Sir, It was with great anticipation that I watched Thames Shipwrecks: A Race Against Time (Arts, Aug 26). The programme gave a fascinating insight into the wrecks of the Thames; however, it was devalued by its commentary, which ranged from the incisive to the ill-informed and confused. Viewers should have been reminded that maritime archaeology is usually more subtle than merely dragging objects from the seabed. While viewers may have gained the impression that the Thames is unusual with its volume and range of shipwreck sites, this is not the case. It is, in fact, typical of many of the coastal waters of the UK that, because of Britain’s maritime past and its unique position on the approaches to Europe, contain more shipwrecks than any other nation. These range from as early as the 13th century BC to the present day.

What is sad is that these shipwrecks contain much unique information. To a large extent Britain appears to have turned its back on its maritime past. Our wealth of maritime archaeology is the Cinderella of the nation’s heritage. While the various heritage agencies, such as English Heritage, have worked hard to manage and preserve this heritage, the funding provided by central government has been less than minimal and is declining. We can only sadly watch this wealth crumble before our eyes.

David Parham
Senior Lecturer in Marine Archaeology
Bournemouth University

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