Written by: The ARCH Team

Beginning in 2014, ARCH International and its Greek chapter worked with local Greek citizens and advocacy organizations to inform more people about the Bronze Age underwater archeological site Pavlopetri, and to help protect it from damage by pollution, shifting sediments and small boat anchors.

The World Monuments Fund recognized Pavlopetri as one of fifty endangered cultural heritage sites in the world and designated Pavlopetri to its 2016-2018 Watch. Pavlopetri Watch Day 2016 was organized by the Greek Chapter of ARCH to celebrate Pavlopetri’s selection to the World Monuments Fund Watch.

The two-day community event included Saturday morning snorkeling tours of the underwater archeological site, led by an archeologist of the Greek Ministry of Culture. The Director of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture supervised the placement of buoys around the perimeter of the site. The buoys were donated to the Ministry of Culture by the Greek Chapter of ARCH. They will help protect the site and make it more visible for visitors.

Dr. Nic Flemming, the marine scientist who discovered Pavlopetri in 1967, Prof. Angelo Delavorias, archeologist and former Director of the Benaki Museum, and Yiannis Avramides of the World Monuments Fund, made presentations at a Saturday evening event in Neapolis. On Sunday, on Elafonisos, highschool students screened a film they had produced about Pavlopetri. Activities for children were held near the church of Agios Syridon where the Pavlopetri photo exhibition was on display. The other half of the photo exhibition was displayed at the Limira Mare Hotel in Neapolis.

A documentary film crew helped record the Watch Day’s events, which stands as a record for the future and a reminder of how important community engagement is in protecting sites like Pavlopetri.

The photo gallery below shows the highlights of this wonderful event.

You can learn more about ARCH’s Pavlopetri project here.

Photo Gallery