Paper short abstract:

The recovery of wrecks since 1985 resulted in the dispersal of archaeological material. Changing perceptions of the threats posed to underwater cultural heritage are raising the awareness of its historical significance. The establishment of ownership rights is a contested issue.

Paper long abstract:

In Indonesia, the number of wreck sites and their diversity is among the highest in the world. The recovery of the cargo of sunken ships during 1985-1999 resulted in the dispersal of the archaeological material within the international art market. Changing perceptions of the threats posed to underwater cultural heritage, as defined according to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage of 2001, are raising the awareness of its historical significance in Indonesia.

Various groups claim their property rights on these sunken objects. The focus on the establishment of ownership rights is only starting to be discussed in the Southeast Asian discourse. I therefore aim to explore the range of rights and obligations which allocate the variety of uses and benefits of shipwrecks in the present discussion. Apart from government bodies, there are other powerful stakeholders whose views must be taken into account, ranging from local and regional communities to international groups. I intend to explore these diverging approaches by focusing on shipwrecks recently found in Indonesian waters between 1998-2014.

In Indonesia, the central problem is diverging legal practices: on the one hand, the salvaged material is addressed as heritage which requires preservation and protection; on the other hand, it is treated as a marine resource allowing its consumption and economic exploitation. This diverging approach to cultural property is connected with the political agenda, ownership regulations and the free market.