The fifth Maritime Archaeology Graduate Symposium (MAGS 2023) was held for the first time in one of the Honor Frost Foundation’s region countries, namely Cyprus. It took place at the Archaeological Research Unit (ARU) premises of the University of Cyprus, during three days between the 1st and the 4th of March 2023. MAGS 2023 was organized by HFF scholars from the University of Cyprus and a PhD student from the Cyprus Institute. The symposium was supported by the Honor Frost Foundation and the University of Cyprus.

Papers presented ranged from trade and seafaring in antiquity to harbour archaeology, from material culture studies to maritime cultural landscapes, including also interesting papers on maritime cultural heritage management, public outreach and engagement. Papers focused on the broad Mediterranean, the Black Sea, connections between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean, and on topics that covered the broad spectrum of issues that maritime archaeology faces nowadays.

Two workshops were organized on the 2nd and the 3rd of March, focusing respectively on the maritime archaeological publication process, and the Mazotos Shipwreck Project. The first workshop, held by esteemed maritime archaeologist and editor of the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, Dr. Athena Trakadas, offered an overview of the general process of scientific publication, providing insights on the aspects that are required for a successful paper submission, and it was beautifully received by participants. The second workshop marked the 15th Anniversary of the Mazotos Shipwreck Project. Scholars with key roles within the project provided insights into the “behind the scenes” on a long-standing full-excavation project. The aim of this second workshop was to provide students insights into aspects that are rarely treated in scientific papers, offering success stories as well as issues, difficulties and drawbacks of such extensive projects.

Seven MAGS 2023 speakers have published their work with the generous support of the Honor Frost Foundation through the ‘Short Report’ series.

• Aspa KOSTAGEORGIOU- Navigation and Maritime Trade Networks in the Aegean (9th–13th c.): The Evidence from Shipwrecks.
• Carlotta LUCARINI – A dive into storerooms and correspondence: a review of the underwater site of Nido del Cuervo (Murcia, Spain).
• Mark DAVIES – Reassessing Polybius’ account of the Battle of Aegates (241 BCE) using the underwater material culture found at the Egadi Islands.
• Nada Kamel NOFAL – Bridging the gap between maritime archaeology and public engagement in the Arab Region: Egypt as a case study.
• Sara PORRU – Portoscuso-Type Amphorae as an Indicator of a Commercial Circuit.
• Soledad SOLANA RUBIO – Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Strait of Gibraltar: A State of the Art.
• Thomas IOSSIFIDIS – Roman ports: significance of their role, their structure and construction.

We would like to sincerely thank Dr. Lucy Blue, Dr. Danielle Newman and the whole team at the HFF for their full support. We would also like to thank Dr. Stella Demesticha for her support at the University of Cyprus. Special thanks go to the participants for the success of MAGS 2023.

The Organizing Committee
Irene Katsouri, Georgia-Dimitra Kyriakou, Mehmetcan Soyluoǧlu, Massimiliano Secci