JEDDAH: A new documentary analyzing the importance of the discovery of the 18th-century Umluj shipwreck, just off the coastline of the Red Sea, has been unveiled.
“Submerged” is a 10-minute film featuring Heritage Commission experts. It follows the first fully Saudi-led marine archaeological mission to uncover and document the shipwreck, in cooperation with the Jeddah Historical Program.
The screening, at the Cultural Square in the Jeddah Historical District, was attended by Saudi archeologists, historians, academics, and representatives of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and King Abdulaziz University, along with other specialists and those interested in cultural affairs.
According to the Heritage Commission, the film aims to introduce underwater cultural heritage and highlight its importance, as well as shed light on efforts in the areas of marine research, documentation and protection. It is also hoped it will enhance community awareness of the value of this type of heritage and support its presence as a growing field of knowledge and culture.
Dr. Maged Al-Anizi, director of the Underwater Cultural Heritage department at the Saudi Heritage Commission, told Arab News: “This short, 10-minute documentary takes us on an exploratory journey to the depths of the Red Sea, revealing a hidden world that harbors a submerged human heritage yet to be fully explored.”
