Heritage

Contentsthe first world war underwater cultural heritage and the unesco 2001 convention21any direct eyewitnesses. They serve as a reminder of dramatic moments from the pastto future generations. However, heritage is more than purely the material relics of thepast. It is something that is part of our identity. It becomes part of our distinctivenessand informs our relationship to the present world. Thus, the national or internationalcommunity has come to see it as inherently significant. Value is assigned to heritagesites by many actors, including local communities, associations, youth, heritage workers,artists, journalists and politicians.Education plays an important role in our perception and appreciation of heritage,but also in our response to it. Education affects all future citizens. At school, childrenlearn more than simply reading and maths. They also learn about peace, respect andtolerance. They learn to work together. They learn about their past, who they are andhow this relates to the world they live in. In addition to giving each individual child afuture, education contributes to building the future of the country and of the internationalcommunity. History, heritage and the past play an important role in ensuringa safe and peaceful future.!A specific characteristic of remembrance education based on heritage isits starting point – the memory of the past. Ultimately, however, the goalis what is important. We do not study the past merely to know or understandit. The study of the past primarily concerns what we can learn fromit in order to improve the future.Underwater cultural heritage from the First World War offers a unique testimony tothe past. Because it has remained largely invisible to date, and because it has beenrarely studied, it provides the opportunity to integrate scientific discovery and educationalcuriosity with educational messages on peace. Many of the shipwrecks areburial sites that house the bodies of countless soldiers who were wrenched away fromtheir loved ones, frozen in time in the icy depths. They are the final resting places ofyoung soldiers who once cherished dreams of a future filled with hope. Thus, thisunderwater cultural heritage is a historical testimony we should respect. The remainshidden by the sea are not only archaelogical sites, preserving the traces of daily life onboard and glimpses into the society of the past, they also present living messages andhistorical lesons directed to our time. By interpreting their meaning in a historicalcontext, students can be encouraged to reflect critically on both the significance of thearchaeological site, and war and peace in general. The awareness that the study of warraises in the minds of people also gives them an understanding of the value of peace.