June 18, 2019.

UNESCO
Ulrike Koschtial Guérin
Responsible for the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage

Dear Mrs. Guérin

I am writing to you to make the UNESCO aware, through the Secretariat of the Convention on
the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001), of the unfavourable repercussions
caused by bad procedures executed in the course of the last underwater archaeological
interventions carried out in Banco Chinchorro located in Quintana Roo, Mexico, decelerated as
a Biosphere Reserve in 1996, and in where since 20 years ago, archaeological research projects
have been carried out by the Sub-Directorate of Underwater Archaeology (SAS) of the National
Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in wrecks and other cultural resources of
maritime origin, among which is the wreck El Ángel, which has been identified as an English
brigantine named Jean, built in the shipyards of Irvin, Scotland, in 1819. This wreck was
reported to the SAS/INAH in the year 2001 by whom subscribes this report, moment from
which the archaeological record and research in the area, and in this particular site began.

During the last field season carried out in November 2018 within the framework of the Project
Inventory and Diagnosis of the Submerged Archaeological and Historical Heritage in the Banco
Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo, SAS/INAH, undertaken by the responsibility of
Laura Carrillo, an important part of the cultural and natural context that forms the site was
affected, including the destruction of some elements of its structure such as an important iron
section of an horizontal frame of 4.5 meters long that outlined the curvature of the bow that
was torn off from its original position. Also, a vertical element that apparently served as a
reinforcement of the wooden hull was ripped off with some other structural components that
were affected, as well several corals and part of the biodiversity that inhabits in the site
structure and natural context around the site.

It is worth mentioning that this wreck had remained intact during the two centuries that it has
remained on the seabed, coinciding in this 2019 with the bicentennial of its construction and
that in turn, until this unfortunate intervention, given by the decision to put for the very first
time the responsibility of the management of the work to be carried out in hands of an
Argentinian researcher which directions finished in 7 days of operations, with part of the
context that conforms the site and with the reputation of a project that had remained
unblemished during 20 years of work carried out in the area, as well as with 200 years of
history of a site that now becomes an ominous antecedent of an imprudent procedure due to
lack of experience, conscience or ineptitude, or if it was the case, due to the irresponsibility of
regrettable and discordant decisions regarding the scientific rigour that the archaeological task
demand in this type of work.

The problems caused to the archaeological and natural context are the responsibility, as they
assumed at the time, of the person in charge of the project who gave the direction of the
operations and who assumed them, carrying out inappropriate manoeuvres and actions within
the archaeological procedures and methodologies required in maritime sites, among them:
throwing the boat anchor in repeatedly occasions over the site context and on the reef, or
marking the location of the site with a buoy moored to the wreck structure until eventually the
force of the waves and marine current ended up detaching the vessel structure from its
original position, or the constant bombardment with sandbags thrown from the surface over
the wreck and corals that live there, in addition to the bad practices of diving with constant
fluttering and stepping on sensitive parts of the wreck and corals that inhabit it among other
harmful actions.

It´s important to mention that there are documents and images of what has been said here
that have already been delivered, over a month ago, to the SAS/INAH (annexed), and that
because of the affectations done to the natural and cultural heritage are not derived from the
operations of third parties, but emanate from the researchers who should be responsible for
the preservation and protection of these important archaeological site, and in the absence of a
clear pronouncement of the SAS until now, it has been necessary to call the UNESCO through
to intervene in order to prevent such wrong practices in the future that affect not just the
nation's heritage and the image of the UNESCO and the INAH, but also the organisations
involved in its protection and study and the local communities and general public that benefits
from the tourism operations performed in this protected area.

Also, it is important to encourage the following of the agreements generated with the
UNESCO, in which Mexico, as part of the Convention for the Protection of the Underwater
Cultural Heritage of 2001 has the commitment to follow and assure the best practices in access
to underwater heritage, and to respected the regulations cited on the annex of the Convention
regarding activities directed at the underwater cultural heritage that must be followed in a
professional, moral and ethical way, as it is also the respect for the national and international
laws that protect the cultural and natural heritage, this with greater reason and importance in
the Banco Chinchorro, considered a Biosphere Reserve.

This document is sent to Secretariat of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater
Cultural Heritage, even knowing that Mexico has the representation of the UNESCO under
Helena Barba Meinecke as a member of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Board (STAB),
who is also the representative of the SAS/INAH in the Yucatan Peninsula, and that because of
the sensitivity of the situation could generate a conflict of interest forcing her to be a judge
and part of a conflict that contravenes the image of the institution and the area where she
works. However, I appeal also to her intervention and understanding of this situation, and to
propose a possible solution to reverse the damage caused to the site and the institute, and to
determinate the possible actions to take in base to actual regulations and laws, as a guideline
to promote the adequate resolution of this subject.

Based on all this, and with the intervention of the UNESCO, it would be expected to obtain a
punctual response from the SAS/INAH in a near future, from where the organizations and
institutions involved in the study and protection of Chinchorro Bank, and those whom can feel
affected or offended, can be informed clearly regarding to the actions that will be taken into
account to correct the image and the bad effects caused to the cultural and natural heritage in
the Reserve, as well as the mechanisms that will be established from now on, in order to
prevent that these acts and omissions do not arise again, and in turn to follow up on the
commitment of the acquired obligations with respect to the appropriate procedures, methods
and technics required in the underwater archaeological research in the country.
Finally, it is almost a fact that this report could take me to the end of my relation with the SAS,
as I presume because of the personal communication with the SAS responsible, and in the
other hand because of the lack of communication with the project responsible. This happens
after 20 years of collaboration, specifically within the archaeological project in Chinchorro in
which I was precursor opening the way to the participation of the local fisherman and
community who gives us the information of a great quantity of the 69 sites reported until
today. I have also been a promoter of sustainable tourism activities and the diving instructor of
part of this community, and afterwards, I have been his tutor with the approval of the
SAS/INAH in courses given in the speciality of Cultural Tourism Guide, which allow tourism
activities in 5 of the wrecks located inside the Reserve, this within so many other educational
activities such as publications, courses, conferences, etc. Anyway, the defence and protection
of our cultural and natural heritage have been my commitment since ever, and this will not
change even so this generates inconveniences to someones.

I really appreciate the time and attention you consider to give to this document. I’m also very
sorry about the regrettable and uncomfortable situation that this reflects, but given the
relevance and the actual condition of this situation, I was pushed to appeal for your
intervention so we can go ahead with a solution without major repercussions.

I will remain attentive to your comments and to any questions that may arise.

Sincerely,

Arq. Octavio Del Río

Underwater Archaeology, ENAH 1995
Collaborator SAS/INAH 1998-2019
Senior Tutor NAS 2014-2019

C.c.p.

Laura Iglesias
UNESCO México

Katherine Muller-Marin
Oficina Regional de Cultura para América Latina y el Caribe

Helena Barba Meinecke

Miembro STAB y SAS/INAH
Annex