Representing the commerical side was Greg Stemm, Chief Executive of the American company Odyssey Marine Exploration, which has targeted lucrative wrecks while working, it claims, to high archaeological standards.
Arguing against the commercial imperative was Dave Parham, a senior lecturer in maritime archaeology at Bournemouth University and the designated archaeologist for the South West Maritime Archaeological Group.
The debate was chaired by Frank Pope, TV presenter and The Times’ Oceans Correspondent.
Those who logged on were able to field questions, some of which were put to the debaters.
To find out what happened in Fight Club: Should commercial archaeologists have a role in exploring our marine heritage?, go to http://timesonline.typepad.com/science/2010/04/fight-club-live-should-commercial-archaeologists-have-a-role-in-exploring-our-marine-heritage.html
Odyssey Marine Exploration was, in 2007, salvor of the world’s largest-ever coins haul, worth an estimated $500 million, from what is believed to be the wreck of the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, off Portugal.
In 2008 the company found the wreck of HMS Victory, sunk in the English Channel in 1744 while carrying much gold and silver. It is now working with the British Government on management plans for the sovereign-immune wreck.
The 12-member, self-funding South West Maritime Archaeological Group is regarded as a leading example of what can be achieved by amateur archaeological divers working to a high standard within legislation governing heritage and finds.
The SWMAG has been recovering Bronze Age finds from an area off Salcombe in Devon for the past six years.
Last year it made international news by finding a large collection of Continentally sourced copper and tin ingots. This showed that maritime commerce was well developed by the late Bronze Age.
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