What's new here? It is another Spanish entity talking loudly, bashing treasure hunters and not really doing much real work to further the archaeology of the wrecks, other than to put them out of reach from the people that actually go out on the water and work.
We understand the point, grow up and work with someone to figure an acceptable solution that moves things forward. Don't just stand on the shore and complain that everyone is ripping off "your" cultural heritage. Seriously, if left to the academics we would never hear a word about any of the wrecks, they seem to publish in quiet little circles for their "peers" to read. They're peers being the guys that sit on a University Campus in a dark office thinking up ways to keep other people away from wrecks, how to get more money, and teaching the same worn out politically corrupt version of history.
The whole reason they sit and complain is so they can draw attention to their "plight" so they can raise funds to do something, funds which are very likely in short supply due to our economic meltdown. Perhaps if you'd go out and do some research, locate an original wreck, do the archaeology (all of it) and get it out there where everyday people can see and touch it, learn from it, and be inspired from it. Lets face it, the corporate side of things has always had better resources than the academics, you'd think the two could work together.
Standing on the beach warning everyone about the evil treasure hunters is getting old. How about trying to reign in your own locals first, start with your thousands of antiquities dealers, pawn shops, and locals who have likely moved more treasure out of your waters per year than any one treasure hunter would hope to accomplish in a lifetime. If you'd get out of the office and under the water, do a couple of site surveys and inventories, then come back and check it in a few years, and re-inventory it. Where did it all go? Start squeezing your local fishermen and you'll start to get a clue. At least some of us can and are willing to do it properly at our expense, and would likely do a better job of it.
The way the system works now you get people interested in archaeology, they pursue the dream, get the education, the degree, and an NAS or RPA membership. Then force them to digest a very one sided system. If they don't they're blackballed, period no discussion your livelihood and career are toast. We are not in the 1960's any longer, people did some stupid things on both sides. I think the point has been made and accepted that simply finding a wreck and pillaging the treasure by any means necessary isn't politically correct, nor is it in the best interest of the resource. Maybe this will serve as a news flash, letting it sit and rot definitely isn't helping. I don't know what kind of magical device anyone is going to come up with that will just deposit an ancient wreck into a museum intact these groups are expecting. The resource is deteriorating as we speak, shouting from a bully pulpit isn't getting the job done either.
Having said all that; yes there are people out there that would prefer we didn't have rules or permits or interested parties and that would seek to profit by plundering, not too different from many other factions of life. Set realistic rules and guidelines and enforce them, work constructively to find a productive middle ground and move forward. Preserve something for people to learn from while you can.
I agree with you.
