Photograph of a man in diving gear documenting a sunken column on the sea bed at the ancient harbour of Al-Haniyah, Libya
CPF training participant documenting a sunken column at the ancient harbour of Al-Haniyah, Libya. Photo credit:  M.Khedr. 

 

How do you protect heritage when it’s underwater? Find out this April through a series of London events that spotlight a powerful project protecting the maritime heritage of Libya and Palestine amidst the threats of conflict and climate change.  

Since 2024, the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund has supported a project led by Palestine Exploration Fund, in partnership with Maritime Endangered Archaeology (MarEA), the University of Benghazi, the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Centre for Archaeology and Underwater Heritage at Alexandria University. This project responded to the urgent risks facing coastal and underwater archaeological sites which hold invaluable connections to past communities, trade, movement, and identity.  

This is especially because in places such as Gaza, conflict has devastated the built environment, leaving coastal and underwater archaeological sites as some of the last surviving traces of the past. In Libya too, these sites face the intersecting pressures of climate change, building development, and limited resources for protection and documentation.  

Central to the project was investing in building local knowledge so that maritime heritage is preserved for future generations. Through training in scientific diving, GIS, coastal and underwater surveys, a new generation of archaeology students and heritage professionals have gained the skills to protect these overlooked sites. In Gaza, local teams can continue to document coastal and underwater sites even in the aftermath of conflict, keeping connections to maritime identity alive. In Libya, the establishment of centres dedicated to maritime heritage has laid the groundwork for sustainable expertise in this highly specialised field.  

By combining technical training with community engagement, this project has fostered new networks, resilience, and local pride in maritime heritage that is often out of sight and out of mind. 

Interested in finding out more about the experiences of those from Libya and Palestine engaged in this project? Sign up to any of these events below and find out in-person.  

 

A photograph of 4 divers documenting archaeological sites under water during the training in Hurghada Egypt. One is making notes.
Participants are learning how to document archaeological sites under water during the training in Hurghada, Egypt. Photo credit: M.Khedr

Friday 17 April 2026, 6pm 

A public talk at the Palestine Exploration Fund in Greenwich, London, explores the project’s main outcomes and the urgent need to protect maritime heritage in Palestine and beyond. The lecture will introduce the project’s training programme, its focus on rapid-response documentation, and the significance of coastal and underwater sites as fragile yet vital archaeological archives.  

Tuesday 21 April 2026, 2pm - 5.30pm 

A collaborative workshop focused on Libya’s heritage, featuring project participants from Libya alongside international specialists. Amongst other fascinating talks, the programme will include a range of CPF funded project presentations, including  

  • Developing Capacities in Marine Cultural Heritage Management and Protection project 
  • Barah Cultural Centre for Art project in Benghazi led by the World Monuments Fund 
  • EAMENA’s project on teaching automated change detection in Libya.  

A further exciting contribution will be by CPF Grants Manager Mona Habeb who will focus on Libyan youth involved in heritage protection. Together, these talks highlight a broader landscape of CPF-supported initiatives in Libya, showcasing diverse approaches to safeguarding heritage through community engagement, training, and sustainable management. 

Wednesday 22 April - Friday 24 April 2026 

As part of the maritime archaeology session, participants from Palestine and Libya will speak about their heritage, CPF-supported training, and future directions for protection. These contributions will place local experiences within wider regional and academic discussions, emphasising the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange. 

 
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