Thus, as the explorers tread lightly on the surface of our shared past, they remained ever aware that each step taken was both a discovery and a responsibility. They sought not only to uncover but also to protect, ensuring that the narrative of human history would be preserved not just in books and museums but in the very soil and sea where it happened. This approach defined not only their methodology but also their philosophy: that exploration and conservation must go hand in hand, serving as mutual guarantees of a heritage that belongs to all humanity.