Underwater Cultural Heritage as a Water Resource: Knowledge for Sustainability

Abstract

This article explores how knowledge of underwater cultural heritage can emerge as a valuable water resource, contributing to the water-related objectives outlined in the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and Goal 14: Life Below Water. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2021 (UN Report, 2021) emphasizes the centrality of values in water resources governance. Throughout history, people from various civilizations have inhabited water-rich environments, leaving both tangible and intangible remnants. Consequently, underwater cultural heritage presents itself as a reservoir of information that can inform contemporary water resource practices and serve as a tool for grasping the value of water in sustainability processes. However, cultural dimensions are often overlooked in water research. This study adopts an innovative approach to illuminate current challenges in water sustainability, illustrating how cultural heritage, situated in its aquatic environment, can offer a fresh perspective on these issues. Through small case studies, this article suggests a forward-looking or future-oriented approach to understanding and engaging with water culture.