A borehole drilling campaign has allowed the study of a former littoral lagoon located next to the harbour city of Cartagena in South-East Spain (close to the Sierra de Cartagena polymetallic ore deposits). This lagoon, which developed during the Holocene, was first a shallow sedimentary marine environment and later evolved into a swampy semi-endorheic basin named "Almarjal" (after the Arab term from the fourteenth century). The lagoon eventually dried out and at present forms part of the substratum of the modern sector of the city urban area. The basin representative sediments are sapropelic black silty facies forming a continuous sedimentary archive, accounting for more than 8000 years of depositional phenomena. The geochemical study of these sediments, together with their absolute calibrated dating by C, allows definition of successive stages of mining and metallurgical activities in the area. In turn, this information provides a more comprehensive perspective regarding metal pollution, particularly lead contamination during different periods of the Recent Prehistory and the Classical Age. The results indicate that the beginning of contamination by lead and other heavy metals occurred as early as 4500 years ago, when the Final Chalcolithic period was taking place in the South-East of the Iberian Peninsula. This finding provides further insights regarding the debate on the origins of lead mining and metallurgy in SE Spain.

Public access to underwater and maritime cultural heritage has proven to have a very positive effect on the local economy. This type of heritage is very attractive for the cultural tourism sector in general and for active and diving tourism. The Nautical and Underwater Archeology Line of the University of Cadiz, within the framework of the TIDE Project (Interreg Atlantic Area) and Herakles Project (FEDER-UCA18-107327) have been working on the enhancement of maritime and underwater heritage through the application of new technologies. In this paper, we will present the advances in the project in the Strait of Gibraltar, based on the first phase of scientific analysis and on the definition of a common working methodology that has resulted in a toolkit for the development of tourism activities linked to the MCH and UCH. Pilot activities under development are focused on accessible underwater heritage routes, VR applications to create Dry Dive experiences and the streaming of underwater archaeological works, thanks to a bottom-surface acoustic communication buoy. Results show that these types of outreach solutions and, by extension, of tourism application, must be preceded by a rigorous archaeological research process, a study of the target audience and the evaluation of the carrying capacity of the sites, to avoid falling into the mercantilisation or deterioration of the UCH. On the other hand, virtual or indirect access solutions are very useful, but always through the correct interpretation of the heritage.

En los últimos años, la Región de Murcia ha fomentado nuevos modelos turísticos relacionados con la cultura y el mar. Sin embargo, pese a la riqueza de su historia y legado marítimos, no lo ha hecho de forma conjunta. El Mar Menor y La Manga solo han visto potenciado el aspecto marítimo en relación con actividades náuticas, quedando su patrimonio relegado a un segundo plano. Este trabajo busca reivindicar la riqueza del patrimonio, historia y cultura marítimos asociados a esta zona y mostrar las oportunidades que ofrece su adecuada puesta en valor a través de un caso práctico: la implementación de una ruta arqueológica subacuática en el pecio fenicio del Bajo de la Campana, como parte del Proyecto Isla Grosa. In recent years, the Region of Murcia has promoted new tourism models related to heritage and the sea. However, despite the richness of its maritime history and heritage, it has not done so in a complementary manner. The Mar Menor-La Manga area has only boosted the maritime aspect in relation to nautical activities, leaving their heritage relegated to a second place. This paper seeks to vindicate the importance of the Maritime Heritage, History, and Culture associated with this area and to show the opportunities offered by its proper enhancement through a case study: the implementation of an underwater heritage trail in the Phoenician wreck of the “Bajo de la Campana” as part of the “Isla Grosa” Project.

En 2015 se creó la Línea de Arqueología Náutica y Subacuática en la Universidad de Cádiz. Es la primera vez que se crea, en una universidad española, un espacio de formación, investigación, conservación y difusión centrado en el PCS. En la actualidad la mayoría los proyectos de la Línea se concentran en Algeciras y en la zona del Estrecho de Gibraltar, por su gran interés histórico, patrimonial y medioambiental, buscando generar un impacto real en el tejido socioeconómico y cultural de la zona, a través de la puesta en valor del patrimonio subacuático y la asistencia en la creación de productos turísticos relacionados. Entre estos proyectos destaca el Proyecto TIDE (Interreg Espacio Atlántico) que persigue la puesta en valor del patrimonio mediante la aplicación de nuevas tecnologías. A continuación, presentaremos los avances del proyecto en el Estrecho de Gibraltar, basados en la primera fase de análisis científico y en la definición de una metodología de trabajo común que ha dado lugar a un conjunto de herramientas para el desarrollo de actividades turísticas vinculadas al patrimonio cultural marítimo y subacuático. Las actividades piloto que se están desarrollando se centran en, aplicaciones de realidad virtual y realidad aumentada para la creación de experiencias inmersivas y la retransmisión de trabajos arqueológicos subacuáticos gracias a una boya de comunicación.

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