The ARQVA museum approached us with a challenge: to make the museum more accessible and engaging for the public, particularly the residents of Cartagena and the Murcia region, while expanding awareness of underwater archaeology in Spanish society and highlighting its cultural significance. We approached this challenge with a central question: How can the archaeological visual records of Cartagena’s seabed be shared with and interpreted by the local community?

Our project focused on exploring Spain’s intangible heritage through the lens of underwater archaeology. We aimed to reinterpret and adapt these visual records to amplify the voices of this submerged eco-cultural landscape, which is often overlooked in traditional archaeological practices. At the same time, considering that parts of Cartagena may be at risk of submersion by 2030 due to rising sea levels, our team explored how these records could inspire new cultural and mythological narratives that adapt to the evolving territorial reality, thus strengthening the connection between local communities and their historical as well as contemporary legacy.

Our initial exploration of the Carthaginian territory was shaped by the generosity of the people who accompanied us. Their perspectives inspired us to engage with the museum’s contemporary ecologies and entanglements. We sought to blur the boundaries of the museum’s monumental building, linking its relics and stories to the urgent issues of today. Our work particularly focused on examining our relationship with the more-than-human world in Cartagena and Murcia, but also extended beyond this context. By integrating research with artistic and design-based practices, we envisioned possible scenarios for how intangible and natural heritage could be more widely embraced by society.