Heritage

Contentseducating towards a better future95In 1990, Peter Throckmorton, pioneer underwater archaeologist, wrote in his wellknownarticle, ‘The economics of treasure hunting with real life comparisons’, that:What had been a relatively gentle weekend hobby as practiced in the Keys …became a gold-rush … Florida’s policy towards its underwater antiquities hascost the State millions. The State’s 25 per cent share from the treasure grubbingof the past 20 years is a collection worth only about USD 5 million today. TheFlorida State museum has in its possession approximately 1,500 gold coinsworth on the market about USD 2,000 each, and about 20,000 silver ones,worth USD 80 to USD 150 each. This represents the State’s 25 per cent ofall treasure recovered in Florida pre-1982. The collection has cost more thanits value to maintain, especially if one includes the cost of the continual legalcases that have resulted from the State’s policy. If Florida had used that Statemoney, and invested USD 10 million in two great maritime museums back inthe 1960s, instead of giving leases to salvers, the State would be nearly half abillion dollars richer each year, if the Swedish example [of the Vasa museum]applies to Florida.Groups of US marine archaeologists are now fighting to outlaw treasure hunting onshipwrecks. They consider treasure hunting to be little more than state-sanctionedlooting of historical sites belonging to humanity rather than individuals.I like underwater cultural heritage because it helps usremember that not everything is ours.Kayla, Ireland, 12Speaking and listeningBuilding block:We help children to express what they feel in a relaxed and safe atmosphere, andteach them to listen to each other, allowing them to work through conflicts withoutusing violence or without wanting to outdo, humiliate, or ridicule each other.If both parties communicate and listen, conflict can be defused. This may seemstraightforward, but it is easy to want to avoid conversation and confrontation duringa conflict, as defence mechanisms and the fear of having to confront personal interests