Maritime archaeology and underwater cultural heritage management have become well established over the past twenty years or so in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Australia. During that period Australian researchers and underwater cultural heritage managers have conducted a significant number of important maritime archaeological investigations and have developed innovative approaches to the discipline.

Subject areas discussed in this book include shipwrecks and abandoned vessels, underwater site formation processes, maritime infrastructure and industries such as whaling, submerged aircraft and Australian Indigenous sites underwater. The application of National and State legislation and management regimes to these underwater cultural heritage sites is also highlighted, together with the important role of avocational divers and training programs in raising the profile of underwater and maritime heritage sites.

The book includes a comprehensive bibliography of work conducted both in Australia and by Australian maritime archaeologists in the Asia-Pacific region. This book will be of interest to students and practitioners of maritime and historical archaeology and cultural heritage managers throughout the world as example of good practice and innovative approaches to maritime archaeology.

Because underwater archaeology is still relatively new in the history of archaeology, practitioners are some of the most innovative in all of archaeology and terrestrial archaeologists are starting to take notice Staniforth (co-editor and currently the president of the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology - ACUA - an international body) is a well-known figure in underwater archaeology, is one of few to address the issue of Pacific cutlural settings and issues pertaining to the field in Oceania The contributors of this piece have set the standard for the practice in Australia from which others can learn Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
Maritime Archaeology in Australasia: Reviews and Overviews.- Theoretical Approaches.- Artifact Studies.- Thematic Studies in Australian Maritime Archaeology.- Individual Shipwreck Site Case Studies.- Maritime Archaeology at the Land-Sea Interface.- Underwater Archaeology.- Nautical Archaeology in Australia, the Indian Ocean and Asia.- The Ethics and Values of Maritime Archaeology.- Historic Shipwrecks Legislation.- Innovative Approaches in Underwater Cultural Heritage Management.- Maritime Museums and Maritime Archaeological Exhibitions.- Cultural Tourism and Diver Education.