Comment by epenn
14 hours ago
While I can't speak for these wrecks specifically, archeology as a field is chronically underfunded. They have to pick and choose their battles.
14 hours ago
While I can't speak for these wrecks specifically, archeology as a field is chronically underfunded. They have to pick and choose their battles.
That's the main reason. Also marine archeology is expensive. I once heard an archeologist saying that if the rests have passed centuries underwater, one more is less harmful than looters.
Underwater sites are particularly harder to protect from looters than above / underground sites. If the stakes are high enough, scuba diving is a reasonable option for the criminally minded.
It wasn’t long before Costa Concordia was looted for its treasures.