Ongoing tension and hostility resurgence continues to damage archaeological sites. Moreover, associated economic and political instability prevent the full legal protection of heritage sites, resulting in unregulated building activities and looting, particularly in coastal locations, damaging and destroying near-shore heritage. Additionally, the coastline of both areas is severely affected by the impact of climate change, as indicated by global studies that highlight accelerated erosion in arid regions.

The project will focus on selected high-risk marine cultural heritage landscapes in Libya and Gaza, and it aims to deliver an intensive in-person training programme in underwater recording techniques at a dedicated training centre in Egypt, thereby developing capacity, and strengthening institutional resilience for the protection of marine cultural heritage. For the Gazan participants who will not be able to attend the training in person, we will create an open-access online training module focusing on maritime archaeology in conflict zones with a particular focus on Gaza and the Levant.