Flemish Minister for Immovable Heritage, Ben Weyts (N-VA), plunged on Tuesday into the largest diving tank in Flanders, located in Zwevegem, to highlight the importance of underwater archaeology.
Shipwrecks, lost cargoes, and remnants of submerged villages hold invaluable insights into the history of Flanders, Weyts noted.
“We must dare to delve deep,” the minister stressed. “Our ancestors left much behind for us: beneath the ground, around us, and also underwater. Countless heritage treasures remain hidden in our rivers, lakes, ponds, and along our coast.”
Through his dive, the minister sought to draw attention to the eighth IKUWA Congress, an international event focusing on underwater archaeology, which Belgium will be hosting for the first time. The congress is scheduled to take place from 13 to 17 October in Ostend.
“We aim to further explore our rich underwater past, from medieval shipwrecks and submerged villages to relics from the World Wars,” Weyts explained. “Hosting the IKUWA Congress demonstrates our growing presence in the field of underwater archaeology.
“By exchanging knowledge and collaborating with international partners, we can better understand our heritage. What lies beneath the water is equally a part of the story of Flanders.”
