Zadar hosts international maritime archaeology conference

More than 40 experts from 26 countries have gathered in Zadar, Croatia, for the annual conference of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Archaeology and History (ICOM ICMAH). This marks the first time the event is being held in Croatia.

The conference, titled ‘Exploring the Depths – The Inspirational Journey of Maritime Archaeology: Preserving the Underwater Cultural Heritage Collection Within History and Archaeological Museums’, focuses on the research, protection, and presentation of maritime and underwater cultural heritage. A central theme is the role of museums in preserving these collections and making them accessible to the public.

Croatian Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, attended the opening ceremony. She highlighted Croatia’s leadership in the field, noting that the country was among the first to ratify the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. She also emphasized the importance of the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a category two centre.