Underwater Cultural Heritage training being held in Jamaica

The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) will be facilitating a month long training programme for participants from 20 Caribbean countries on how to safeguard their Underwater Cultural Heritage from new and emerging threats.

The programme, sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) starts today, Monday November 5, in Port Royal, Jamaica’s best known underwater archaeological site.

The Foundation Training Course is one of the outcomes of a UNESCO Caribbean meeting on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage held last year in Port Royal.

It is the first stage of a long-term plan of action to address capacity-building in the management and preservation of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Port Royal is considered ideal for the training due to the nature and significance of the Underwater Cultural Heritage associated with the site.

Two-thirds of the city of Port Royal sank into the sea  during the 1692 earthquake.

The sunken portion of the city has remained as it was on the day of the earthquake and provides a suitable location for the many practical applications of the training course, including surveying, mapping and research.