Anthropogenic Submersion of Terrestrial Cultural Heritage sites leads to their
Permanent Destruction and Demise
Dublin Core
Title
Anthropogenic Submersion of Terrestrial Cultural Heritage sites leads to their
Permanent Destruction and Demise
Permanent Destruction and Demise
Description
As human societies continue to expand economically and socially in a divergent manner, the destruction of
cultural heritage sites becomes almost inevitable. Since modern times in China, the construction of dams and
reservoirs has led to the submersion of numerous valuable cultural relics and ancient sites, which has completely
changed their living environment and caused irreversible damage. For example, the construction of the Three
Gorges Dam resulted in the permanent submersion of the Fuling White Crane Ridge beneath the reservoir. Such
cases are not unique to China but can be found throughout the Asia-Pacific region and even globally, as
developing countries inevitably face the dilemma of prioritizing development or cultural heritage protection. If
left unchecked, more terrestrial cultural heritage sites will be submerged underwater. This paper will utilize
academic resources to focus on theoretical discussions, summarizing cases of anthropogenic submersion of
cultural heritage sites and corresponding countermeasures and protective measures. It will further consider what
types of human activities are permissible and which are ethically unacceptable when faced with both economic
development and cultural heritage protection. The paper argues that when the urgency of economic development
is questioned, we should prioritize the protection of cultural heritage and resist the practice of submerging
cultural heritage sites underwater, which leads to their permanent destruction. Furthermore, the Convention on
the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage sets a time limit for the definition of UCH—at least 100
years—raising questions about the scientific basis for this limit. This paper contends that the assessment of UCH
should not be limited to this 100-year timeframe but should involve multi-angle, interdisciplinary evaluations
based on the scientific, artistic, and cultural value of the heritage. Otherwise, heritage sites like the White Crane
Ridge, which have immense value, may not receive adequate protection if they are not promptly designated as
UCH after being submerged due to reservoir construction. Therefore, this paper will delve into the ethical issues
mentioned above and attempt to offer suggestions for the sustainable development of UCH in the Asia-Pacific
region.
cultural heritage sites becomes almost inevitable. Since modern times in China, the construction of dams and
reservoirs has led to the submersion of numerous valuable cultural relics and ancient sites, which has completely
changed their living environment and caused irreversible damage. For example, the construction of the Three
Gorges Dam resulted in the permanent submersion of the Fuling White Crane Ridge beneath the reservoir. Such
cases are not unique to China but can be found throughout the Asia-Pacific region and even globally, as
developing countries inevitably face the dilemma of prioritizing development or cultural heritage protection. If
left unchecked, more terrestrial cultural heritage sites will be submerged underwater. This paper will utilize
academic resources to focus on theoretical discussions, summarizing cases of anthropogenic submersion of
cultural heritage sites and corresponding countermeasures and protective measures. It will further consider what
types of human activities are permissible and which are ethically unacceptable when faced with both economic
development and cultural heritage protection. The paper argues that when the urgency of economic development
is questioned, we should prioritize the protection of cultural heritage and resist the practice of submerging
cultural heritage sites underwater, which leads to their permanent destruction. Furthermore, the Convention on
the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage sets a time limit for the definition of UCH—at least 100
years—raising questions about the scientific basis for this limit. This paper contends that the assessment of UCH
should not be limited to this 100-year timeframe but should involve multi-angle, interdisciplinary evaluations
based on the scientific, artistic, and cultural value of the heritage. Otherwise, heritage sites like the White Crane
Ridge, which have immense value, may not receive adequate protection if they are not promptly designated as
UCH after being submerged due to reservoir construction. Therefore, this paper will delve into the ethical issues
mentioned above and attempt to offer suggestions for the sustainable development of UCH in the Asia-Pacific
region.
Creator
Zhang Yue
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Yue, Zhang. 2023. “Anthropogenic Submersion of Terrestrial Cultural Heritage sites leads to their Permanent Destruction and Demise.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Bishnu Pada Bose. Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1975
Files
Citation
Zhang Yue, “Anthropogenic Submersion of Terrestrial Cultural Heritage sites leads to their
Permanent Destruction and Demise,” Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings, accessed September 16, 2026, https://apconf.omeka.net/items/show/1975.
Permanent Destruction and Demise,” Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings, accessed September 16, 2026, https://apconf.omeka.net/items/show/1975.