Research in an Extreme Environment Research Practices of Underwater Archaeology at Cape Gelidonya (1958-1961)

In 1958, one of the first projects to carry out a systematic archaeological campaign underwater began off the coast of Asia Minor. At Cape Gelidonya, the wreck of a Bronze Age ship was investigated. To understand the concrete problems and working methods of underwater archaeology, it is important to account not only for the tangible objects of research and the technical aids used, but also the natural features and the political framework in which actors operated. Situated in the years between the end of the colonial era and the Cold War, this article traces the biographical paths that brought together central actors at the site of the discovery. This perspective is necessary for understanding why divers who were not established archaeologists initiated and carried out the campaign. The article also analyzes the research of the campaign carried out 1960 and explores some of the difficulties and solutions encountered in working underwater. The article is a contribution to the still unwritten history of underwater archaeology.