Format: Paper presentations wtih discussion
Convenors:
Claudia Uribe-Chinen, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, curibec@pucp.pe
Leslie Friedman, The Getty Conservation Institute. USA, LAfriedman@getty.edu
Prof. S. Rama Krishna Pisipaty, India, sramakrishna.pisipaty@gmail.com
Rigorous parameters form the foundation of archaeological heritage protection, aimed at mitigating damage to materials, sites and the values embedded in them, as established by legal frameworks, charters, and conventions. However, the evolution and continuous redefinition of criteria and practices of archaeological heritage management reflect a growing awareness of diverse social contexts and local claims, along with an expanded understanding of what constitutes heritage. At the same time, the field faces unprecedented challenges, including conflict, forced migration, climate change, uncontrolled urbanisation, and over-tourism. These factors have prompted critical discussions about the multifaceted issues and complex variables contributing to the endangerment of heritage. In light of these changes, it is essential to reassess how ‘endangered’ archaeological sites are understood and addressed in the current global context, both theoretically and practically.
This session, sponsored by the ICOMOS Scientific Committee, the International Scientific Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM), seeks case studies that offer novel and critical approaches, experiences, and reflections on managing endangered archaeological sites, focusing on recent adaptations and emerging pressures. The aim is to critically examine what it means to engage with endangered sites today by examining the concept of ‘endangered’ and its implications for heritage management goals and strategies. Rather than establishing a set of best practices, this session aspires to foster a more contextualised, realistic, and informed understanding of the contemporary heritage landscape, helping to identify the needs and expectations of archaeological practice on a global scale.
Papers:
Preserving the Vanishing Past: Addressing Threats to Early Buddhist Monasteries and Rock Art Sites in Ladakh
Sonam Dolma, Deccan College Post Graduate Research Institute Pune, India
The fragile cultural heritage of Ladakh, nestled in the high-altitude trans-Himalayan region, faces mounting challenges from climate change, human interference, and neglect. This paper focuses on two significant yet endangered aspects of Ladakh’s heritage: the early Buddhist monasteries and rock art sites.
Ladakh’s early Buddhist monasteries, often precariously perched on cliff edges, embody centuries of spiritual and architectural ingenuity. However, their deteriorating condition, exacerbated by harsh climatic conditions and inadequate conservation efforts, threatens to erase vital chapters of the region’s religious and cultural history. Similarly, Ladakh’s rock art sites, featuring carvings and petroglyphs dating back to prehistoric and historic periods, are increasingly endangered by vandalism, urban expansion, and lack of public awareness. These invaluable cultural markers not only provide insight into the spiritual and social fabric of the region but also highlight Ladakh’s connections with broader trans-Himalayan cultural landscapes.
This presentation aims to address the urgent need for comprehensive documentation, community participation, and sustainable conservation strategies for these sites. By showcasing their historical significance and the risks they face, it advocates for integrating traditional knowledge with modern conservation techniques to ensure their preservation.
Charaideo Moidams of Assam, India – A Quest for UNESCO World Heritage
Dr Deepi Rekha Kouli, Director, Directorate of Archaeology, Assam, India
Simran Sambhi, Exploration Officer, Directorate of Archaeology, Assam, India
Moidams of the Ahom Dynasty comprise a unique sepulchral burial system located in different parts of the state of Assam, India. Primarily concentrated in Charaideo and Sivasagar in Assam, these mound burials, forming the Ahom necropolis, lie to the south of the Charaideo city, the first city established by Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha (1228 – 1268 CE), the founder of the Ahom kingdom in mediaeval Assam, at the foothills of the Patkai hills range. Siu-Ka-Pha was a Tai prince, who was originally from Mong Mao, currently situated in Yunnan (China), and under his leadership a branch of Tai Ahom clan reached the upper Brahmaputra river valley in Assam. The Directorate of Archaeology, Government of Assam, has indulged in continuous efforts since 2018 towards systematic research, conservation and restoration of these medieval mounds. Owing to their Outstanding Universal Value, these mounds became a part of the World Heritage Tentative List of UNESCO in 2014 and were subsequently inscribed as a World Heritage Monument in 2024. This paper deals with the nuances of community participation, continuity of ancient rituals and modern day archaeological research and heritage conservation, which ensures protection of age-old heritage areas for posterity.
Pandemics and Heritage: Understanding the Impact of Covid-19 on Archaeotourism in South Africa
Nithya Eswaran, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
This research investigates the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on archaeotourism in South Africa, focusing on three public visitation sites: Origins Center Museum (Wits University), Giants Castle Game Reserve (Kwa-zulu Natal Province), and Sterkfontein Caves (Gauteng Province). The study employs a comparative analysis, with qualitative data from Kruger National Park, utilising SANParks Annual reports to understand the pandemic’s effects on nature-based sites. The objectives included presenting pre- and during Covid-19 archaeotourism contexts, describing risk preparedness frameworks, assessing visitor numbers/profiles, analysing coping strategies during lock downs, comparing impacts on culture and nature sectors, and proposing disaster preparedness improvements. Results reveal both positive and negative impacts on archaeological sites and their communities. The pandemic led to a notable growth in local tourism, with domestic visitors surpassing pre-pandemic levels. However, the decline in international tourists, a major revenue source, poses long-term challenges. Game reserves adapting to virtual tourism experienced relatively less negative impact, suggesting its under exploited potential in South Africa’s cultural tourism sector. Limitations included the absence of accurate visitor statistics, relying on less precise sources like visitor books. The study lacked data for Sterkfontein, and access issues hindered interviews with private concessions in Kruger National Park. Existing literature was Asia-focused, emphasising the reliance on primary data from the study sites. Despite challenges, the study identifies an emerging trend of increased local tourism, indicating potential resilience in the post-pandemic period. The decline in international visits and the impact on tour companies emphasise the need for long-term strategies. The study recommends expanding the dataset for a comprehensive analysis, capturing more accurate visitor numbers and income data. In conclusion, this research contributes valuable insights into the complex dynamics of archaeotourism in South Africa during the Covid-19 pandemic. It sheds light on the sector’s adaptability, challenges, and the untapped potential of virtual tourism, offering a foundation for further exploration and strategic planning in disaster preparedness and recovery for cultural heritage sites.
An Insight into the Kotha: A Forgotten Heritage in Garhwal Himalaya
Medha Bhatt, Early Career Scholar, Uttarakhand, India
Nagendra Rawat, Assistant Professor, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Uttarakhand, India
Vernacular architecture plays a significant role in shaping the identity of a region, reflecting its physical setting, climatic conditions, economic status, and cultural heritage. One such significant vernacular architectural style in the Garhwal region of the Central Himalayas is the Kotha or Kwotha. A Kotha is a fortified residential structure that embodies a unique blend of classical and folk architectural elements, making it a distinctive style in the Garhwal Himalayan region. Its construction was guided by the ancient Indian architectural science of Vastu Shastra, while incorporating various aspects of folk traditions. These structures not only reflect the historical connection between Garhwal and other parts of India but also played an essential role in religious, social, economic, and pilgrimage activities. For a long time in the history of Garhwal, Kothas symbolised high administrative, religious, and social status in society. Despite their unique architectural style and socio-political significance, these heritage structures are now on the verge of disappearing. This paper explores various aspects of Kothas, including their architectural significance, cultural importance, and historical value. It aims to highlight their role in shaping the identity of the Garhwal Himalayas and emphasises the urgent need to preserve this invaluable heritage before it is lost.
Aspects of the Japanese Kofun, Including Imperial Tombs as Cultural Heritages: Between Social and Academic Contexts
Kunihiko Wakabayashi, Historical Museum of Doshisha University, Japan
Before the formation of an imperial state with a legal system in Japan, many huge keyhole-shaped tumuli—Kofun—over 200 m in length, were built between the third and sixth centuries. Certain tumuli have been identified as the burial sites of early emperors. whose names are listed in the later eighth century documents Nihonshoki and Kojiki. Based on historical studies, we know that such documents are unreliable for the period before the sixth century. In 2019, the Mozu–Furuichi Tumuli Groups, which include some of the largest tumuli built in the fifth and sixth centuries, were declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In this process, several tombs were registered by name as the mausoleums of ancient emperors. These designations can be set in the context both of unverified ancient writings and of the nationalistic political trend of pre-modern customs but are unsupported by archaeological evidence. Although most Japanese archaeologists have protested against this non-academic identification, their arguments have lacked strength. This may result from Japanese archaeologists not yet having developed methods to assess 3rd to 6th century monuments independently of ancient texts. Japanese archaeologists have been influenced, either directly or indirectly, by ancient texts.
ICAHM and its Recent Activities
Dr Helena Arose, Director of Programs, Antiquities Coalition
Brian J. Egloff, Field Editor, AATA, Getty Conservation Institute,
Emeritus Professor Ian Lilley, School of Social Sciences, University of Queensland
ICAHM as a Scientific Committee of ICOMOS has its origins in the Nordic countries with a substantial input by Australian archaeologists in the drafting of the Lausanne Charter of 1990. This year ICAHM is holding its Annual Meeting in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, from May 12th to 16th. Of particular interest with respect to WAC and endangered cultural heritage are two ICAHM initiatives. Firstly, the ICAHM Illicit Trafficking Working Group that is driven by the Antiquities Coalition and yet again on the international stage ICAHM members working with the Antiquities Coalition to strengthen the G20 agenda actions to combat looting and trafficking.
Chancay’s Vanishing Heritage: Archaeological Practice, Ethics and the Loss of Pre-Hispanic Sites in Coastal Peru
Claudia Uribe-Chinen, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Perú
This presentation discusses the political and economic forces that have shaped the excavation, preservation and eventual loss of pre-Hispanic sites of the first millennium AD in the lower Chancay Valley, on the north-central coast of Peru. Through a genealogical approach, it critically analyses the intersection of archaeological practice, state heritage policy, and illegal activities over the past century, which have contributed to a condition of permanent endangerment of sites associated with Lima (100 – 700 AD) and Chancay (900 – 1533 AD) cultures. Unlike high-profile archaeological sites that benefit from extensive media attention and conservation efforts, sites in the lower Chancay Valley have faced systematic destruction and neglect, despite their foundational role in establishing early archaeological knowledge and cultural sequences of the central Peruvian coast. This paper argues that Peruvian archaeology and heritage policies have largely failed to sustain public appreciation and heritage values associated with certain pre-Hispanic materialities or regions. It identifies key factors contributing to this failure, as exemplified by this locale, including diaspora of antiquities, the commodification of archaeology, and the lack of heritage socialisation. The paper further discusses the implication of these issues for the future of heritage management in Peru.
The Cumberland Plain: An Endangered Archaeological and Cultural Landscape
Rebekah Hawkins, Dr Elle Grono, Sarah Janson, Mike Hincks and Brian Shanahan, Extent Heritage, Australia
The Cumberland Plain in NSW, Australia, associated with several First Nations groups, is an endangered archaeological and cultural landscape. The unceasing impacts of uncontrolled urbanisation and lack of conservation-focused state heritage legislation continue to endanger heritage within this biogeographic region. The piecemeal approach to impact assessments and the absence of effective legislative frameworks to assess and protect cultural values, experienced in the compliance sector, precludes an understanding of the cumulative detrimental impacts of urbanisation on heritage and Country.
A case study from south-west Sydney, Country associated with the Dharug, Dharawal, and Gundungurra people, illustrates the impact of urbanisation and legislative issues while also providing a methodology to mitigate impacts of development. We apply a high-resolution multi-proxy approach utilising a range of geoarchaeological, lithic, and photogrammetry analyses to recover information that would have otherwise been lost due to destruction. Our scientific analyses are carried out in tandem with First Nations perspectives that enrich our knowledge of the cultural values associated with the site and wider cultural landscape. This approach enables a deeper understanding of temporality and significance and exemplifies the importance of reassessing how endangered archaeological sites are investigated and managed in the context of uncontrolled urbanisation and ineffective legislative frameworks.
Juukan Gorge: The Story of Destruction and Rebuilding
Jordan Ralph, PKKP Aboriginal Corporation, Australia
Burchell Hayes, PKKP Aboriginal Corporation Australia
Michael Slack, Scarp Archaeology; James Cook University, Australia
On 24 May 2020 the world was shocked to learn of the destruction of Juukan Gorge as part of mine development of Rio Tinto. Blasting of the gorge included severe damage to rockshelters known to be over 30,000 years old and containing a unique cultural history of the Puutu Kunti Kurrama People. Public outcry ensued, the Australian Federal Government conducted a Parliamentary enquiry, and heritage protection legislation was changed.
This paper is provided by the PKK and those who assisted with the archaeological investigations; originally and now as Juukan Gorge is rehabilitated. In the paper we present the history of the destruction, why it happened, the attempts to move forward and discuss a better way of managing heritage.
Heritage of a Shared Estate: Archaeological Investigations at Perth Airport
Partnership Agreement Group
Joe Dortch
Rod Garlett
Sally Burgess de Castillo
Located in the midst of the capital city of Western Australia, the present-day Perth Airport estate, with its extensive woodlands and wetlands, was a colonial and 20th century refuge and camping ground for the Noongar people of the region. Throughout social changes and various airport expansions, Noongar people visited the largest wetland, Munday Swamp, and they still celebrate the spiritual and physical connectivity of local waterways through the airport grounds. This significance complements archaeological findings from compliance investigations over the last 50 years, which have mapped some 50 pre-colonial and colonial-era sites on dune sands deposited around various wetlands in the estate. Recent archaeological excavations demonstrate a chronostratigraphic record of intensive occupation around Munday Swamp extending from 41,000 years ago to the AD 1800s. This archaeological record affirms the enduring importance of Munday Swamp in Noongar history. Its management highlights the tension between these values and planned construction of a new runway and taxiways adjacent to the swamp and over one of the oldest sites. We conclude with the issues raised in community consultations in 2024 and how Noongar culture is commemorated and considered in the operations of an expanding aviation hub.
Heritage and Tourism in Patagonia, Argentina: Achievements and Limitations in Managing Archaeological Sites in Central-western Santa Cruz Province
Josefina Flores Coni, Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano (INAPL); Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET); Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina
Anahi Re, INAPL/ CONICET; UBA, Argentina
Gisela Cassiodoro, NAPL; CONICET/UBA, Argentina
Juan Dellepiane, INAPL; Universidad de San Isidro (USI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Francisco Guichón, CONICET; Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE)
Rocío Guichón Fernández, Milena Morlesin and Agustín Agnolin, INAPL; CONICET
Victoria Lange, INAPL; UBA, Argentina
Lara Martínez, Brenda Chamorro, Luana Machnau and Rafael Goñi, INAPL; UBA, Argentina
This work seeks to analyse the scope and challenges in safeguarding archaeological heritage in central-western Santa Cruz province (Patagonia, Argentina). For more than 40 years, research has been conducted to investigate human peopling in the region. Throughout these investigations, ties have been strengthened with different agents and entities interested in the archaeological heritage, including local residents, public officials, tourism and cultural workers, teachers, among others. The values and interests surrounding the archaeological heritage have been and are varied. Specifically, in recent years, various tourism ventures have included visits to archaeological sites in their circuits, which has potentially put the integrity of the heritage at risk. In response to this, the action paths taken are discussed, highlighting the achievements and limitations in the role of the research team as a professional consultant for the community. Specific case studies from the Strobel plateau and surrounding areas are presented. Emphasis will be placed on communication dynamics, current regulations and their application, the intervention of governmental and private agents, among other aspects. We hope this reflection will allow to outline new approaches that address the diverse interests of those involved, but, fundamentally, that are fruitful for the conservation of the archaeological heritage.