ABSTRACT:Knowledge of underwater topography is essential to the understanding of the organisation and distribution of archaeological sites along and in water bodies. Special attention has to be paid to intertidal and inshore zones where, due to sea-level rise, coastlines have changed and many former coastal sites are now submerged in shallow water. Mapping the detailed inshore topography is therefore important to reconstruct former coastlines, identify sunken archaeological structures and locate potential former harbour sites. However, until recently archaeology has lacked suitable methods to provide the required topographical data of shallow underwater bodies. Our research shows that airborne topo-bathymetric laser scanner systems are able to measure surfaces above and below the water table over large areas in high detail using very short and narrow green laser pulses, even revealing sunken archaeological structures in shallow water. Using an airborne laser scanner operating at a wavelength in the green visible spectrum (532 nm) two case study areas in different environmental settings (Kolone, Croatia, with clear sea water; Lake Keutschach, Austria, with turbid water) were scanned. In both cases, a digital model of the underwater topography with a planimetric resolution of a few decimeters was measured. While in the clear waters of Kolone penetration depth was up to 11 meters, turbid Lake Keutschach allowed only to document the upper 1.6 meters of its underwater topography. Our results demonstrate the potential of this technique to map submerged archaeological structures over large areas in high detail providing the possibility for systematic, large scale archaeological investigation of this environment.

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The Cape Stoba shipwreck is located on the seabed off the island of Mljet in Croatia at a depth of 21-28 m. Following initial investigation in 1975, four seasons of excavation have been carried between 2010 and 2014 by the Department for Underwater Archaeology of the Croatian Conservation Institute, joined by the Department of Studi Umanistici of the Università Ca' Foscari of Venice from 2012. The wreck-site is evidenced by a cargo of nine amphora types dated to the 10th-11th century AD, produced in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea area, and glassware of Levantine production. The only direct evidence of the ship itself to date, is one iron anchor.

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Podmorje istočnog Jadrana obiluje arheološkim nalazištima i olupinama iz svih povijesnih razdoblja, počevši od prapovijesti pa do novog vijeka. Međutim, bez obzira na postojanje zakona i pravilnika koji jasno definiraju tko i pod kojim uvjetima smije pristupiti podvodnoj kulturnoj baštini, kao i na propisane prekršajne odredbe za nedozvoljene radnje, brojna su podvodna arheološka nalazišta devastirana, a s njih je ilegalno odnesen vrijedan arheološki materijal. Kako su se postojeći pravilnici pokazali nedostatnom metodom zaštite, pristupilo se fizičkoj zaštiti in situ, koja se i prema UNESCO-voj Konvenciji o zaštiti podvodne kulturne baštine ističe kao prvi izbor. Metalni se kavezi u hrvatskom podmorju u ovu svrhu primjenjuju od 1990. godine, a do danas je na ovaj način zaštićeno osam arheoloških nalazišta: Za Planiku i Saplun u arhipelagu Lastovskog otočja, Koromašno na otoku Žirju, otok Supetar ispred Cavtata, Klačine na otoku Mljetu, Vlaška Mala na otoku Pagu, Sorinj na otoku Rabu i Buje u blizini Umaga. U radu će se dati pregled spomenutih nalazišta i metoda izrade samih kaveza koje su se tijekom godina značajno unaprijedile. Naglasak će biti na definiranju prednosti i nedostataka ovog načina zaštite, imajući na umu razinu ugroženosti pojedinih nalazišta s obzirom na njihovu lokaciju, problem održavanja kaveza te njihovu primjenu u turističke i promidžbene svrhe.