Exploring the Submerged Heritage

Modern technologies, including multi-beam echosounders and photogrammetry, have revealed the submerged scars of past wars within the underwater landscape of Suomenlinna sea fortress. These remnants, such as deliberately placed ship hulls used as defensive obstacles during the Crimean War (1853–1856), offer a tangible connection to historical conflicts preserved in the Baltic Sea. The study highlights how these archaeological remains, despite their complex formation processes and location in active water areas, serve as enduring places of memory for past events. By integrating underwater investigation with archival records and historical narratives, researchers can reconstruct missing links that deepen our understanding of the fortress's strategic use during wartime.

Koivikko, M. (2026). Exploring the Submerged Heritage. The Oxford Handbook of Post-Medieval Archaeology in the Nordic Countries, 753–768. https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197756690.003.0046