marine archaeology; underwater archaeology
Academic field studying human interaction with the sea, lakes, and rivers through submerged sites and artifacts.
Marine archaeology is a discipline that investigates shipwrecks and underwater ruins.
Often used interchangeably with 海洋考古学, but 水中考古学 can include freshwater sites like lakes and rivers, while 海洋考古学 emphasizes the sea.
Compound of 海洋 (ocean) + 考古学 (archaeology). The term is a modern academic coinage, likely calqued from English 'marine archaeology'.