International Workshop Brings Together UK and Greek Experts to Advance Digital Innovation in Coastal and Underwater Cultural Heritage

As coastal and underwater cultural heritage faces increasing pressures from climate change, the University of Southampton, through an initiative led by Dr Alexandra Karamitrou (lecturer is Archaeology and AI) and supported by the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI), brought together researchers and heritage professionals from the UK and Greece to explore how digital technologies can help protect vulnerable archaeological sites.

Hosted by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities in Athens, the international workshop welcomed experts from the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, represented by Dr Kimon Papadimitriou and Alexis Tourtas and the University of Oxford, represented by Dr Petros Bogiatzis to discuss how artificial intelligence, remote sensing, geospatial technologies, geophysics, and underwater surveying can support the documentation, monitoring, and management of maritime heritage.

The workshop outlined the increasing risks posed by climate change to Greece's coastal and underwater cultural heritage, including coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and the deterioration of submerged archaeological sites. The discussions emphasised the importance of developing practical digital tools capable of supporting documentation, monitoring, risk assessment, and evidence-based decision-making.

A key outcome of the workshop was the shared commitment to establish a long-term international research network focused on the development of innovative digital technologies for coastal and underwater cultural heritage. Participants identified several opportunities for future collaboration, including joint research proposals, interdisciplinary projects, staff exchanges, and the co-development of digital tools that can support heritage agencies, researchers, and policymakers in responding to the growing impacts of environmental change on maritime heritage.

The workshop represents an important step in strengthening international partnerships between the UK and Greece and reinforces the University of Southampton's commitment to interdisciplinary research that combines digital innovation with cultural heritage protection. The discussions have laid the foundations for future collaborative research aimed at developing practical, evidence-based solutions for safeguarding coastal and underwater cultural heritage in a changing climate.

Author: Dr Alexandra Karamitrou