Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2011, Blaðsíða 14

RAGNAR EDVARDSSON • ARNAR ÞÓR EGILSSON
Figure 2. Unidentified archaeological remains by the whaling station at Dvergasteinn.
fisheries research. Most of the wreck
research is carried out without the
knowledge and collaboration of the
Archaeological Heritage Agency of
Iceland and it is of a great importance that
the agency becomes a leading institution in
the search and research of the submerged
heritage (Fig. 2).
In the past few years recreational
diving has increased and more and more
people are enjoying the marine
environment. This eventually increases the
danger of looting and damage to
submerged sites. This problem has already
become apparent and some of the few
known shipwrecks have been stripped of
loose objects. Most divers do not rob
shipwrecks with the intention of damaging
the wreck; it is simply out of ignorance
about the importance of the heritage and
mismanagement of the resource on a
govemmental level.
The National Heritage act
(Þjóminjalög, 107/2001) only refers to
shipwrecks on a limited scale and does not
include all types of underwater sites. It is
important that the maritime heritage is
recognized and its importance understood.
This is only possible through the renewal
of the national heritage act specifying the
maritime heritage as a unique and
important national resource.
There is an acute need for marine
research to be recognized and that an
active submerged cultural resource
management is implemented (Forrest
2002, 3-11). There is also a growing need
to make local communities and divers
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