Marseilles City Council, Drassm and Columbia River are delighted to be able to mark the 50th anniversary of France’s Underwater Archaeology Research Department with this fantastic voyage into the world of marine archaeology.

The men and women bringing this discipline to life are divers, sailors and scientists. Over the last 50 years their work has evolved but, whether volunteer or professional, the underwater archaeologist’s goals remain the same : inventory, protect, study, preserve and display the world’s underwater heritage.

Taken separately, these 50 objects might be breathtaking, modest, recent or ancient. Combined, they tell of the major discoveries of French underwater archaeology.