BBC Learning English

Words in the News

Protecting shipwrecks
24 March 2014
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Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2014
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com



A group of historians are worried Britain's underwater heritage is being threatened by
treasure hunters. They are asking the British government to sign up to a UN convention
to help protect shipwrecks. Jane Frances Kelly reports for the BBC:

A group of leading archaeologists and scholars fear historically significant wrecks lying
beyond Britain's territorial waters are being plundered and destroyed by commercial
treasure hunters.

The UN convention covers ships that have been on the seabed for over a century. Quite
apart from their historical significance, they are also the final resting place for those lost
at sea. Sir Barry Cunliffe, retired Professor of European Archaeology at Oxford University,
says the UN convention provides a legal and practical framework for protecting such
sites.

Sir Barry Cunliffe, retired Professor of European Archaeology:
What it does mean is that if a British ship lies in deep waters outside [our] territorial
waters, any signatory can prevent anyone who is doing treasure-seeking on that wreck
from using their own ports. So it begins to strengthen our hold on our underwater
cultural heritage.

In the past, some wrecks were protected from plunder because they lay deep beneath
the sea, but advancing excavation techniques have stripped away this safeguard. Sir
Barry says treasure hunters can be very destructive as they try to find valuable
artefacts.

Britain abstained from voting for the convention back in 2001 because it doubted it
would be effective given it doesn't have universal support. However, the British
government says it has adopted the detailed practical guidelines provided by UNESCO
when dealing with marine archaeology, and it will continue to keep its position under
review. Sir Barry and his fellow scholars hope that their report will prompt ministers to
take a fresh look at the matter.


Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2014
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com


Vocabulary and definitions

archaeologists people who study ancient societies by looking at things like
their buildings, tools and graves
plundered robbed of valuable items
framework system of rules or ideas (used to make something happen)
signatory person, organisation or country that has signed an official
document
safeguard protection
destructive damaging
artefacts old objects with historical importance
abstained (here) deliberately avoided doing something



Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/03/140324_witn_shipwreck.shtml

More about marine archaeology:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/archaeology/marine_01.shtml