Archaeologists attack BP's drilling plans [ Libya ]

The Art Newspaper ^ | Thursday, September 9, 2010 | Emily Sharpe

[SunkenCiv]

From Greek and Roman shipwrecks to 20th-century warships; from ancient streets with intact buildings and mosaics to amphorae and ingots, the Mediterranean is a subaqueous treasure trove. So BP's plans to drill exploratory oil wells off Libya has raised serious concerns among archaeologists, historians and heritage preservation organisations.

The global energy giant says that it will begin the $900m project to drill five exploratory wells in the Gulf of Sirte "before the end of this year" despite the fact that the cause of the blowout of its Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico has yet to be determined. The Libyan wells will be 200 metres deeper than the Macondo.

"An oil spill off the coast of Libya would be a complete disaster," said Claude Sintes, the director of the subaquatic team of the French archaeological mission to Libya and director of the Museum of Ancient Arles, France. According to Sintes, there are two archaeologically rich areas along the Libyan coast -- Cyrenaica and Tripolitania. Within Cyrenaica lies Apollonia, an ancient harbour submerged five metres under the water. "It's a complete town under the sea with streets, walls and houses. Slow tectonic movement caused it to sink," said Sintes.

Tripolitania, which extends from Tripoli to the Tunisian border, includes two important ancient sites on the shore: Leptis Magna, a once powerful Roman city and harbour, and Sabratha which has the remains of a theatre and a Roman bath with spectacular mosaics. Both are Unesco World Heritage sites. "These sites are archaeologically significant because they allow us to understand the complete evolution of this part of the world from Greek colonisation in the seventh century BC to the Arab invasion in the seventh century AD," said Sines.

[SunkenCiv]

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[happygrl]

I have been to both of these sites ~ Leptus Magna and Sabratha~ as a teenager.

They are absolutely spectacular.

The sunken ruins off shore in the Mediterranean are well known to scuba divers and snorklers.

None of this is of importance to the Libyans, however, since it is not Arab.

I was also priviledged to have gone to a newly excavated Christian Church, dating to the early centuries of the First Millenium, right in Tripoli.

I had to climb down a ladder about ten feet, and entered an area with a baptistry and altar.

It was a truly moving experience to be where early Christians had worshipped.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks happygrl!