Introductory course on the conservation and restoration of underwater archaeological finds 2026
From 18 to 29 May 2026, the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar conducted an Introductory course on the conservation and restoration of underwater archaeological finds. The course was financed within the framework of the program of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia.
This was a two-week programme during which participants were introduced to the basic methods of working with different types of materials and spent several days in each of the specialized workshops (metal, ceramics, and organic materials).
This year’s participants of the Introductory course were Latifa El Tarche (Maroko) and Pierre-Antoine Sambou (Senegal). The course consisted of both theoretical and practical components. During the theoretical part, participants became familiar with the specific conservation and restoration procedures for various types of materials recovered from underwater environments. The practical part involved working on archaeological objects from different underwater sites and carrying out all key stages of conservation and restoration, including preliminary examination and photographic documentation, monitoring the desalination process, cleaning, consolidation, joining fragmented objects, reconstruction of missing parts, and final protection.
In addition to the theoretical and practical training, participants also had the opportunity to visit the Archaeological Museum in Zadar and the Museum of Ancient Glass, which further enriched their professional training.
We extend our sincere congratulations to the participants for their dedicated work and successful completion of the course. We are confident that the knowledge and skills they have acquired will contribute to the protection and preservation of underwater cultural heritage in their home countries. We wish them every success in their future professional endeavours and look forward to their continued achievements.
