"A New View" - and a prospect. The recently published congress files IKUWA 2 and information about IKUWA 3.

"What insights have the last decades of underwater archaeology produced, and in what way have they resulted in new images from different areas of earlier epochs and aspects of life?" These were the key questions that the participants of the 2nd international congress on underwater archaeology IKUWA 2 were dealing with. The congress took place in Zurich from 21st to 24th October 2004.

Now, two years later, the publication of the featured papers is available. It is going to be published as Volume 40 of the monographic series "Antiqua" of the Archäologie Schweiz-Archéologie Suisse-Archeologia Svizzera (which many people still know as Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Ur-und Frühgeschichte). This comprehensive and elaborate volume was made possible thanks to the extensive achievements of Archäologie Schweiz, the Schweizerischen Akademie der Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften, the Gesellschaft für Schweizer Unterwasserarchäologie and the Nautical Archaeology Society.

During IKUWA 2 about 200 participants from 25 countries enthusiastically used the time during speeches and breaks for concentrated interdisciplinary discourse, maintenance of contacts, and interesting discussions. All of which contributed to the strategic goal which is the creation of a long-term network of all European bodies which deal with underwater archaeology.

It was IKUWA 2's goal to demonstrate where and how the historical image has been changed through underwater archaeology investigations during the past decades, and which future investigations can be regarded as promising as they are likely to produce important historical insights. The congress in Zurich provided a substantial insight into past and recent research under water. This balance of the past twenty years is mirrored in the present conference transcript. It effectively demonstrates that we can gain a better understanding of the past through the contribution of excellent results produced by underwater archaeology today. The variety of contributions is extensive with regards to time, content and geography: all epochs from Mesolithic to modern times and all of Europe from the Mediterranean to the Baltic States, and from Scotland to Poland are featured in the volume.

In the future the IKUWA family presents itself as a network of cooperating bodies of different origins which have a common interest: to give the public a better understanding of the chances and possibilities of archaeological research under water. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we can confirm that the IKUWA 3, as originally announced in Zurich, will take place in London in 2008.

Above right: Cover of the published proceedings from IKUWA2 (2004). Antiqua vol. 40 (2006), ISBN: 3-908006-32-5