EXHIBITIONS

HIMA's work at the Dokos wreck made it all too clear that there was virtually no infrastructure in Greece for anyone wishing to carry out marine archaeological research. This prompted us to carry out an architectural study at the Athens Polytechnic School to explore the possibilities of building a marine archaeology center. This proposal had the advantage of being based on very real coordinates with very specific functions to fulfill. Nevertheless, the proposed site of Dokos (specifically, at Myti Kommeni in the Bay of Skindos), with its rich supply of marine and land archaeological sites round about, presents the architect with considerable challenges: the land is rough and inaccessible, and there are no modern facilities close at hand.

The principles that lie at the heart of the design of a center for marine archaeology "future adaptability and expandability of its core functions" can be attained if three key factors are successfully addressed: the need for an open plan, the system of construction to be employed, and an autonomous energy source.

The construction itself needs to harmonize with the surrounding environment while on a practical level, as already mentioned, it must fulfill criteria for flexibility and future possible expansion. On the other hand, it should be possible to dismantle with relative ease and reassemble at another location, even by the members of the HIMA themselves. This center should be able to support the full scope of archaeological research, from locating new sites to conservation of the finds recovered from such sites and, ultimately, display of the finds. Once the initial survey and excavation is complete, the center could be left to function in the area as an observatory vis-a-vis environmental impact on the excavation site, as a base for further study of the area, and as a space for exhibiting the finds, and providing training and information.