The Villajoyosa Town Council, through Vilamuseu, has successfully concluded its underwater archaeology course for children. The course was held in two sessions, one in July and the other in August, each lasting four days, to explore the different phases of a research project such as that of the Roman shipwreck Bou Ferrer: excavation, research, conservation and dissemination.
The course demystifies the figure of the adventurous archaeologist and connects archaeology with other scientific disciplines that also support the research of sites and artefacts. Emphasis is placed on the rigour of information and processes, and participants gain a better understanding of the work of museum professionals.
During the course, the participating children became little archaeologists and learned about the Roman shipwreck Bou Ferrer in detail.
On the first day, its discoverers, José Bou and Antoine Ferrer, told us about how the discovery came about. On the second day of the course, we went scuba diving in a swimming pool (the first group at the Fundación Aragonés Day Centre and the second group at the Tennis Club) led by José Antonio Moya and Alejandro Pérez, both underwater archaeologists, who, in addition to explaining all the details of the diving equipment and the excavation itself, helped us document, photograph and extract our own amphorae from the water. The following day, we transferred the amphorae to Vilamuseu so that the restorer, Coté Velázquez, could explain in detail how all the materials extracted from the wreck are desalinated, restored and preserved. On the last day, Carmina Bonmatí, a museologist, explained how to make all the scientific information understandable to the general public in exhibitions, publications and social networks. Finally, we closed the course with a press conference in which our young archaeologists explained all their research from the past few days.
The course was a great success in terms of participation: all available places were filled, consolidating it as one of the most attractive educational offerings in the summer cultural programme.