The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the King Abdulaziz University, and the University of Naples in Italy will work with the Saudi Heritage Commission to scan and unearth hidden heritage in the Red Sea.
According to the Commission, exploration of the Red Sea’s waters in search of archaeological artifacts began on 13 July. The initiative, which takes in the coastline from Umluj to Ras Al-Sheikh Hamid, will last until 5 September.
So far, the project has monitored more than 25 specific locations along the survey path, including the Ras Al-Sheikh Hamid, Duba, Al-Wajh, and Umluj areas using sonars. The devices will retrieve underwater and mosaic maps as well as high-quality photographs of the areas.
The project has monitored more than 25 specific locations along the survey path
The Commission’s objective with this initiative is to develop the field of archaeological diving and share the results of the surveys to educate the public about areas in the Red Sea that are rich with cultural heritage, and just as important as archaeological findings on dry land.
The commission and an Italian team from the University of Naples collaborated to examine the Umluj shipwreck region in 2015 and 2016, which led to the discovery that the wreck dates back over 100 years.
The survey findings to date have included a mound of pottery next to the wreck, hundreds of high-quality Chinese porcelain pieces, a coconut shell, and a variety of metals.