsing Hua University Research Center for Underwater Archaeology and Heritage, led a team comprising Associate Professor Ellen Hsieh, Assistant Researcher Han-Zhang Huang, and three center assistants to Naples, Itlay, to participate in the 17th International Symposium on Boat and Ship Archaeology. After the conference, the team proceeded to the United Kingdom to visit various underwater archaeology research centers and related institutions.
This conference, organized by the Università di Napoli L'Orientale in Italy, gathered over 200 scholars worldwide, focusing on discussions about shipbuilding techniques, archaeological methodologies, and the latest discoveries. The team presented two posters at the conference. The first poster, “The Discovery of the Wreck of Guangbing, One of the First Modernized Chinese Warships in the Late 19th Century,” was co-authored by Professor Cheng-Hwa Tsang and Captain Han-Zhang Huang. The second poster, titled “The Mansei Maru and the Japanese Shipbuilding Industries during the First Half of the Twentieth Century,” was co-authored by Associate Professor Ellen Hsieh and Research Assistant Zong-Jhe Li.
After the conference, Our team went to the United Kingdom, visiting the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton, the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS), the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), and the Mary Rose Museum (MRM). Finally, we set off for the Caird Library and Archive at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, to review historical documents.
The Center for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton is one of the world's leading research units in underwater archaeology. In the meeting with Dr. Helen Farr and other experts from the center, both parties discussed the application of VR technology and 3D scanning in archaeology. Additionally, the center also shared its experience in student training, international collaboration, and educational outreach, helping to establish a solid foundation for the development of underwater archaeology talent in Taiwan.
The Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of underwater cultural heritage preservation, with a history of over 60 years. During this visit, our team was hosted by CEO Mark Beattie-Edwards. Both parties discussed the underwater archaeology education and training system. Finally, both parties plan to hold a virtual meeting by the end of the year to further explore the possibility of introducing the society’s training courses to Taiwan.
The visits to the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) and the Mary Rose Museum (MRM) were hosted by Dr. Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz, the Director of Collections at the NMRN, and Alex Hildred, the Director of Research at the MRM. After visiting the restoration workshop, the artifact storage, and the exhibition spaces, we gained valuable experience in hull restoration, artifact conservation, and the use of high-tech display methods for educational outreach. This experience provides important references for the future establishment of Taiwan's Underwater Cultural Heritage Museum.
To review the relevant information on the SS Bokhara shipwreck listed in Taiwan's maritime heritage sites, our team visited the Caird Library and Archive to consult the archival documents. The materials retrieved include real-time and follow-up reports on the shipwreck, well-preserved telegram records of the SS Bokhara, passenger registration details, and more.
This international program included attending international conferences, visiting several research centers, and collecting important literature, fully showcasing the academic strength and international perspective of our center. In the future, our center will continue to deepen international cooperation, promote parallel development in education and research, and make greater contributions to the preservation and development of Taiwan's underwater cultural heritage.