ORMEN LANGE DEEPWATER ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT
When a new pipeline was going to be built, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology was contracted to ensure that the pipeline would not damage cultural heritage under water. A detailed survey was carried out and several shipwrecks were discovered. One, an 18th century sailing vessel was discovered in the pipeline track where the pipe could not be re-routed. As a result, the shipwreck had to be excavated before the pipeline could be installed. Since the shipwreck was in 170 meters depth, this had to be done entirely by robotic systems, making this the first and only deepwater marine archaeology excavation project.
