Code of Good Practice

 

The Code of Good Practice for the Management of the Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Baltic Sea Region (COPUCH)

is an outcome of the periodical roundtable discussions of the Working group on Underwater Heritage in cooperation with the Monitoring group. The Code was published in the 5th Report of the Ministers of Culture of the Baltic Sea States in 2008.
The COPUCH can be characterised as a regional code of practice for underwater heritage protection and management specially adapted for the Baltic Sea Region, as non-binding and without any legal authority and as an interpretation of the practical intentions and ideas of existing international conventions and declarations.



Preamble

1.   The overall objective of COPUCH is the management and preservation of the unique
      Underwater Cultural
      Heritage (UCH) in Baltic Sea. Therefore, the delimitation ot the Baltic Sea is defined
      by the parallel of the Skaw in the Skagerrak at lat. 57 44.43´ N, which is in
      accordance with Article 1 of the Helsinki Convention
      (Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1992).

2.   COPUCH is an agreed set of principles that seeks to establish:

      a.  a common ground for the protection, recognition, understanding and management
           of the UCH in the
           Baltic Sea Region,
      b.  that archaeological surveying and excavation are undertaken in a scientific manner,
      c.  the prevention of any unprofessional interference or excavation of the UCH.

Subsections

1.   "Underwater cultural heritage" means all cultural, historical and/or archaeological traces of human existence
       which have been under water for at least 100 years, or which otherwise are regarded as historically
       significant or protected by heritage legislation.

2.   COPUCH is applicable to the entire Baltic Sea, including internal and territorial waters.

3.   The UCH in the Baltic Sea is recognised as an invaluable source for knowledge, experience and
      understanding.

4.   Preservation in situ of the UCH shall be considered as the first option. Other alternatives shall be
      motivated and actions, if taken, professionally performed.

5.   By professional performance is meant such action that is conducted and led by educated and trained
      underwater archaeologists.

6.   Professional competence in the engagement with the UCH is essential to ensure the proper recording
      of its cultural, historical and archaeological information.

7.   All professional action regarding the UCH shall be done within a proper project design. This project
     design may vary between nations, but should include research objectives, expected results, planned
      efforts, means of documentation, treatment of eventual artefacts and publication measures. It is also
      recommended that it should include a budget, the means of financing, a timetable and an occupational
      health and safety plan.

8.   Activities directed at the UCH shall avoid physical interference that is not motivated by the research
      objectives. Non-destructive methods shall be preferred before actions that affect or disturb a site or
      an object and/or its context.

9.   In the management of the UCH, preventive planning and other efforts shall aim at avoiding or minimizing
     destructive interference.

10. Public access to good and relevant information and experience of the UCH is an important goal and shall
      be promoted.


                                                                                                                  Monday, 10 March 2008

                                                                                                                  Helena Edgren
                                                                                                                  Chariman of the Monitoring group on Cultural Heritage
                                                                                                                  in the Baltic Sea States

                                                                                                                  Björn Varenius
                                                                                                                  Chairman of the Working Grup on Underwater heritage