Training Course on Cultural heritage Protection the Asia - Pacific Region 2014
Reseach, Analysis and Preservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains

Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protectionin the Asia-Pacific Region 2014
Research, Analysis and Preservation ofArchaeological Sites and Remains
2 September - 3 October, 2014, Nara, Japan

Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office,Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan
National Institutes for Cultural Heritage
National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
International Center for the Study of the Preservation
and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)

Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protectionin the Asia-Pacific Region 2014
Research, Analysis and Preservation ofArchaeological Sites and Remains
2 September - 3 October, 2014, Nara, Japan

Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office,Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan
National Institutes for Cultural Heritage
National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
International Center for the Study of the Preservation
and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)

Edited and Published by
Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office,Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)
757 Horen-cho, Nara 630-8113 Japan
Tel: +81(0) 742-20-5001
Fax: +81(0) 742-20-5701
e-mail: nara@accu.or.jp
URL: http://www.nara.accu.or.jp
Printed by KyodoseihanⒸ Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office,Asia - Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) 2015

Opening Ceremony

With the lecturers, Dr Wijesuriya and Prof. Inaba at ACCU Nara OfficeMr Kaneda explained how to convert the images into three-dimensional data using specific software.

Practical Training on cleaning iron corrosion
with equipment

Mr Yanagida showed the influence of humidity
on iron corrosion.

Practical training on rubing (at Nara Municipal Archaeologica Reseach Centre)

How to pick up fragile artefacts with liquid
nitrogen and with plaster cast in practice

Practical training on photographyOn-site lecture at Kyusyu Historical Museum: Observation of conservation laboratry

On-site lecture at Osaka Museum of History: Museum tour using iPad

Preface
The Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office, Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO(ACCU) was established in August 1999 with the purpose of serving as a domestic centre forpromoting cooperation in cultural heritage protection in the Asia-Pacific region. Subsequent to
its inception, our office has been implementing a variety of programmes to help promote cultural
heritage protection activities, in cooperation with Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan (Bunkacho);
the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property(ICCROM); National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo and Nara; Nara Prefectural
Government; Nara Municipal Government; universities, and museums.
ACCU Nara Office's activities include, training programmes for the human resources
development, international conferences and symposia, the training of young leaders in cultural
heritage protection, the local training workshop, updating website for the dissemination of
information relating to cultural heritage protection, the world heritage lectures in local highschools, and the system of “International Correspondents” for the purpose of promoting
information exchange and networking with the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
In particular, the training courses on cultural heritage protection in the Asia-Pacific region
have comprised a significant part of our activities for heritage protection, with two themes inalternate years: “Preservation and Restoration of Wooden Structures” and “Research, Analysis,and Preservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains.” This was the fifteenth training course on“archaeological sites and remains” and sixteen participants from across the Asia-Pacific region
gathered in Nara to join the course in high spirits.
In the Nara region where the capital was located 1,300 years ago, there survives a large numberof ancient structures and archaeological remains which are unique in the world; there are ample
human resources working on a daily basis to carry out conservation; and the philosophy of
restoration has been accumulated through many years’ experience and is widely accepted by the
local community. So, ACCU Nara Office has chosen “Nara” as the training venue because we cantake full advantage of its environment.
I believe the participants were able to learn not only the techniques and knowledge relating
to conservation and restoration of archaeological remains but also the important role of local
community by visiting the cultural heritage on-site: the way how local people cared for thecultural heritage; their views and willingness to protect heritage and hand it down to posterity;and their daily society-wide efforts. I am sure the participants understood the need and importanceof respecting the views and initiative of the local community as well as joining hands with themin the conservation activities.
Finally, I would like to express my profound appreciation to the distinguished lecturers whooffered their expertise in clear terms and to the organisations which provided us with generous
support necessary for implementation of the training programmes. I would also like to extend myappreciation to sixteen participants, who actively took part in the programme and helped eachother in a friendly atmosphere to acquire latest knowledge and techniques in a far foreign country,
Japan. Success of this training depends on their future efforts in the field of heritage protection ineach country.

NISHIMURA Yasushi
Director
Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office,Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)Contents		PrefaceI.

Introduction

II.

1. General Information… ………………………………………………

3

2. Programme Schedule…………………………………………………

7

Proceedings
1. Opening Ceremony… ……………………………………………… 11
2. Summary of Training Course… …………………………………… 13

III.

Country Reports by Participants… ……………………………… 37

IV.

Final Reports by Participants… …………………………………… 167

V.

Appendix
1. List of Participants…………………………………………………… 237
2. List of Lecturers… …………………………………………………… 240
3. Acknowledgements for Cooperation… …………………………… 242
4. List of Interpreter and Assistants…………………………………… 242
5. Staff Members, ACCU Nara Office………………………………… 242

Introduction

I. Introduction
1. General Information
2. Programme Schedule

At East Palace Garden (World Heritage Site)

Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protectionin the Asia - Pacific Region 2014

- Research, Analysis and Preservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains (2 September – 3 October 2014, Nara, Japan)

General Information
1. OrganisersThis course is jointly organised by Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan (Bunkacho); Asia-Pacific
Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU); International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and
Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM); and National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, National
Research Institute for Cultural Properties [Tokyo and Nara], in cooperation with Japan Consortium forInternational Cooperation in Cultural Heritage; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; Nara Prefectural
Government; and Nara Municipal Government.

2. Background
In Asia and the Pacific region, there are various forms of cultural heritage which are of great value froma global point of view. In order to safeguard this important cultural heritage for future generations, itis necessary to train heritage professionals for proper investigation, analysis and preservation. ACCU
Nara in partnership with ICCROM and Bunkacho has been organising training courses since 2000 on
this topic with a view to building the capacities of professionals who have been working on cultural
heritage protection in the region. This training course is focused on investigation, conservation andmanagement of archaeological remains and aims to provide participants with the latest methodologies
and technologies.

3. Dates and Venue
Course dates: From 2 September (Tuesday) to 3 October (Friday) 2014
Venue: Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office, Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO[Nara Pref. Nara General Office, 757 Horen-cho, Nara, Japan] and related research institutions, etc.

4. Objectives of the Training Course
The objectives of the training course are:• to provide participants with knowledge of principles and methodologies for protection ofarchaeological remains;• to provide participants with knowledge and skills related techniques of recording and analyticalmethods for artefacts;• to provide participants with knowledge and skills related techniques of storage, management andexhibition of artefacts;• to provide participants with an opportunity to establish the network with colleagues from theregion and share experiences.

3

5. Training Curriculum
Lectures- Global Trends in Conservation of Archaeological Sites- The Cultural Property Protection System in Japan- Introduction to Conservation Science

Practical Training and On-site Lectures- Workshop on Recording/Documentation of Artefacts:(Actual Measurement, Photography)- Study Tour on Management of Museums and World Heritage Sites- Study Tour on Preservation, Development and Utilisation of Archaeological Sites

Presentations and Discussion- Presentations by participants on the current status of archaeological conservation in each country,
and exchange of views- Discussion on future issues and vision of the conservation of archaeological sites- Recapitulation of the training sessions

6. Participants in the Training Course
Application Procedure
The training course is offered to participants from the following 40 signatory countries of the
UNESCO World Heritage Convention (see below). The application form should be submitted no later
than 20 June 2014 along with the endorsement of the UNESCO National Commission in the country
concerned or the endorsement of the member of Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in
Cultural Heritage. The documents necessary for application are the following.
(1) Application Form (Form 1)
Please attach a copy of the passport, if an applicant has a valid passport. Please check the blank
page of the passport that needed for a visa application.
(2) Report relating to the applicant’s achievements in archaeological heritage conservation.
This achievement report should be written by the applicant and should be a brief summary ofpresent and previous work related to the theme of archaeological heritage conservation. This report
should be no longer than 5 pages (in A4 sized paper) and will be weighted heavily in selection of
the participants.
(3) Letter of Recommendation by NATCOM or by the member of Japan Consortium for International
Cooperation in Cultural Heritage(4) Letter of Recommendation by the head of the organisation to which the applicant belongs (Annex 1)(5) Certification for English proficiency (if obtained)

4Completed applications should be sent to the secretariat of the ACCU Nara Office at the address below
by post or/and e-mail. Only complete application with all necessary documents will be considered.
The following are the 40 signatories of the World Heritage Convention from Asia and the Pacific:
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands,
Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyz, Lao P.D.R., Malaysia, Maldives, MarshallIslands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines, Rep. of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand,
Tonga ,Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam.

Qualification Requirements
Applicants should be:1) those who are professionals, 45 years old or younger, who are engaged in the conservation,
preservation, restoration or management of archaeological sites and artefacts and who can makeeffective use of the results of the training course upon returning to his or her home country;2) those who have a good command of English, the working language for all lectures, so that they
can deliver presentations and write reports from the training sessions (ACCU Nara Office and
ICCROM shall be allowed to utilise all contents of presentations and reports, including drawings
and photographs, for future publication and cultural heritage protection programmes);3) those who can attend the entire training programme;
4) those who submit all of the required documents (listed above) within the deadlines outlined;5) those who will most likely continue exchanging information and interacting with ACCU Nara
Office after returning to their home countries;6) those who were not previous participants in training courses organised by ACCU Nara Office(however those who have participated in International Youth Exchange Programme andInternational Education Exchange Programme can apply for this programme).

7. Notification of Screening Results
After consulting with other organisers, ACCU Nara Office will select 16 people (one participant per
nation, in principle) from among all applicants around late in July. Successful applications will be
informed of the results along with each National Commission for UNESCO and the Japan Consortiumfor International Cooperation in Cultural Heritage.

5

8. Certificate of Completion
Each participant is awarded a certificate upon completion of the course.

9. Language of the Training Session
English is the working language throughout the course.

10. Expenses
Expenses during the Training Course shall be borne by ACCU Nara Office, as follows:(1) Travelling expenses:
Each of the participants (except those from Australia, Brunei, New Zealand, Republic of Korea,
and Singapore) shall be provided with an economy class return air ticket from the nearest
international airport from their residence to Kansai International Airport, and transportation
fees between Kansai International Airport and Nara. Expenses for visa application shall be theresponsibility of participants.
(2) Living expenses:
Participants shall be provided the basic living expenses incurred from the day before the training
course to the next day of the final day, 1 September (Monday) to 4 October (Saturday) 2014,
according to ACCU Nara Office’s regulations in principle. Arrangements for accommodations (aroom for single occupancy) during the training course will be made by ACCU Nara Office. In casea participant needs accommodation on the way to and/or from Japan for any inevitable reasons (suchas for a visa application and the limited connection of flights), ACCU Nara Office will cover theaccommodation expenses.

11. Secretariat
Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office,Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)
Nara Pref. Nara General Office,757 Horen-cho, Nara 630-8113 JAPAN
Tel: +81-(0)742-20-5001 Fax: +81-(0)742-20-5701
E-mail: nara@accu.or.jp

6

2. Schedule
Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protection in the Asia/Pacific Region 2014
Research, Analysis and Preservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains
Course Schedule

Month

Date

2

Morning (9:30-12:30)

Tue. Opening Ceremony (10:00-)

Afternoon (13:30-16:30)
Orientation Session

Lecturer
ACCU Nara

Venue
ACCU Nara/ Todai-ji
TempleACCU Nara
ACCU Nara

3

Wed. Global Trends in Conservation of Archaeological Sites

Gemini WIJESURIYA(ICCROM)

4

Thu.

Gamini WIJESURIYA(ICCROM)
INABA Nobuko

5

Fri.

6

Sat.

7

Sun.

Presentation and Discussion: Country Reports by Participantsand Utilisation ofCultural Property Protection Conservation
Cultural Heritage Resources (Cases
8 Mon. The
System in Japanin Japan)9Tue. Conservation Science of Artefacts I: Introduction

10 Wed. Conservation Science of Artefacts II: First Aid for Fragile Artefacts

AOKI Tatuji (Agency
for Cultural Affairs,
Japan)WAKIYA Soichiro
TAMURA Tomomi

ACCU Nara

ACCU Nara
NNRICP
NNRICP

Science of Artefacts Museum Exhibition in Practice
11 Thu. Conservation
III: Metal Objects

Institute
YANAGIDA Akinobu Archaeologicalof Kashihara, Nara
HASHIMOTO Hiroyuki
Prefecture

12Fri. Recording/Documentation of Artefacts: Photography

NAKAMURA Ichiro
SUGIMOTO Kazuki

NNRICP

13Sat.
ISHIMURA Tomo
SUGIMOTO Kazuki

Nara Palace Site

14 Sun.

September

Maintenance and Management ofof
15 Mon. Archaeological Sites in Practice: Recording/Documentation
Archaeological Sites: Photography
Nara Palace Site
16 Tue. Digital Data Management in Practice: Photography
17 Wed. World Heritage: Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto
Drawing of Artefacts I: Measured Drawing of Artefacts II:
18 Thu. Measured
Introduction
Earthenware"
19

Fri. Measured Drawing of Artefacts III: Earthenware, Rubbing

20

Sat.

NAKAMURA Ichiro
NNRICPASAI Ken'ichi (Kyoto Chion-in Temple/Nijo-joPrefectural Board ofCastel
Education)
Nara Municipal
Archaeological Research
FUKASAWA Yoshiki
CenterMIYOSHI Miho
Nara Municipal
IKEDA Hirohide
Archaeological ResearchCenter21 Sun.
22 Mon. Recording/Documentation of Cultural Heritage Using 3D ScannerStudy Tour: Conservation Science of Artefacts IV: Conservation
24 Wed. A
Science for objects excavated from marine sediments

NAKATA Atsuyuki
AIZAWA Tetsuro

25 Thu. A Study Tour: Facilities for Museum Science Analyses and Examination

IMAZU Setsuo

NNRICP
Horyu-ji Temple/Ikaruga
Centre for Cultural
Heritage
Matsuura City, Nagasaki
Pref.
Kyushu National
Museum26

Fri. A Study Tour: Inventory System and Exhibition Technique of Artefacts

ODA Kazutoshi
MATSUKAWA
Hirokazu

Kyushu HistoricalMuseum27

Sat.
MAMETANI Hiroyuki"Osaka Museum ofHistory"

Rachael Elizabeth
EGERTON
Rachael Elizabeth
EGERTON

ACCU Nara

Heritage: Buddhist
23 Tue. Site Museum Operations in Practice World
Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area

KANEDA Akihiro
ARAKI Koji

28 Sun.
29 Mon. Education Project in Museum in Practice

Octoberand Discussion: Future Issues on the Preservation of Sites and
30 Tue. Lecture
Remains I
and Discussion: Future Issues on the Preservation of Sites and1 Wed. Lecture
Remains II
2 Thu. Writing Final Reports
3Fri. Submission of Final Reports

Closing Ceremony

ACCU Nara
ACCU Nara

ICCROM: International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
NNRICP: Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
ACCU Nara: Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office, Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO

7

1. Opening Ceremony
2. Summary of Training Course

With lecturer, Mr Ishimura at Nara Palace Site (World Heritage Site)

Proceedings

II. Proceedings1. Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the 2014 training course was held on 2 September at Kasugano-so Hotel inNara. The attendances were sixteen participants from the Asia-Pacific region and honourable guests
from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan; International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and
Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM); Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties(NNRICP); Nara Prefectural Government; and Nara Municipal Government.
Speeches form the guests were given by Mr NISHIMURA Yasushi, Director, ACCU Nara Office; Mr
ISHIMARU, Agency for Cultural Affairs; Dr Gamini WIJESURIYA, Project Manager, ICCROM;
Mr SUGIYAMA Hiroshi, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties; Mr TAKEDA
Naoki, Nara Prefectural Government; Mr IWASAKA Nanao, Nara Municipal Board of Education.
They delivered addresses of welcome, introduced some features of ancient Nara, and wished all of theparticipants would learn and experience many things through the training course. Most of them toldthat they would learn lots of thing in Japan and make use the findings of the training in their jobs after
returning. At the end of the ceremony, they had group photos with the guests, and some participants
were interviewed by a press.
After the ceremony, the participants had the orientation session given the explanation of the scheduleand information about the course. In the afternoon, after the orientation session they visited Todaiji Temple. They looked around Great Buddha Hall and Great South Gate listening to the explanation
about the history and the repair of the temple.

Mr Ishimaru from Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan

Mr Nishimura, Director of ACCU Nara Office

Dr Wijesuriya from ICCROM

Mr Sugiyama from NNRICP

11

Mr Takeda from Nara Pref. Gov.

Mr Iwasaka from Nara Municipal Gov.

Opening Ceremony at Kasugano-so Hotel

Oriantation at Todai-ji Temple

12

2. Summary of Training Course
Various experts delivered a series of lectures during this Training Course. The following is a complete
list of lectures with a brief description
3 September (Wed.)
Global Trends in Conservation of Archaeological Sites
Gamini WIJESURIYA (ICCROM)-Dr Wijesuriya gave the introduction of himself and ICCROM at first, and lectured the trends ofarchaeology. He proceeded with lecture by asking participants several questions about archaeologicalcongress and issues. Then he lectured about world heritage, telling its definition, process and values.
He emphasized the characteristics of archaeological sites that were different from other heritages, andbroaden the topic to preservation and conservation. He mentioned charter, excavation and shelter soon. After the lecture about protection, Mr Akmatov Kunbolot from Kyrgyz Republic inquired about
reburial. The lecturer suggested the discussion about it between the participants, and they argued on
the originality of artefacts.

A lecture by Dr Wijesuriya134-5 September (Thur.-Fri.)
Presentation and Discussion: Country Reports by Participants
INABA Nobuko (Tsukuba University) and Gamini WIJESURIYA (ICCROM)-Each participant gave a presentation based on their country report. They shared the present situation,
problems, needs for archaeological sites, their own experiences and their countries’ skill. Since there
were some common problems, several questions were asked after each presentation. As the feedback
Dr Wijesuriya pointed that they had to show more positive points and solutions, not only problems,then participants started the discussion and sharing solution regarding to objects and sites.
-Following the presentations and request by Dr Wijesuriya, Prof. Inaba gave a lecture aboutauthenticity on reconstruction. She mentioned the value of authenticity and described Horyu-ji
Temple and Ise Jingu in Japan as instance of rebuilding. The Japan’s uniqueness of authenticity,
especially Ise Jingu, seemed to be interesting for the participants.

Presentation by the participants

14

Presentation by participants and discussion with lecturers

15

A lecture by Prof. Inaba

8 September (Mon.)
The Cultural Protection System in Japan / Conservation and Utilisation of Cultural
Heritage Resources (Cases in Japan)
AOKI Tatsuji (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan)-In the morning, participants visited Nara Prefectural Office and met Deputy Governor of Nara
Prefecture, Mr Maeda Tsutomu. He gave a brief explanation of Nara city as archaeological sites, andwished their success in the course.
-After that, the participants had a lecture by Mr Aoki at ACCU Nara Office. He shared theclassification of cultural properties and the role of national government, local government, andowners for protection of cultural properties in Japan. After the explanation of the law for protectionof cultural properties, he described how to perform and manage archaeological sites in Japan showing
some examples such as Nara Palace Site. Through the lecture, the participants seemed to be interested
in the classification system and protection system in Japan. Especially they seemed to be surprised toknow that World Heritage sites was not always on the top of hierarchy in Japan’s system.

Meeting with Mr Maeda, Deputy Governor of Nara Prefecture

16

Mr Aoki

A lecture on the system for protecting cultural properties by Mr Aoki

9 September (Tue.)
Conservation Science of Artefacts I: Introduction
WAKIYA Soichiro (NNRICP)-The lecture began with an outline of the conservation treatment for metal artefacts. Participantslearned the mechanism of corrosion in metal observing the metal artefacts with microscopes
and cleaning them with equipment. They learned how to observe the condition of artefacts andconservation treatment, and besides, they had an experimental test of the influence of humidity
on corrosion in metal artefacts. In the afternoon they had an opportunity to tour the laboratory in
NNRICP.

The mechanism of corrosion of metal with observation of the artefacts through microscopes

17

10 September (Wed.)
Conservation Science of Artefacts II: First Aid for Fragile Artefacts
TAMURA Tomomi (NNRICP)-In the morning, participants were given a lecture about how to pick up fragile artefacts from theground. They learned two methods, with liquid nitrogen and with resin. After the lecture, they weredivided into four groups and put these two methods in practice. The progress varied with individuals.
Mr Tenjin Wangchuk from Bhutan did very well and his group’s work was introduced as a good
example.

A lecture by Ms Tamura

Practical training of picking up fragile artefacts using plaster cast

How to pick up fragile artefacts by using liquid nitrogen (left), by using urethan form (right)

11 September (Thur.)Conservation Science of artefacts III: Metal Objects / Museum Exhibition in PracticeYANAGIDA Akinobu and HASHIMOTO Hiroyuki (Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara
Prefecture)-In the morning, Mr Yanagida lectured two topics, conservation of metal artefacts in storage and18display and corrosion process of iron artefacts at Takashima-Kouzaki site. Participants observed
the result of the humidity experiment conducted on 9 Sep. and confirmed the influence of humidity
on corrosion. Based on the result, the lecturer explained the relative humidity and demonstrated RP
system as the store method of iron artefacts.
-In the afternoon the participants looked around Archaeological Museum of Kashihara, and afterthat they practiced museum exhibition: the method of packing materials and the way of exhibition.
Divided into two groups, they displayed some objects to learn the effect of arrangement and correct
direction of earthenware.

A lecture by Mr Yanagida

Lecture on temporary store method of iron objects

Making packing material for artefacts

With packed artefacts

Practurcal training on how to exhibit of earthenware

With the lecturer, Mr Hashimoto19

12 September (Fri.)
Recording/Documentation of Cultural Artefacts Photography
NAKAMURA Ichiro (NNRICP) and SUGIMOTO Kazuki (Saidaiji Photo Studio)-The lecture was about basic knowledge of photography of cultural properties. Participants learned
the basic structure of camera, various types of cameras, and how to shed lights. Lecturers proceededwith lecture by asking the participants several questions about their experience of photography.
Mr Nakamura explained how to shed light in taking artefacts by demonstration. After lunch, theparticipants were divided into two groups depending on their experience and had each practicaltraining in the studio. While beginners’ group started with the basic explanation of how to use
camera, experienced members tried shooting the artefacts operating lights and some tools.
15 September (Mon.)
Maintenance and Management of Archaeological Sites in Practice: Nara Palace Site,
Recording/Documentation of Archaeological Sites: Photography
ISHIMURA Tomo (NNRICP) and SUGIMOTO Kazuki (Saidaiji Photo Studio)-In the morning, participants had the observation tour of Nara Palace Site, from Excavation Site
Exhibition Hall through Imperial Audience Hall to Nara Palace Site Museum. They observed theremains, model restoration of Latter Imperial Audience Hall and Imperial Domicile, the unearthedobjects, and some documents of excavation. Mr Ishimura mentioned the process and technic ofreconstruction at the Former Imperial Audience hall, and the participants learned authenticity once
more.
-The afternoon lecture was about photography of cultural site. The lecturer explained the good deals
for the photograph of cultural properties and the way of shooting by an ordinal digital single-lensreflex camera with three functions: aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Then, the participants moved toEast Palace Garden for practical training. They practiced shooting the building and cultural landscapeby technical camera and ordinal digital camera.

A lecture by Mr Nakamura

20

Practical training on photography (Indoor session)

A lecture by Mr Sugimoto

A lecture by Mr Ishimura at Nara Palace Site Museum

A lecture at East Palace Garden

At Former Imperial Audience Hall

21

16 September (Tue.)
Digital Data Management in Practice: Photograph
NAKAMURA Ichiro (NNRICP)-Mr Nakamura started with the review of yesterday’s lecture about functions of digital camera, andadded the explanation of its modes. Then, participants shot photos of replica artefacts with a grey
card.
-The afternoon lecture was about processing and saving photo data. Mr Nakamura demonstrated
the photo editing with Adobe-system. He mentioned that it was significant to reduce the colour ofcultural property in a picture close to original. The participants edited the photos which they shot in
the morning and yesterday in practice.

Practical training on photography, adjusting a shutter speed and an aperture value

Practical training on digital image processing

17 September (Wed.)
World Heritage: Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto
ASAI Ken’ichi (Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education)-At Chion-in Temple, participants observed Mieido undergoing repairs. Listening to the explanation

22

about Japanese specialists of wooden architecture and their skills, the history of Mieido, its structureand summary of its repair, they observed inside. They seemed to be interested in the restoring roof,
and asked questions about it actively as well as about the scale of the repair.
-After enjoying Japanese traditional vegetarian meal, the participants went to Nijo-jo Castle andobserved the work to facsimile the painting on fusuma (sliding door) in the castle. Two special
painters explained the work; how to make replica, difficulty of colour reproduction, and importanceof observing and researching the original painting.
-On the way back the participants visited Kinkaku-ji Temple.

A lecture by Mr Asai at restoration site in Chion-in Temple

A lecture on facsimile of the paintings on fusuma at Nijo-jo Castle23

18 September (Thur.)
Measured Drawing of Artefacts I: Introduction, Measured Drawing of Artefacts II:
Earthenware
FUKASAWA Yoshiki (Tenri University), MIYOSHI Miho and IKEDA Hirohide (Nara Municipal
Archaeological Research Centre)-First, the participants got brief explanation about the relations between typology and archaeology,
and the importance of majored drawing artefacts by Mr Fukasawa and Ms Miyoshi. Then they began
to draw an earthenware following the demonstration by Mr Ikeda. Most of the participants practiced
it for the first time, but they worked seriously and learned to draw both the surface and the section
views of the earthenware.
19 September (Fri.)
Measured Drawing of Artefacts III: Earthenware, Rubbing
FUKASAWA Yoshiki (Tenri University), MIYOSHI Miho and IKEDA Hirohide (Nara Municipal
Archaeological Research Centre)-A second day of measured drawing, participants learned how to draw the patterns on earthenware andnotes. Compared to yesterday, it seemed more difficult to draw three-dimensional materials on twodimensional diagram.

A lecture by Mr Ikeda

Practical training on measured drawing of artefacts

24-In the afternoon, Mr Fukasawa shared the findings about patterns and marks of pottery through his
research, and Ms Miyoshi went on to demonstrate how to mark on pottery. In the end of the lecture,
the participants practiced the rubbing. They seemed to enjoy it because it was the first experiment foralmost all participants.

Ms Miyoshi demonstrate how to mark on pottery (left), Practical training on rubbing (right)

25

22 September (Mon.)
Recording/Documentation of Cultural Heritage Using 3D Scanner
KANEDA Akihiro (NNRICP)-In the morning, the participants listened to a lecture on how to record three-dimensional data ofcultural properties (e.g., the types and features of three-dimensional measurement methods such as
laser scanning and photogrammetric techniques) and learned about the efforts underway to develop
various survey methods to ensure that survey results of a uniform quality are constantly achieved andaccurately and promptly recorded for future generations.
-In the afternoon, the participants inspected three-dimensional data captured by a laser scanner. They
then took photographs and converted the images into three-dimensional data using specific software.

Mr Kaneda lectured documentation
with 3D measurement methods.

A lecture on the shooting method with a helicopter

23 September (Tue.)
Site Museum Operations in Practice, World Heritage: Buddhist Monuments in the
Horyu-ji Area
ARAKI Koji (Ikaruga Town Board of Education)-In the morning, the participants visited Ikaruga Cultural Properties Centre where they saw theObservation at Ikaruga Cultural Properties Centre

26

At Horyu-ji Temple

exhibition of artefacts unearthed in Fujinoki Tumulus and listened to a lecture about the tumulus.
They then went to the tumulus to see its stone chamber, while learning how it has been preserved andmanaged as a historical site.
-In the afternoon, they visited Horyu-ji Temple. Divided into four groups, they toured the South Gate,
Western Precinct and Eastern Precinct of the temple, with each group accompanied by a volunteer
guide.
24 September (Wed.)
A Study Tour: Conservation Science of Artefacts IV: Conservation Science for objects
excavated from marine sediments
NAKATA Atsuyuki and AIZAWA Tetsuro (Matsuura City, Nagasaki Pref.)-The participants first attended lectures on “The Mongolian Invasions in the 13th Century andArchaeological Surveys” and “Conservation of Artefacts Recovered from the Sea” and then visited
Takashima Museum of History and Folk Culture and also Takashima Cultural Property Centre to see
their exhibitions and facilities. The participants specialising in conservation science were especiallyinterested in the facilities of the museum and artefact conservation methods and asked manyquestions concerning the desalination of artefacts, the period required for impregnation of artefacts
with PEG, and other conservation-related issues.

Preservation of wooden artefacts by soaking in water (left), Observation at Takashima Museum of History and
Folk Culture (right)

At the laboratory

With the lecturers

27

25 September (Thur.)
A Study Tour: Facilities for Museum Science Analysis and Examination
IMAZU Setsuo (Kyushu National Museum)-In the morning, the participants listened to a lecture on the importance of conservation science formuseums, which dealt with topics such as exhibition, control of the collection storage environment,
protection of the collection from insect damage, and past scientific research utilising an X-ray CT
scanner.
-In the afternoon, they were taken to the ‘backstage’ area of the museum to see the museum’s facilities
not usually accessible to the public. Many of them took special interest in an X-ray CT scannerand a three-dimensional printer, and asked various questions about these devices. They then saw
the permanent exhibition. Before leaving the museum, each of them was given a replica of anearthenware vessel produced by a three-dimensional printer as a souvenir.

Welcome address from Mr Niwa, Exective Director of Kyusyu National Museum (left)
Mr Imazu lectured the facilities of Kyusyu National Museum (right)

Mr Imazu explained the usage of three-dimensional data.

28

A room for X-ray CT scannerA three-dimensional printerKyusyu National Museum

26 September (Fri.)A Study Tour: Inventory System and Exhibition Technique of Artefacts
ODA Kazutoshi and MATSUKAWA Hirokazu (Kyushu Historical Museum)-The participants toured the earthenware storage room and other parts of the backstage area of themuseum. In the exhibition room, they were given an explanation about the main features of theroom such as movable stand-alone display cases and free-access flooring. Questions were asked insuccession by the participants for more detailed information about the conditions of the remains
conserved in the exhibition space under the floor and free-access flooring.

A lecture by Mr Oda on how to storage for wooden objects

A lecture by Mr Matsukawa on display cases under the floor (left), Hands-on exhibition (right)

29

At the storage room

With lecturers and Exective Director

29 September (Mon.)
Education Project in Museum in Practice: Osaka Museum of History
MAMETANI Hiroyuki (Osaka Museum of History)-Today’s lecture showed the features of archaeological site and museum in the city. In morning theparticipants had brief explanation about the museum and the location, Naniwano-miya site. They
then observed the museum with iPad, which showed the ancient building and the trace of pole atthe location they used to be. Through the iPad screen the participants could find how the site havelooked. They also observed basement remains and listened to a lecture about how to conserve andmaintenance them. They looked around the exhibition of all floors in the museum and found various

Explanation by a museum guide30

At Osaka City Cultural Properties Association

ideas of exhibition.
-In the afternoon, the participants walked around Naniwano-miya Site Park and visited Osaka City
Cultural Properties Association.
30 September (Tue.)
Lecture and Discussion: Future Issues on the Preservation of Site and Remains I
Rachel Elizabeth EGERTON (Department of Conservation, New Zealand)-At first, Ms Egerton asked participants what they found the future issue on preservation throughthe training and how their ideas were changed. They discussed the matters and shared own ideas:
economic situation, nature disaster, tourism and so on. Then Ms Egerton lectured on the significanceof preservation mentioning the change of situation.
-After the afternoon presentation, divided into three groups they visited East Palace Garden. Theyobserved there carefully, and discussed the value, who hold it and what tangible or intangible
attributes within group.
1 October (Wed.)
Lecture and Discussion: Future Issues on the Preservation of Site and Remains II
Rachel Elizabeth EGERTON (Department of Conservation, New Zealand)-In the morning, the participants continued group work; discussed the values of East Palace Garden
and considered the statements of significance.
-After lunch, each group gave presentation. They explained the values that they considered and set out
the statement. Ms Egerton praised their perspectives and the good statement, and she also said it wasnecessary to consider more deeply why and how cultural site was significant. Then she lectured about
world heritage convention and statements of outstanding universal value and about interpretation ofarchaeological sites. She mentioned how to conserve the significance of cultural heritage in the future
introducing practical ways and examples.

A Lecture by Ms Egerton

31Discussion on the site (East Place Garden)

Discussion and making a presentation by group

Presentation by the participants (left), With lecturer at ACCU Nara Office (right)32

2 October (Thur.)
Writing Final Reports
3 October (Fri.)
Closing Ceremony-After all participants submitted their final report, the closing ceremony was held at Kasugano-so
Hotel. They received the certificate, and completed the training for a month. Director Nishimura had
a celebrating speech and praised their work. He told them to value the relationship and friendshipthrough this training and to keep contact in the future. Next speaker, Mr Morimoto Susumu, thechief of NNIRICP, also emphasised the future relationship between Japan and their countries. Ms
Tserendorj Tsolmon from Mongolia and Mr Arshad Ullah from Pakistan, gave words gratitude as therepresentatives of participants. The participants had the last group photos, then the training coursecame to end.

Ms Tserendorj Tsolmon from Mongolia

Mr Arshad Ullah from Pakistan

Closing Ceremony

33

.

Country Reports
by Participants

III. Country Reports by Participants

Bangladesh
Jayed Muhammad

Problems and Needs for Cultural Heritage Protection and Restoration
Activities in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a small country but also a very rich one in terms of its natural beauty and cultural
heritage. Bangladesh’s cultural heritage is testimony to many centuries of religious, economic andsocial movements in this part of the South Asian region. This is recognized by the government as aunique inheritance which both legitimizes the state and the people who have inhabited the area since
early historic periods and who established the cultures of successive historic periods from the Hindu,
Buddhist, Muslim and other colonial eras. From this, we easily realize that Bangladesh has a numberof very rich cultural heritage sites, such as Paharpur Buddhist Vihara/Monastery, Mahasthangarh,
Mainamati, Shait Gambuj Mosque, etc. Considering the importance of these sites, Paharpur Buddhist
Vihara at Nawgaon and Shait Gambuj Mosque at Bagerhat have already been inscribed as UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites. These two World Heritage Sites are threatened by many factors; otherarchaeological sites in Bangladesh also face many problems.
The archaeological sites of Bangladesh are being damaged due to many reasons, such as biologicaleffects, natural disasters, human vandalism, etc. These reasons are co-related with others. Some ofthem are described below.

1. Humidity
Humidity is a particularly severe cause of damage to archaeological objects. Every archaeologicalobject achieves a balanced condition in a balanced humidity. So the condition of artefacts can change
due to rises and falls in humidity. This occurs mainly in two ways, directly or indirectly.
Organic objects are severely damaged by the effects of humidity. Artefacts made of textile, paper,bone, ivory and wood deteriorate in humidity. In lower humidity these elements release moisture anddry out, and external particles become loose. Therefore, cracking, brittleness, bending, etc. can occur.
Higher humidity increases the action of microorganisms and plants and increases chemical activity. So
in metal objects chemical reactions are accelerated, causing rust on iron objects, and bronze disease on
copper and bronze objects.

2. Rainfall
At archaeological sites, cultural heritage is greatly damaged as a result of heavy and long-term rainfall.
The heaviest rainfalls create water logging, flooding and increase salinity at archaeological sites. The
higher humidity that accompanies long-term rainfall allows plants and microorganisms to grow easily
on building structures, creating cracks in the buildings through the action of roots and the secretion oforganic acid. This simultaneously decreases the aesthetic beauty of the monuments.

37

3. Water logging
In water logging, water and saline absorbed
by siliceous objects is the main factor
damaging archaeological monuments. The
presence of water will accelerate any kindof erosion by increasing the salinity and thenumber of microorganisms, encouraging
the growth of higher plants. Archaeologicalmonuments therefore lose their aesthetic
beauty and are finally destroyed.

Fig-01: Logged water in the courtyard of Paharpur World
Heritage Site.

4. Salinity
One of the most serious causes of visible deterioration of the brickwork of monuments is salinity.
Extensive efflorescence of the salt in the wall mostly at the base of monuments is often seen during
the months of November to February (the dry season). But during the rainy season it is less visually
predominant. Rainwater during the season dissolves the salt and washes it away, or dissolves it so it
is retained inside the brick capillaries. During the dry season there is a great reduction of water andhumidity. The force of evaporation pulls water along with the salt from the capillaries to the outersurface of the bricks as efflorescence, or sometimes only the water evaporates, leaving the salt inside
the capillaries, causing outward pressure on the wall. The pressure exerted by the solid salt breaks thecapillary wall of the brick in the course of time. It can be clearly seen as fissuring and flaking of thebrick surface. This phenomenon has been observed at many sites in Bangladesh. EG: Paharpur Vihara,
Shait Gambuz Mosque, Tajhat Palace, etc.

Fig-02: The white mark of salt efflorescence can be seen even in the rainy season in a corner wallof Paharpur monument.

38

5. Worms, Insects and Animals
Artefacts are damaged by different types of worms and insects. Wood, books, textiles, leather andother organic objects are all affected. These harmful worms, insects and animals include silver worms,
book worms, wool worms, rats and cockroaches, etc. Most of these feed on organic objects. So
immeasurable damage can be done to archaeological remains.
Bats, pigeons, sparrows, crows and other birds drop faeces on the monuments, which firstly spoil theaesthetic beauty of the building. Bird faeces may also cause some degree of biochemical disintegrationof brick surfaces. They produce brick acid that may be harmful to the building materials.

6. Higher Plants
Brick monuments are easily destroyed by higher plants growing on the wall of the monument. The
biophysical decay is mainly due to the growth and radial thickening of the roots of plants inside thebrickwork, which results in increasing pressure on surrounding areas of the masonry. Their roots cangrow many meters in length, width and depth. This is a dangerous condition that can result in thecollapse or detachment of brick buildings, as well as other damage.

Fig-03: Damage by a higher plant.

7. Biodeteriogens
In tropical environments a wide variety of biodeteriogens are found on brick monuments. These
organisms can cause direct or indirect damage. Algae, fungi, lichens, mosses and liverworts, etc. are
responsible for not only disfiguring the aesthetic beauty of the monument’s surface but also causing
other physical degradation like detachment or flaking. They also accumulate high humidity on the
structure, which provides a suitable environment for the growth of higher plants. The higher plants
growing on the monuments can easily create cracks by pushing their roots into the building. Therefore,
the building weakens and finally collapses.

39Fig-04: Algal attack and moss attack

8. Human Vandalism
Man can be responsible for all kinds of destruction at cultural heritage sites, either intentionally orunintentionally. In fact, lack of knowledge about heritage may lead to various destructive activities.
Sometimes visitors can be seen damaging a building wall or writing something on an object or writingon brickwork through scratching or graving the bricks. There is a common tendency for visitors totouch objects or to climb up to the top of a monastery, for instance, even though official restrictions
have been imposed.
Beside this, natural disasters, looting, war,transportation, dereliction of duty civilization
and urbanization, unsustainable tourism,
etc. are also responsible for destruction ofarchaeological monuments.

Fig-05: Visitors can climb up to the top of Paharpur

Needs for Protection of Cultural Heritage
While identifying the threats to our cultural heritage is comparatively easy, countering them effectively
requires understanding their root causes.

Lack of Skilled Experts
A shortage of trained people is an especially urgent problem in our country. There are few skilled
professionals—archaeologists, conservation experts, material specialists, structural engineers andhistoric architects—to participate in conservation activities in our country.

40

Lack of Effective Monitoring and Enforcement
Lack of monitoring and enforcement is another big problem in our country. A complicating factor
is that, for a government with limited financial resources, monitoring and enforcement are often
unaffordable or unjustifiable in the face of more urgent national needs. If the government can raiseawareness among the local people about cultural heritage then they would be able to protect thearchaeological site successfully.

Lack of National Funding and International Support
We know that archaeological work is very expensive. Our country is very rich in cultural heritage, but
our resources are limited. Therefore, we need national and international financial support. Then we canpreserve our cultural heritage properly.

Lack of Awareness
Every destructive incident that happens at an archaeological site is due to lack of public awareness.
So we must try to raise awareness among the people through publicity campaigns and by providing
leaflets, brochures, etc. to visitors.
Beside this, we can also increase awareness with seminars and workshops in local communities. If we
can increase awareness among our people about heritage, then our valuable archaeological monuments
and sites may be protected.

Conclusion
Although Bangladesh is a small and poor country, it has a very rich cultural heritage, and we willpropose new cultural heritage sites in the Tentative List to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre.
Due to many obstacles we cannot preserve them very well, and for this reason we cannot properly
introduce our glorious history to our future generations. However, if we were able to gain someexpertise and skills through appropriate training, we could then properly conserve and protect ourglorious history, and thus, introduce our future generations to their glorious cultural heritage.

References
1. Jahan, S.A.M. Monowar and Bulbul Ahmed. 2004. Shanskrit Shampad Shanrakhan (Conservationof Cultural Property), in Bengali, Dhaka: The Centre for Archaeological Research.
2. Ahmed, Bulbul. 2010. ‘Bio-Deterioration of Brick-built Archaeological Monuments in Bangladeshwith Special Reference to Darasbari Mosque, Nawabganj: Scientific Investigation towards
Conservation: Pratnatattava (Journal of the Department of Archaeology, Jahangirnagar University,
Savar, Dhaka – 1342) 16: 63 – 73
3. Training and Capacity Building for Long-term Management and Best Practice Conservation for
the Preservation of Cultural Heritage Sites and World Heritage Properties in Bangladesh. Dhaka;
Department of Archaeology Government of The People’s Republic of Bangladesh, F – 4/A,
Agargaon Administrative Area, Sher-e-Banglanagar, Dhaka – 1207.

41

BhutanTenzin Wangchuk

Problems and Needs for Cultural Heritage Protection and Restoration
Activities in Bhutan
Introduction
Bhutan is known to the world for its rich, unique and beautiful cultural heritage. The major aspectsof the tangible cultural heritage of Bhutan are formed by the myriad heritage buildings and sites ofgreat historic, religious and cultural significance to the people. These heritage buildings in Bhutan are
known for being “living heritage” as they play a vital role in the daily lives of the people.
Most of the heritage buildings in Bhutan date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, but there area significant number of sites that date back as far as the 7th century. The heritage buildings of
Bhutan consist mainly of massive fortresses called dzong, stupas (choeten), temples (lhakhang) andmonasteries, thousands of which are strewn all across the country. Traditional farmhouses varying
in construction materials and styles from region to region within the country also form an importantpart of the country’s collection of heritage buildings. Heritage buildings have evolved with distinctive
styles and architecture according to the topography, climatic conditions and availability of natural
resources of each region. They havealso been shaped by the religious
beliefs and socio-cultural conditionsof the people. In addition to theirarchitectural, aesthetic, historic,
documentary, and archaeologicalsignificance, most of these heritagebuildings have deep spiritual andcultural significance to the people of
Bhutan.

Figure1: Bhutan Map

The following cultural heritage protection and restoration activities in our country were completed andhanded over to the respective dzongkhag administrations during the 10th Five Year Plan 2008-2013:
1. Dagana Dzong Conservation/Renovation Project
2. Paro Dzong Conservation/Renovation Project
3. Wangdue Dzong Conservation/Renovation Project
4. Lhuntse Dzong Conservation/Renovation Project42

Dagana Dzong Conservation/Renovation Project
The project team has successfully completed the conservation work of the dzong. As per theconservation guideline, the management team has preserved the old traditional structure with minorchanges, incorporating seismic resilient features, while retaining authenticity and integrity.
The focus of the conservation project is to strengthen the structure as well as to improve the living
conditions of the inhabitants. Besides renovating the main structure, i.e., the dzong, the management
team has constructed subsidiary structures such as
the drasha, dining hall, conference hall and others as
per the requirement of the dzongkhag administration
and Dratshang Lhuentshog. Moreover, in line withrecent trends, firefighting measures have also been
included in the master plan of the renovation, whichgoes a long way towards saving heritage sites fromfire hazards due to the difficulty of securing access tothe sites.

Figure2: Dagana Dzong

Paro Dzong Conservation/Renovation Project

Figure3: Paro Dzong

Wangdue Dzong Conservation/Renovation Project
The Wanduephodrang Dzong renovation project was one of the projects of national importanceexecuted departmentally by the Department of Culture in the 10th Five Year Plan. The overall budget
for the project is 200 million under the project-tied assistance of the Royal Government of Bhutan andthe government of India. The major work includes renovation of the dzong, construction of drasha
for monks, conference and dining hall, dzongkhag administration head residence and other small
subsidiary structures. After the fireon June 24, 2012, the project isnow a reconstruction project andis one of the projects of national
importance in the 11th Five Year
Plan.
Figure4: Wangdue Dzong after fire, Photo DCHS

43

Figure5: Wangdue Dzong before fire, Photo DCHS

Figure6: Wangdue Dzong during fire, Photo DCHS

Lhuntse Dzong Conservation/Renovation Project
Brief History
In 1551, Ngagi Wangchuk, the youngest son of Ngawang Chogyal, visited Bhutan, accompanied byhis family from Druk Ralung in Tibet. His visit to a number of holy sites in different regions of thecountry eventually took him to Kurtoe. At the present-day site of Lhuntse Dzong he meditated andbuilt a small temple, which came to be known as Kurtoe Lhuntse Phodrang. For many years the Lama
resided here, later going to Timula, where he established his summer seat.
According to another account, Ngagi Wangchuk first meditated at Timula. Later, when he went tolook for a winter seat, he arrived at the present site of Lhuntse Dzong. There the local deity appeared
before him in the form of a white, bleating goat. The bleat was taken as an auspicious sign and he built
a temple in 1552. It was named Leyley Dzong (The Fortress of the Goat) after the sound of the goat’s
bleat. Various other oral sources, though, suggest different ways by which the dzong acquired its name.
One story says that a rock below the dzong is in the shape of a goat; and it is said that this rock bleated,alluding to the dzong’s name. Another account states that the site chosen for Lhuntse Dzong was ona high ridge across the Kurichu, on the right-hand side of Tangmachhu village. Opposite the ridgeand below it lies Minjay village, where there is a rock shaped like a frog. This rock is also believed tohave bleated like a goat. The people considered this to be an inauspicious sign and shifted the site ofconstruction from Minjay village to the present site.
In an attempt to spread Drukpa rule in eastern Bhutan, the first penlop, Minjur Tempa, headed to
Kurtoe for battle after defeating the Chokhor Deb of Bumthang. After defeating his adversaries in
Kurtoe, he ordered the construction of Lhuntse Dzong. Another source states that Lama Namsay led
the battle and contemplated building a dzong in the area. While looking for a site, he found the templeof Yongzin Ngagi Wangchuk to be suitable. In 1654 the dzong was built and was named Lhundrup
Rinchentse.
During the reign of the Fourth Desi, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay, the monk-tax tradition of sending one boy
from each family to the dzongs was established, whereby the first 60 monks were recruited in Lhuntse

44

Dratshang. The practice of monk-tax gradually died away over the centuries. After the completion of
the dzong, various religious artifacts and relics were installed by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye. Today thedzong houses approximately 200 monks.
A legend tells about the origin of the statue of Tshepame and its arrival at Lhuntse Dzong. A fisherman
who had laid his trap in a steam, possibly Kilingchu, found the image while inspecting the trap one
morning. It was decided that the image be kept at Killing Lhakhang; but the image behaved moststrangely, construed as its refusal to stay in the lhakhang. On more than one occasion, it is believed tohave flown outside of the lhakhang. On one occasion it was found at a place called Nongma Chorten.
An iron chain curtain was hung in front of the lhakhang’s window in order to keep the image in thelhakhang. However, the image tore a gap in the chains and escaped. Killing Gonpo, the lhakhang’s
deity, is believed to have thrown a stone as it was escaping, which broke the centre of its crown,
Rignga.
On a hill adjacent to Lhuntse Dzong stands the village of Jang. A woman was cutting grass in the rice
paddy fields when she heard “atsa,” an expression of pain. On closer inspection she found the sacredimage. Her sickle had sliced through its left thumb. One source states it is possible that the image wasthen moved to Lhuntse Dzong. Another source says that it first travelled close to Legpagang stream, tothe cypress grove below the village; then it was taken to the dzong. Due to the blessing of the image,it is believed that smoke rises from the grove in the eight month, prior to the celebrated “blessed rainyday.”

Restoration Works
Construction of New Drasha
We have constructed a two story building with attached toilet and bathroom which can accommodate
300 monks, and another two story building is also being built. The upper one will serve as the main
prayer hall for the monks and the ground floor will be a dining hall cum hostel for small monks who
do not have many responsibilities.

Figure8: Monks Hostel, Photo LDCP

Figure9: Hostel cum dining hall for Monks,
LDCP

45

Reconstruction of Ta Dzong
The 2009 earthquake seriously damaged the two story
traditional building which serves as the Ta Dzong. We
demolished the whole building above ground level andreconstructed it without damaging the traditional design.

Figure10: Reconstructed Ta-Dzong

Restoration of Timber and Masonry Work in Utse (Main Tower)
Upon conducting a structural study of the main utse, it was found thatthe timber had deteriorated over time and there were corner cracks
throughout the wall in the front façade. Therefore, the management
team pulled down the front façade and retained the original back andside portion of the wall.
The deteriorated timber components were replaced, but the traditional
original design components were retained and restored.
Figure11: Restored utse

Replacement of Timber at Zeerey
These are the four major ongoing activities on conservation of the heritage buildings in the 11th Five
Year Plan:

46

Figure12: Dismantlinged the timbers works at
ZeereyFigure13: Placing new timber at Zeerey

Figure14: Replacing roofing materials at Karsel
Lhakhang

Figure15: Replacing timber structures at Karsel
Lhakhang

1. Paro Ta Dzong Renovation/Conservation
2. Tashigang Dzong Renovation/Conservation
3. Gasa Dzong Renovation/Conservation
4. Re Construction of Wangdue Dzong

Figure16: Paro Ta Dzong

Brief History of Paro Ta Dzong
After Ringpung Dzong was successfully completed, La Ngoenpa Tenzin Drugda, the Second Desi,
was installed as the Paro Penlop. During his tenure the country was threatened by unceasing assaults
from Tibet and India. Therefore, to protect the country from invaders and especially to protect the Paro
Ringpung Dzong, La-Ngoenpa Tenzin Drugda, together with Chhogyal Minjur Tenpa, built the Ta
Dzong (Ta=watch, Dzong=fortress) in the mid-seventeenth century.
The dzong’s 4th floor was used as a jail in the past. There is a footbridge, a temporary structure andintended as such, between the upper 5th floor and the lower 3rd floor, which could be disconnected,
confining the captives to the 4th floor. Being a removable bridge, it was strategically useful during
times of war to limit the enemy’s advance. As a result, the dzong is also known as Dra Dzong (Defence
Fortress). An underground passage is believed to have connected this tower to the Pachu River. It
was mainly built to collect water during times of war and to supply the dzong when water was scarce.
Today the passage is no more to be seen, as it was buried by debris at the time of renovations. Paro
Ta Dzong is more than 350 years old. It has remained uninhabited for a long time. The children in the
nearby area used it as a playground and entertainment room. This caused some damage to the dzong,and over time it almost collapsed. But the Father of Modern Bhutan, the Third King, Jigme Dorji
Wangchuck, out of undying fondness for the cultural legacies of the past, ordered its renovation.

Brief History of Tashigang Dzong
Trashigang Dzong was founded
according to the prophecies of
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. In
order to spread Drukpa rule overSharchog Khorlo Tisb Gyed (theeight regions of eastern Bhutan),
he directed the Trongsa Penlop,
Chhogyal Minjur Tempa, to subdue
the local chieftains and build a dzongat the present site.

Figure17: Tashigang Dzong

47

Brief History of Gasa Dzong
Built on a slope facing east, Gasa Dzong is theadministrative headquarters of Gasa Dzongkhag, which
consists of the Mochhu valley, locally known as Goen
Khartoed in the upper region and Goen Kharmed in
the lower region, extending as far as the Punakha
Dzongkhag. The locals say that the entire landscape has
the appearance of the image of Tseheringma, Goddess ofLong Life; and the dzong, named Trashi Thongmon, isbuilt on the chest of this image, which happens to be thelocal deity of Gasa.

Figure18: Gasa Dzong

Problems and Needs for Cultural Heritage Protection and Restoration Activities in
Bhutan:Awareness, Understanding and Appreciation of Heritage Sites
The lack of awareness, understanding and appreciation among the general public on the importanceof conservation of our precious heritage sites in Bhutan has been the main challenge faced by the
Department of Culture. The concept of conservation is new and has been borrowed from outside andnewly introduced into our country. The concept of conservation is unfamiliar to many stakeholders,
and therefore, the public are not aware of the need for conservation and don’t understand and realize
the value of the old “fabric” of heritage sites, which makes it difficult for the conservators while
carrying out conservation work, as the people always wish to dismantle our valuable old structuresand have them replaced with new structures. In this regard, the importance of creating awareness andappreciation among the general public is one of the top priorities set by the government of Bhutan.

Challenge as a Living Heritage
Most of our heritage sites in Bhutan are a living heritage, whereby people are still culturally associatedwith the heritage sites with daily activities taking place inside the sites.
Being a living heritage, they are constantly subject to alteration in terms of design and materials aswell as function. They are exposed to continuous wear and tear and numerous disaster risks. A risingnumber of monks, and the need to provide modern facilities and amenities for the residents of theheritage sites not only increasingly brings about change to the historic structures and their fabric, butalso increases the disaster risk. It has now become critical to give extra attention to these heritage
sites, which were originally constructed without provision for installation of electricity, water supply
and modern sanitary facilities but have now been burdened with such requirements. This, when
executed mostly without proper monitoring and implementation, weakens the structure and adds tothe vulnerability of the structure to natural hazards, especially earthquakes, and also contradicts theprinciples of conservation. It thus becomes a challenging issue when carrying out restoration andconservation works.

48

Issues Pertaining to Modernization
With the advent of modernization and the rapid development taking place in the country, along with
the introduction of new construction techniques and materials, our traditional skills and customs invarious areas including our unique architectural design, construction techniques and materials arebeing replaced.
Physical heritage traditions such as architectural designs and construction techniques that are
unique, environmentally friendly, and utilize local materials by local craftspeople and villagers arebeing replaced by modern structures that are often out of context and constructed clumsily due toinexperience and lack of skill. These are resulting in the disappearance of vernacular traditional houses
and the related construction practices. Modern construction materials are used without understanding
their effect on the building when used in combination with local construction materials, thus creating
vulnerabilities for the structure as a whole.

Natural Disasters and Their Challenges
With a significant number of natural disasters having occurred in recent times, the extent of the threat tothe survival of all the heritage sites in the country has become very high. Bhutan recently experienced
two earthquakes, i.e., 2009 and 2011, causing a lot of damage and destruction to our cultural heritage
sites. About 270 cultural heritage sites (including dzongs, lhakhangs and chortens) were damaged by
the 2009 earthquake and around 330 cultural heritage sites were badly damaged by the September 2011
earthquake. It has become a huge challenge for the government to restore them at one go, considering
the number of heritage sites damaged, and the shortage of technical capability, manpower and financial
resources that Bhutan can mobilize, thus leaving the heritage sites in dilapidated condition, and more
prone and vulnerable to further destruction and damage. The Bhutanese government has still not beenable to recover from the huge amount of damage to the heritage sites from the last two earthquakes.

Shortage of Professionals in the Field of Heritage and Conservation
One of the primary problems currently faced in the field of conservation of heritage sites in Bhutan isa shortage of adequate key professionals and human resources in the Division for the Conservation of
Heritage Sites office. The DCHS office, being the central agency in the government responsible for theconservation, promotion and development of heritage sites in Bhutan, is not able to reach out to assess
and monitor conservation works in every corner of the country. The remote and sometimes almost
inaccessible location of monuments also creates many constraints in terms of maintenance, safety andconservation. Of greater concern is that many of ancient and valuable monuments are often ignorantly
being dismantled and destroyed instead of being conserved, thus causing whole treasure houses ofour heritage to be lost forever. Also, due to limited technical capability within the country in the fieldof cultural heritage site protection and restoration, many of the restoration projects actually becomereconstruction projects.

No Heritage Act or Other Legal Document
At present there is no heritage act or any legal document governing the rules and regulations for the49

protection of heritage sites in Bhutan. This poses a great challenge when defining the responsibilities
and accountability of heritage sites for protection and restoration. However, the DCHS office iscurrently in the process of formulating the Heritage Act bill, which will be submitted to the parliament
for enactment. Once the Heritage Act is enacted and adopted, it will govern and ensure the protectionof cultural heritage sites in Bhutan.

Heritage Sites (Traditional Constructions being Non-engineered Buildings)
The traditional method of construction in Bhutan is either rammed earth construction or composite
stone masonry with timber construction. Since our precious heritage monuments are either rammed
earth or stone masonry construction without any scientific and engineering calculations, the stability ofthe vernacular structures are now been questioned by the community, and this has become a challenge.
Due to the recent earthquake disaster, the mind-set of people has changed, and the feeling now is thattraditionally constructed heritage monuments such as lhakhangs, dzongs and vernacular traditional
farmhouses are not strong enough to withstand tremors, due to the fact that most heritage sites suffereddamage during the recent earthquakes and thus they want to reconstruct them with modern techniques
using steel and concrete.

No Pool Budget for Restoration and Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites
There is no pool budget allocated for the protection and restoration of cultural heritage sites in Bhutan,
which hampers conservation and restoration projects. As mentioned earlier, recovery and restoration
works for most of the cultural heritage sites damaged by the 2009 and 2011 earthquakes were not able
to start due to lack of funds.

Traditional Belief in Merit
It is believed in Bhutan that making offerings to religious sites, which make up most of the heritage
sites, earns merit, and this encourages many people to seek to “improve” the heritage site. This
normally takes the form of reconstruction of the structure with either a better architectural design ora bigger living space. It is therefore a big challenge to discourage people from doing this good deed
when it is spiritual belief, versus conservation of heritage sites.

Replication of Architectural Designs
One of the issues faced at present in our country is the desire to replicate elaborate architecturaldesigns at all heritage sites regardless of the uniqueness of the architecture. In the process of restoring
particular heritage sites, every individual or local community belonging or associated with the site
wants it to look prominent and much more elaborate, and thus the design is replicated from others,
which leads to loss of the unique architecture of individual heritage sites.

New Constructions
The number of newly-constructed lhakhangs are increasing tremendously recently, regardless of theefforts of the government to discourage new construction. The construction of new lhakhangs often

50results in neglecting the existing lhakhang in the area/village, which is historically and spirituallymore significant. The new construction increases the stock of lhakhangs and choetens in the country,
increasing the future burden on the government for their conservation and management.

Inventory of Heritage Sites in Bhutan
Currently there is no proper inventory of heritage sites in Bhutan, which is the most fundamental
information required for the protection and conservation of heritage sites. Inventory records will not
only help us to understand the heritage sites better, but will also assist us in rebuilding the heritage sitesof historical importance; therefore with no inventory record, this leaves us with very vague information
on some of the heritage sites; however, the DCHS office started preliminary work on developing theinventory of heritage sites of Bhutan in the year 2011, and is expected to complete the work soon.

Vandalism - Manmade DisasterOne of the biggest issues pertaining to the protection of heritage sites in Bhutan is the vandalism ofheritage sites, which is a manmade disaster. Since there are vast numbers of heritage sites in Bhutan
spread all over the country in every nook and cranny, to ensure the protection of each and every site
has become very difficult, thus enabling them to become a victim of vandalism.

Conclusion
The cultural heritage of Bhutan is an integral part of our identity, unity and continuity, forming an
indisputable physical record of the historical, artistic and technical achievements of the Bhutanesethrough many centuries. The preservation and promotion of culture is also one of the four pillars ofGross National Happiness, the nation’s guiding developmental philosophy.
Heritage sites, which are a core component of the cultural heritage of Bhutan, form an integral coreof the country’s rich and ancient cultural heritage and traditions. Culture is one of the main centres of
attraction for tourists, with tourism being the second most important source of income for the nation;conservation and protection of heritage sites must therefore be ensured into the future.
Thus, with the advent of modernization and as a result of several disasters over the last decade, anumber of heritage sites are being renovated or altered and reconstructed with modern technology. All
citizens of Bhutan must, at all times, make a joint effort to overcome the various threats to, and thenegative impact of modernization on our heritage sites. The need to protect and preserve our cultural
heritage sites has therefore become the utmost priority in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

51

Cambodia
Hour Sothorn

East Mebon Temple Research and Conservation Works
1. Aims of the Project
Archaeologists from the Office of Archaeological Works had thoroughly studied the causes of thedamage and subsequent collapse of the foundations of the staircases decorated with lion sculptures at
the northern and western parts of the temple. After finishing the restoration these lion sculptures will
be put back into their original places. The Office of Archaeological Works took this opportunity to
expand the study on the foundations of the whole temple in order to investigate and understand thesub-structural condition and dimensions of the temple’s foundations. Another aim of the project is toupgrade the value of the architecture and the environment of the temple.

2. General Locations and Contexts
East Mebon temple is situated in the middle of Baray Yasodhadak, a water reservoir (Fig.1), withdimensions of 2 by 7 kilometres, which was a huge structure in the ancient period. This water reservoir
was an infrastructure installation that boosted the economy of the Angkor civilization. The resulting
prosperity enabled the Khmer monarchies
to build a social infrastructure and othercolossal religious buildings. Professors Ang
Choulean and B.P Groddlier elaborated that
the Angkor civilization relied on a water
system, that is, they depended on agriculture.
After this water reservoir was abandoned
and blocked, and fell into disuse, somecommunities moved in to settle around
Baray dike, and other parts at the bottom of
Baray became rice paddies.

Fig.1: Map indicating the location of East Mebon temple.

3. Historical Aspect
East Mebon temple was constructed in the reign of King Rajendravarman II, in the mid-10th century,in the middle of Baray Yasodhadak (Baray Oriental) and dedicated to the god Siva of Brahmanism1.
This temple has similar characteristics to Lolei temple. The Khmer’s ancestors also built Lolei
temple in the middle of Baray. Therefore, it was not a coincidence that we notice several carving
designs on Mebon Oriental copied directly from the Lolei temple2 . In the mid-10th century, King
Rajendravarman II began building a royal palace and Phimean Akas in early form. Through various
152

M. Glaize During the year 1927 by M Glazeother constructions in this king’s reign, we understand that his royal capital city was laid out and built
in respect to the original layout of the royal capital city Yasodharapura, which was established by King
Yasodharavarman I. This city was laid out along two axes: opposite to the path of the sun, compared toPhnom Bakheng, and parallel to Mebon temple. Pre Rup temple is a royal monument situated opposite
to the path of the sun, parallel to Mebon temple. We still see the remnants of raised-earth causeways
leading in all four directions from Pre Rup temple. Those are opposite and parallel to the path of thesun from the temple built by King Rajendravarman II.

4. Present Condition
With Cambodia having undergone civil conflicts for more than three decades, the conservation,
maintenance, restoration and rehabilitation works of cultural heritage in Cambodia were delayed fora long period. Meanwhile, there were people who had illegally traded ancient art objects on the black
market. This exploitation of cultural heritage has caused serious damage to ancient temples throughout
Cambodia. The monuments inside Angkor Park had also deteriorated gravely. For East Mebon, we
noticed its already poor condition had been aggravated by stonework having fallen down and scatteredaround, as well as tilted building structures, etc. Stone blocks of various structures had also decayed,leading to sunken foundations, and so forth (Figs. 2 and 3).

Fig. 2: Condition of the eastern staircase.

Fig. 3: East Mebon Plan (by EFEO)

5. Study of Dangerous Points
Teams of engineers and archaeologists have cooperated with Indian experts who have been undertaking
restoration work at Ta Prohm temple (ASI). They went to East Mebon to study and assess the risks
to the building structures. This joint study showed that these building structures have undergone
destruction as a result of many factors such as:

2

The Angkor, Past, Present, and Future, p. 49- 50

53

5.1 Natural Factors
The Angkor region has a monsoon tropical climate. The heat of the sun, the moisture and the wind
have an impact on certain construction materials which are unable to adapt to this climate. Thechanging climate makes temple stones susceptible to erosion and decay, which lowers the qualityof the stones. The rain is also a major problem, as it has caused water to overflow and penetrate into
the temple’s foundations, for instance, and damaged the staircase in the north and west. Moreover,this tropical climate enables vegetation such as mosses and lichens to flourish, which are types ofvegetation that cause temple stones to decay.

5.2 Human Factors
According to the investigation carried out on this building, we encountered evidence of stones having
been removed from the temple. This removal of construction materials induced the temple structure tolose its stability, which caused the temple stones to fall down. During the civil conflicts in Cambodia,
certain persons took this opportunity to chisel off carvings from temple walls and sought to loot otherancient art objects and sculptures in the temples to sell.

5.3 Technical Factors
The temple superstructure had beendamaged due to leakage and poor
drainage in the foundation walls caused
by defective techniques to connect thestone blocks together. Thus, rainwater
flowed through these defective joints
and accumulated inside the foundations.
Instability of foundations is the main
reason why temple superstructurescollapse (fig. 4, 5, 6 and 7).

Fig. 4 and 5: The cracked condition of the northern staircases
and lion sculpture pedestal.

Fig 6: Front view of the condition of the lion
sculpture pedestal

54

Fig. 7: Side view of the condition of the lion
sculpture pedestal

6. Excavation in Rehabilitation Project and Restoration of Staircases
The archaeologists and architects conducted their joint
study in two steps. The first step was to excavate any
unearthed lion sculptures which were lying beneath theground and to study the condition of the foundations ofstaircases. The next step was to undertake restoration
work to stabilize the staircase foundations and to extend
research on the condition of staircases in the whole ofFig. 8 Location of excavation trenches

Mebon temple (fig. 8).

6.1 Trench 1
This trench was excavated across the earth mound adjacent to the temple’s northern staircases,
for the purpose of uncovering and restoring the lion sculptures and for studying the condition of
the foundations of the staircases. The main goal of this study is to restore and stabilize the temple
staircases so that the lion sculptures can be put back in their original places and also to facilitate
a visiting route for tourists in the temple. The median depth of this earth mound is 1.5 m. The
composition of the soil is hard and firmly compacted with a yellow colour mixed with dark red clayin the upper part. We encountered some potshards, fragments of bricks, corrugated iron, and charcoal.
The soil deposited at the bottom of this earth mound is loose, in a lighter grey colour than the upper
section, and we also encountered several fragments of roof tiles, bricks, ceramics and pieces of laterite.
We also discovered some pieces of laterite and sandstone in good shape (Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12). At
a depth of 0.3 m, we found fragments of lion sculpture manes buried next to the five lion sculpture
fragments.

Fig. 9: Condition before excavation

Fig.10: Cross section of soil layers extending fromwest to east.

Fig.11: This is the location of a lion stand, which will be
restored and stabilized, along with the temple staircases.
It will then be put back in its original place.

Fig.12: Lion sculpture lying on the ground.

55

6.2 Trench 2This trench was excavated across the earth mound located near the western staircase. The purposeof this excavation was to lift up the lion sculptures to be restored and to study the condition of thefoundation of the whole staircase (Fig. 13).
The goal of this study was to restore and stabilize the foundation plinths, hoist the lion sculpturesand place them in their original locations, and facilitate visits by tourists. In the southern part of theearth mound next to the foundation plinth, there wereseveral potshards and some roof tile fragments. The soil
composition of the earth mound is hard compacted clay
in yellow, mixed with a dark red colour in the upper part.
The earth mound contained roof tiles, brick fragments,
potshards, and small pieces of charcoal. According to thisexcavation, we can conclude that this earth mound wasprobably related to the cleaning of the foundation terrace
in the French era and subsequent soil deposited in later
periods.

Fig.13: Lion sculpture lying on the ground.

6.3 Results of Excavation
Through stratigraphy studies on both trenches, we can divide the soil layer evolution into four different
phases:-Phase 1: The bottom of the foundation is prepared prior to construction of the temple by pounding andcompacting fine sand mixed with mountain rocks 5 cm to 20 cm in diameter.
-Phase 2: This has a thickness of 1.5 cm divided into three layers, the lower layer of which has thecharacteristics of firmly compacted soil. The upper soil layer is a blend of mountain rockfragments lying in a horizontal position and some ceramic fragments. This phase involves aprocess of pounding and compacting foundation soil with small pieces of laterite in order toprevent the water from penetrating into the temple’s foundation.
-Phase 3: According to in situ observation, we discovered several potshards mixed with roof tiles,
brick fragments and charcoal. Furthermore, on upper foundation terraces, there are tracesof several postholes. With these postholes, we can conclude that on this foundation terrace,
there existed a wooden structure covered with earthen roof tiles. The soil sediment anddeposit probably formed in the ancient era (in the medieval era).
-Phase 4: In this phase, we encountered several small pieces of laterite, charcoal, and potshards
scattered with corrugated iron. The formation of the soil layer in this phase is related to
sweeping and cleaning activities on foundation terraces during the French era in 1931, andalso to looting activities in the present time. There are two lion sculptures that probably
tumbled sometime between the 70s and 90s due to their good condition and shape, and there
are only a few broken parts. Moreover, if the two lion sculptures had tumbled before theFrench era, French conservators would have probably repaired them and placed them back intheir original positions like the lion sculptures on the eastern staircase. The foundation of thatstaircase is still in better condition.

56

7. Excavation on Staircase Foundation
This excavation was conducted for the purpose of studying structures lying below the foundation andunderstanding the cause of damage (diagnosis)
so that we can find a solution to raise a
restoration and stabilization project on these
two staircases in the future (Fig. 14).

Fig.14: Locations of excavation trenches A-C

7.1 Excavation Trench A
The first excavation trench was dug at the western side of the staircase to survey the cause of damage
in this staircase (Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18).

Fig.15: Excavation trench A showing
foundation of northern staircase

Fig.16: Plan of foundation of northern staircase
foundation

Figs.17 and 18: Elevation plan of northern staircase from the east57

After finishing the excavation, we can clearly understand the techniques for joining building materials
in and below the foundation and the various structures in this staircase foundation. The foundation of
the staircase is still in good condition, and we can divide it into four phases as following:-Phase 1: This has one layer composed of white sand, with fine grains mixed with several mountainrock fragments compressed firmly together. This phase is for preparing the bottom of thefoundation prior to laying a laterite foundation layer.
-Phase 2: This is the preparation of foundations in which six layers of laterite stone blocks were laid.
Each laterite stone block is in sound condition.
-Phase 3: Comprises three layers of a thickness of 1.4 cm composed almost 100% of laterite chipsthat are compacted very firmly. Except for layer number 1001, it is mixed with fragments ofmountain rock and potshards, which make up 10% of the total volume.
These laterite chips are probably present to prevent water from penetrating inside the foundation. On
top of this laterite chip layer, another layer was paved around the temple. The laterite chips
were probably acquired from the chiselling and trimming of laterite stone blocks during theconstruction of the temple, as this temple was built with laterite.
-Phase 4: This matches layer 1000, and is composed of clay mixed with fine sand of a medium
firmness with a grey/dark red colour, an abundance of roof tiles and brick fragments blended
with potshards, tree roots, and also small pieces of charcoal.
Through these artifacts, we can argue that the soil layers probably relate to utilization of the site forother purposes at various times in later period after completion of the construction of the temple,
because we encountered traces of several pillar holes on the temple. These pillar holes were used forconstruction of wooden structures.
In conclusion, we found that the structures below the foundation, consisting of pounded andcompacted mountain rocks with sand and laterite gravel in the foundation of the staircases are still insound condition. Therefore, the collapsing and sinking of the upper laterite layers are not caused byany problem with the foundation below the staircases and temple.
7.2 Excavation Pits Nos. 2 and 3.
The archaeological team started to carry out excavation Nos. 2 and 3 at the north-west embankment
to study its foundation structures and to discover the reasons for the deformation and collapse of its
structure, and then to work out solutions and measures to reinforce and restore the platform’s staircase(Figs.19, 20, 21).

58

Fig.19: Condition of foundationof western staircase, 30 m from
temple basement, pit no.2

Fig.20: Location plan and foundation plan

Fig. 21: East-West cross section, southern walls of trench 2 and trench 3

With reference to the analysis of the soil layers at Excavation Pits Nos. 2 and 3, especially at thenorthern wall, we identified the relationship between the construction structures of the temple and thenorthern port’s platform. On the other hand, through the excavation, the soil layers were divided into
seven phases as follows (the results from these two excavation pits are similar):-Natural soil: This is composed of pure clay, compacted, and with a yellow to dark brown colour.
These results are from the coring at the bottom of the pit at a depth of 1.5 m.
-Phase I: This contains two layers that are composed of a clay and sand mixture, compacted, and witha yellow to dark brown colour. These two compacted layers were done as a foundation wall
before construction of the temple’s foundation as we found a slope leading to the end of thewestern part of this excavation pit.
-Phase II: This contains two layers with a thickness of 1 to 1.5 m. The layers are composed of clay andmixed with rocks (the rocks are 5 to 20 cm in diameter). They are compacted and 30 metersin length from temple’s foundation. We conclude that the compacted sand and rock was used
as a preparation for constructing the foundation of the temple.
-Phase III: This is the bottom part of the temple’s foundation made from laterite blocks. The blocks arein good condition and well preserved, except the upper part, which is in poor condition due
to rainwater.

59

-Phase IV: This phase contains three layers, one of which is compacted with small fragments of lateriteand used as a waterproof layer for protection against the penetration of rainwater into thefoundation.
-Phase V: This phase contains two layers. They are composed of sandy soil mixed together with clay,
charcoal, fragments of pottery and burned clay roof tiles. They are dark brown in colour.
There were several postholes on this platform that indicate the construction of a woodenbuilding here. We conclude that these terraces would have been used in other periods after
the completion of the temple.
-Phase VI: This is a laterite block layer that had collapsed on the staircase of the temple’s platform. It
contains many pottery fragments, roof tiles and a small amount of charcoal. We conclude that
this phase was related to the cleaning of the upper part of the eastern and southern staircase
platforms of the temple.
-Phase VII: This is a modern phase. It contains many fragments of roof tiles, bricks, and pottery,charcoal and tree roots mixed together. According to the results from these two excavation
pits, we concluded that the basement and foundation are well preserved and in goodcondition without any deformation or collapses. On the other hand, we found a clay compact
layer which was used as a wall in a wave form to reinforce and support the foundation. The
length of this layer is up to 33 meters from the basement of the temple. On the other hand,
we found another compact layer of sand and rocks 30 meters long, and another compact layerof laterite fragments in the length of 20 meters from temple’s foundation. So, the preparationof temple foundation of our ancestors was very solid, stable and resistant.

8. Ceramic Fragments Found in Excavation Trenches
The research and excavation works were conducted for several months with the aim of checking andinvestigating the condition and situation of the temple, especially to understand the problems behindthe damage to the temple basement and upper structures. Through the excavations, some ceramic
fragments were unearthed and collected for further study and for inclusion in a written report.
Because it is a temple site, we mainly found only roof tile fragments. However, a few pottery pieces
were encountered, such as earthenware water pots and a few brown glazed jar fragments.
These ceramic fragments can be primarily classified as:
A- Earthenware Pot: we found a small piece from the rim of an earthenware water jar. The original
shape cannot be recognized. The pot was made of red clay, mixed rough sand components, soft andfragile, measuring about 1 cm thick and decorated with a ridged circle near the neck (Fig. 22).
B- Brown Glazed Stoneware Jar: There are also a few pieces from brown glazed stoneware jars foundin the excavation trenches. Their original shapes are unknown, but the jars would have been large.
One rim part measures about 10 cm in diameter and is decorated with circular incised lines around theshoulder. Other pieces from the body are also designed with circular incised lines. These fragments
are made of a dark grey clay similar to the ceramics produced at the kiln sites to the east of Beng
Mealea temple, which has recently become known as a brown glazed ware production area in the
Angkor period (Fig. 23).

60

Fig.22: Pottery fragment of earthenware

Fig.23: Pottery fragment of brown glazed
stoneware jar

C- Flat Tiles: Because the site we researched and excavated is a temple site, we mostly found andcollected roof tiles including flat tiles, round tiles, end tiles and finial tiles. The flat tiles collected
are not complete shapes. These tiles are made of grey clay—mainly stoneware applied with green
or ash glaze—while a few others are unglazed earthenware made of red clay. There is no decoration
but traces of clay line joining can be observed.
D- Round Tiles: The round tile fragments are stoneware made of grey clay—some applied with green
or ash glaze. Other pieces made of red clay are mostly earthenware without glaze. The red clay tiles
are soft and fragile. There is no decoration.
E- End Tiles: There are two types of end tiles. One is earthenware made of red clay. They are softand fragile, and decorated with a lotus flower design at the front. The other type is a stoneware tile
made of grey clay also decorated with a lotus flower motif.
F- Finial Tile There are two kinds of finial tiles: one is earthenware while the other is stoneware. The
earthenware tiles are mostly made of red clay. They are soft and fragile, and decorated with ridged
circle lines. The stoneware tiles are made of grey clay. They are hard, and decorated with ridged
circle lines. Some others are made of red clay.
Findings from Excavation Pits 1, 2 and 3:
The following charts are classifications based on the findings from the three test pits (Pits 1, 2, and 3).
Roof tile(up and down)
Element of roof decoration Element of roof decoration
Hard
FragileHard
FragileHard
Fragile
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
99.4
76
35
4.7
20
3.2
8
1.7
4 1.02

Hard
87

Ceramics
Fragile
kg
kg
5.75
80
102

Figs.24, 25 and 26: Roof tile face up, roof tile upside-down and pottery fragment61

9. Excavation ResearchWith reference to Excavation Pits Nos. 2 and 3, we found acompacted layer that was made from mountain rocks mixed
together with sand to form a vertical foundation wall way
and in the length of 30 meters from the temple basement.
To clarify and to confirm the previous discovery, the team
opened another three test pits in the eastern and south-easternparts of the temple (Fig. 27).
Fig. 27: Location of test pits (4, 5 and 6)

9.1 Excavation Pit No. 4:
Located in the north-eastern part of the Mebon temple. It is
30 meters from the temple basement. The dimensions are 3 x
1.5 m with a depth of 1.3 m. (Fig. 28)

Fig. 28: Northern section of pit No. 4

9.2 Excavation Pit No. 5:
Located to the south of the temple basement, 30 m away from the basement. The dimensions are 3 x 1.5
m (Figs. 29, 30).

Fig. 29: A-B (western section) and B-C (northern wall)
excavation pit No. 5

62

Fig.30: Foundation stratigraphy of excavation pit
No. 5, C-D (eastern wall) and D-A (southern wall)9.3 Excavation Pit No. 6:
Located in the south-east direction, 42 m away from the temple basement. The dimensions are 3 x 1.5
m (Figs. 31 and 32).

Fig.31: Preparation of temple foundation.

Fig. 32: Excavation pit No. 6 (South-east)

Results from the three test pits (Pits 4, 5 and 6):
The results from the three test pits above confirmed that there was no other evidence of occupation
besides temple construction materials. Through study of the soil layers of these test pits, we found thetechnique for preparation of the vertical foundation wall was similar to that of the components of thecompacted rock and sand layer of the temple foundation. We divided the results into four phases asfollows:-Natural soil: We didn’t reach the natural soil; however, the coring results confirmed that the naturalsoil is composed of yellow to dark brown compacted clay.
-Phase I: Located above the natural soil are two layers composed of compacted clay mixed with small
grain sand and rocks. They are a yellow to dark brown colour. This are compact layers of thevertical foundation wall preparation phase because we found evidence of a wave-like slope.

63

-Phase II: This phase contains several layers composed of clay mixed with a large quantity of yellow towhite sandy soil, compacted firmly. (Except for test pit 6, where the soil layer is a very darkbrown). Each layer in this phase is composed of rocks with diameters of 5 to 20 cm mixed
with soil that was used to fill in the foundation. This compact foundation layer is 1.5 meters
thick. On the surface of this layer there is a special layer composed of sand mixed with rocks
that is hard and compact, and 20 to 30 cm thick. The layer is 27 meters in length from thetemple’s basement. With reference to test pits 2 and 3, this foundation layer became thicker
the closer it was to the temple basement, with a thickness of up to two meters. Phase II thus
consists of compacted layers of rocks mixed with sand for the temple foundation.
-Phase III: This layer contains two layers composed of a large quantity of clay mixed together withyellow grey sand and some charcoal at the surface of the layer. It is a compact layer. This
phase is preparation for the compact layer in the area surrounding the temple.
-Phase IV: This is a modern phase composed of dark grey sand, bones, charcoal, and tree roots. Withreference to the results of the 6 test pits, we concluded that the methods and techniques tobuild the foundation of Eastern Mebon temple were as follows: First, they dug a hole for thefoundation, and used compacted clay layers to form a vertical foundation wall. Then theylaid down many compact layers to form the foundation. This foundation extends to 30 meters
away from the temple basement in the form a square.
In conclusion, the foundation of Eastern Mebon was made from a special foundation trench that islarge and very well compacted. Of particular note is that this temple was built on an island in Eastern
Barray that is surrounded by water.

10. Conclusion
In reference to the archaeological excavation research, we found that the laterite foundation’s port was
solid and stable. The collapse of the laterite staircases in the northern and western parts of these two
ports was not caused by its foundation. This problem was caused by the deterioration of the laterite
blocks, the tropical climate, the construction technique, insects, lack of temple maintenance from theperiod of abundance, and the vegetation growing on the temple.

64

Fiji
Kataiwai Sakiusa Rocky Nadakuitavuki

Fiji Museum’s Efforts towards Cultural Heritage Protectionin the Fiji Islands
1. Abstract
The Fiji Islands are rich in tangible and intangible cultural heritage with grand displays of cultural
practices and remnants that still exist throughout the country. Fiji’s cultural heritage goes as far backas 3000 years ago during the Lapita era. Throughout those years, from as early as the beginning of theLapita migration, the Fiji Islands incorporated various forms of cultural identity through traditions andactivities that have, to this day, defined the rich culture that is practiced and displayed throughout thecountry. In relation to the historical migration and settlement of the Pacific, in particular the western
Pacific, Lapita is a term used to describe the earliest wave of migration to the western Pacific fromSoutheast Asia, and this wave originates from as far back as 3900 BP.
The value and significance of the protection of cultural heritage in the Fiji Islands is viewed from aminority perspective as awareness hasn’t yet reached a national scale, and this is entirely due to the
low level of interest. With intangible cultural heritage (ICH) still playing a major role in customs andtraditions throughout the country, the tangible aspect is under threat of ongoing development andnatural effects, however, that is not to say that cultural heritage in the Fiji Islands is diminishing, asefforts towards the protection and preservation is a priority of the government, and with the inscriptionof the old capital of Fiji – Levuka, as a UNESCO World heritage site in 2013, this has contributed
profoundly to the awareness of cultural heritage in the country.
Efforts towards the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in the country are faced withmany issues, ranging from the lack of public knowledge to the development of infrastructure, land
and agriculture; however, with the steady implementation of national legislation concerning theprotection of cultural heritage sites, many developments have incorporated the protection of such sites
within the developments plans. The current legislation that is being utilized by the Fiji Museum is the
Preservation of Objects of Archaeological and Paleontological Interest (POAPI) Act, cap.264,
Laws of Fiji; however, there are supplementary laws that highlight the importance of cultural heritageand its protection to some extent, and these are being implemented by various organizations:65

・ National Trust of Fiji (Amendment) Act
・ Environment Management Act 2005 administered by the Department of Environment under the
Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment.
・ Mining Act 1978 administered by the Department of Mineral Resources under the Ministry ofLands and Mineral Resources.
・ Town Planning Act 1978 administered by the Department of Town and Country Planning under
the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment.

2. Implementation Efforts
The Fiji Museum has been implementing [legislative measures] on cultural sites around thecountry to ensure that protection is officially applied under the government laws. Efforts towards
the implementation of protection and preservation of cultural heritage, in particular, tangible
heritage, is mainly undertaken through requests from individuals, local communities, environmental
consultants, tertiary institutions and various concerned parties. It is the protection legislation thathighlights the need to restore cultural sites or features to achieve the original setup or appearance of
these sites. Implementation of legislative protection of cultural sites is not only limited to requests,
as the Fiji Museum also undertakes collaborative projects with various governmental and nongovernmental institutions concerning biodiversity conservation and sustainability. Through these
initiatives, many cultural sites have been included in national policies that have been endorsed in the
country, to safeguard and protect forests and marine life for a sustainable future. This has contributed
tremendously to creating awareness on a national scale among the many local communities that weren’taware of the significance of their cultural sites regarding the future sustainability of biodiversity in the
country and the need to protect them. Through these national projects, the Fiji Museum has been able
to reach out to a wider audience and at the same time implement the protection of unexploited culturalsites, not only under the relevant legislation but also within the policy framework of biodiversity
protection around the country.

3. Implementation Setbacks
The holistic approach in protection measures towards cultural sites, which the Fiji Museum adopts,
does face limitations or setbacks due to certain situations that understandably come into play. Whenfocussing on the overall situation, there are specific issues that arise such as lack of finance, lack ofresources, lack of knowledge/skills and the lack of public awareness and interest. These are some of
the many issues that limit the overall performance of the Fiji Museum to protect cultural sites aroundthe country.

1

Preservation of Objects of Archaeological and Paleontological Interest (POAPI) Act, cap.264,
Laws of Fiji

66

3.1 Site DisturbancesThis is a major issue faced throughout Fiji in terms of the preservation of cultural sites, and these
disturbances come in many forms, from human-induced, agricultural disturbances, to natural
disturbances such as the activities of wild animals.
Fiji REDD + cultural sites:
This national project was adopted by the Fiji government in 2010 under the United Nations (UNREDD+) efforts to safeguard and sustain forests in developing countries, focusing mainly on
Asia, South America and the Pacific. The projectcommenced in Fiji with the first assessments
undertaken at the pilot project site in Emalu Forest,
Navosa in July 2012. As a result of the archaeologicalimpact assessments within the project area, the team
was able to identify a total of 77 cultural sites ofsignificance across 7,347 hectares of rainforest overa period of four weeks. These sites were mainly
identified as old villages, sacred sites, old agricultural
terraces, war ditches and an abundant display ofcultural artifacts consisting mainly of clay pottery
vessel shreds with a few finds almost completely

Figure 1: Map of Fiji showing the REDD+ projectarea.

intact.
During the course of the assessments, it was found that many cultural sites had been significantly
disturbed and in deteriorating condition, especially in relation to the state of the cultural featuresthat were displayed. Through a thorough investigation, it was obvious that natural processes such as
erosion and wild pigs were the major contributing factors to the disturbance of the site. Prominent
features such as house mounds and stone walls had been displaced and totally destroyed due to thebreeding habits of wild pigs, and this in turn had contributed to the site’s vulnerability to erosion.

Figure 2: A cultural site with an old house mounddisplaced through wild pig breeding and erosion. The
scattered stones were once placed as stone alignments
along the mound wall.

Figure 3: Wild pig breeding visible on the site surface.

67

Although most cultural sites identified within the project area are still in a highly preserved condition,
it is possible that most of these would also be significantly disturbed over time as such disturbances are
impossible to contain due to the extensive area and isolated location.
Further mentions:
Other major disturbance factors include infrastructural and agricultural developments, which represent
the majority of factors affecting the preservation and protection of cultural sites in Fiji. Several of thecultural sites that have been surveyed by the Fiji Museum have been greatly affected by these types ofsite disturbance.

Figure 4: Stone wall barricade covered in shrubswith agricultural farming visible. Navitini fortification
site, Nadala Village, Ba Province

Figure 5: Stone wall barricade visibly disturbed
by agricultural practices. Navitini fortification site,
Nadala Village, Ba Province

Figure 5: A house mound destroyed at the site of an
old ancestral settlement. This cultural site has beenpermanently destroyed by the construction of a
tourism residential development. Togovere Village,
Ra Province

Figure 6: Fiji Museum staff assessing an old ring
ditch fortification that had been almost completely
demolished by road construction. Nadakua ring
ditch site, Malabi Village, Tailevu Province

3.2 Lack of Resources
When discussing the lack of resources, finance is the main issue. Some of the major barriers toefficiently carrying out sufficient protection measures for cultural sites are inadequate logistical supportand equipment, and a lack of financial support.

683.2.1 Logistical support - Accessibility to cultural sites
in rural areas is a major problem, and the Fiji Museum
relies heavily on the support of local communities inproviding transport to and from isolated communities
and cultural sites.

Figure 7: Map of Fiji showing isolated
location of Nabutabutau village.

Nabutautau Village is situated in Navosa Province, in the interior region of mainland Vitilevu. The
village is synonymous with the death of a Methodist missionary, Reverend Thomas Baker, who was
killed and eaten by local tribes in 1867, during the era of tribal warfare and cannibalism. Earlier thisyear, during the month of March, the Fiji Museum visited and surveyed a total of four cultural sitesthat were once occupied during that fateful era. These old village sites are well preserved in their
original form, with prominent cultural features and layouts still very visible and able to discern, andthis preserved state is due to their isolated location from agricultural or human disturbances. The
objective of the surveys was to document the sites and highlight recommendations on a proposed ecotourism project for trek adventure tourists. Due to the isolated location of the cultural sites, let alone
the village of Nabutautau itself, the poor logistics, feedback, monitoring and follow up correspondencewith the local communities is a growing issue

Figure 8: Isolated village of Nabutautau, situated in
the center of mainland Vitilevu, with temporary roadaccess.

Figure 9: An ancestral house mound with wellpreserved stone alignment, traditionally belonging
to Nabutautau village, Navosa Province.

3.2.2. Financial backing – The major issue for Fiji Museum in carrying out protection and preservation
efforts around the country is the lack of funding and recognition. The Fiji Museum is a statutory body,hence, government funding to the institution is limited only to assist in salaries with operational costs

69

usually acquired from museum funds. This has limited the implementation of protection efforts on
cultural sites around the country.
On another note, when countering financial issues, the Fiji Museum relies on well-funded national
projects involving forest and marine sustainability and conservation, which are well-funded programs
that allow the Fiji Museum to cover extensive regions in Fiji regarding cultural heritage protection
through cultural sites and oral history in project areas.
National Projects:
・ REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation + conservation,
sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks)
・ MESCAL (Mangrove Ecosystems for Climate Change and Livelihood) Fiji Project・ Forestry and Protected Areas Management (GEFPAS-FPAM) - Global Environment Facility(GEF) and FAO regional Pacific Island forestry project

Figure 10: Map of Fiji showing
project areas with site locations
surveyed during the course of
the project3.2.3. Viable staff capacity – The Archaeology Department of the Fiji Museum holds responsibility
for implementing the relevant legislation in protecting cultural sites in Fiji, and with this significant
responsibility, there needs to be appropriate personnel to be able to carry out these duties, in terms of
quality and quantity, something which is lacking at the Fiji Museum. The department is made up of
five individuals, two of which are over the retirement age, hence the need for additional staff to be able
to handle the workload.

3.3. Interest of the Population
Cultural heritage protection is an effort that requires the interest of the population and without that, thescope for implementation of legislative measures for cultural heritage in a country would be limited.

70

Awareness of the protection of cultural heritage and the relevant laws lacks a viable platform to be able
to reach a wider audience around the Fiji Islands. The Department of National Heritage, Culture andArts, under the government’s Ministry of Education, was established in 2007, thus the attention being
paid to cultural heritage is in its infancy, and creating awareness on the importance of cultural heritagearound the country hasn’t yet efficiently and sufficiently been applied to build up interest amongst the
population, whether rural or urban.

4. Cultural Heritage Requisite(s)When analysing the various setbacks to the implementation of measures for protection of cultural
heritage, the needs are obviously highlighted as well. When considering the needs of cultural heritage
protection and preservation, further requisites would be:

4.1. Efficient monitoring tools – When cultural sites have been surveyed, documented and protected
through legislation, reliance on local communities to monitor and manage the state of the cultural site
is paramount for the Fiji Museum, as consistent feedback, monitoring and management requires a lotof effort, finance and labour, things which the Fiji Museum lacks at the moment, and which are in direneed of being addressed by the management, with appropriate government input.

4.2. Awareness – Lack of interest from both urban and rural communities is mainly due to the lackof awareness channelled on a national scale; however, with awareness workshops undertaken by the
newly-established Department of National Heritage, Culture & Arts, this should increase awarenesslevels across the country.

4.3. Capacity building – With the Fiji Museum lacking efficient and experienced staff, the needfor capacity building is extremely important as the Fiji Museum maintains the groundwork for the
implementation of legislative protection and preservation of cultural heritage sites around the country.

71Kazakhstan
Altynbekova Dana

Problems in the Preservation of Archaeological Monuments of Kazakhstan
Artefacts from different materials have been discovered during the extensive archaeologicalinvestigation carried out under the state program “Cultural Heritage” in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Objects from archaeological excavations carry the most important information about the material
and inner culture of the population of Kazakhstan during the past thousand years. Archaeologicalcollections allow us to reconstruct the process of how contemporary Kazakh culture developed sinceancient times.
Nowadays, new highways, trunk pipelines and other objects of industrialization are being built, andarchaeologists excavate the monuments that are found such construction zones under emergency
rescue conditions. There is always an alternative under such conditions—either to save and preserve
them for future generations using the most advanced methods that are available to modern science, orto accept the fact that they will be destroyed and lost forever as evidence of our history and monumentsof worldwide cultural heritage.
The scientific-restoration laboratory Ostrov Krym is the only organization in Kazakhstan where, atthe request of state institutions, work on preserving movable archaeological monuments is carried out.
The laboratory fulfils government orders of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, theInstitute of Archaeology, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, andregional archaeological centres located in different cities in Kazakhstan.
The specialists at the laboratory often carry out some conservation measures during the excavations
in order to prepare objects for transportation and storage. Presently in the laboratory there is a fairquantity of artefacts that have arrived from different archaeological monuments for laboratory
conservation. These are ancient objects of metal, leather, fur, textile, wood and other materials. A
large quantity of artefacts have been conserved and given to museums in Kazakhstan. A considerable
number of them are wooden objects from Berel burial ground in East Kazakhstan—including
structures, household appliances and artworks. When carrying out conservation work, great attention ispaid to the documentation. Immediately after opening the packed object, the primary condition survey
data is entered on a conservation passport.
Information about the condition of the monument, the work performed, the observations, andconclusions are recorded into a conservation journal on adaily basis. Conservation steps are recorded with a digital
camera, drawn on polyethylene film, and drawn on paper
in colour. After completion of the work the conservation
passport is drawn up for movable monuments and handed
over to the relevant museums of the Republic of Kazakhstan
along with the exhibit.

72However, there are many problems in the preservation of movable monuments of archaeology. They
are as follows:
1. The location of archaeological sites far away from civilization, and the difficulty of acquiringand delivering the necessary materials. Adverse climatic conditions at the excavation sites, suchas the intense heat in some places and the short summer season in others, thereby affecting thesafety of making archaeological finds.
2. Destruction of artefacts during excavations if there are no conservators in the expedition and if
the archaeologists do not have enough experience in preserving weak materials.
3. Ancient objects are so fragile that they just fall apart when removed from the ground. In this casea method of extracting artefacts in large blocks is used, which requires special equipment to lift
them from the excavation.
4. It is necessary to select the conservation method to carry out research and analysis to determine
the type of material of the monument, its characteristics, destruction factors, and the degreeof degradation. Not all studies can be carried out in Kazakhstan due to lack of equipment andspecialists, and the participation of other countries requires a significant increase in the projectbudget that is not always supported by financial institutions.
5. The necessity of approaching each archaeological site on an individual basis, as the samematerial can be destroyed in different ways depending on the conditions of its location under the
ground.
6. Lack of trained professional conservators at museums, leading to improper handling and storageof archaeological monuments, which results in further damage.
Apart from the conservation and restoration of movable monuments of archaeology, the laboratory
Ostrov Krym takes part in conservation of Tamgaly petroglyphs inscribed on the UNESCO World
Heritage List of. Our contribution to monument preservation is to disguise any anthropogenic damage
made before the legal protection of the monument is organized
Problems regarding monuments of rock art:
1. Lack of complete documentation of the object
2. Lack of methods for the exact copying of petroglyphs
3. Lack of methods of photographic and digital image processing using modern software;classification and typology of images
4. Lack of modern methods of dating petroglyphs
The problems indicated above can be solved only with the active use of the most advanced
technologies and achievements of the international community of conservators. In modern conditions
it is therefore imperative for conservators in Kazakhstan to learn these methods and technologies.

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Conservation of Wooden Artefacts
The main activity of our laboratory is conservation ofarchaeological finds. The majority of incoming artefacts arewooden items: constructions, household equipment and artistic
goods.
Work on preservation of items of wet archaeological wood started
in 1999, when the first such artefacts arrived, found by a joint
Kazakh-French archaeological expedition at burial mound No.11 ofBerel burial ground (IV-III BC).
The French restorers and archaeologists thought that only theirlaboratories filled out with expensive equipment were able topreserve degraded wood, and that not all of the finds could betreated, with most of them being documented only. We went ourown way. After a long period of investigation and experiments
we managed to elaborate various solutions, responding to further
requirements:
1. applying accessible and economical technology for theconservation of wood;
2. strengthening the wood while preserving its appearance;
3. achieving economy of storage of exhibits without creation ofa special micro-climate.
A polyethylene-glycol is used as the main consolidate, but in our laboratory, there are some differencesin the technology used for its application.
The process of conservation starts from investigation of the physicochemical condition of the wood. At
the beginning of the work we used a method, elaborated by the American Institute for Non-destructive
Testing, where a sample of the tested material is used.
However it is not always possible to take a sample, as it leads
to damage of the archaeological material. The specialists
at our laboratory have elaborated a method of detecting thevalue of the degree of degradation in the process of treatment
with consolidative solution.
The penetrating solution is laid on the surface of the item to
be strengthened using a sprayer or brush. Penetration of thewood is made with mineral spirits vapour, and the spirits is
also used as a solvent. In an enclosed space the spirits vapour
dislodges much of the air from the adjusted space. The wood
pores are purged of air and become saturated with spirits
vapour. This process can be called “spirits decompression”.
Increasing the pressure of the spirits vapour not only
saturates the wood pores, but also helps it to penetrate into
the inner layers of the material.

74

The presence of spirits inside the wood creates a gradientof concentration for the spirits solution of PEG inside theitem and courses overpressure during the penetration. By
regulating the temperature and pressure of the spirits vapour,it is possible to reach an equable degree of consolidative
penetration of all the wood.
The penetration of water-saturated wood should be
produced with gradual change from the existing solution to
consolidative solution, with permanent preservation of material volume.
The next step after strengthening the wood is cleaning (before conservation this is impossible becauseof the weak physic mechanical condition of archaeological items). After cleaning the surface has anatural wood appearance, with the colour, texture and structure being preserved. There is no loss of thesurface layer.
The process of conservation of wet archaeological wood takes a long time, and the strengthening oflarge-sized elements of constructions (balks, thick boards, etc.) generally continues for more than one
year.

After penetration the items obtain the necessary durability, preventing further degradation of the wood,
which guarantees long-term preservation of the appearance and inner structure of the material.
Since 1999 Kazakh archaeologists have been continuing their work at the site.
A funeral construction of wood had dimensions of 365 х 215 х 140 cm. The framework consisted offour walls and a ceiling. The ceiling was covered with birch bark sheets with some plants on them.

In the northern part of the framework, in the ceiling and in the wall, there were holes of about 1 meterin diameter made by robbers. Every wall was made of three planks 36-54 cm wide and 12-14 cm thick.
The top of the framework was covered with six wooden balks 20-40 cm wide and 9-10 cm thick. The
framework had a profile of a truncated pyramid.

75

Inside the framework there was a sarcophagus—one of the most ancient types of closed funeral beds
made of wood. The sarcophagus consisted of two parts: a body and a lid. The lid was broken in the
middle, and deformed and flaked off into many separate
fragments. To enter the framework the robbers had madea hole with an axe hammer in the northern side of thesarcophagus. The length of the sarcophagus was 273 cm,
with a width in the middle of 71 cm. The width of thebottom was 13 cm, with walls 3-4 cm thick. The body ofthe sarcophagus was made of an old larch trunk 250-260
years old, with a diameter of 90-95 cm, and a length ofabout 350 cm.
There were four holes in the lid, where bronze nails with
sculptures of winged griffins had been inserted.
Inside the sarcophagus there was an oval-shaped wooden
pillow, with dimensions of 50 х 19 х 13 cm. Its surface
had been thoroughly damaged.
Besides large-sized wooden structures, about a thousand
small wooden items were also found in the tumulus,
including items with artistic carvings.
The details of the framework-carcass from tumulus №11 were penetrated
separately, and then assembly of the structure was carried out. The
sarcophagus was put inside the framework again. The sarcophagus regained
its original appearance after the conservation work, which included gluing
together many pieces. Hundreds of small wooden items were also preparedfor exhibition.

At tumulus No.10 of Berel burial ground an unusual methodof field conservation of wet degraded wood was used. In 2006
our archaeologists in 2006 there found a badly preserved
framework and sarcophagus, which were to be given to the
local lore historical museum. Packing and transportation
to Almaty and back would not have been rational. After
antiseptic treatment, the fragments of the constructions wereleft in the field laboratory, which was built of stone withconditions similar to those in the tumulus, to provide gentle
slow drying of the damaged material.
This was provided with natural ventilation and drainage inthe field laboratory. A check of the artefacts condition is76

performed every year, and we noticed that their condition hadstabilized, with the wood ready for further conservation, whichis planned to be done at the site under field conditions, fortransportation of the exhibit to the museum. For this purposea special consolidate was tested in the laboratory, consistingof poly-ethylene-glycol as a component of a wax and rosin
solution, and as the solvent we used turpentine. Methodsof conservation of degraded wood elaborated in the Ostrov
Krym laboratory are confirmed by patents of the Republic of
Kazakhstan. Conserved finds are exhibited in museums of ourcountry and at exhibitions abroad.

Petroglyphs of Tamgaly and Tamgalytas
Conservation of the rock art monuments of Kazakhstan is inseparably connected to the study andconservation of Tamgaly petroglyphs, and after engaging in this process for more than 20 years, we
can conditionally identify three stages.
But first, I want to discuss the Buddhist religious complex of Tamgalytas XVII – XVIII. Whichmakes up the third stage.
The third stage started in 2008, when work on the conservation and preservation of rock art sites
within the framework of the state program “Cultural Heritage” was carried out by experts of Ostrov
Krym. Objects of conservation in 2008-2014 were two locations of petroglyphs in the Almaty region:
objects from the list of World Cultural Heritage - Tamgaly and Buddhist religious complex Tamgalytas
of XVII-XVIII, located on the Ili River. Works based on documentary material from Tamgaly
prepared in 2002-2006; and the participation of experts with many years of experience in research andconservation practices on the monument ensured the continuity of the scientific approach and methodsof preservation. Also used were new methods, techniques and compositions of conservation materials
developed in the scientific-experimental laboratory Ostrov Krym. Ostrov Krym actually handled only
part of the conservation works on the petroglyphs, i.e., elimination of damage to the objects, whether
natural or man-made.
Many monuments of rock art have suffered from vandalism from visitors, expressed by shearing,
removing, and scratching the surface of the original monuments. The resulting damage has grossly
distorted the ancient images, and regarding the petroglyphs in particular, has violated the historical andaesthetic value of the gallery of rock paintings. In the 1960s, this damage was removed mechanicallyby polishing out the scratched markings, sometimes together with the petroglyphs themselves. In

77recent decades masking techniques for such damage have been used, discussed in detail below.
Artificial patina. This is an imitation of the natural process of patina formation. This allows us toapply coatings, colour matched with the general background of the stone, if well-chosen materials andmodes of application are used. The process involves depositing oxide films of chromosphere elements(iron, manganese, chromium) on the surface of the stone, which create the colour of the natural patina.
A feature of artificial patination is that there is no ready-made recipe—each time a unique palette foreach particular object is created. The artificial patina
palette for Tamgaly was made by E.N. Ageyeva in 2005.
The selection of compositions for Tamgalytas was donein the laboratory Ostrov Krym.
The method of artificial patination is indispensable forthe elimination of patina surface damage. On the central
plane of the complex with the Tamgalytas Buddhist
were masked splits, with preserved contour lines of theoriginal pattern inside. Depending on the colour of thepatina surface adjacent to the split, various formulations,concentrations, and orders of application of components
were used in accordance with the palette of the artificial
patina. Preserved contours of the graphic were notpatinated, resulting in clearly designated existing linesthat had seemed to be lost.

Plane with Buddhist before artificial patination

The three-step process of patination (sequential application of components of a patina: iron sulphate (II),manganese chloride (II), and an alkali), requires a high level of artistic skill, with the use of climbing
ropes, mostly under the scorching sun.
However, artificial patina doesn’t give the desired effect of masking deep inscriptions, and in suchcases, other methods are used.
At the beginning of work on the petroglyphs, we used a polyester resin with additives, including
colour. After reconstruction of the texture, the colour was finished with artificial patina. This method
was used for masking erased inscriptions on Tamgalytas.
The work in Tamgaly started with an analysis of the results of a previous conservation, which led
us to the decision to use composites that have successfully passed a 20-year test in the Almaty
region: polymethylphenyl resin K-9 with the addition of an acrylic polymer. The main disadvantage
of finishing composition is the monotony of the colour of crushed sandstone, defined by a matrix.
Grey-green tint, like the colour of cement, goes well only with surfaces that do not have a patina;
embellishment binder with colours, as experience has shown, does not give the desired effect in thereconstruction of a stone texture.
We continued to develop the technology of artificial patination in our laboratory to obtain fillerof a wide range of colours, made of native stone. Masking modern inscriptions on plane without
petroglyphs. Graffiti appears on most of the faces of the cliffs facing the road to the hiking trails of thecurrent tour route, and this is clearly visible to visitors.

78

Conservation activities are carried out primarily on the mostvaluable objects, where rough damage is particularly noticeable
for visitors to Tamgaly. So, in 2009, masking of several deepgraffiti marks located in close proximity to the famous mural with“sun-gods” was undertaken. Completed refinement was carriedout rather than restoration of the original appearance of the Vgroup of petroglyphs. The structure of work on restoring loss ofstone:

Palette of patinated rock crumb (inthe centre - a crumb of natural colour)

1. Washing the surface with water using a brush to remove surface contamination in the form ofdust, bird droppings, etc.;
2. Washing with acetone to degrease the surface of the stone;
3. Two-fold application of the diluted working solution without crumbs;
4. Filling of stone loss;
5. Re-texturing and colouring of the stone in the areas affected by modern graffiti.
Over the years, over 50 visitor “autographs” have become visible. Following the development of a
new method of sealing defects using modified rock crumb, monuments at the Buddhist complex at
Tamgalytas were renovated, by removing modern inscriptions made by visitors, compositions based onpolyester resin were replaced with silicone binder with patinated local stone crumb.
Identification of petroglyphs damaged by modern inscriptions. Three years’ experience of masking ofmodern inscriptions on surfaces without petroglyphs allowed us in 2011 to move to the most difficult
high artistic processes—the masking of inscriptions and cutting through the artistic surfaces, because
the ancient petroglyphs were not visible or distorted.
Mastication of losses must be done in the colour and texture of the adjacent undamaged areas. The
drawing contours are determined by pictures taken before the appearance of the modern inscriptions
which have disfigured the petroglyphs. In the absence of the necessary documentary materials, theoutline of engravings or historical epigraphy of individual marks can be reduced by simultaneous
analogues and the recommendations of experts—i.e., archaeologists and historians.
A new type of documentation for conservation was elaborated, which is essentially a working projectfor conservation of damaged graphic surfaces. The process of creating it—a laborious and timeconsuming process—requires the study and treatment of each point of the modern damage. Over theyears, 25 such projects have been completed, executed by Dr. A.E. Rogozhinskiy. The present works
that are being carried out on the damage do not consist of reconstruction of the petroglyphs, as ancientengravings are identified, and freed from later distortion. Authenticity is maintained through the use ofreversible compositions.
Removal of contemporary inscriptions made with paint. Inscriptions made with paint—the main typeof man-made damage at the Tamgalytas complex—are located directly on the plane with petroglyphs,
nearby rocks and the adjacent rock mass. On the graphic surface they have covered the original
inscriptions, outside the plane, preventing proper perception of the petroglyphs and creating a basic
background, so that the rock carvings are lost among them. Various paints and paint-like substances
are used by visitors: all kinds of house paints, markers, correction fluid, ink, and even brilliant green

79dye (“Zelenka”).
According to the results of previous work on the Tamgaly complex it is known that the inscriptions
made with paint were removed with the stripper “Smelaks” produced by Yaroslavsky paint factory,
which is now no longer available. To select a stripper, test clearing of various types of paints using
three factory-made strippers, which resulted in a number of problems. Almost all the colours that wereon the rocks could not be removed with industrial strippers, which is normally applied to paint basecoat, not the intended purpose of the cleaning formulations (wood and metal), and the special conditionof the aging of the paints. It became necessary to select a new, more efficient composition for stone.
Compositions for the removal of different paints from the stone under different temperature conditions
were elaborated, and it the safety of the cleaning compositions for this rock was ascertained.
The letters were covered with cleansing composition and left for a while until the paint started to swell.
Hard-to-remove inscriptions were covered with polyethylene film. The paint was then rinsed from thesurface using a bristle brush and water. If necessary, the procedure was repeated.
In general, paint at 17 locations was deleted, including individual lettering and whole blocks.
Removing lichen. Removal of lichen is performed only if it is located on a picture or in the immediate
vicinity of a picture. Currently, cleaning artistic surfaces of lichen is done without chemicals—withwater, brushes and wooden tools. The lichen is well wetted with water and allowed to swell. Whenthe colour is bright green, removal is done with micro plants with post-humidification of biomass, if
necessary.
Monitoring. The behaviour of conserved materials in a natural setting is often unpredictable, because
there are too many factors affecting them, so we need long-term monitoring and, if necessary, to fix theundesirable outcomes of natural processes.
Despite the one-time funding for conservation work for Tamgalytas in 2009, we continue to observe
the object, conduct an examination once a year and correct any identified deficiencies or new damage.
Despite the lack of physical protection, people become more careful about how they treat themonument, and it is looked after by someone.

Tamgaly is an open-air museum, where petroglyphs and other ancient monuments, as well as thesurrounding landscape, are preserved in their natural state.
The archaeological complex of the same name is formed by about a hundred multi-temporalmonuments—settlements, burial grounds, ancient quarries, petroglyphs and places of worship (altars)—
dating in a wide range from the mid-14th to 13th centuries BC to the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries
AD. The central part of the complex from ancient times was a sanctuary—a place for religious rituals,
prayers and worshiping of supernatural forces—where the possibility of contact with the celestial gods
and spirits was supposed to occur.
In the first stage, at the beginning of 1990, experimental conservation works were carried out by
a group of specialists of the institute “Kaz-Project-Restoration” (from 1993, NIPI Monumentsof Material Culture) in the context of the state project “Conservation of rock figures of the gorge
Tamgaly”. This was the first time for such a task to be set for conservators of Kazakhstan, and that’s
why execution of the project experienced so many errors and difficulties, the resolution of which was

80perhaps the main positive result of the experiment. The knowledge
acquired from the experience became the basis of a wider, more
systematic approach to monument conservation as a whole, andresolution of problems of practical conservation in particular. As
the most important conclusions, we should recognize the lackof purpose of attempts to conserve archaeological monuments
without any real safeguards, and also the necessity of deep andmultilateral study of the object, which must precede each project,even with minimal interference.
Firstly, the specialist conservators had a fairly limited task infinding the right composition for gluing sandstone—the materialon which the petroglyphs of Tamgaly appear. However in theprocess of the work there immediately appeared difficulties
connected to the absence of data necessary for practicalconservation: for the most part, publications about Tamgaly weregenerally dedicated to the historical aspects only. In relation tothis, the previous program on complex study of the monument
foresaw the attraction of specialists with different profiles—
topographers, archaeologists, geologists, geomorphologists,botanists—to carry out scientific research and other work. Simultaneously in the laboratory of theinstitute, research began on selection of gluing compositions.
Prepared compositions were used in Tamgaly for the first time in 1990. On separate stones situated
far from the main groups of petroglyphs experimental work was performed, including gluing fallen
elements, filling cracks, and hydrophobia of a small part of the surface.
An analysis of the results of the first experiment allowed the correction of compositions for use thefollowing year, 1991, including several options for gluing compositions containing only siliconorganic formations, or mixtures with acrylic polymers. On several surfaces of the V group complex,
various conservation works were carried out: elimination of lichen, gluing of dropped fragments,
filling of crumbling cracks, and fixation of exfoliating crusts with imagines.
The experience gained during the two years, and the positive results on the whole, allowed theplanning of more works on the monument on a larger scale.
Only 12 years after the first experiments, Tamgaly was nominated to the World Heritage list in 2002,
based on the detailed research on all conservation zones done in 1990. Analysis of the results of theexecuted research led to the following conclusions:
1. All compositions used to glue fragments have passed tests under natural conditions
2. The reversibility of one of the compositions used depended on long-term contact withsandstone. Hardened mastic was easily eliminated with toluole, and no damage was found on
glued surfaces.
3. The work done in the northern part of II group on installation of overflow pipes required
continuous monitoring. Some visible changes were marked. Most of the temporary protective
covers were destroyed or had cracks for the following possible reasons: mechanical damage

81

caused by passing visitors; deformation due to fluctuations in the temperature of the rocks,
which are especially significant on surfaces strongly warmed by the sun; as opposed to surfacesthat remain in shadow for most of the day, which are conserved without any noticeablechanges.
In 2001 a new stage in the conservation of the rock images of Kazakhstan began, which consisted
mainly of preparing a systematic approach to conservation. Works acquired character of plane, andthey were connected strictly with the common tasks of the monuments’ conservation and use.
One of the important aspects of the activity became preparation of an entire system of documentationof the status of objects and executed conservation works. The set of documented materials (photos,
graphical figures, standardized comments and others) allows fixing the petroglyphs’ condition at thecurrent moment, identifying changes happening at that time, and as a whole provides the possibilityof effective control and implementation of the conservation strategy, both of single zones and of thewhole monument.
Identifying the condition of, and damage to petroglyphs is an initial objective of the monitoring: bycomparing a petroglyph’s condition in various periods it is possible to keep track of the destruction
process, to isolate the main danger, and if necessary, produce a plane of conservation. Sometimes
long-term monitoring allows the conservator to reach a conclusion about the relative stability of theobject and thus avoid unjustified interference. So, in Tamgaly there is a rare possibility to estimate thecondition of single planes with petroglyphs in many years, beginning from 1957. At the same time, ina series of cases, the absence of any essential losses or changes is noted. Old photographs also help us
to find, for example, the original position of fragments of petroglyphs.
Preparation of the main forms of documentation was executed in 2002-2003 in the framework of the
UNESCO Norwegian-Kazakhstan project “Management, Conservation and Presentation of Tamgaly
Petroglyphs”. Instruction of Kazakhstani conservators on methods of damage documentation was oneof the main tasks of the field work in 2002, and based on the Scandinavian Standard of documentation,
the main forms of the field fixation of the petroglyphs’ condition, classification of damage and thesystem of their graphical signature were completed.
Simultaneously in Tamgaly, there were renewed experimental conservation works: a special zone
without petroglyphs (test polygons) was chosen some distance from the main sites, where there are all
the main types of damage that are usually found at the main sites.
Here in the test zones experiments are carried out with materials that have not been tried out before on
the Kazakh steppes. Use of test polygons provides an opportunity to observe new compositions andchoose the best of them.
In June 2003, within the framework of the present UNESCO project in Tamgaly, international training
on conservation was held.
In 2002-2006, conservation works in Tamgaly were carried out within the framework of the
UNESCO-Norwegian-Kazakhstan project “Management, Conservation and Presentation of Tamgaly
Petroglyphs”, as well as a regional research project, UNESCO CARAD. One of the main activitiesof the conservators at this stage was the development of a common unified system of documentationof the condition of monuments and the conservation work carried out. Primary forms of field
fixation of the condition of petroglyphs were developed in 2002 based on the Norwegian Rock-Art

82

Documentation Standard. In subsequent years, improvement of the system continued on the basis ofpractical application in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Russia.
Analysis of the results of conservation works carried out in previous years was carried out at Tamgaly
in 2005 during the regional UNESCO field workshop on conservation of monuments in Central Asia.
On the example of Tamgaly a common approach was elaborated, and principles of conservation ofmonuments of rock art in the region were formulated. The basic principle of the practical conservationof rock art was declared to be minimal interference with the objects themselves: no preventive
measures were to be implemented, except indirect protective measures performed on art surfaces.
Conservation works are necessary only in an emergency, where the loss of fragments or flaking of
the surface crust takes place. Protective surface treatment of stones with images should be excluded.
Removal of lichen is carried out only if it is located on the pictures themselves or in the immediate
vicinity. Clearing with chemicals is only permitted in exceptional cases, when the substrate material isfragile and requires natural weathering of lichen, or when the removal of lichen with water is difficult.
So, as a result of the active scientific and practical cooperation and exchange of professional
experience in the field of conservation in 2002-2006, the modern methodology of conservation of
Tamgaly petroglyphs was formulated, which is generally accepted by experts for other rock art sites in
the region.
During the preparation of Tamgaly for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004, amanagement plan and sub-development plans were developed and adopted, including a program ofurgent conservation work and monitoring up to 2008. However, in 2006, the conservation work on themonument once again stalled, and started again only in 2008.
Thus, the present stage of development of conservation of petroglyphs in Kazakhstan is characterized
by qualitative changes associated with the expansion of international cooperation and exchange ofexperience with experts from different countries.
In Kazakhstan, based on the work of our laboratory, the largest in the CIS, a group of conservators of
petroglyphs has been formed.

83

Kyrgyz Republic
Akmatov Kunbolot

Problems and Needs for Cultural Heritage Protection and Restoration
Activities in Kyrgyz Republic
Introduction
All types of cultural heritage are concentrated in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic. These are: Stone
Age sites, caves, quarries, workshop sites, petroglyphs, settlements, Middle Age cities, dwellings
and farmland, mines and pits, mausoleums, towers, mosques, irrigation facilities, memorials andplaces associated with historical events that took place in Kyrgyzstan. They reflect the most importantmilestones in the history of the republic. Therefore, they need to be identified, explored and used for
educational, scientific and tourist purposes.

Previous Activities
Researches and records of the monuments of history and culture of Kyrgyzstan began in the second
half of the 19th century. These first attempts are associated with the names of Russian travellers,military personnel, researchers from various fields of science, and local historians, who in their notes
and articles wrote about different ancient monuments.
The Turkestan Circle of Lovers of Archaeology (TKLA), which was formed at the initiative of theprominent orientalist Vasily Barthold in 1895, was the first scientific organization dedicated to thestudy and preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkestan region. It included
representatives of the government, gymnasia teachers, the military, doctors and all those interested in
the history of the Turkestan region. Thanks to them, the scientific community and society in general
got to know about such monuments as the petroglyph site Saimaly-Tash, ancient Turkic runic, MuslimArabic and Christian-Nestorian inscriptions, Burana Tower, the caravanserai Tash-Rabat, stone
sculptures, ruins of Middle Age cities, cemeteries and buried treasure consisting of metal objects.
Activists from TKLA laid the foundation for saving the cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan.
Later, in 1921, the Turkestan Committee for Museums, Heritage and Nature Protection (Turkomstaris)
was established, which played a major role in preserving the cultural heritage of Central Asia. It was
the first public institution in Turkestan to be involved in the protection, preservation and popularizationof cultural heritage. In the same year, the List of Historical Monuments of Turkestan was drawn
up, which included such monuments as the Özgön mausoleums and tower, Burana Tower, Manas
Mausoleum, Ak-Beshim and Ak-Töbö medieval cities, and Tash-Rabat caravanserai.
In 1927-1928, the first conservation works on Burana Tower were carried out. The technical conditionof the foundation of this structure was studied and restored, which allowed this unique architecturalmonument of the 11th century to be preserved until more comprehensive restoration works werecarried out in 1971-1974. At the same time, some restoration works were also carried out at the Özgön
architectural complex.

84

A special place in the protection of the cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan is occupied by thearchaeological supervision as part of the construction of the Great Chui Canal, which was conductedunder the direction of A. Bernshtam. Archaeological finds revealed during the construction of thiswaterway reflected the history of Kyrgyzstan from the Bronze Age to the High Middle Ages. They
were put on display in the historical and archaeological section at the Kyrgyz State Historical Museum.
In 1945, M. Masson and G. Pugachenkova carried out a detailed study of Manas Mausoleum, with theobjective to prepare for restoration works.
A Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars of 14 October 1948 played an important role in theprotection and preservation of cultural heritage. The document made local councils responsible for theprotection of monuments in their region. Supervision and control of registration, protection, restoration
and use of historical monuments were implemented by the Committee for Cultural and Educational
Institutions in the Council of the Ministry of the Union Republics. The USSR Council of Ministers
considered the need to organize research and restoration workshops in places where a large number ofheritage sites were located.
On July 31, 1950 the Council of Ministers of the Kyrgyz SSR passed the resolution “On Measures to
Improve the Protection of Cultural Monuments”. It described the organization of the registration ofmonuments and allocation of funds for their restoration. A list of the most valuable heritage sites of
Kyrgyzstan was made up, and Manas Mausoleum and Özgön architectural complex were attributed
as monuments of national importance. This document has been important in the revitalization of theacademic and public institutions devoted to the preservation, study and popularization of the cultural
heritage of the Kyrgyz people.
Great attention has been paid to the protection of cultural and historical heritage since 1954, when the
Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic was established. Along with exploration and excavation,
specialists have also started to work on the protection of sites.
At the end of the 1960s specialized restoration workshops were established in Kyrgyzstan. The
main objects of the activities of these workshops became medieval architectural monuments (Manas
Mausoleum, Burana Tower, Özgön architectural complex, Tash-Rabat caravanserai, etc.). But therestoration works were not implemented perfectly: the use of modern materials (cement, armature,etc.) has led to cracking of the foundations of Burana Tower. The almost 50 percent recovery of thecentral mausoleum of Özgön largely violates the principle of authenticity. Nevertheless, these works
have allowed us to preserve the monuments and sustain them as tourist attractions.
In 1966, the Republican Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Heritage was established.
It included representatives of local governments, scientists, architects and historians. One of the main
aims of this organization was the popularization of historical and cultural heritage. For this goal,
special literature was published, lecture tours were organized, and documentary films were shot. The
periodical journal “Monuments of Kyrgyzstan” was very popular. This edition was richly illustrated
and enjoyed wide popularity not only in Kyrgyzstan, but also in similar societies of the Soviet Union.
In 1968 the Council of Ministers of the Kyrgyz SSR approved a special decree: “On Measures forProtection of Cultural and Historical Monuments in the Territory of the Kyrgyz SSR”, where thelist of heritage of national significance was renewed. Responsibility for the condition of all kinds ofmonuments was entrusted to local councils. The Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz SSR controlled all85

activities connected with the registration, protection, restoration and use of monuments. On the basisof this document, special art-restoration workshops were established.
An important event in the field of protection and preservation of the historical and cultural heritageof Kyrgyzstan occurred in 1977, when the law “On Protection and Use of Cultural and Historical
Heritage” was adopted. Violation of this law was fraught with consequences. Article 44 statedthat those who have been found guilty of violating the rules of protection, use and restoration ofmonuments shall bear criminal, administrative or other responsibility.
In the late 1980s to early 1990s, because of economic and political problems, activities in the field of
cultural and historical heritage were discontinued, and restoration workshops were wound up. But at
the end of the 1990s, the Research Project Office (NIPB) “Kyrgyz restoration” was established.
Throughout its existence the NIPB has implemented a number of conservation and restoration
projects. For example, restoration of the Shah-Fazil mausoleum’s cupola, preparation of a package of
documents for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List nomination “Issyk-Kul - the cultural andnatural landscape” and so forth.
On 5 May 1993 the Parliament of the independent Kyrgyz Republic adopted a new Constitution,
which spoke of caring for cultural heritage. Based on this document, in 1999 the law “On Protection
and Use of Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Kyrgyz Republic” was created and adopted.
In 2002, “Regulations on Registration, Protection, Restoration and Use of Historical and Cultural
Heritage of the Kyrgyz Republic” and “State List of Monuments of History and Culture of Republican
Significance” were adopted.
In 1995, the Kyrgyz Republic ratified the “Convention Concerning the Protection of the World
Cultural and Natural Heritage”. At the same time, activities connected with the inclusion of the mostsignificant monuments in the territory of Kyrgyzstan on the World Heritage List of UNESCO began.
In 2001, after the preparation of primary documentation, six sites were included on the tentative list:
1. Issyk-Kul - the cultural and natural landscape; 2. Petroglyphs of Saimaly-Tash; 3. Sacred Mountain
Sulayman-Too; 4. Shah-Fazil architectural and archaeological complex; 5. Özgön architectural andarchaeological complex; 6. Archaeological and architectural complex “Burana Tower”. In 2009, at the33rd annual meeting of UNESCO, the sacred mountain Sulayman-Too received World Heritage status.
On 27 January 2012, the Presidential Decree “On Measures to Study the Historical and Cultural
Heritage of Kyrgyzstan and Formation of Civil Patriotism” was adopted. According to this document,
one of the priority tasks of government is the study of the historical and cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan
and formation of a common cultural space.

Modern Legal Regulations
Currently, the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic on the protection of historical and cultural heritageis represented by the following regulatory acts: the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic; the laws “On
Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Heritage”, “On Intangible Cultural Heritage”, “On the
National Archives”, “On Museums and Museum Fund”, “On Libraries”, “On Culture”, “On Local
Self-Government” and “On the Epic Manas”; and the codes such as “Code of the Kyrgyz Republic
on Administrative Responsibility”, “Custom Code”, “Civil Code” and “Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz
Republic”.

86According to the law “On Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Heritage”, historical andcultural heritage are monuments of history and culture associated with historic events in the life of
the people, the development of society and state, products of material and spiritual creativity, and all
objects representing historical, scientific, artistic or other value. Historical and cultural monumentsin the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic are protected by the state. Monuments owned by the Kyrgyz
Republic but situated in the territory of other states are also protected by the laws of the Kyrgyz
Republic. It should be noted that monuments of history and culture cannot be privatized.
Recognition of objects as historical and cultural heritage is secured by including them on the State
List of Historical and Cultural Heritage. Newly discovered objects representing historical, scientific,
artistic or other cultural value and waiting for the decision to be included in the state registry are
eligible for protection as monuments registered on the list of objects of historical and cultural heritage.
Furthermore, there is a list of objects of historical and cultural heritage under the threat of loss.
According to the law, the exclusion of objects of any categories from the State lists is prohibited.
However, in case of loss or destruction of monuments, the note “lost” is inserted in the lists.
For preparation of the decision on recognition of the historical and cultural values of historicaland cultural monuments, and on a change of their status, a state body on protection of monuments
establishes a special commission, involving scientists, experts, prominent people in culture and thearts, representatives of artistic unions and other public associations.
Protection of objects of historical and cultural heritage which have received legal status is implemented
by means of funding from the state budget, financial allocations of organizations providing
maintenance of monuments, donations of public organizations, private persons, and assistance fromthe international community such as the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and others.
For the purposes of effective registration and protection, the monuments are defined as monuments ofinternational, national and local significance.
Lists of historical and cultural monuments of local significance are approved by local government
bodies upon submission of the list by the territorial body responsible for protection of monuments,
approved by the relevant state body.
The government of the Kyrgyz Republic approves lists of historical and cultural monuments ofnational significance upon submission of the list by the state body responsible for protection ofmonuments.
The state body responsible for protection of monuments, according to requests in line withinternational norms, compiles lists of historical and cultural monuments of international significance.
There are one monument of international significance, 583 monuments of national significance and1269 monuments of local significance in the Kyrgyz Republic. Monuments of national significanceconsist of: historical monuments - 66; archaeological monuments - 335; architectural monuments 122; monuments of art - 53; monuments of history, culture and nature - 7.
It should be noted that archaeological monuments from the time of their discovery, even before their
inclusion on the State lists, have the status of historical and cultural monuments and are protected by
the state.
Protection of historical and cultural heritage is based on legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic andincludes a series of sequentially performed actions, namely:87• discovery, research, registration and popularization of historical and cultural heritage;• assigning the appropriate status to monuments of history and culture;• protecting the monuments from physical destruction, vandalism, tampering,

distortion,unjustified changes, and removal from the historical context;• preservation and revival of the heritage through conservation, restoration, regeneration andrecording;• use of the monuments in the process of revival of the ethno-cultural environment, as well as forscientific, educational and tourist purposes.
Restoration, conservation, regeneration and repair of objects of historical and cultural heritage arecarried out only with the sanction of a state body responsible for protection of monuments. Indicatedworks are performed by specialized scientific/restoration organizations and other organizations or
citizens with the special sanction of a state body responsible for protection of monuments, which isissued for each monument after the approval of submitted project documentation by the state body.
Demolition, removal and alteration of objects of historical and cultural heritage are allowed onlywith the sanction of the government of the Kyrgyz Republic when it could be destroyed as a resultof natural disaster, or if there is a threat of loss in historical, scientific, artistic and other value of theobject. The exception is the destruction of archaeological monuments upon excavation.
Objects of historical and cultural heritage are used for the spiritual and cultural development of thepeople of the Kyrgyz Republic, and for scientific, educational, tourist and excursion purposes. Useof objects of historical and cultural heritage for other purposes is allowed only under the sanction ofa state body responsible for protection of monuments. Procedures for the use of monuments in city
design, and art and historical centres in cities and other settlements is defined in the plans for protected
zones approved by the government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Problems and Needs
At present the problem of preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan is
becoming increasingly important, due to the increasing threat of destruction by the action of bothnatural and anthropogenic factors. Historical and cultural heritage objects occupy a special place in thesystem of archaeological heritage, and are sometimes the only evidence of the history of the ancient
past of the peoples of Kyrgyzstan.
By their very nature, associated as they are with a large degree of destruction, the complexity of visual
perception for the unprepared eye, and the long period of physical destruction, archaeological sites arerecognized as the most vulnerable heritage requiring urgent conservation measures. In addition, thepeculiarity of archaeological heritage is that, firstly, the total number of archaeological monuments is
unknown; secondly, as a rule, archaeological objects are subject to the highest threat of destruction,
both during land and construction works and as a result of illegal excavations; thirdly, the legal systemin this area is extremely imperfect. Therefore, the issue of preserving archaeological monuments is
becoming increasingly important.
One of the most serious problems in the preservation of archaeological heritage is the spread of illegal
excavations and so-called treasure hunters. Experience has shown that illegal treasure hunting is88

common in practically all regions of Kyrgyzstan, but priority is given to the ruins of medieval towns
in the Chui region. The main purpose of illegal hunters, as a rule, is the collection of antiques for sale.
In recent years, commercial circulation of antiques is becoming a multi-scale business. According
to some scientists, the level of income from illegal operations with cultural values is the same as theincome from illegal trafficking of weapons and drugs. However, bringing the perpetrators to accountfor the illegal excavation of archaeological sites is rare in the practice of both judicial and regulatory
authorities.
Apparently, imperfect legislation, lack of strong controls, the availability of exploration equipment(metal detectors) and the increased interest in antiques are the main causes of the spread of illegal
excavations.
Another important issue in this sphere is the lack of physical protection zones for monuments, i.e., theterritory surrounding monuments is not isolated from economic land use. And the buying and sellingof land on the market lead to the privatization of monuments. This situation has occurred not throughthe malicious intent of local authorities, but because of the authorities’ ignorance of legislation and themonuments in their territories.
Another problem is the lack of coordination of individual pieces of legislation. For example, theLand Code of the Kyrgyz Republic does not contain any articles regulating the legal status of theterritories where archaeological monuments are located. It never mentions the concept of “heritage”
or “archaeological monument”. However, article 84 of this code states that “Lands with naturalcomplexes and objects that have special ecological, environmental, scientific, historical, cultural,
recreational and medicinal functions are classified as specially protected natural territories”.
Thus, setting the general rules of the study, use, restoration and preservation of historical and cultural
heritage, the government does not carry the work to its logical conclusion, and does not seek toeliminate the contradictions in the legislation.
There are many problems in the field of cultural and historical heritage, but I would like to suggest
some measures for the protection, preservation and study of historical and cultural heritage, and above
all, the archaeological monuments of Kyrgyzstan. These measures are as follows:• considering the peculiarity of archaeological monuments as mentioned above, and their ubiquity
within the territory of Kyrgyzstan, it is rational to create and adopt a special law, “On theProtection of Archaeological Heritage”;• establish a special service for protection of archaeological heritage, which would be responsible
for the entire range of control functions in relation to archaeological heritage. In this area,
the following principles should be observed. Firstly, archaeological departments should bestate institutions, which would exercise general supervision of all archaeological works.
Secondly, these departments should be steadily provided with funds for the investigation of
accidental finds, for the execution of rescue excavations and so on. Thirdly, permission for suchexcavations must be granted exclusively to institutions with qualified archaeologists;• in the structure of the Ministry of Interior or the National Security Committee, an independent
subdivision should be formed, which would fight against encroachments on cultural andhistorical heritage;89

• it is necessary to expand the ways to protect historical and cultural heritage under civil law. To
do this, first of all, public authorities responsible for cultural heritage protection and community
organizations should be entitled to sue in the courts to stop activities threatening historical andcultural monuments;• it is necessary to devise and implement a long-term program, “Archaeological Map ofKyrgyzstan”, with the purpose of carrying out a survey of the entire country and the creation ofa database of known and newly discovered archaeological sites. Implementation of the program
should provide the appropriate state registration of cultural heritage, attract investments in theconservation and restoration of monuments and help create a well-developed infrastructure ofresearch and restoration organizations in this field;• implementation of a methodical scientific policy would receive new content in case of theformation of an Academic Research Institute for Protection of Cultural and Historical Heritage,
which would carry out all activities connected with the protection and restoration of thehistorical and cultural heritage of the Kyrgyz Republic.

References
Amanbaeva B. Issledovanie i ohrana istoriko-kul’turnogo nasledia v Kyrgyzskoi Respublike:sovremennoe sostoyanie, problem i vozmozhnye puti ih reshenii // Soveschanie regional’nyh
spetsialistov. Kul’turnoe nasledie Tsentralnoi Azii i vklad Yaponii. Tashkent, 2010. pp. 91-94.
Karymshakova B. Gosudarstvennye i obshestvennye organizatsii, zanimayuschiesya sohraneniem
kul’turnogo naslediya v Kyrgyzskoi Respublike // Soveschanie regional’nyh spetsialistov. Kul’turnoe
nasledie Tsentralnoi Azii i vklad Yaponii.Tashkent, 2010. pp. 29-32.
Kol’chenko V. Arheologicheskie pamyatniki Kyrgyzstana v svete Konventsii ob ohrane vsemirnogo
naslediya // Nasledie material’noi i duhovnoi kul’tury Kyrgyzstana. Bishkek, 2005. pp. 132-145.
Moskalev O. K vyiavlen’iu i izuchen’iu pamiatnikov arheologii v Kyrgyzstane (1923-1990) // Voprosy
istorii Kyrgyzstana, № 2. Bishkek, 2011.
Martynenko I. Pravovoi status, ohrana i vosstanovlenie istoriko-kul’turnogo nasledia. Grodno, 2005.
343 p.
Zakon Kyrgyzskoi Respubliki “Ob ohrane i ispol’zovanii istoriko-kul’turnogo nasledia” (v redaksii ot
25/07/2012).

90

Lao P.D.R.
Sivorravong Souksavanh

1. Introduction
Lao PDR has a long, rich and splendid cultural heritage,
which reflects its civilization and its national history
inherited over the millennia. This cultural heritage is
not only seen in the lifestyle, in traditional customs, andin the diverse activities of the Lao people, but also ininnumerable historical and archaeological sites such asbuildings, historic cities, city walls and streets, and otherconstructions.
The Vat Phou historic site, a cultural heritage site situated on the west bank of the Mekong River, about
500 km to the south-east of Vientiane municipality, has its origin in the Khom ‘Khmer’ civilization
dating back to the Angkorian era. The Vat Phou site includes many components scattered on the slopesof Phou Kao Mountain and on the Champasak Plain.
Due to the impact of rapid socio-economic development, much of the Lao PDR’s cultural heritage has
been changed or disappeared over time. The historic cities, the architecture and the traditional local
way of life are sadly, step by step, being destroyed by development.
The ancient monument complex of Vat Phou lies close to the Mekong River in Champasak District inthe south-west of Lao PDR. While the Vat Phou temple is the most famous of the archaeological sites
in Champasak, it is only one component of a rich and dense archaeological and cultural landscapeextending along both banks of the Mekong River and up to the mountains west of the river. Many ofthese temple sites and ritual features have long been known. Fieldwork in recent years has revealed
that many other archaeological sites survive, including a walled city on the west bank of the MekongRiver, another walled area near Phou Kao Mountain, numerous other settlement sites, and traces offormer planned watercourses, roads and field systems as well as industrial features such as quarries
and kilns.
This extensive cultural landscape was planned around an axis aligning the mountain peak of Phou Kao
with the temple of Vat Phou. The natural linga of Phou Kao Mountain, which imbued the site with anatural sanctity, was clearly the inspiration and stimulus for the ancient builders of the monuments.
The Mekong River was also of great sacred and symbolic aswell as economic importance. The Vat Phou area is therefore
not simply a historic landscape with very high survival ofarchaeological features, it is also one of the world’s great
examples of the planning and management of a landscape toreflect the beliefs and concerns of its rulers and inhabitants.
The ancient walled city on the right (west) bank of the
Mekong River is one of the earliest known urban settlements91

in mainland Southeast Asia and the only one of its type to have been extensively investigated. As
such, the site provides unique and valuable evidence for the origins of urbanism in the region. The
archaeological sites of the Champasak Plain date principally from the 5th century AD onwards. Their
distribution is dense and the quality of survival is high. The standing monuments are of great beauty
and importance, while the buried archaeological sites are of equally high importance as a future sourceof knowledge and research for the benefit of the peoples of Lao PDR and the world.
Conservation of the surviving landscape and preservation of the individual archaeological sites andmonuments are therefore of immense cultural importance because of their historical associations, theevidence of ancient urban planning on a large scale, and the sacredness attributed to the landscape by
its planners. Also of significance is the way in which that formality has, over time, decayed and been
adapted into a living and thriving agrarian landscape. While the adaptations reflect the changing needs
and priorities of the Laotian people over the centuries, the landscape still preserves the framework of
its earlier planning and is dominated by the remains of the great ceremonial sites, which still have aresidual sacred role.
The present land use is primarily agricultural throughout the river plain, with scattered villages andconsiderable amounts of woodland surviving, particularly on the mountains. However, the area as awhole is now subject to increasing pressures for change and economic growth, which will have adverse
effects on the preservation of this significant archaeological landscape if not carefully managed. The
standing ruins have decayed and, in some cases, are at risk of major collapse. The quickening pace ofdevelopment with the onset of road building, irrigation schemes and proposals for localized industrial
development places the less obvious archaeological sites, particularly those close to the river, at risk ofdamage. There are also problems of fluvial erosion from both the Mekong River and its tributaries thatcriss-cross the landscape.
Another factor is tourism, which is likely to grow substantially in the coming decades. If managed
sustainably, tourism can be an asset for the management of Vat Phou and its associated archaeologicalsites and for the charm of the riverine villages, both likely to be attractive to visitors. Income fromtourism provides an economic justification for conserving the archaeological sites. However, if not
managed sensitively, tourism, too, is likely to be highly damaging to the long-term future of thislandscape and its archaeological value.
The archaeology and landscape of the Champasak area are
therefore at a turning point. Recognizing its importance, theGovernment of Lao PDR has placed Vat Phou on its Tentative
List for World Heritage nomination, and, with support from
UNESCO, has decided to produce and implement a management
plan for the area. The purpose of this plan is to conserve thearchaeological sites and their landscape character along with thebest of the traditional character of the land use and settlement of
the area, within the overall development and economic growthof the region, for future research and for the benefit of the local
communities and the wider world.
The plan introduces controls to prevent activities that would

92

The main sanctuary on the uppermost
terrace of Vat Phou showing the
intricate carvings that adorn its exterior
surfaces.

be damaging, as well as policies for using the sites in a sustainable way for promoting the economic
development of local communities. The plan also defines ways
to increase public awareness and support for these policies,
so that Vat Phou can become an exemplar of site management
within Southeast Asia. In creating the Champasak Heritage
and Cultural Landscape Protection Zone, the plan recognizes
the importance of using preservation to improve the local
economy and local living conditions within the overall needsof conservation. The plan establishes regulations within theChampasak Heritage and Cultural Landscape Protection Zone
for application of the 1997 Decree of the President of Lao PDR
on the Preservation of Cultural, Historical and Natural HeritageNo. 03/PR.

The Vat Phou temple complex was
intentionally set within a plannedlandscape reflecting the ancient world

1.1. The Archaeological Sites of the Champasak Heritage and Cultural LandscapeProtection Zone
It is convenient first to describe the archaeological remains known in the Champasak Heritage andCultural Landscape Protection Zone and then to discuss the evidence for planning in the landscape.
For ease of reference, the sites are considered in a number of topographical groups working more orless from west to east. They are:・ Phou Kao Mountain・ Vat Phou Temple site・ Hong Nang Sida area south of the Vat Phou Temple site, including the Ancient Road・ Other monumental sites along the eastern fringe of Phou Kao Mountain・ The Ancient City・ Other sites on the Champasak Plain・ Tomo Temple
 Phou Kao Mountain: based on the evidence from inscriptions, Lingaparvata is the Sanskrit namegiven to Phou Kao Mountain (1,416 metres) by the ancient Khmer inhabitants. The mountain peakis a natural linga, some 10 metres high and visible from far away. It is an iconic representation of
Shiva, god of fertility. In 1997, the remains of a brick foundation of a temple were found on the
top of the rock outcrop, with a carved sandstone linga lying at its foot. This find appears to confirm
the identification of Phou Kao as
Lingaparvata. On the slope of Phou
Kao Mountain the Hindu religious
complex of Vat Phou was built.
 Vat Phou: This temple complex
is located at the foot of Phou Kao
Mountain, overlooking the floodplainof the Mekong River. The shrine

93itself is built on a natural terrace of Phou Kao Mountain where a freshwater spring gushes out of
the rock. The temple complex as a whole is laid out on a linear plan stretching 1,400 metres along
an east-west axis, rising up the lower slopes of the mountain from the plain below. The complex
was designed to be approached from the east and to impress the worshipper with the sanctity ofthe place, with Lingaparvata visible behind the temple itself. This axial layout is rare for a Khmer
temple (a concentric layout is more common) and reflects the conscious use of the natural terrain toplace maximum focus on Lingaparvata.
 Hong Nang Sida and the Ancient Road: The area south of Vat Phou is rich in archaeologicalevidence of the planned use of the area during the occupation of the temple site at Vat Phou. From
the Nandi Hall at Vat Phou runs a road which probably ultimately extends over 200 kilometres toAngkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire. The road is in the form of a causeway, about 14 metreswide at its base and about 2 metres high, flanked for the first kilometre of its length by a drainage
channel to collect run-off water from the mountain. The road also provided local access to sites
more immediately to the south of Vat Phou. About 1.5 kilometres south of Vat Phou is the area ofHong Nang Sida. The most prominent feature here is Nang Sida Temple. It consists of a central
shrine, with an entrance hall and sanctuary tower, built around the 11th to the beginning of the 12th
century AD. The tower has collapsed, and its base is presently buried under the large stones of thesuperstructure. The decorative sculpture
is extensive, though not complete, andis of high quality. The temple and anumber of minor buildings are enclosed
by a precinct wall. The temple in its
present state dates to the 11th century
AD, but use of the site as a wholeprobably falls within the period from the10th to 14th centuries AD.
 Other monumental sites along the eastern fringe of Phou Kao Mountain: There are a number ofmonumental sites in this area, all situated on the slightly higher ground at the base of the mountain.
They probably mark in some way the perimeter of the sacred mountain, thus ‘enshrining’ thisnatural landform. Hong Nang Sida has already been described. One kilometre to the south of it lies
Thao Tao Temple, which is built largely of re-used stone. It probably dates to after the 12th century
AD and was never finished. Within its precinct wall are the collapsed shrine itself and a small
library, while on the eastern side of the precinct is an entrance or gopura. Thao Tao has tentatively
been identified as a ‘hospital’ or ‘rest house for travellers’ (lit. ‘house with fire’) The Ancient City: The remains of the Ancient City, tentatively identified as Shestrapura, are located
6.5 kilometres east of Vat Phou, on the alluvial plain on the right (west) bank of the Mekong River.
The archaeological area covers about 400 ha. The city was originally surrounded on the southern,western and northern sides by a rectangular double earthen wall, about 2.4 km by 1.8 km overall.
The wall is 14 metres wide at its base and has survived to a height of 6 metres where it is best
preserved. The northern wall of the Ancient City has been greatly eroded by the Huay Sahoua
River. The eastern side of the Ancient City, along the bank of the Mekong River, has also been94

heavily damaged by erosion
 Other sites on the Champasak Plain: A catchment area survey has identified a large number of sites
on the alluvial floodplain of the Mekong River outside the main concentrations described above.
All need further evaluation and a detailed survey before they can be fully characterized, but theirdistribution and density indicate the extent and intensity of past activity in the area. Indications
from the field survey that has been undertaken reinforce the interpretation that pre-Angkorian
activity was concentrated along the riverside and that the Ancient City was the capital in thisperiod. Later, after the unification of the Khmer empire, activity moved west across the floodplain
closer to Vat Phou with the development of a new urban centre at Hong Nang Sida, now tentatively
identified as the city known from inscriptions as Lingapura.
 Tomo Temple: Tomo Temple is another massive monument complex located east of the MekongRiver and 11 km south-east of Vat Phou. From the inscriptions, it has been dated to at least as
early as the 9th century AD, but the style of the sculpture, which is still in situ, suggests the 7th
to 8th centuries AD. These dates indicate that the site was already the subject of worship in theearliest phases of the Khmer settlement of the area. The still-standing monuments were re-built
later, around the 11th to 12th centuries AD, the same time Vat Phou was re-built. Tomo Temple wasbuilt on one of the old eastern terraces of the Mekong River some tens of metres back, flanked by
the Tomo River, a tributary of the Mekong River. The religious complex was built on an artificial
laterite terrace surrounded by a laterite enclosure wall. The gopura (gateways) are still in goodcondition. The original temple, which has now completely collapsed, was built from bricks. An
excavated baray is associated with the site. An inscription mentions a monastery in this area which
was dedicated to Rudrani, theShakti of Shiva (Rudra). The
site can therefore be understoodas the female counterpart andbalance to the Temple of Shiva
at Vat Phou and an essential partof the symbolic planning of thelandscape2. Problems and Needs for Champasak Cultural Heritage Protection
2.1. Pressures on Standing Structures- The standing structures are clearly suffering from a number of pressures. All are in ruins and someare in danger of imminent collapse. All require regular ongoing maintenance to minimize further
decay. They all will also need major conservation work to remedy past damage.
- There are a number of major causes of the structural problems. The technical reports (seeReferences: Technical Reports) on the conservation of Vat Phou Temple and on the structural
engineering issues identified some major structural problems involving foundation failure. A major
concern here is the decay over time and the disruption caused by ill-conceived restoration work
done to the original drainage systems established by the builders of the monuments, which diverted95

water away from the buildings. Water now flows underground beneath the foundations and has
washed away much of the consolidated soil and sand on which they were built. Re-establishingancient drainage patterns is a high priority, particularly at Vat Phou where the artificial terracing of
the hillside is vulnerable to water erosion.
- There have been structural failures of stones in a number of places, often due to the decay of thetimber lintels used by the original builders on a large scale. Elsewhere, the water-logging of laterite
blocks in the structures’ lower courses has caused them to decay and be crushed by the weight of
the wall above.
- The failure to keep the buildings clear of vegetation is a major problem since trees quickly establish
themselves and their roots cause great damage. Uncontrolled vegetation is also a problem at groundlevel since it often conceals low walls and foundations, which are then at risk of casual damage.
There is a need for a regular programme to keep the major sites clear of dense vegetation and thebuildings free of trees and other woody growths.
- There is also some evidence of damage by visitors, either accidental or deliberate. This needs tobe countered by better security and regularpatrolling of the sites. Generally, while specificmajor works of conservation will be needed andwill continue over many years, much could beachieved by regular maintenance, to slow decay
and prevent new damage. This must be a highpriority for site management.

2.2. Pressures on Buried Remains- Buried archaeological remains, as well as visible ancient earthworks are also subject to a large
number of pressures—both natural pressures and pressures caused by humans.
- The most significant natural cause of damage is erosion. Fluvial erosion occurs along the bank of
the Mekong River in the Ancient City. The northern part of the Ancient City has also been heavily
eroded by the Houay Sahoua River as it flows to the Mekong River. There is also damage fromflooding and from runoff from the mountains during the rainy season.
- There are many human-induced threats. There have been a number of occasions where major
development schemes, particularly those concerned with irrigation, have damaged parts of theAncient City. Irrigation schemes cause damage both through the works themselves and through thesubsequent intensification of agricultural use.
- Sites have also suffered from more haphazard development such as the construction of barays andbrickworks. Casual damage on a small scale also occurs. In the villages, the change from traditionaltimber construction to concrete construction with excavated footings and foundations also causes
damage to the remains.
- Thus far, looting of archaeological sites has not been a major problem, though instances of looting
have occurred. However, many sites suffer from low-level general degradation, reflecting a lack ofinterest in them or knowledge that they even exist.

962.3. Environmental Pressures- The natural resources of the Vat Phou area, which include fertile arable land on the Mekong flood
plain, the dense forests of the sacred Phou Kao Mountain, and the Mekong River, provide valuable
economic resources for the inhabitants of Champasak District.
- Although Lao PDR currently has one of the highest proportions of intact forest cover in Asia—47
per cent of the country in 1992 (Department of Forestry Reconnaissance, 1992)—this has decreased
23 per cent in the last 50 years. As arable land in Lao PDR is limited, there is increasing economic
pressure to more fully exploit the country’s forest resources. As yet, Phou Kao Mountain’s 120
square kilometres of dense forest has not been commercially logged, and tree felling occurs on avery limited scale. In order to ensure the continued survival of this important natural and cultural
resource, measures must be taken to conserve it.
- To increase the yield of arable land, a process of modernization of agricultural practices iscurrently underway. New varieties of rice are being developed along with the introduction of
mechanized farming equipment. Modernization of rice cultivation could have a potentially serious
negative impact on both the visual quality of the Vat Phou cultural landscape and on the subsurface archaeology of the area. The use of motorized ploughs will cause paddy fields to become
amalgamated to form larger fields. The traditional agricultural landscape of small rice paddies withdispersed trees may therefore be lost. In addition, motorized ploughs will disturb archaeologicaldeposits due to their weight and increased plough-shear depth.
- With economic development and increased local income levels, there is a danger that traditional
wooden houses will be replaced by modern concrete constructions. This change will damage thevisual quality of the cultural landscape and lead to increased destruction of the archaeologicalresources, as permanent concrete foundations are required to support the new constructions. There
will be a particularly negative effect on the character of the villages, which contribute so much tothe special character of the area.

Wall of Vat Phou, showing the type ofstructural damage that results from
improper drainage, which undermines
the soil supporting the structure.

A laterite wall at Vat Phou damaged byuncontrolled growth of vegetation, oneof the greatest threats to structures atthe site.

2.4. Future Development Pressures- The Government of Lao PDR is committed to increased prosperity through economic growth. This97

commitment is implemented through the Economic Policy Frameworks for 1994 at the national
level and through development plans at the provincial level. The Champasak area is prominent
within this policy because of its agricultural potential and its location as a potential node ofcommunication between southern Lao PDR, Thailand, Viet Nam and Cambodia. The various
improvements to the road network will greatly increase this potential, and also open up the area
more to tourism.
- Pressures are likely to show themselves in a number of areas, and have already begun to do so insome cases. It should be noted, too, that infrastructure improvements elsewhere are likely to havean effect on the Champasak District by making it more accessible. Once existing and planned road
improvements are implemented, for example, between Vangtao (on the Lao side of the border withThailand) and Pakse, there could be considerable development pressures around Champasak as aconsequence.
- Probably the most significant large-scale pressure in the future will come from agricultural
improvement through irrigation schemes. These have the effect of bringing back into cultivation
areas which have not been cultivated for many years and of intensifying agriculture where it alreadyexists. The need for larger fields, the construction of the irrigation channels themselves and deeper
cultivation will all be damaging to the archaeological sites that are directly affected. Cumulatively
there will be a negative effect on the historic landscape as field size increases and trees are lost fromfield divisions and from areas brought back into cultivation. If logging operations were allowed, theeffects on either Phou Kao Mountain or on Don Deng Island would be devastating.
- Industrial development can also have an adverse effect on both the sites themselves and their
settings. The effects of small-scale haphazard development, such as brickworks, can already beseen in some places. The construction of an industrial zone, if sited within an area of archaeologicalinterest, would, if permitted, cause major damage both to the site itself and to the landscape setting.
- Increased prosperity and higher expectations for living standards will lead to pressures for new
housing types and for more facilities within villages and within the town of Champasak itself.
These could lead to considerable changes in the character of the villages and, possibly, to the loss ofinteresting historical features such as the traditional houses of the area. These changes would havea cumulative negative effect on the visual appearance and setting of the various settlements if notcarefully managed.

2.5. Tourism and Site Development- Tourism is already of some significance in the Laotian economy, and is likely to become much
more important as tourism grows globally into the world’s major industry and as Lao PDR becomes
more accessible, particularly since the country has so much to offer to the discerning visitors.
The Government’s tourism development policy, set out in 1996 (report in Vientiane Times, 2329 August, 1996), is to concentrate on group packages and high income tourists and to minimize
impacts on the environment and cultural heritage, while promoting eco-tourism and incorporating
tourism activities related to the environment and traditional Lao culture.
- The current tourist numbers for the Champasak area are comparatively low, with approximately
7,500 visitors to Vat Phou in 1998 (excluding those domestic visitors who came to the Vat Phou

98

Festival in February). The provision for tourists, both at the sites and in terms of accommodationand services, is consequently limited.
- Managed sustainably, cultural tourism provides visitors with a rewarding and valuable experience,
while they in turn make a substantial contribution to the local economy and to employment, as wellas to the conservation of the sites and their landscape through the income generated from them.
- If tourism is not managed with sensitivity, the consequences can be dire. On the sites themselves,
there will be damage through erosion resulting from over-visiting, possibly from vandalism, andfrom the inappropriate provision of services. Off-site, insensitive construction can damage thelandscape setting of the archaeological features and of the villages, and can introduce elements
which are not in accord with the lifestyle and aspirations of the local population- A particular issue requiring attention is the Vat Phou Festival, held annually during February
and embodying the continued sacred and communal role of the site. During the three days of thefestival, between 7,000 and 10,000 people visit the Vat Phou temple complex, in some cases staying
overnight. There are concerns over the safety of visitors as well as the safety of the monument itself
that need to be addressed

2.6. Public Awareness and Understanding- It is clear that public understanding of the existence and significance of the archaeological remainsof the Champasak area is crucial for the preservation of the site. Without that understanding andthe support of the local population, efforts to conserve the area will not be successful. At present,
most people regard only Vat Phou itself and the other standing ruins as being of archaeological andhistorical importance; they are largely unaware of the significance and extent of the below-groundremains and of the integrity and value of the cultural landscape as a whole.
- The apparent conflict between conservation of the cultural landscape and the opportunities for
economic development is one that will need to be addressed. It has to be accepted that conservation
will prevent some developments. On the other hand, proper conservation of the site should offer
considerable economic benefits to the local communities. The key here must be to work with thelocal villages and through the village heads to raise understanding of the importance of the cultural
resources of the area and the opportunities that the conservation of these resources can bring to thesustainable development of Champasak.

2.7. Funding, Resources and Capacity Development- The Government of Lao PDR has long recognized the importance of Vat Phou and has, since 1989,
funded a local office to manage it. In addition, the Government has sought technical and financial
support from UNESCO over a number of years. Original proposals for extensive restoration work
at Vat Phou, made in 1989, were never carried out because they were too elaborate, too expensive,
too interventionist, and focused only on the main temple complex. Since 1989, there has also been
an increasing realisation of the extent of archaeological remains and the integrity and significanceof the cultural landscape as a whole.
- Since 1995, Italian and Japanese funding has enabled UNESCO and the Government of Lao
PDR to develop a new approach to the management of the Champasak cultural landscape. This99

has been based on (i) identification of the resources and development of a management database,(ii) capacity development so that it can be locally managed, (iii) recognition that a successful
approach to management must also include sustainable economic development, and (iv) a belief
that conservation work should be as non-interventionist as possible. The Government has also
devoted considerable resources to the management programme through the allocation of staff andthe provision of infrastructure support

3. Restoration Activities and Protection
Now, turning to restoration activities on Champasak cultural heritage protection, first of all, we havecreated a plan in order to suggest to UNESCO for getting the consent, and then they may provide
funding and some professional and technical staff for inspecting and researching how to protect
cultural heritage. Our government has also passed legislation and issued regulations in order to protect
Champasak cultural heritage, and we introduce differing degrees of protection for the archaeologicalsites as well as for other distinctive features of the landscape, including those of the naturalenvironment, traditional settlements and buildings, and their character and setting. It establishes
policies within these zones for:・ protection of the cultural landscape as a whole・ protection of buried archaeological remains
・ protection of settlement character and traditional buildings
・ protection of the natural environment
・ protection and enhancement of the landscape setting
・ control of new development
・ regulation of traditional land use Developing partnerships and consensus among all those, public and private, who are
stakeholders in the cultural landscape Establishing effective operational linkages between the Site Manager and all other bodies
working in the area
 Identification and promotion of changes beneficial to the cultural landscape and its protection
and safeguarding for future generations
 Maximizing public and private resources, national and international, for the initial conservationand enhancement of the cultural landscape while developing economically and locallysustainable management systems for the future Stabilizing the environmental pressures on the culturallandscape Retaining, protecting and enhancing the vitality of theliving culture and landscape Maintaining and reinforcing the special character of thecultural landscape and enhancing understanding of all
aspects of the site, including the sacred aspects
 Conserving the material remains of the site Improving public understanding of the value and100

importance of the cultural landscape, and engaging the support and positive intervention of thelocal communities for the plan’s objectives
 Clear definition of the zones to be protected and their boundaries
 Revision of laws and regulations to provide adequate protection for the Champasak Heritage
and Cultural Landscape Protection Zone and its sub-zones
 Production of guidelines for the protection of archaeological sites under other land uses or in
private ownership Regular inspections to monitor the condition of all archaeological sites, including earth works
and those sites that are buried Preparation of an inventory of all movable antiquities
within the site with a record of their original sites andcurrent location
 Relocation of all movable antiquities at risk of theft or
damage into secure areas
 Assessment of likely future damage by fluvial erosion,and the taking of appropriate action to minimize thatdamage Assessment of the conservation needs of all standing
structures and initiation of work necessary for theprevention of collapse

The urbanism team presenting theprotection plan and regulations.

101Maldives
Ashraf Ismail

Problems and Needs for Cultural Heritage Protection and Restoration
Activities in MaldivesBeing an island nation located in the Indian Ocean tropics, Maldives boasts an impressive historicalbackground that shows evidence of more than 2000 years of human habitation within its white sandand lush vegetation. This report is based on case studies and observations done personally by myself
in the field of research, conservation and preservation of artifacts within the museum’s collection via
their origin during the past seven years since joining as a trainee curator. For this report I will portraythe original status and current status of four different heritage sites to provide examples of the cultural
heritage protection and restoration needs of Maldives.

Kaashidhoo Archaeological Site
Situated on the island of Kaashidhoo in Kaafu Atoll, Kaashidhoo archaeological site is the largest preIslamic (before 1153 CE) site recorded in Maldives. It is also the only scientifically excavated site in
Maldives. As with most of the archaeological sites in Maldives, the site on Kaashidhoo was originallyobserved as a large sand mound about 1.5 meters high with coral stones visible on the surface.

Fig 1: Sketch of Kaashidhoo archaeological site.
[(1) Photo: Scanned from ‘Archaeological Excavationsof a Monastery at Kaashidhoo; Prof. Dr. Philos Egil
Mikkelsen, University of Oslo, Norway.]

102

The excavation of the site was carried out by Professor Egil Mikelssen and his team in partnershipwith the National Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research (Department of Heritage at the time)and local historians over a span of three years, from 1996 to 1998. Locally known as Kuruhinna
Tharaagandu, the site instantly provided evidence of the culture and life in ancient Maldives as the
excavation proceeded. An area of about 1,880 square feet was unearthed and investigated. Structures
uncovered mainly consisted of only the lowermost parts (30 – 40 cm in height) of structures, whichwere made from course coral stone with lime plastering and moulding on the outside, and which varied
greatly in size and shape. Most of the structures possibly served as platforms for light buildings suchas houses constructed with wood while others served as reliquaries or bases for statues and stupas.
According to the native islanders, stones from the ruins had been previously mined by them as building
materials, which explained why many of the coral stone structures had only the platforms remaining.

Figs 2&3: Ongoing excavations with local workers in 1997, and the finished excavation of the area.
[(2) Photo: Department of Heritage; Site excavation photos / (3) Photo: Scanned from ‘Archaeological Excavationsof a Monastery at Kaashidhoo; Prof. Dr. Philos Egil Mikkelsen, University of Oslo, Norway.]

Apart from the structures, several artifacts were also unearthed in the expedition. These included coralstone caskets, coins, beads, stone fragments, cowrie shells, clam shells, bones of a tortoise, and bronze
and clay ware with fragments. Apart from the artifacts, the site also contained a cemetery. Areas withdeposits of light grey sand, which were said to have been filled intentionally, contained a number ofgraves, of which four were excavated.
On further research and analysis of the finds from Kaashidhoo site, it was concluded that Buddhist
culture there was established in 1 CE. Radiocarbon dating of some of the finds shows that the finds arefrom between 40 BC to 1100 CE(dates of the earliest individual
find to the latest from the site).
After the excavations werecompleted in 1998, some ofthe discovered artifacts were
Fig 4: A grave covered with lightgrey sand, before and after
excavation. [(4) Photo: Scanned
from ‘Archaeological Excavations ofa Monastery at Kaashidhoo; Prof. Dr.
Philos Egil Mikkelsen, University ofOslo, Norway.]103

presented to the Maldives National Museum and the research material and discoveries were published.
But behind the accomplishments and new finds from the expedition, there was a flaw in the wholeproject that had not been realised until it was too late.
The problem was that the expedition did not contain a contingency plan for the protection of the site
after excavation. This has led to the site being directly exposed to the elements, which has resulted
in damage observed and recorded over time up to the present day. As the coral stone ruins became
exposed, humidity in the tropical environment took its toll and has deteriorated and broken down manyof the ruins originally excavated.

Figs 5 & 6: Fully excavated part of the site in 1998 and the same area in 2002 showing the impact of the site
being left exposed without protection; the ruins had already started to gather moisture and break down due tomoss growth, vegetation and other means.
[Photo: (5) Scanned from ‘Archaeological Excavations of a Monastery at Kaashidhoo; Prof. Dr. Philos Egil
Mikkelsen, University of Oslo, Norway. / (6) Department of Heritage; Photo of site taken in 2011 on a trip to assess
the impact due to site exposure through the years.]

In 2008 a project was initiated to preserve and develop the Kaashidhoo site with the aid of the US
Ambassadors Fund. The aim of the project was to re-bury the most severely damaged area of the site
and to build replicas on top for viewing, and to shelter the whole site from the natural elements bybuilding a roof above it. However, the project was only half completed as the funding from the US
Ambassadors Fund proved insufficient. Several difficulties raised the original estimate for the project,such as the transportation of equipment and workers to the island. Weather patterns also delayed
the project, increasing the overall project cost. Due to these reasons the Department of Heritage
asked for financial assistance from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to provide the extra amountneeded to complete the project. This request was turned down by the government, thus leading to theabandonment of the project halfway through. At the end of the project the most damaged area wasburied and the rest of the site is still exposed without any protective measures.

Male’ Hukuru Miskiy
Built in 1658 CE during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar I, the construction of this marvel was
carried out under his rule and guidance as a renovation and expansion project to build a new, larger
mosque in place of the previous mosque, being completed in approximately one-and-a-half years. The
foundation of the Hukuru Miskiy (4°10’40.9”N 73°30’44.5”E) is one of the first mosques ever built
in Maldives after the introduction of Islam by the first Muslim Sultan of Maldives, Muhammad Ibun
Abdullah, in 1153 CE.

104

The architectural ingenuity of having the Hukuru Miskiy built from carved coral stone blocks boundto each other without the use of lime or mortar, but only with hewn grooves, is a good example ofthe craftsmanship of Maldivians. Complementing the structure is the roof, doors and windows finely
hand carved with intricate patterns by handpicked ‘Maavadi’ or chief carpenters. On the interior andexterior of the mosque, coral stone and wood contain both a combination of Islamic geometrical art
and Maldivian art forms passed on by ancestors along with verses from the Quran and sayings of
the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which are finely carved and engraved. Apart from the mosque, thegrounds also contain graves of many kings and honoured people, whose tombstones are also made ofcoral stone hand carved and engraved with the same patterns. These qualities paved the way for themonument to be inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2008.

Fig 7: Hukuru Miskiy as it is seen today. The
coral stone mosque remains the same as it
was more than 300 years ago, with only minorchanges as protective measures such as theroof.
[Photo: (7) Taken on 23 August 2014 by Ismail
Ashraf, Assistant Curator of the National
Museum]Today the mosque remains one of the most well-maintained heritage sites in Maldives, and it is still
being used for religious purposes daily with only minor repairs and changes since its construction morethan three centuries ago. The latest full restoration work on the mosque was done in 1988 by a team ofIndian experts from the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property. Currently
the mosque is looked after by the City Council through daily maintenance and the restoration andconservation work is done by the Department of Heritage.

Fig 8: The entrance of Hukuru Miskiy seenfrom the left. While development has changed
the surroundings, the mosque grounds remain
as they are, although precautions must
be taken to establish a buffer zone for themosque for future preservation efforts to be
more fruitful.
[Photo: (8) Taken on 23 August 2014 by Ismail
Ashraf, Assistant Curator of the National
Museum]105

Even though the site is looked after and well-maintained, the lack of expertise in the field along withfinancial issues should be pointed out when considering the long-term maintenance of the site, as
well as any sudden accidents or disasters that might occur. Not having a proper buffer zone is anotherpotential risk when considering long-term protection of the site. Being located in Male’, the capitalof Maldives, and only metres away from traffic and development work, the site needs a considerable
amount of attention, awareness and controlled development if the site is to be sustained and conserved,
keeping in mind that the site is already included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Usgekolhu
Usgekolhu is a small three-storey building located inside what is now Sultan Park in Male’. Built
by Sultan Muhammed Imaadhudheen VI (ruled from 1893 CE to 1903 CE) near the end of the 19th
century, the building is said to have been built for the Egyptian princess bride of the sultan, Shareefa
Haanim after she was to be brought to Male’ to live with him. However, Usgekolhu was completed by
Sultan Muhammed Shamsudheen III (ruled from 1903 CE to 1934 CE) during his reign. Some of his
family were the first people to use the house as living quarters. The building is an excellent Maldivian
architectural example of the 19th century with its thick lime plastered walls and arched entrance.
Usgekolhu is special in many ways, as what it lacks in age, it has gained in historical value. The
building is the last remaining structure of the royal palace of Male’. During the second presidencyof Maldives under the presidency of Mr. Ibrahim Nasir, the palace was dismantled, after which hebuild Sultan Park on the palace grounds, which can be seen today. During this process, all the treasureand valuable documents within the palace were collected and stored in Usgekolhu. The reason why
Usgekolhu was not dismantled along with the other buildings is because it was the last building to be
erected within the palace grounds and therefore it was in excellent condition compared to the others,
especially due to not being used for a long time.

Fig 9: Usgekolhu as the National Museum in 2005.
Located within Sultan Park, visitors often find themselves
feeling as if they have travelled back in time as they walkthrough the lush green park and the museum, whichallows them to briefly escape from the life of the city.
[(9) Photo: Department of Heritage 2005.]

On November 19th 1952 Usgekolhu gained in historical value by becoming the home of the first
National Museum of Maldives. It was this building that housed the national museum until thefoundation for the present building was laid in 2007 and opened in 2010.
After the opening of the New National Museum building, Usgekolhu remains unused and empty within
Sultan Park. During the presidency of Mohamed Nasheed (2008 to 2011) the park walls were taken
down as an act of ‘freedom’. This resulted in the park being accessed freely day and night with no106

protection plan. Due to these factors, both the park and Usgekolhu have suffered unsupervised humanimpact damage. Today Sultan Park has lost its former beauty and Usgekolhu is still without proper
protection, while graffiti on the walls has to be painted over every now and then.

Raa. Maamigili Heritage Site
Situated in Raa Atoll, Maamigili is a small uninhabited island which is now being developed as aresort. Though the island is presently uninhabited, history suggests that the island was once inhabitedand recent discoveries of ruins within the island during the resort construction show evidence that thisis indeed true.

Raa Atoll Maamigili, today known as
Loama Resort Maldives at Maamigili.
[Photo: loamahotelsandresorts.com]

The recent discoveries on the island include two wells, a cemetery, two bathing tanks and mausoleum
foundations with tombstones and pottery shards. All structures and ruins are from cut and carved coralstone. Due to being overrun by heavy vegetation over the years, many of the structures and ruins are
deformed as a result of the action of roots.
While the resort is being constructed on the island, the resort management has decided to restore thesite and artifacts to their original state, to the extent possible, with the main aim being to restore thebathing tanks and to open the area as a display for the tourists who will visit and be accommodated
at the resort. The restoration and management of the site will be completed under the supervision andsupport of the Department of Heritage.

Overall Assessment of Problems in Cultural Heritage Protection and Aims
Analysing the various situations of the abovementioned sites, and for all related sites and artifacts
in Maldives, four main factors that are intertwined can be put forward to explain the setbacks anddifficulties in the proper maintenance of the sites. Lack of ‘expertise’ in the execution of projects andmonitoring is a reason behind the current situation of many heritage sites in Maldives. ‘Awareness’
among the locals of the many islands and areas with heritage sites in Maldives has resulted indeterioration and damage (some of it being human damage) to artifacts and sites that are required to beproperly looked after. While large-scale projects are planned for sites that require immediate or longterm conservation and preservation, many of these projects are ‘frozen’ in the middle due to a shortageof funds, resulting in the abandonment or amendment of the projects so they stay within the budget,which decreases the life and value of the targeted site. Absence of the required resources for proper
conservation and preservation also effects and puts at risk ongoing projects.

107The aim of including Raa Atoll Maamigili site in this report is to draft a protection and preservation
plan for the site, with the use of the information that is gained through the lectures and discussion
sessions of the training programme. The fundamental knowledge gained upon hearing the views ofparticipants and lecturers will hopefully help us create a compact long-term programme for the site
as well as provide new ideas and views on approaches to improve other similar sites and their current
policies for protection and conservation.

Note: All information in this report has been expressed in my own words based on collected
information and documentation from the Department of Heritage.

References- Archaeological Excavations of a Monastery at Kaashidhoo; Prof. Dr. Philos Egil Mikkelsen,
University of Oslo, Norway (Published in 2000).
- Kaashidhoo Project records – Department of Heritage- Raa Maamigili heritage site observation report – Department of Heritage108

Mongolia
Tserendorj Tsolmon“Conservation and Utilization of Mural Paintings in Shoroon Bumbagar
Tomb”
The tomb located in the Valley of Tuul, Ulaan Khermiin Shoroon Bumbagar, near Maikhan Mountain,
in Bayannuur Soum, Bulgan Province, Mongolia was detected in 2001 and discovered during an
excavation campaign carried out by a joint team of archaeologists from the Institute of History of theMongolian Academy of Sciences and the Eurasian University, Astana, Kazakhstan in July – August
2011.
Before excavating the tomb, Mongolian archaeologists had studied tombs with a similar external view,
located in countries and regions to the northeast and southeast such as the People’s Republic of China,
the Russian Far East, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and the Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea. After long research, Mongolian archaeologists and scholars decided that the Shoroon Bumbagar
tomb belonged to ancient nomads.

Figure 1. View of the tomb during archaeological excavations

The tomb belongs to the Turkic (Tureg) Period and is dated between the end of the 6th century AD andthe beginning of the 7th century AD. As a result of archaeological excavations, a number of finds suchas wood carvings, silver, bronze and metal items, and over 40 mural paintings were discovered.
The area where the tomb is located comprises a main complex (marked by the mound above) with
10 smaller mounds around it (some are difficult to identify), although it has not yet been determined
whether these also mark tombs, as they have not yet been excavated. The tomb comprises an open
passage (42 m long x 1.80 m wide) facing south that slopes down into a narrower corridor (circa 1 mwide) composed of sections of covered passages alternating with wells on top, making a total of four109

wells and four covered passages. The last well, which functions as antechamber, has a niche at eitherside (there is a sacrificial well that contained human bones on the western side) and it is connected to ashort passage that leads to the burial chamber (4.50 m diagonally from one corner to another and 2.70
m high), which is 7.50 m deep below ground level. The mound above the burial chamber is 4 m highand has a diameter of 32 m; it was built by superimposing and ramming layers of clayey soil so as tomaintain a certain solidity that has stood the passage of time.

Figure 2. Ground plan and elevations of eastern and western sides

Bayannuur Tomb was never violated so all the funerary paraphernalia was found intact, as was thewooden coffin containing the ashes of the deceased in a wooden box on the western side of the burial
chamber. The archaeological findings are numerous and of a variety of materials; for instance, items ingold and silver such as coins, saddle ornaments, and a pot; a few wood carvings of a dragon, a horse,
sheep, a Galbingaa (a legendary bird) and the entrance doors to the burial chamber; a copper gilt key,lock, latch and staple; and fired ceramics such as a lion, Makhranza or protection deity, unknown
legendary animals, and about 120 coloured figures of standing men, women, children, soldiers,
monks and horsemen. This large variety of objects is currently stored at the Kharkhorin Museum,Uvurkhangai Province.

Figure 3. Plaster layer

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The tomb was hewn from the spathic subsoil, the very crumbly and friable regolith. This incoherent
rock mass was easy to cut but inadequate for carving any kind of underground structure. The carving of
the tomb shows that the execution of the open passage, or dromos, is very fine and regular, becoming
less refined as it goes deeper down into the burial chamber, which has very irregular surfaces.
However, it was not the intention to carve such a structure in the subsoil for living creatures but for
funerary purposes, and therefore safety was not important. The bare stone surfaces were plastered,at varying thickness, with mud-based renders containing chopped straw and sand, and this was for
rendering a smooth surface for painting.
The wall surfaces in the burial chamber are not regularly cut and have many protuberances on which
standing figures and plants were painted just up to a certain height (circa 1.50 m) as a skirting board,and the mud-based plaster was applied just to that level. Probably the ceilings were not plastered andsome vertical sections of walls do not show even traces of plaster.
Almost all of the plastered areas were whitewashed, most likely with white clay and on some sections,the depictions of daily life scenes, personages, livestock or mythical animals were painted with a very
limited palette that consisted of very few colours (the aforementioned white for the background andhighlights, and black, red, brown and blue). Samples of each colour were taken by national specialists
in order to identify the type of pigment and eventually the binder employed. In addition, the different
styles of the depictions and the style of execution of the paintings suggest that there were at least two
different hands.
The eastern and western walls of the open passage each depict a dragon about to fly out into the clouds,
and at the northern end of these walls there are groups of three men standing under banners that pledge
another man, who has a sword.

Figure 4. Entrance of tomb

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Figure 5. Mural painting on right wall

The physical aspects of each of the groups are different from wall to wall, as are the clothing andheaddresses, probably depicting Tureg and Uyghur people. The uppermost northern façade of the open
passage above the entrance to the corridor with covered passages and open wells depicts a woodenbuilding with birds flying away from under its roof eaves. The other two northern façades of the wells
towards the north depict an arrangement of stylized lotus flowers (the second one), and the head of ananimal like a cow (the third one).

Figure 6. Mural paintings in upper part of corridor

The lower sections of the wells’ eastern and western walls depict attendants, butlers, stablemen andhorses. The vertical sections (walls) of the corridor that have covered passages have no paintings. The
walls of the first well, from the south, depict on either side a stableman holding the reins of a horse;112

the attitude is as if he is waiting for his master to ride it. The hat of the stableman depicted on the east
wall reminds us of the Sogdo headdress. The paintings in the burial chamber depict a series of standing
Uyghur personages in a garden with trees.

Figure 7. Mural painting of north grave

During excavation and upon opening the wooden doors that concealed the burial chamber, it was said
that about 60 cm of vaulting collapsed. That’s why the ceilings of the passages and the burial chamber
were propped up with wooden poles and planking. The walls of the passages and the wells were also
covered with planking in order to prevent landslides that may threaten the survival of the tomb and thelives of the technicians and conservators working there.

Figure 8. Props supporting the ceiling of the covered corridor and the western side of the third
well from the north. Note the large amount of stone that had crumbled from behind the post.

According to Decision 71 of the Government of Mongolia in 2011, the archaeological site was placed
under state protection and a protection zone of 700 hectares was created around the site. In order toprevent any negative human or natural impact on the site, a temporary metal shelter (45 m x 12 m) andiron fence (110 x 120 m) were built over and around the site, and a local family was hired to guard it.

Figure 9. Metal shelter and wooden fence

113Mural painting conservation is very new for Mongolians, because this was the first ever discoveryof this type of underground mural painting in Mongolia and we don’t have adequate methods ortechniques for conservation and preservation of such items.
Since the discovery and excavation of the tomb, the Mongolian authorities have taken many different
measures for the conservation and preservation of the mural paintings. In order to conserve the mural
paintings we organized two field missions to Bayannuur Tomb with the attendance of a UNESCO
mural painting expert and a geomechanical expert to assess the current status of conservation of thetomb and its mural paintings, provide practical training to Mongolian national experts pertaining to
the conservation and preservation of tombs and mural paintings, and provide guidance to Mongolian
national experts regarding immediate follow-up actions and long-term actions to be undertaken to
ensure the appropriate preservation and conservation of the site, etc.

Figure 10. UNESCO expert mission with Mongolian conservators

According to the recommendations of the UNESCO expert, the mural painting should be conserved
and preserved onsite. Currently it is very difficult to follow their recommendations, because theinfrastructure is not well developed in this area.
The intention of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Mongolia is to conserve and preserve
those mural paintings onsite and to build an underground archaeological museum, as there are several
tombs similar to Bayannuur Tomb located in the surrounding area.
In this case, further contribution from international community for conservation and site utilization isvery important.

References
Rodolfo Luján Lunsford
・ Technical & Mission Report: the conservation-restoration of the mural paintings of the Bayannuur
Tomb

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Myanmar
Myo Sandar Oo

Problems and Needs for Cultural Heritage Protection and Restoration
Activities in Myanmar
1. Introduction
Myanmar is a geopolitical entity sandwiched between two giant neighbours, India and China, forming
the north-eastern portion of the Southeast Asian region. The country of Myanmar is Mother Nature’s
choicest son, endowed with a bountiful wealth of fossils, flora and fauna – a land of vast biodiversity.
Second largest in territorial size among ASEAN countries, with long land borders and coastline,
Myanmar is exposed to the outside world, regardless of a number of impassable natural barriers in
the form of lofty snow-capped mountain ranges and green thickets. Myanmar’s physical features
serve as a sort of wire network encompassing the country as a well-integrated entity. Unavoidably
the impact and influence of neighbouring countries, particularly India and China, have been felt upon
Myanmar. But Myanmar has managed to retain for itself an independent cultural identity in the processof adopting and adapting external impacts and influences. The happy result of this process was theenrichment of its cultural heritage. Indigenous belief systems like nature and spirit worship easily
mingled with ancestor worship from China and planet worship and the Vedic culture of India. Later,
the advent of Buddhism from India and Sri Lanka and its broad dissemination further fertilized andcultivated Myanmar cultural heritage both in depth and extent. The tolerant nature of the people andthe coexistence of all belief systems in the country, including Buddhism, up to the present day speak
volumes for the development of Myanmar cultural heritage throughout its history.

2. Ministry of Culture
The Ministry of Culture was established in March 1952 to carry out the two main tasks of preserving
and safeguarding the cultural heritage of the nation. At present, there are three departments under the
Ministry of Culture:(i) The Archaeology and National Museum Department, which is responsible for the discovery
and preservation of cultural heritage, historical sites and artefacts, as well as establishing the
National Museum and the Archaeological Museum, and displaying archaeological and historicalfindings and artefacts.
(ii) The Fine Arts Department, which is responsible for the preservation and safeguarding of
Myanmar traditional and fine arts. Since the Department of Fine Arts was established with theaim of promoting traditional cultural dance, songs and music, it has presented performances tothe people every now and then. To encourage and promote Myanmar culture, the State Schoolof Fine Arts and State School of Music and Drama were opened in Yangon and Mandalay, in
1954. And then the National University of Arts and Culture was opened in Yangon in 1993 andin Mandalay in 2001.

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(iii) The Department of Historical Research and National Library, which is responsible for carryingout research on Myanmar history in both the historic and prehistoric periods by supportingarchaeological finds and excavation evidence, and the culture and customs of the national races
and ethnic groups, as well as establishing and opening the National Library for promoting
people’s awareness.
Measures under the “From Vision to Action” program of the Ministry of Culture are being
implemented as follows:-Enacting laws
-Establishing the State School of Fine Arts and the National University of Arts and Culture-Organizing the Myanmar National Races’ Traditional Performing Arts Competition,-Developing cultural heritage preservation awareness,-Participating not only at the regional level but also at the international level.

3. Safeguarding System and Policy
Preservation and sustainment of the nation’s cultural heritage was undertaken by successive Myanmar
kings for the sake of safeguarding the national character, uplifting the patriotic spirit and integrity ofthe state, making Myanmar a country with high cultural standards with its people respected for theirown unique customs and traditions.
The Ministry of Culture has set its policies and vision for the preservation and protection of ancient
cultural heritage sites, ancient cities and artefacts.
Among its preservation measures, a number of important laws and acts for preservation, education,conservation methods, etc. have been enacted.
The following laws have been enacted:(a) Indian Treasure Trove Act 1878
This act was concerned with the finding of treasure, and was enacted in lower Myanmar forarchaeological objects and artefacts before 1885.
(b) Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1932
This act was concerned with protecting archaeological structures when mining and other related
processes took place.
(c) Antiquities Act 1957
This was the very first act announced after Myanmar regained its independence, and isconcerned with artefacts.
(d) 1962 Amendment Law for the Antiquities Act
This law was to amend the Antiquities Act 1957.
(e) Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage Region Law 1988
This law was concerned with protecting and preserving cultural heritage regions by designating
and demarcating zoning plans.
Among those promulgated laws and acts, the 1878 Act and 1932 Act were repealed after 1962. Updates
to the Antiquities Act 1957 are now being drafted in accordance with present practice. The Ministry of
Culture has therefore been continually using the 1957 Act for antiquities and the 1998 Law for cultural
heritage regions.

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4. Safeguarding Bodies and Organizations
Preserving and safeguarding the cultural heritage of the nation is the main goal of the Ministry of
Culture. The Ministry of Culture, other related ministries, regional authorities and non-profit socialorganizations and associations (including monks) work in close collaboration for the preservation andsafeguarding of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
For example, the history and culture of national races have been prescribed and are taught in all
schools under the Ministry of Education, starting from primary level, to promote good morale andmorality among young people. Regarding religious ceremonies and festivals, the Ministry of Culture
works in cooperation with the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Moreover, the Ministry of Cooperatives
and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are preserving Myanmar arts and crafts by producing
traditional artistic products.
Competition and exhibitions such as the National Races’ Traditional Performing Arts Competition,
traditional costume and dress exhibitions, and traditional cuisine competitions are held, andpublication of cultural-related literature is carried out in cooperation with NGOs, painting andsculpture organizations, musician organizations, dramatic organizations, movie organizations, literaryorganizations, etc., along with other activities all over the country.
Establishment of the Central Committee of Myanmar Cultural Heritage: To encourage and promote thepreservation and safeguarding of Myanmar cultural heritage nationwide, the government established
the Central Committee of Myanmar Cultural Heritage (June 25, 1993) headed by high ranking officials
in the government.

5. List of Designated Cultural Heritage
In accordance with the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage Region Law 1998, 46 Zones
of Cultural Heritage Building and Regions have already been designated and notified as of the end of
2012.
Submitting World Cultural Heritage Nominations: Myanmar ratified the 1972 Convention Concerning
the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in April 1994. Myanmar submitted eightcultural heritage sites to the Tentative List for nomination in 1996. Of these eight heritage sites,
Myanmar has been preparing its nomination dossier for the three Pyu Ancient Cities since 2010. In
order to move ahead with the project, in cooperation with UNESCO, Myanmar has been implementing
capacity building for safeguarding cultural heritage. At the 38th session of the World Heritage
Committee, Qatar, Pyu Ancient Cities was inscribed on the World Heritage List, on 22nd June, 2014.
The 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, Cambodia, included the Kuthodaw Inscription
Shrines on the Memory of the World Register in June, 2013.

6. Protection and Management of Cultural Heritage in Myanmar
Before achieving independence in 1948, Myanmar was a part of British-controlled India. Therefore, thesites and their archaeology were protected under the provisions of the laws protecting archaeologicalsites in British India, principally, the Indian Treasure Trove Act of 1878 and the Ancient Monuments
Preservation Act of 1904. Under the British colonial administration, the Archaeological Survey ofIndia (Burma Circle) was responsible for archaeological excavation and research, while the Public

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Works Department was responsible for conservation and restoration work. From 1902 until the Second
World War, considerable work was carried out to research and conserve the major structural remains at
all three Pyu Ancient Cities in Myanmar.
Therefore, to reinforce and supplement their earlier gazetting of the Ancient Cities sites as protectedareas under the laws of British India, in 1957, the Myanmar Government enacted the Antiquities Act
1957 (amended 1962), which established the Department of Archaeology and gave national monument
protection status to the three Pyu Ancient Cities. In 1998, the Law on the Protection and Preservationof Cultural Heritage Regions 1998 (amended 2009) was promulgated. According to this Law, as of1999, all nationally declared Cultural Heritage Regions are each to be registered and demarcated into
three protection zones: Ancient Monumental Zone (MZ), Ancient Site Zone (AZ), and Protected andPreserved Zone (PZ). Accordingly, since 1999, altogether 42 cultural heritage regions throughout thenation have been declared and demarcated. In January 2013, the zoning order notifications for the three
Pyu Ancient Cities were reissued to ensure that the legally-protected areas of the three sites conform
precisely to the boundaries of the property nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List. To
demarcate the protection zones, and to make the zones known to other authorities and to the public,
DANM has installed permanent boundary posts at Sri Ksetra in accordance with the regulations for the
implementation of the notifications issued by the Ministry (No. 1/2001 dated30/01/2001). The markingof the protection zones of the other two ancient cities is in progress.

7. Administrative Mechanisms
At the national level, there are Central Committee for Myanmar National Heritage and Myanmar
National Committee for World Heritage, both headed by the Minister of Culture. At the site level,an Ancient Cities Coordinating Committee (PYUCOM) with three constituent site-specific subcommittees has been established under the authority of, and reporting through the Director-General of
the Archaeology and National Museum Department.
Under the existing legislation, implementation of the provisions of the applicable laws takes the formof: (a) land use zoning – protection implemented through enforcement of official notifications ofzoning orders and associated regulations; (b) monument conservation – protection implemented
through the consolidation and conservation of ancient structural remains; (c) site management –protection implemented through the application of an officially-notified Ancient Cities Property
Management Plan (PMP) integrating heritage protection with local development; and (d) public
education – protection implemented through eliciting the cooperation and participation of local
community stakeholders.

8. Management Vision
A heritage site with a balance between antiquity and livingness, where its potential Outstanding
Universal Value is safeguarded, promoted and communicated to contemporary life and to bring thesevalues into play to contribute to the local community’s economic, social, and cultural development,
by integrating heritage preservation into environmental conservation and sustainable development
through a participatory approach to the property’s management, undertaken in cooperation with otherstakeholders including the sangha (monk body) and the local community.

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9. Long-term Challenges and Responses to Ensure Protection and Management
While the overall state of conservation of the Ancient Cities is, at the present time, satisfactory,
achievement of the vision articulated by the management committee is not assured unless the particularchallenges of the factors negatively affecting the property can be managed. The physical remains of
the ancient sites are subject to a range of vulnerabilities, which can negatively affect the long-term
stability, integrity, and authenticity of the constituent attributes of the property unless addressed andmitigated. Among the vulnerabilities posing the most direct conservation management challenges are:(a) the fragility of the material remains due to their aging, (b) the changes to the cultural landscape dueto the change of agricultural practices, introduction of non-traditional cash crops and installation ofmodern irrigation infrastructure, and (c) expanding population pressure within and nearby the property.
They will present long-term challenges for the protection and management of the property.

10. State of Conservation and Factors Affecting the Property
Since 1972, the Department of Archaeology (later reconstituted as the Department of Archaeology
and National Museum) has continuously carried out conservation work in parallel with archaeologicalexcavations, and has overseen the repair and restoration work undertaken through the private initiativeof the Temple Trustees. Due to limited human and financial resources this work has been relatively
modest, but has assured the stabilization and consolidation of both the standing monuments andexposed archaeological features and for emergency and priority repairs (for example, following aparticularly heavy monsoon rain).

11. Excavated Archaeological Sites and Exposed Ancient Structures
At already excavated sites with exposed ancient brickwork, conservation measures consist of theremoval of vegetation growth, which can be dense after the annual rainy season, and the drainageof standing water from the sites. Following these measures, constant and routine maintenance isrequired at all excavated archaeological sites and exposed structures, to control deterioration causedby the infiltration of rainwater into the exposed bricks, absorption of groundwater into the structures’foundations, and the growth of vegetation. At some exposed sites and monuments, these preventive
conservation measures are not sufficient to ensure the continued physical integrity of the structuresand more aggressive conservation intervention is required, such as the construction of shelters over the
exposed features and artefacts, or the removal of some moveable artefacts into on-site museums.
The major threat to the outstanding universal value of heritage sites is to be found in the short andlong-term environmental impacts. Passive conservation measures at the site involve the maintenance ofground cover to protect against erosion. Active conservation measures at sites include the constructionof shelters over the most important in-situ features, and the removal of artefacts to a temporary site
museum.

12. Threats to the Cultural Value of Ancient Cities in Myanmar
The particular challenges of the conservation of the physical remains of the Ancient Cities are dueto (a) their antiquity and (b) the pressures placed on the religious and ceremonial use of the stillvenerated monuments by local residents and pilgrims. A lesser, but still serious threat to the integrity119

of the still-buried archaeological remains at the some places comes from (c) the recent change, by
a few of the local farmers, from traditional shallow-draft to modern deep-draft agriculture plowing
technology employed in rice farming, while (d) the conversion of traditional wet-rice paddy fields tonon-traditional cash crops by some farmers is a threat to the continued authenticity of the historic landuse of the property. At some Ancient Cities sites, located near modern cities, (e) expanding populationpressure within and nearby the property also presents a management challenge in terms of maintaining
the integrity of those sites. The location of the some Ancient Cities sites on ground slightly elevatedabove the surrounding low-lying and easily-flooded paddy fields has resulted in various government
departments, since the British colonial period, constructing public infrastructure such as a road, arailway line, an (unused) airfield, and more recently a gas pipeline and high-wire electricity pylons,
across the property. It can also be anticipated that there may be pressure from the public, and supportedby the sangha (monk body), for the renovation of the most venerated stupas, in keeping with traditionalreligious practice.
In light of these abovementioned threats to the continued integrity and authenticity of the property, as
well as to respond to the need to ensure incremental, but ever-increasing levels of site maintenanceand preventive conservation at all ancient archaeological sites, as the ancient structures continue toage and suffer from the negative effects of weathering, there are three principal needs to ensure theconservation of the character-defining attributes of the Ancient Cities, including the still-venerated
religious monuments, the excavated and unexcavated archaeology, and the historic landscape and land
use: (i) control of land use within the property; (ii) consolidation and maintenance of the standing andexposed ancient physical remains; and (iii) public education as to the significance of the property andthe value of its preservation to all concerned.
In the Asia Pacific region for a very long time, there have been the highly developed skills forconserving wooden structures in connection with international standards; and learn the ideology andmethodology of conservation of wooden structures in different part of the world from the lecturers.

13. Problems and Dangers Faced by Cultural Properties in Myanmar(a) Problems of Deterioration by Climate
Climate is the most dangerous element that affects cultural properties. Natural disasters suchas earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms, floods and fire also cause much damage and loss ofcultural properties. No archaeological remains can escape the danger of climate. Thousands ofBagan ancient monuments in the tropical dry zone have suffered from the different temperatures in
the hot and cold seasons. Similarly, late rite cultural properties of Lower Myanmar have also faced
a hot and wet climate. The changing climate has caused deterioration of not only monuments, andstructural and sculptural remains, but even organic and inorganic artefacts that are kept in storage
or displayed in showcases.

(b) The Danger of Looting and Smuggling
Nowadays, Myanmar cultural properties are facing the danger of looting and smuggling, which is
now a global issue. It has become a serious danger in the last two decades. In Myanmar, there aremany villages or towns with significant historic structures, especially the religious constructions

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such as stupas, temples and wooden monasteries with delicate wood carvings.
With the illicit trafficking of antiquities becoming more extensive in Myanmar, cultural monuments
and properties have increasingly become threatened by looting and smuggling. Beyond the majorarchaeological zone, i.e., Bagan, Mandalay, and Bago, other sites of prehistoric and historic heritage
have been destroyed. Concerning destruction of cultural heritage by robbery and theft, we notice
two types of situations:(i) Plaster or stone carvings and heads of Buddha images and statues were robbed by being cut or
removed from the main building. Looting has frequently occurred in numerous places aroundthe country, in remote areas away from the care of the Department of Archaeology.
(ii) Another type of antiquity-hunting is the digging up of old mounds and searching for objects
without permission. The objects and artefacts are then sold to brokers and collectors in
smuggling markets abroad. There are many unexcavated archaeological sites spread throughout
the country. Some of these sites are important for understanding the context of culturalsequences.
There have been several cases of theft at the abovementioned cultural properties. In many cases,
local villagers have been persuaded by antique dealers, brokers or collectors to steal cultural objects
from their villages. Sometimes palm-leaf manuscripts, traditional folding books (parabike), andmonastic utensils have also been stolen from the village monasteries.

(c) The Danger of Illicit Trafficking and Export of Cultural Properties and Antiquities
Antiquities obtained by looting and robbery from ancient monuments and old mounds are tradedand exported abroad. The stolen antiquities from Myanmar usually go to neighbouring countries.
There is no doubt that the smugglers avoid government custom gates at the borders and try toescape by another route for illicit trafficking for exporting the cultural properties and antiquities.

14. Preventive Measures for the Protection of Cultural Properties
All cultural heritage ancient monuments and cultural properties that have existed through the ages
must be protected and preserved by the State, which owns all cultural heritage both above andunderneath the ground. Therefore the State is responsible for the protection and preservation of
Myanmar cultural heritage. The Myanmar government wished to formulate a guide to, and policy forpreservation of national heritage, and in order to implement this goal the government established ahigh-level committee called the “Central Committee for Myanmar Cultural Heritage Presentation
and Preservation” in 1993. This committee makes decisions and gives instructions to the Ministryof Culture and the Department of Archaeology concerning cultural heritage preservation policy. The
Ministry of Culture, which implements the State’s policy on culture, has three organizations under it.
The Department of Archaeology, one of the three organizations, is responsible for presentation andpreservation of Myanmar cultural heritage.

(a) Enacting Laws for the Protection of Cultural Properties
During the British administration of India and Myanmar, the following protection measures forancient monuments and antiquities were enacted:

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(i) India Treasure Trove Act of 1878.
(ii) Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904.
(iii) Antiquities Export Control Act of 1947.
After independence, successive Myanmar governments promulgated a number of laws in orderto protect movable cultural properties. In 1957, the Parliament of the Union of Myanmar enacted
the Antiquities Act, which explicitly mentioned that such antiquities, and indeed, any class ofcultural properties shall not be moved without the permission of the relevant authority. The Act
was amended to include general additions with the Antiquities Amendment Act of 1962 by the
Revolution Council of the Union of Myanmar. This Act stipulated that moving antiquities abroad
was strictly prohibited and that such actions would be subject to serious punishment. Finally, in thelast decade, the State Peace and Development Council enacted the Protection and Preservation ofCultural Heritage Regions Law of 1998 in order to protect and preserve cultural heritage regions
throughout the whole country, demarcated as: ancient monumental zones, ancient site zones andprotected and preserved zones. The law also aimed to protect Myanmar cultural properties.
(b) Inspections in Border Regions
In the protection of cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture has joined hands with otherinstitutions such as the Police Force, Customs Organization and Bureau of Special Investigation.
Special training programs are needed to promote awareness among police and custom officers of
the problem of illicit trafficking in cultural properties. They should possess considerable knowledge
so that they can protect cultural objects. Moreover the police and custom officers who work inborder regions, i.e., Myawaddi, Tarchi-Late (Thailand border) are trained by the Department ofArchaeology and museum curators to be capable of identifying the differences between antique andmodern objects.

(c) Inspections at Airports and Seaports.
Cultural properties are strictly prohibited from being exported from Myanmar without acertificate issued by the Department of Archaeology. The Department also cooperates with theabovementioned bodies for inspections at the airports and seaports of departure from Myanmar. The
Department of Archaeology records the name and address of the supplier, description and price, andso on. Only after inspection at the airport or seaport determines that the object is a non-antiquity,
the Department of Archaeology issues necessary permit.

(d) Inspection by the Department of Archaeology
The Department of Archaeology has Antiquity Section to preserve antiquities that have beenunearthed from various excavation sites and collected from the public by offering cash rewards anddonations. This Section is responsible for inspecting objects such as Myanmar handcrafts in order
to issue certificates of non-antiquity.
If someone wants to export Myanmar handcrafts such as Buddha images, lacquer-ware, bone or ivory
objects, carvings, paintings, etc. out of Myanmar, first those objects must be sent to the Department of122Archaeology. Information about the objects must be provided on a form of certificate of non-antiquity.
Then the objects will be inspected by the Board of Inspection of the Department, which must submit
a report to the Director General on whether the objects are ancient antiquities or not. After receiving
the approval of the Director-General, the Department will issue a certificate of non-antiquity to theapplicant. Then every object will be stamped ‘checked’ by the Department of Archaeology.
Confiscated objects which are believed to be antiquities are usually sent to the Department ofArchaeology for inspection by the Customs or Police Departments. The Board of Inspection willreport to the Director General, Department of Archaeology and inspect the objects. After inspection,
the Board will report their remarks to the Director-General, who will send an appropriate reply to therespective departments.

15. Needs for Heritage Management in Myanmar
Heritage can be defined as something that has been passed down from previous generations, and which
is of value and worthy of preservation for future generations. A heritage site requires an Integrated
Management System which establishes the frameworks and processes to safeguard the attributes that
express the value of the heritage.
This understanding of heritage closely fits any approach to sustainable development, especiallyin respect to heritage conservation. Therefore, whether considering the development of tourism,
agriculture or the urban sector, priority will need to be given to safeguarding heritage. Considering thelimited resources available to the site managers of cultural heritage areas, the management system must
be made more efficient, and this would require the minimum management activities to be carried out
through routine procedures, with employment of personnel as per their level of expertise. Coordinationand cooperation with affiliated government agencies and local government become essential. It would,
however, be necessary to develop capacity at the national level as well, in order to develop national
expertise. Also critical is the need to ensure that the system allows international cooperation in acoordinated and meaningful manner. Finally, Myanmar needs to implement a Cultural Management
Master Plan and call for international assistance so as to proceed with the facilitation of our needs andrequirements systematically.

16. Conclusion
The Department of Archaeology and National Museum have increasingly and systematically protected
the venerated ancient cultural heritage and other culturally significant structures from lightning
strikes, earthquakes, storm winds, rainwater penetration, fungus and vegetation growth, and otherthreats to their integrity and authenticity. This work has included annual removal of all vegetation,
pointing of brickwork where eroded mortar has exposed it to rainwater penetration, replacement oflost brickwork where this loss has presented problems of structural integrity, strengthening against
possible earthquakes, the addition of quick excavation drainage to the superimposed platforms of andaround the monuments, installation of lightning rods, and so forth. In addition, in the case of exposed
megalithic free-standing sculptures and inscriptions, shelters have been built to protect these important
attributes of Myanmar civilization; while smaller moveable items have been placed in site museums
for protection and conservation.

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Although the Department of Archaeology and National Museum already have various forms for thepreservation, protection and promotion of our cultural heritage, we are in need of advice, guidance,
moral, material, financial and technical assistance from international organizations and institutions,
NGOS, INGOS and individual well-wishers.

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Pakistan
Ullah Arshad

Introduction
Pakistan possesses one of the oldest socio-political backgrounds, traceable to the Old Stone Age. This
Stone Age has been estimated to have existed two million years ago. The areas covered by this earliest
Palaeolithic Culture are located in the Potohar Plateau of Punjab, which appears to have been theearliest home of Homo erectus and Homo habilis outside Africa. Though their actual remains have notso far been found in these areas, the crude stone tools they used for their livelihood, termed Pre-Soantools by anthropologists and archaeologists, have been found in abundance. Then, with the advent ofagriculture, the stone tools became refined as Neolithic specimens.
The beginning of organised social living is witnessed at Mehrgarh in Kacchi Plain, south of the Bolan
Pass in Baluchistan. Some low and high cultural mounds have been recognised as the abodes of thisprehistoric community, and these have been scientifically excavated during the past four decades. The
discovery of an organised community life in the 7th millennium BC is of immense significance, asvery few ancient places in the word have shown such remote cultural antiquity.
The traits of the early agricultural economy so introduced and developed continued during thefollowing two millennia, traces of which have been discovered in different areas of Pakistan. The
distribution of these sites, spread over almost the whole of Pakistan, shows that the disseminationof this prehistoric culture was a uniform phenomenon throughout, which developed later on into
the Chalcolithic era, when the changeover from stone to copper and bronze took place in the 4th
millennium BC.
The dawn of the historic period in ancient Pakistan relates to the time of the Achaemenid Empire.
One of the important habitations of this period was located at Taxila. It has been regarded as a classic
landmark of those remote days. Later, the Macedonian invasion led by Alexander the Great in 326 BC
is likewise a great event. The impetus given to Buddhists by the Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka, and theartistic impulses emanating from the Bactrian Greeks in Central Asia led to the flowering of Gandhara
art under the patronage of the Kushanas and their successors.
The period from the 1st century AD to the 4th century AD is a period in the history of Pakistan whensculptural art became the handmaiden to spiritual seal. The decline of Greco-Buddhist culture inancient Pakistan resulted in the revival of Brahmanism, though Buddhism continued in a much weaker
form and its sculptural art degenerated into Tantric iconography, often in the medium of bronze or
brass groups belonging to the 9th and 10th centuries AD. The Hindu temples of the Salt Range areas,
especially the Malot Temple are built in four-square Kashmiri style. Similarly, a group of Hindu
temples at Ketas, and the southern and northern Kafir Kot at Bilot in Dera Ismail Khan are noteworthy

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examples of this religious art.
The early decades of the 16th century witnessed yet another political change in the subcontinent,
and brought a new religious power to the scene. The progenitor of this dynasty as called by modern
historians, the Mughal Empire, was Zahir-uddin-Muhammad Babur. The rule of this imperial power
lasted for well over three hundred years when it declined and fell. The imperial Mughal introduced amuch refined and sophisticated socio-cultural pattern into society.

Problems and Needs for Protection of Cultural Heritage:
The Department of Archaeology and Museums has so far protected 403 archaeological sites andmonuments (Categories I, II & III) under the legal framework known as the Antiquities Act, 1975. Outof these 403 protected sites/monuments, seven important archaeological sites and historic monuments
belonging to Pakistan have been inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO, which include thehighly prized proto-historic metropolitan site of the Indus Valley Civilisation known as Moenjodaro;
the group of highly important Islamic period monuments in the world’s largest necropolis at Makli
Hills, Thatta; the famous Lahore Fort, which houses highly prized and unique monuments such as
Shish Mahal, Naulakha, Diwan-e-Khas, etc.; the Royal Mughal pleasure garden, Shalamar Gardensat Lahore; the unique military Fort at Rohtas in the Jhelum district built by Sher Shah Suri, the great
warrior king who dethroned Humayoun of the Mughal dynasty; the Taxila Valley containing three city
sites of the earliest historic period of Pakistan; Buddhist sanctuaries (stupas, monasteries, temples,etc.); and the huge Buddhist monastery at Takht-i-Bahi in the Mardan district.
The main source of funding for the proper preservation, conservation, protection and restoration ofthese sites and monuments is the budget of the Department of Archaeology and Museums; however,the department has also been getting financial as well as technical assistance from UNESCO, UNDP,
ICCROM, ICOMOS, and sympathetic countries such as the USA, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Germany,
Norway, Italy and the Netherlands.
Over the past several years, the Department of Archaeology and Museums has successfully carried out
preservation and restoration works at a number of archaeological sites/monuments such as the Tombof Jehangir, Lahore; the Tomb of Nur Jahan, Lahore; Rohtas Fort, Jhelum; the Tomb of Asif Khan,
Lahore; the Tomb of Shaikh Ali, Gujrat; Baoli at Jandiala Sher Khan, Sheikhpura; Hiran Minar andTank, Sheikhpura; the archaeological remains at Harappa, etc.
The main factors causing deterioration of the monuments in Pakistan can be classified as follows:

Temperature:
Considerable differences between day and night temperatures are common in tropical areas and thealternation between day and night temperatures affects remains. Since stone is a bad conductor ofheat, the forces thus set up are further aggravated by shaded areas and between the surfaces of interior
layers. This causes flaking to take place and, to some extent, granulation. The problem of flaking canbe observed on the monuments of the 2nd and 3rd group at Makli Hill Monuments, Thatta.

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Weather:
Windborne particles are very harmful for the surface of any building, and they are very dangerous
when they are large. For example, the velocity of the wind at the historical monuments of Thatta isvery high and this strong wind acts as a sand blaster on the exposed surfaces. Here, limestone has beenused for the construction of the monuments, and iron in the limestone is rusted by the humidity andthen eroded by the strong wind, causing the problem of pitting, which can be observed very easily. The
high velocity of the wind itself is very dangerous to structures such as pagodas, towers, canopies, etc.
At Makli Hills Monuments, Thatta (in the third group of monuments) some stone canopies have beenfound collapsed due to the high velocity of the wind.

Light:Natural light is also injurious to ancient remains as well as historical monuments, because it aids
harmful chemical reactions. The light rays discolour pigment that does not have the ability to reflect
light wavelengths. The energy is thereby observed and this can break the chemical bonds in materials
and cause them to change. Clear signs of such decay can be observed on the walls towards the east andwest of the historical monuments at Makli Hills, Thatta.

Dampness:
Humidity and temperature are closely related. The conditions of very high temperature and humidity
along with the presence of light encourage the growth of organisms such as bacteria, mould, fungi andalgae, or plants like lichens and mosses. A thick layer of black coating can be observed, for instance,on most of the monuments in Makli Hill Thatta, which is due to growth of the abovementioned microorganisms and plants on the surface.

Air Pollustion:
Sulphur dioxide is the most important pollution problem in stone decay. In fact the dark deposits andblack scabs observed on the surface of most of the stone-built monuments in Makli Hill, Thatta aremainly composed of calcium sulphates which are formed by the reaction between sulphur dioxide
and calcium carbonate in the limestone. The chief sources of this pollution are domestic coal fires andindustrial furnaces.

Rain:
Rain is always damaging to archaeological sites/remains and monuments. Rain assisted by wind causes
general erosion of the surface. This erosion is accelerated in a heavily polluted atmosphere. The great
concentration of dissolved acid gases and signs of erosion by the rain can be observed on historicalsites/monuments.

Conservation and Preservation Activities in Pakistan:
In Pakistan, the problems of conservation and restoration of archaeological sites and remains are no
doubt enormous. At present, there are seven archaeological sites and historic monuments in Pakistan
inscribed on the World Heritage List, and all of them face serious problems.

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The problems at Moenjodaro are unique and difficult to overcome through ordinary means. The
most alarming problems are the rising water table, hazardous salts rising into the standing structures
through capillary action and from the atmosphere, improper and insufficient drainage systems, etc.
The generous assistance of UNESCO and sympathetic countries have greatly helped in overcoming
the problems, but despite serious efforts at the national and international levels, elimination of the
problems is nowhere in sight. The UNESCO Campaign for Safeguarding Moenjodaro has ended.
Sufficient funds are still available and efforts are still continuing to make some breakthrough in finding
viable solutions to these serious problems.
The problems of the remains/monuments at Makli Hills, Thatta are no less alarming. Located on topof the Makli hillocks, the Makli monuments, comprising both stone and brick buildings, are exposed
to different kinds of threats. Strong winds containing dust particles erode the surfaces of both stone
and brick buildings at an alarming pace. People interested in the highly intricate carvings on the stones
often take the carved slabs as decorations for their houses. Birds, especially tits and pigeons, harm thebuildings due to their droppings. It is not easy to combat these problems.
The conservation of Lahore Fort is a difficult task. These unique monuments are suffering fromdifferent problems in various degrees. The unique and highly prized Shish Mahal in particular was
suffering from some unique problems which have now been solved with the start of a UNESCONORAD-funded project. Both national and international experts have studied the conservation
problems and the restoration work is in progress. However, the problem of high humidity inside themonuments with very thick walls has also added to the difficulties of the conservator and managersof the site. Shalamar Gardens is also under threat both from visitors and the hazard of the rising watertable around the prized monument. A few years ago the unique hydraulic system of the Mughal period
was damaged, but it is now being restored.
Similarly, Rohtas Fort has been heavily encroached upon from inside and a complete village is housed
in it. The Department of Archaeology and Museums has tried to restrict further expansion of thevillage by demarcating the limits of the village. Strong wind makes it difficult to approach the site, thenearby Kahan River, etc.
The problems at the archaeological remains of Taxila are also complex. The wild plant growth isvirtually uncontrollable. Both the microclimate and macroclimate of the valley have been disturbed at
a rapid pace, which has also adversely affected the monuments.
The World Heritage Buddhist sites of Takht-i-Bahi in the Mardan district, KPK have been preserved,
but the problems of conservation are even bigger. The site is not easily approachable and water is notreadily available, and conservation material is carried to the site with great difficulty. The poor drainage
system has been harming the standing structure. Similarly, the restoration of suitable microclimatic andmacroclimatic conditions is also an important need at this time for better preservation and maintenanceof the cultural relics in their original environment.

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PalauMeyar Egan Yaoch

Coming from the tiny island nation of Palau, I am blessed and very fortunate to be granted this grandopportunity to come in front of all of you and speak about my island country. Palau is located in thewestern Pacific Ocean. It is geographically part of the larger island group of Micronesia. We Palauans
are fortunate and blessed to be able to call such a beautiful island “Home”.
Our island nation comprises sixteen (16) different states, and each state is governed by its own state
government. I hail from the great state of Koror, which is the most densely populated island in Palau.
I am also here as a representative of Koror state government’s Department of Conservation and Law
Enforcement to share with all who are in attendance a brief insight on how archaeology and thepreservation of cultural heritage is a huge part of our (DCLE) enforcement efforts.

Archaeological Heritage and Conservation: An Insight
As conservation officers we are sworn to protect, preserve, and provide safety for all inhabitants,
resources, heritage and traditions of our great state of Koror and the Republic, and within our program
we are also sworn law enforcement officers, locally known as the Koror State Rangers.
Our role in the community is deeply rooted within our mission statement. (To maintain peace, orderand safety for all residents and properties of Koror, to work with the community to deter illegal
activities in Koror state and develop environmentally sound programs in the Rock Island Southern
Lagoon Management Area.)
The Rock Island Southern Lagoon Management Area (RISLA) was inscribed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in June 29, 2012 as a mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site for both natural and cultural
criteria, and is the first area in Palau to be awarded this prestigious recognition.
The RISLA is internationally known for its stunning beauty, both above and below the water. As aworld class dive destination, the area is an integral part of Palau’s cultural heritage, with prehistoricrock paintings, archaeological remains, remnants of the Second World War and a rich oral history. The
area continues to be culturally important for its current use by locals visiting the area for recreation,
fishing and gleaning. The RISLA also contributes significantly to Palau’s biodiversity and provides animportant habitat for the country’s endemic and endangered species.
The proper management and maintenance of the area is therefore critical for the well-being ofPalau’s economy, culture and biodiversity. Koror State Government has jurisdiction over the RISLManagement Area.

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In the past, the traditional leaders have always taken responsibility for the RISLA, governing withcustomary law and traditional management. However, the increasingly intensive and varied use of
the area has created greater and more complex challenges for management, resulting in Koror State
Government taking an increasingly active role to improve management of the area. Since the 1960s,
Koror State has passed numerous laws governing the RISLA. In 1956, the Ngerukewid Islands
Wildlife Preserve (70 islands) within the RISLA was established. Making it the first formally protectedarea in Palau. In 1999 the entire RISLA was designated as a managed conservation zone. In 2004, thesixth Koror State Legislature passed a resolution to create the first integrated management plan for theconservation of the RISLA’s resources. An Executive Committee was appointed by the Governor to
oversee the development of the five year Management Plan, effective between 2004 and 2008.
The Rock Island Southern Lagoon Management Area is an extremely important area for Palau,
supporting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism and cultural values. The area has been recognized as having
universal value, through its inscription as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. It is the intent of Koror State Government to maintainthese abundant and diverse natural, cultural and historical resources, so they can continue to be usedand enjoyed by the community, and so that these values remain strong into the future. The area isan internationally renowned tourist destination, and as such underpins the nation’s economy. It is
important that the people of Palau benefit from the revenue generated from such use of the area, andall management is designed with the community in mind.
The Koror State Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement (KSDCLE) is solely responsible
for the coordinated management of the Rock Island Southern Lagoon Management Area, including
enforcement and surveillance.
Within the Rock Island Southern Lagoon Management Area there are archaeological sites thathave been preserved by our forefathers, grandfathers and fathers, and now it is our responsibility as
conservation officers to carry the torch of preservation and protection of our cultural heritage.
RISL is an area with a rich cultural history, and holds important cultural value for Palau. The Rock
Islands were inhabited for centuries, and the people of Koror and other areas of Palau can trace theirancestry back to the area. The Rock Islands contain many cultural sites and features that are hundreds
to thousands of years old, including the remains of stone villages, cave burial sites, and rock art. The
cultural importance of the area was recognized with its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. RISL also played an important part in the more recent history of WWII, with many historic relics
remaining from battles fought in the area.
The Koror State Department of State and Cultural Affairs (KSDSCA) is responsible for protecting
and preserving cultural and historical properties/features within Koror. A permit and fee system acts
to restrict all access to historical and tangible cultural properties. However, much work needs to bedone to protect and preserve RISL’s cultural and historical features and sites, particularly from threats

130such as environmental weathering, natural
disasters and human activities. Under thisManagement Plan, the KSDSCA will undertake
management actions that will lay the foundation
for future preservation work, including thecreation of State registries, plans and protocols
for managing these properties. It is important
to develop these components, and build thecapacity of the KSDSCA, in order to undertake

Ulong red-painted rock art.
Photo by Clark/ Reepmeyer, ANU.

more specific rehabilitation and preservation
action plans in the future.
The preservation of traditional cultural sites and features will be an important part of the managementof the area in the coming decades. Although most cultural sites/features have been mapped andregistered with the national registry, it is important to develop a Koror State registry of sites, sothat the State can better control and manage
cultural properties. The Management Plan
calls for the creation of such a State registry,
and a timeline for registering key sites. Many
cultural sites/features are also in critical needof rehabilitation, and currently there has been
little work done in this area. It is important thatthese sites, which link communities to the past,
are included as a management priority, so thatthey can be preserved for future generations toUlong stone work village defensive wall.
Photo by Clark/ Reepmeyer- ANU.

appreciate.
The strength of the community’s cultural connection to the area is also something that managers are
keen to enhance, for many people still use the area for culturally important activities such as fishing

Palauan legend. Painting by Adora Hideo, courtesy of PCS.

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and gleaning, and even though people no longer live on the Rock Islands, it is felt that some of thecultural values, stories and traditions of the Rock Islands have become lost or less valued by thecommunity over time. Management actions seek to assess and enhance the way people with traditionalties to the RISLA value the area, through school programs and other educational campaigns. Koror
State will also work to compile and share oral traditions from RISL as part of these awarenesscampaigns.
It is also important to preserve and manage the WWII historic relics within the area. Limited work has
been done to identify, register, and protect these historical relics and sites. Management actions in thisplan will focus on developing a State registry for historical features, as well as protocols and plans forprotecting and handling relics. Historical relics from WWII include unexploded ordnance, which posesignificant safety issues for both locals and visitors, and require plans to deactivate and remove any
threats.

The Rock Islands and the surrounding marine areas that make up the RISL Management Area are
an integral part of Palau’s cultural identity, both in the present day and historically. Many families
continue to visit RISL to fish, glean, relax, and barbecue on the white sandy beaches, just as past
generations did. The area also provides a source of local coconut fronds and pandanus leaves for
traditional handicrafts, as well as inspiration for local artists who interpret the stunning scenery andwildlife through traditional and modern art forms.
The Rock Islands, or “Ocheall,” meaning “Rocky Place,” hold clues to Palau’s pre-history andmigration history, through prehistoric rock paintings, archaeological remains of abandoned settlements,
and a rich oral history. The people of Koror and other areas of Palau trace their ancestry to the Rock
Islands, and the oral histories of these areas recount the movement of people from the Rock Islands
throughout Palau.
The Rock Islands have been occupied by people for thousands of years, with evidence of humans at
Ulong Island over 3100 years ago. The earliest human settlement in the Rock Islands is believed todate back to 650 AD, at Uchularois in the Ngemelis Island Complex. However, permanent villages
in the RISLA were first established around 1200 AD. Rock Island villages were gradually abandoned
from 350-100 years ago, due to dryer climates and economic difficulties. (Nero 1997)

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Ancient stonework villages and features showing the history of Palauan communities throughout
the ages can be found on many of the Rock Islands. Major stonework sites include stone platforms,
terraces, walls, wells, and canoe jetties. A variety of ancient deposits have been found, includingshell and stone tools, ornaments, shell rings, ceramics, food shells, and fish and animal bones. Recent
studies have shown that one of the oldest
cultural sites in Palau is located at Ulong
Island, with deposits dating back 3000 years(Clark 2005). Human bones from a cave burialsite on Chomedokel Island have been dated torange from 200 BC to 900 AD, indicating thelong history of cave burial in the Rock Islands.
Caves and shelters were used for humanburials in the Rock Islands for almost 2000
years.

Oimaderuul Beach restored stone well. Photo by Clark/
Reepmeyer, ANU.

Cave entrance on Chomedokel Island, which
was used for cave burials over hundreds ofyears. Photo by Clark/Reepmeyer, ANU.

Human remains at Ucheliungs cave.
Photo by Jayliavin Adelbai.

Prehistoric rock paintings can still befound throughout the RISL management
area and the in the eastern part of Koror
Island as well. The paintings at Ulong
Island (RISLA) are believed to be someof the oldest art sites in the Pacific (Clark,
2005).
The Rock Islands were also visited by people from theneighboring island of Yap, who traveled roughly 250 miles
to carve large stone money disks from aragonite, a typeof limestone common in the Rock Islands. The remainsof stone money quarries and stone money dating back toaround AD 1500 can still be found in the RISLA.
Ngeremdiu Ya

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The RISLA also contains relics from more recent historical events involving other countries. Oneof the first recorded encounters with Europeans took place at Ulong Island in 1783, when Captain
Henry Wilson and the crew of the East Indian ship “Antelope” took refuge on the island after being
shipwrecked on a nearby reef (Osborne, 1966).
Jungle-covered ruins of a military base, built during the German occupation of Palau, can be foundon Ngeruktabel Island, which is the largest Island within the RISLA. During World War II, Koror andthe Rock Islands became an important area with fighting between Japanese and American forces, andso there are many World War II relics spread throughout the area, including the remains of Japaneselookouts, unexploded ordnance, abandoned equipment, gun emplacements, and sunken ships andplanes.
The Island of Koror and the RISLA has two hundred and fifty (250) Cultural Sites that have been
identified and surveyed, twenty three (23) of them are Registered Sites, and two (2) out of the sites
have been restored. The management and preservation of all known sites and sites discovered in the
future rests solely on us (K.S.G/DCLE) as we take on the role of managers of sites in Koror State, theRock Island Southern Lagoon Area and the Republic as well. Much still needs to be done to enhance
the conservation, preservation and protection of archaeological, cultural and historical remains within
Koror State, the RISLA and the Republic of Palau as a whole.
I am very happy and to be able to participate in this training. All that we learn and experiencethroughout our stay here in Japan—learning, interacting and sharing with one another insights
and experiences in the management, preservation and protection of archaeological remains in our
respective countries—will give us a sense of how they are a huge part of our cultural heritage andidentity.
This opportunity allows me to gain a broader understanding of how to better preserve and protect
all archeological remains in Koror State, the Republic of Palau and the region. This will give future
generations an opportunity to experience all the sites in my island country—registered or not, found or
yet to be found—and also give them a sense that they are the managers and everything that is locatedand placed within any site is for them to conserve, preserve and protect for future generations.

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Sri Lanka
Weerakoon Mudiyanselage Nirupa Priyadarshani

Conservation of Stupas and the objects found in Excavations
Introduction
Sri Lanka is a tropical island with 2500 years of written history, influenced by its multi-cultural andmulti-religious neighbour, India. But the introduction of Buddhism to the island in the 3rd century
BC, during the reign of Emperor Asoka of India, can be identified as a most remarkable historicalevent, when considering the development of art, architecture and all other trades and traditions of thecountry. Arhant Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka, introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka, and his daughter,
Arhant Sangamitta, arrived in Sri Lanka with a sapling from the sacred Bo Tree of Bodhgaya, which
had sheltered the Lord Buddha at the time of his enlightenment. She was accompanied by group ofmen who were skilled in 18 different trades, and it is believed that thereafter there was an awakeningof the country in various ways. Although a civilized culture had already existed for thousands of years,
a remarkable upturn in art, architecture and various other trades occurred with the arrival of Arhant
Sangamitta.
Anuradhapura was the first capital city of Sri Lanka, which it is considered to be a well-planned citywith a proper zoning system.
After Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa became the capital, which was little to the southeast ofAnuradhapura, where it was believed to be safer from Indian influence. Thereafter the capital was
shifted farther south to Yapahuwa, Dambadeniya, Kurunegala, Gampola, Kotte and Kandy. When thePortuguese arrived in 1505, the capital was Kotte. The Portuguese were able to capture some coastal
areas, but they had to surrender these to the Dutch in 1640, which gained the support of the local
king. In 1796, the Dutch handed over their areas to the English, and in 1815, the English were able toconquer the entire island after signing the Kandyan Convention.
With all the above mentioned influences, and especially the colonial rule for about 500 years, various
social, economic, cultural and religious factors have been affected and changed over the last 2000
years. As a result, on the island of Sri Lanka there are different types of heritage structures and remains
to be protected for the sake of future generations.

Archaeology in Sri Lanka
The British rulers created the Department of Archaeology in 1890, and it was legally enacted by the
Antiquities Ordinance in 1940. Throughout the last 125 years, Department of Archaeology has played
the role of the apex body of archaeological protection in the country.
The Department of Archaeology conducts various kinds of projects, from explorations, excavations,architectural and chemical conservations, and maintenance of sites and monuments. In addition, theDepartment of Archaeology conducts studies on all types of inscriptions and numismatics. A number135

of publications are issued on the works carried out, in order to raise public awareness.

The Traditional Approach
As a living religion, Buddhism plays a major role in society, and even under the Constitution thegovernment is required to protect Buddhist traditions. Therefore the stakeholders in Buddhist religious
places, the monks and the community all participate in various religious activities.
As stated in Buddhist texts such as Vinaya (the code of discipline) and other teachings of Lord Buddha,
it is said that dilapidated shrines or buildings are not suitable for living or meditational purposes. In
addition, the Buddha has given permission to monks to engage in repair work to their buildings, eventhough they were normally prohibited from engaging in much of the work that laymen do.
Therefore, keeping Buddhist remains in a ruined condition is not acceptable within the Buddhist
community, as the expected outcome in the spiritual mind is not achieved with ruined structures.
Especially when, in the case of conservation of a stupa, worshiping relics is a difficult task to convince
the people and come to a conclusion which is acceptable to the whole.
There are three types of monuments within a Buddhist temple complex. The first and most important is
the Shaaririka, which means the “Bodily” Shrine. The Stupa is the main shrine where the bodily relics
are deposited. The other two are the Paribogika and Uddeshika, or the “Consumed” and “Represented”.
In most places the “Bo Tree Shrine” is the consumed shrine, under which the Buddha became
enlightened. The statue is the represented shrine, as the Buddha statue represents him as being alive.

The Challenge
The Antiquities Ordinance ensures the protection of all types of antiquities, mainly tangible antiquities,
which is similar to the laws and practices in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan and manyother countries which functioned as British colonies. Although it gives more than adequate protection
for antiquities, its ability to protect heritage is debatable. In these Asian and African countries,
heritage is not limited to antiquities which are interpreted and protected by existing laws. Heritageis a combination of art, architecture, culture, religion and economy in these regions. Even industry,
agriculture and trade also contribute to heritage in different ways. Therefore, when considering theprotection of heritage, all these aspects must be considered. As a country with strong living religious
traditions associated with Buddhism, and where the majority of archaeological remains are related
to Buddhism, protection of heritage in Sri Lanka, in the sense of conservation and restoration, is adifficult task. In that sense, decision making in regard to most of the issues is a challenging task. The
community associated with the archaeological remains often has different needs when it comes torestoration or conservation.

Stupa
The Stupa at any Buddhist temple is important in two ways. Firstly, as a place where bodily relics
are kept, it is worshiped and honoured ardently. Secondly, it is the main attraction due to its scale136

within the temple complex, creating a spiritual feeling in devotees’ minds due to its architecturaldesign. The Stupa is the tallest monument constructed within a temple complex, and most of the time
it is constructed at the highest elevation of the complex to achieve greater prominence. And being adepository of bodily relics, it is believed that there should not be any other place at a higher elevation.
To obtain the maximum spiritual feeling together with
the Buddha’s teachings, the entire Stupa is plastered andwhitewashed. This massive white monument creates
the emptiness of life, or the Samsara within a devoted
Buddhist’s mind. That feeling leads to the final goals of theteachings of Buddha. Therefore, the white dome is the mostimportant feature in a Buddhist Stupa.

Conservation Practice in Sri Lanka

Fig. 1 Ruwanweli Stupa

Conservation of historic monuments in Sri Lanka is based on globally accepted charters, especially
the Venice Charter. This doesn’t replace the existing Antiquities Ordinance, but conservators haveagreed to follow the principles stipulated in the Venice Charter. Therefore, there are some standingorders within the Department of Archaeology for conservation based on the Venice Charter. Principles
such as minimum intervention is practiced in these standing orders, and as a result most of the ruined
monuments are not conserved to their original condition. The remains of buildings that have beenruined for hundreds of years without major portions of their superstructure are conserved only toprevent further decay. But monument buildings that have a superstructure are conserved to their
original condition, with the removal of later additions and unnecessary alterations.
But when it comes to the conservation of a Stupa, the issues are different. Many Stupas are also
conserved according to those principles, and the larger Stupas are often conserved only to prevent
further damage. But when considering the other heritage aspects described above, a Stupa is different
from other monuments, due to its sacred and spiritual importance. Within a Buddhist temple complex,
the Stupa is the main worshiping element, which represents the living Buddha. Even in the visualcontext, the Stupa plays a major role in strengthening the religious environment in a Buddhist temple
complex. With the size and height of a Stupa, a certain value is added to the temple in different
measures.
Therefore, the Buddhist community, consisting of monks and other people associated with the religion,
normally take a different view to the accepted conservation principles. Even throughout history, thekings always restored and developed the Stupas, considering this as one of their major responsibilities
and duties. It is said that the first Stupa built in Anuradhapura, after Arhant Mahinda, the Thuparama,
was restored 33 times by different kings, as per the Mahawamsa, the Great Chronicle. Therefore,
following the same practice, the people and their leaders stand together with the monks to continue
the same practice even today. As a result, disagreements arise between the conservators and thecommunity in the decision making process.

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Decision making in regard to conservation in a religious setting is a very critical task. However, theAntiquities Ordinance, the Venice Charter and the other related principles alone do not help. The issue
must be considered from a wider perspective, considering all the factors related to the heritage. In thepresent context, instead of kings, politicians always attend to such matters. This cannot be considered
to be wrong, as they consider it to be one of their responsibilities to the community.
In some cases this political interference is very strong, depending on their community involvement.
Some cases are even brought to the attention of the highest political leader.
Therefore, the decision making for Stupa conservation must be based on different aspects, securing theprotection of the monument. There are Stupas of different types and in different condition throughout
the country, which are in Buddhist temples. But it is well understood that only completed Stupas areused for religious purposes, although not much attention is paid to the other ruined and preserved
Stupas when it comes to religious rituals.

Relics in a Stupa
On the other hand, the Stupa is venerated only because of its contents, which are the relics deposited
inside. Without these relics, a Stupa doesn’t become a place of worship, although its architecturalappearance is important. In Sri Lanka, Stupas are built with fired bricks, and the world’s tallest brickstructure found in the country is a Stupa, Jethawana Stupa in Anuradhapura. Undoubtedly, it’s amasterpiece of engineering and architecture. But the relics kept inside it causes it to be worshiped. The
spiritual feeling comes with the completed white washed bubble finished with a pinnacle of precious
gemstone.
Therefore, in conservation, proper respect to the relics must be shown. Bodily relics are not subject
to any scientific research due to their sacredness. Scientificand technological research does not strengthen religious andspiritual feelings as they are based on belief and dedication.
In that sense, even conservators tend to follow the traditional
rites and rituals when they find relics in the excavations andconservations.
The case study described below tries to explain how theobjects and relics found in a Stupa excavation decide theconservation of both the Stupa and the objects.

Fig. 2 Jethawana Stupa

Case Study
The Nawagala Stupa, Katiyawa, Eppawala, Anuradhapura District, North Central
Province, Sri Lanka: Background of the Project
The Stupa in Nawagala Temple has been in a ruined condition for hundreds of years, but it isworshiped by the Buddhist community in surrounding villages in the belief that bodily relics of the
Buddha are kept inside. The ruined mound is about 18 m in height but it is assumed that the original138

Stupa was more than 25 meters in height withthe pinnacle. The temple complex consists ofseveral other buildings that were added later:an Image House, a Preaching Hall, a Bo Tree
Shrine and a priests’ residence.
The temple land can be described as an island
in a paddy field. It is a flat terrain and the
Stupa itself is therefore as tall as possible inFig. 3 Nawagala Temple

order to obtain the desired sacredness. There

are many elements of ancient buildings on the land, which can be identified as remains belonging to
the Anuradhapura Kingdom period.
The community related to the temple is an agricultural community engaged in paddy cultivation, andtherefore, they always gather at the temple during their free time. According to paddy cultivation
traditions, they have enough free time to engage in social and religious works and therefore the Temple
Development Society is strong. Three years ago, the Temple Development Society decided to start a
Stupa renovation project and this was notified to the regional archaeological office in Anuradhapura.
The Department of Archaeology decided to commence
the work especially due to the enthusiasm of thevillagers. A number of discussions were held at both thetemple and the office.
The Temple Development Society agreed to provide all
the material and labour needed for the project and theDepartment of Archaeology was to provide excavationand conservation expertise.

Fig. 4 Nawagala Stupa before excavation

Excavation
The excavation team of the Department of Archaeology
commenced the excavations and the villagers provided labour
on a voluntary basis. Food and lodging for the skilled staff of the
Department of Archaeology was also provided by the villagers.
The excavations started with the patronage of several politicians
representing the local, provincial and national level. Several
religious rituals were carried out to obtain blessings for the task.
In the initial stage of the excavation the outer surface of the
Stupa mound was cleared. All the trees, plants, bushes, loose
bricks and debris soil were removed carefully to recover the brickconstruction. Thereafter the excavation started in the first quarterof the Stupa, and different construction layers were discovered.

Fig. 5 Nawagala Stupa after
excavation139

As in most of the Stupas in Sri Lanka, the later modification and alteration layers were recovered.
Then the excavations were extended to the other three quarters. The most important were the relicchambers found in the excavations in the outer surface of the dome. It was a tradition to keep therelics in the middle of the dome. But here it was a new experience to find several relic chambers in theouter surface of the dome. Inside the 23 relic chambers found, there were caskets made as models of
the Stupa: two gold caskets, ten marble, five ceramic, two glass, and seven made of stone. The glass
caskets were believed to have been made of imported materials as this type of glass has not been foundin earlier research. There were unidentified substances in those caskets wrapped in gold leaf, and thesewere believed to be relics.
The two gold caskets provide important evidence on the shape and design of the Stupa, as they arevery descriptive. All the elements of the Stupa point to it belonging to the 2nd century BC. But theother caskets show later period designs. Therefore, it is proved that the Stupa was modified and alteredin later periods. It was found that the earliest Stupa was based on a different central point that does
not match the later period additions. Even the bricks found in the excavations were analysed, and it
was proved that there were different periods of construction. Thereafter, the excavation group started
excavations from the summit of the Stupa, which was believed to havebeen excavated in an earlier time, most probably by treasure hunters.
The loose soil and the pit on the summit provided evidence of a later
period excavation, but the villagers assured us that no treasure hunting
had occurred during last 200 years as per the information given by thesenior villagers. Therefore, it was difficult for them to be convinced by
the excavations from the summit, but started to remove the loose soil.
This excavation was extended down to the inner chamber of the Stupa,
but this was not acceptable to the community. Even the conservationteam of the Department of Archaeology was of the opinion that theyshould not excavate down into the dome, as it would make the structure

Fig. 6 Golden relic casket

weaker. Even though it was not safe for the excavation team to work down into an 8 m-deep pit,
they continued and found the inner chamber with painted walls. There was a stone casket inside thechamber called the “Mahameru”. This casket was removed for the research purposes, and all thefindings were documented in different ways.

Decision Making
Even before the completion of the excavation, a huge debate was occurring on the restoration andconservation works. There were two groups, both among the community and the professionals in thefield. There were two issues to respond to. First was how to conserve the Stupa, and the second waswhat to do with the objects and relics found.

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How to Conserve the Stupa

Fig. 7 Proposal 1

Fig. 8 Proposal 2

Considering the excavation details and the Stupa-shaped relic caskets, it was difficult to come to aconclusion on the final shape of the Stupa for conservation. The excavation revealed information on
the different construction layers belonging to different periods. Therefore, there was a debate on theactual shape of the Stupa. Two proposals were prepared based on two designs. Several discussions
were held at the temple, and at the Archaeological Department. Also, several site visits were made by
officers of the Department to gather on-site information. At one point the temple community requested
conservation of the Stupa as per proposal 1 (Fig.7), but after two months they changed their minds andwanted to do it as per proposal 2 (Fig.8). The situation was difficult and sometimes there were heatedarguments among the parties.

What to Do with the Relics and Artifacts
As stated above, there were several caskets with relics found in the excavation, and it was difficult todecide what to do with them as the Director General of Archaeology had decided that these caskets
were very important and so should be exhibited in the National Museum for public viewing. There
was a dilemma regarding the relics as they were not expected to be exhibited in the Museum. But therelics inside the caskets, wrapped in gold leaf, could not be exhibited as they are extremely sacred and
it is believed that if they are not properly venerated, theywould disappear. Therefore, people were of the opinion that
all the caskets must be re-deposited in the same way together
with the relics, so that they could be worshiped and properly
honoured.
On the other hand, the sacredness of the Stupa is directlybased on the relics. The Stupa itself is just a heap of bricks
when there are no relics inside. Therefore it was essential tokeep the relics inside the Stupa to maintain its sacredness.

Fig. 9 Marble caskets

141In parallel to this, the people’s position was that all the artifacts and relics belonged to the local people,
and they therefore objected to moving them to Colombo National Museum, which is 200 km away.
Therefore, there was a request from the villagers to construct a site museum to exhibit them, but theyalso strongly believed that the relics must be kept inside the Stupa and placed in new caskets.
But the proposal was not encouraged as there were insufficient funds to construct a site museum, andalso because it was difficult to ensure the safety of these valuable artifacts. And also, as the Nawagala
is situated very much inland and far away from the pilgrims’ route to Anuradhapura, it was understoodthat there would be fewer visitors to this place from other parts of the country, unlike the National
Museum.
Therefore, it was finally agreed to re-deposit most of the caskets with the relics inside the Stupa andto exhibit only the caskets of most outstanding importance in the National Museum. This was agreed
to by all the parties. First, however, all the objects were documented
through drawings, photos and descriptions. Steps were also taken toconserve the objects chemically, but again, it was difficult to bringthem to the central laboratory in Colombo, as the local people thought
they would be lost or damaged. Some thought that if they allowed
them to be taken away to Colombo the objects would not be returnedto their village. Therefore, it was agreed to conserve them on-site andso the chemical conservators had to visit the site with their equipment.
A temporary on-site laboratory was established and the objects wereconserved carefully. It was proposed to do a dating test on the organic
substances that were believed to be relics, but this was not agreed toby the community. They were undoubtedly believed to be the bodily

Fig. 10 Glass casket

relics of Buddha, and therefore no scientific dating test was carriedout.

Objects in the Museums
There are about 28 site museums operated by the Department of Archaeology, apart from the fivemain Museums operated by the Department of National Museums. These site museum’s exhibit
objects found at the same site and adjoining sites in close vicinity. At present they just exhibit objects
in display cabinets and on shelves. There are no qualified curators looking after these places; only
one responsible officer and some support staff. All management decisions are made in Colombo, andthe chemical conservators come from Colombo as well. Also, the indoor climatic conditions are notcontrolled, or at least there is no air conditioning or dehumidification. Being a tropical country withvarying climatic conditions, the fluctuating temperatures, varying rainfall and high humidity affects
objects made of different materials. There are objects made of gold, silver, bronze, brass, ceramics,
clay, wood, iron, glass, marble, granite, etc. The conditions affect the objects differently, and so they
are treated in different ways.
In addition to that, the security of objects is ensured by two primary methods. The first is strengthening
the structural security. That is, construction of strong walls, installation of safety doors and iron grills,
etc. But there are many incidents in which those places have been broken into and theft has occurred.

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The second method is to employ more security personnel. Among the official cadre of the Department
there are security guards and watchers employed in those places. But it has been found that theefficiency and dedication of those people is often inadequate.
In view of the present-day incidents involving theft, vandalism and robbery, installation of automatedsecurity systems such as alarms and security cameras may be more useful, although these are expensivein the installation stage. But as a long-term investment, such systems would more economical thanemploying people when considering their salaries and the pensions to be paid after their retirement.
Therefore, it cannot be stated that keeping and exhibiting objects within site museums is safe for manyreasons. To overcome this situation, all existing museums must be re-organized with suitable display,monitoring and security systems. And for museums to take advantage of the expertise provided bytrained curators is most important.

Conclusion
Objects play a major role in archaeology. They give more than enough information about history, andhelp in conservation and restoration through providing evidence. They strengthen religious and cultural
systems. They create social harmony in Asian communities. But the concept of belongingness may
cause disputes with professional conservators.
The professional concept is to display the objects to the world to exhibit the talents and creations of
our ancestors. But often the community believes that the objects must be kept in their original location
to continuously honour them. They believe that as they have been worshiped and honoured forgenerations, the sacredness of the objects exists only with the original location and system.
Parallel to the fact that the professionals have failed to ensure the safety of the objects that are kept
in the museums, it is also believed that the required honour is not given in the museums. Therefore,
conservation and exhibition of cultural objects is presently facing a critical situation in Sri Lanka.

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Tajikistan
Abdulloev Umar

The Ancient Town of Hisor

The ancient town of Hisor has a rich history, reflecting the history of the past thousand years not onlyin the Hisor Valley but also in the whole of South Tajikistan. The first sites of Neolithic culture (the 6th
to 4th millennia BC) were found in this valley, later named Hisor. In this vast river valley agriculture
was developed and nomadic cattle breeders of the late Bronze Age (end of the 2nd millennium BC)
pastured their herds on the slopes of mountains. In the early Iron Age (beginning of the 1st millenniumBC), Hisor Valley was an integral part of the Avesta region of Bactria which was a member of the
Achaemenid Empire in the 6th to 4th centuries BC. The beginning of urbanization (emergence oftowns) and emergence of the city of Hisor as a cultural centre of this agricultural oasis can be traced
back to this period. In the following historical periods it was the political, economic and cultural centreof the Hisor Valley and all of South Tajikistan. Ruins of ancient buildings reflecting the millennial
history of the Hisor Valley as a component of the history of the Tajik people rest under the hills of
Hisor Fortress and the populated part of the site of ancient settlement. They await investigators forcomprehensive research. A large number of archaeological materials and written original sources areevidence of the rich history of the Hisor site of ancient settlement. The ancient town of Hisor is situatedat a distance of 7 km to the southeast from the present-day district centre. It consists of a number ofparts. The best of these are the remains of Hisor Fortress. The fortress itself consists of three parts
with the main gate in the southeast facade. A wide square behind the gate of the Darvozakhona unites
these parts. To the right of the gate is situated an elevated part in the form of a truncated pyramid. The
Citadel, or Kuhandiz, which was the palace of Hisor bek, has been located at the top of the hill since
olden days.
The second part, called the Ushturkhona (Stable), is situated to the left of the gate. It measures 180 m
x 80 m (12 hectares including the Darvozakhona area), and 60 m high. From the southern and westernsides it is encircled with a defensive wall.

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The third part is the Askarkhona; it is the lowest one at 350 m x 150 - 160 m (6.5 hectares). It is in
the form of an irregular rectangle. The Askarkhona is the south-western part of the fortress. On threesides it is encircled with a defensive wall. The Askarkhona is separated from the Darvozakhona with awide wall, which has its own gate. There is a free-flowing spring (havz) in its south-western part near
the defensive wall. On the face of it each part looks like an independent fortress but in reality, all parts
make up an integral defensive system (the total area of Hisor Fortress is 25 hectares).
The city proper has right-angled form running from northeast to southwest. The fortress-citadel issituated in the centre of the site of ancient settlement. The total area of the site of ancient settlement is426.5 hectares. The length of the defensive wall built of pakhsa (wattle and daub) is 5 km; the presentday height is up to 5 - 7 m. In the Middle Ages the city had gates on four sides: Darvozai Khoki
Safed − eastern, Darvozai Shakari − southern, Darvozai Changob − western and Darvozai Chashmai
Mohiyon − northern. It is possible that the northern gate was considered the main gate of the city. At
the foot of Hisor Fortress in the 15th to 16th centuries there was a city square, or registan, and thisarea features architectural monuments from different times. Within the territory of the city only somebuildings remain from past architectural ensembles such as administrative, religious and dwellingcomplexes. Buildings still in existence include the following: Gate of Arch, Madrasah of Kuhna,
Madrasah of Nav, Caravanserai, Mosque of Sangin, Makhdumi Azam Mausoleum and Tahoratkhona.
They have been restored now. The research work on the site of ancient settlement of Hisor and its
environs began in 1925 and it has continued to the present day with short breaks. The following
scientists have contributed heavily to the investigation of archaeological and architectural monumentsof Hisor: M. S. Andreev, M. M. Diakonov, L. S. Bretanitski, A. P. Okladnikov, B. A. Litvinski, E. A.
Davidovich, A. M. Mukhtorov, E. V. Zeimal, T. M. Atakhanov, A. l. Abdulloev, P. T. Samoilik andarchitectures−restores Z. Khasanov, N. Valiev, N. N. Broos, H. Rahmatulloev, T. Khvorykh, and S.
Repin.
The territory of Hisor and its environs were developed as long ago as the Neolithic epoch. In the hillof Tepai Ghoziyon in 1946 a Neolithic site was found by academician A. P. Okladnikov. It contained
characteristic stone tools made of river pebbles. By all indications this culture differed from other
Neolithic cultures of Central Asia. In the following years sites with such tools were found all overSouth Tajikistan, and this type of Neolithic culture became to be called Hisor one. Pebble stone tools
were found in the Askarkhona area too. This is evidence that the environs of the spring were occupied
in that epoch.
Remains from the Bronze epoch (end of the 2nd millennium BC to the beginning of the 1st millenniumBC) including seven graves were found in various locations during excavation of the site of the ancient
settlement. Five graves were excavated within the burial ground of Tupkhona, and two graves wereexcavated respectively within Khoki Safed and Ushturkhona. Accompanying implements consistingof ceramic vessels such as pots, coppers and saucers made by a method of model forming were only
present in three graves. They are typical of the cattle-breeding tribes of the late Bronze era.
The next historical period (the 8th to 9th centuries BC) is represented by the ruins of ancient structures145and numerous objects of material culture indicative of the town planning skills of the inhabitants.
The strata of the Bactrian and Achaemenid epochs were revealed in the Ushturkhona, Askarkhona
and Tupkhona. Archaeological finds from these strata are represented by splendid ceramic hand-madegoods characteristic of the site of ancient settlement, which was the cultural centre of the agricultural
micro-oasis of Hisor Valley.
In the history of Central Asia and the Tajik people, the next stage comprises the Antiquity and Hellenic
periods. This stage began from the time of the conquests by Alexander the Great and after his death invarious states, including Greece and the Bactrian state.
In the Antiquity epoch, important political, social and cultural changes took place, both throughout allof Central Asia and in the Hisor site of ancient settlement and valley. They consisted of expansion of
the territory of the city and the development of new branches of handicrafts.

Objects of the life and art of the Kushan period

In Greek historical and geographical sources, north-eastern Bactria (of which Hisor Valley waspart) was named Pareitakena under the administration of a satrap. In Chinese historical chronicles
mentioning the history of the formation of Kushan state, the region was named Su-man or Shuanmi and was the capital of some Yue-chi princedoms. According to Chinese travellers, the territory of
the princedom stretched for four days’ journey from north to south. It was named Shuman and Hisori
Shodmon in Arab and Persian chronicles and guides.

Ceramic handicrafts of the 5th to 8th centuries

The Antiquity period is represented by remains of buildings, burials and splendid fine ceramic
handmade goods, including objects of art and the plastic arts. They reflect the political, social andcultural changes which took place in that period. The found objects of art and adornments made ofbronze and silver are silent witnesses to the former trade relations of the city of Hisor. Hisor was
situated on one of branches of the Silk Road. This branch lay along the Valley of Plenty in the 2nd
to1st centuries BC.

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The 5th to 8th centuries was a period that saw the disintegration of the slave-owning system and theformation of a feudal system in the states of Central Asia. The process was aggravated because of
conquest by the Hephthalite tribes, which created a large empire founded on military power (510−567).
In the middle of the century, Central Asia was invaded by nomadic Turkic tribes (567−657).
The conquests had political, economic and cultural importance. This period was characterized by
the independence of some districts, which constituted large feudal properties with good internal andexternal trade relations. Hisor Valley was one of these districts with a central site of ancient settlement
where town planning skills typical for the Early Middle Ages were developed. The valley becamea political and economic centre with the development of handicrafts. The Hisor feudal possession
went by the name of Shumon and it was considered one of the largest feudal principalities in South
Tajikistan. Chinese sources provide evidence that Buddhist temples and clergy were an integral part ofthe city.

Objects of the life and art of developed middle ages and metal Handicrafts

The territory of the city was enclosed with a new defensive wall reinforced with towers. The historyof Hisor in the Developed Middle Ages is documented by a large number of written original sources
which reflect the political, economic and cultural life of the city and valley.
In the periods of governance by the Samanids it was a centralized state with well-coordinated statemachinery. Within the territory of the state, the process of forming the Tajik nation was completed. It
created conditions for the economic and cultural development of feudal possessions, not only in thecentral cities, but also in the outlying districts.
The period of the 11th to 16th centuries was accompanied by stormy political events and culturalchanges for all of Central Asia, including the city of Hisor and Hisor Valley. The city was ruled bymany dynasties, which changed one after another. Hisor was a possession of the Kara-khanids, theGhaznevids and the Seljukids. In the period of the Mongol conquests, Hisor and South Maverannahr
were members of the Timurid Empire. At that time Hisor had developed ceramic handicrafts andweaving, and grew saffron.

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The Arch Gate is situated in the southern facade of the Fortress and turned towards the registan, themain square of the city. The Arch Gate was built in the 16th century to replace a destroyed gate of
the 14th to 16th centuries, as remains of the old gate were found inside the new gate. The gate is ofhigh portal construction 4.5 m wide and 16 m high. It was built on a high foundation and was flanked
with round towers on either side. The towers, which narrow upwards, are crowned with cupolas withloopholes. The gate has a cupola overhead cover. Guard premises are situated near the towers. The gate
was restored in 1974 - 1976. There are some remains from the previous gate, which is right behind thefirst one. These remains are from the 10th century (and need special conservation).

The Arch Gate

The Arch Gate - the inner side and the remains of
the previous gate

The architecture of the Mosque of Sangin is of the central and cupola type. Its space composition isrealized by transformation from a square central part to a cylindrical drum crowned with a cupola. The
mosque has a cruciform composition (chortok) formed by deep arched bays on four sides of a square
under the cupola (5.5 x 5.5 m). One of characteristic features of the mosque is the presence of four
resonators in the brickwork under the cupola in the form of ceramic pitchers without bottoms. The
resonators serve to improve the acoustic qualities of voice. There is a mehrob (arched bay) in the south
side of the mosque. It shows the direction to Mecca. To the right of the mehrob is a stepped minbar for
sermons. The name of the mosque is connected with the main feature of its construction: the bottom
half of its wall is built from red sandstone, while the upper part is built from bricks. The mosque wasrestored in 1986 - 1987.

The Mosque of Sangin (the 8th to 15th centuries)

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The Mausoleum of Makhdumi Azam is situated to the south from the old Madrasah of Kuhna. The
mausoleum was built in 1547 over the grave of Hoji Muhammad Haivoki. He was a grandson of Hoji
Isaac who was a member of the Sufi Order of Nakshbands and was named Makhdumi Azam (TheGreatest Lord) by the inhabitants of Hisor. The mausoleum was built on the instruction of Sheikh
Hussein of Khorasm, the leader of the Order of Nakshbands, who had visited Hisor in 1547. Hoji
Muhammad Haivoki died in 1546 and bequeathed his fortune to him. Sheikh Hussein of Khorazm
recommended the Emir of Hisor, Muhibilo Amir Sarikbosh, to build a two-cupola structure like theMausoleum of Sheikh of Serakh to enable visitors to admire its greatness and beauty. The mausoleum
is a three-cupola complex constructed in different historical periods. The earlier element is a small
cupola grave room in the form of a chortok with apertures built in the 11th century. The Ziyoratkhona
was attached to the grave room from the southern side with common central axes in the XI – XI
centuries. In the 16th century another cruciform
grave room was built, with an additional portal
oriented to the west. Now the mausoleum is a twoportal and cupola structure with an unfinished west
veranda. The uniqueness of the structure is seen
in how the outward walls follow the cruciform
contours of a visiting hall and grave room. The
mausoleum was restored in 1986 - 1987.

The Mausoleum of Mahdumi A’zam

A caravanserai was a hotel and type of trading building in the Middle Ages. The one here was situatedin the registan to the right of the Madrasah of Kuhna. It consisted of a rectangular yard (25 m x 33m) and one two-story building around it. The buildings outside dimensions were (37.5 m x 47.5 m).
The caravanserai was built of baked bricks. Situated in the northern side of the caravanserai was a
portal (peshtok). Behind an arched bay under an arched vestibule was the first floor of a library with acupola overhead. A similar portal was situated in the southern side. Around the perimeter of the yard
there were 30 one-story rooms (hujras) and four corner halls. There were six small bays functioning as
trading shops in northern facade on each side of
the portal. There was a passage in the caravanserai
set into the floor of the yard for lightening or
unloading caravans. The caravanserai waspreserved 1.5 m above ground level.
For the moment our scientists are working on
restoration of the caravanserai, which was notcompleted because of the collapse of the Soviet

The Caravanserai

Union.
The Madrasah Kuhna has a rectangular inner yard measuring 27 m x 26 m and an outside perimetermeasuring 50 m x 45 m. The yard is surrounded by 27 rooms of 3 m x 4 m (hujras) for students, amosque and auxiliary premises. A monumental portal faces the registan. There is a cupola mosque
to the right of the entrance and there are auditoriums to the left. The corners of the main facade are149formed by three-fourth towers (guldasta), adorned
with relief brick ornaments. One of the featuresof the entrance part of the madrasah is a library(bolokhona) over the cupola vestibule. The sideof the facade is fenced off by a portal. There is awood balcony with a view of the city square in the
portal’s bay over-gate.
The architecture of the main facade consists of

The Madrasah “Kuhna”

contrasts between right-angled portals with archedbays and a multi-staged structure of a cupolamosque in the right part of the building.
The Madrasah Nav is situated in the city square to
the right of an ancient road leading to the southerngate of the city. The madrasah has a line of onestory rooms (hujras) on three sides. A two-story
facade facing the registan is flanked by corner
towers measuring 35.2 m x 38.4 m without lights.
The building has portal entrance consisting ofan arched passage vestibule. The mosque of thismadrasah is situated on the left side, with twoclassrooms on the right side. The first floor has
hujras connected to open galleries facing the yard.
The yard, measuring 20 m x 21 m, is square withcut corners. There is a round drainage system in

The Madrasah “Nav”

the centre, and the rain and snow water drains out through ceramic pipes which are deep underground.
The washing place (tahoratkhona) is a special place for ritual ablutions; it is situated in the square
between the Madrasah Nav and the Madrasah Kuhna. The building is placed on a rectangular platform(stilobat) measuring 30.5 m x 35.5 m enclosed with hewed blocks of marble limestone. The platform
has staircases in the middle of all four facades. There was a square building in the central part ofthe platform. It consisted of a large hall and three small rooms adjoining it from the north. Fivecabins set slightly over the floor level adjoined the east wall of the hall. In the floor of each cabin
were rectangular hollows connected to ceramicdrainpipes laid under the floor. Water flowed down
to a manmade pool situated in the centre of thelarge hall through the middle cabin.
The borders of the pool were strengthened withsquare wooden beams. There was a spillway in thenorthwest corner. Through it water flowed down
into an overflow well. The Tahoratkhona of Hisor

150“Tahoratkhona” -washing place.

is one of the rare preserved structures that were attached to mosques and madrasahs. There is no othercomplex analogous to the Tahoratkhona of Hisor anywhere in Tajikistan. Besides that the Tahoratkhona
was a place for executions. The Tahoratkhona was excavated in 1982. The monument was preserved to
0.5 m above ground level.
The discovery of two cave rooms of a cult building in the village of Buston suggests the existence of
Buddhist temples and shrines in the vicinity of the Hisor settlement in the Kushan period. The site is
located 3 km south of Hisor hilltop near the slope of the Urtabuz ridge, and has two caves of different
lengths that are located near the premises, 15 - 20 meters apart. The southern one has a length of 33
meters and a height of 2.5 - 3 meters, and in thewall there is a high narrow bench with a widthof 35 - 40 cm. The second preserved cave to thenorth has a length of 23 - 45 meters including asection that has been destroyed, with a width of 3.8
meters and a height of 2.5 - 3 meters, and this also
has a bench in the wall. These cave rooms have noanalogues among the studied Buddhist monuments
in Central Asia. To some extent, these cave rooms
were used by Buddhists as a meeting place, or katk
hika-sala. According to preliminary calculations,

Kushan period - buddhist meeting hall Katk hika-salasuch structures can hold 70 to 100 people. The study of these caves can provide new material todetermine the prevalence of Buddhism in Hisor Valley.

We try our best to conserve all these heritages to keep them in better condition, but in some cases
we need more knowledge with new conservation technology. Sometimes we observe wet and damp
conditions in some parts of buildings or salt coming out of the walls of historical buildings.
We are working on the recently found Buddhist meeting hall Katk hika-sala at the moment. It would
be a great idea if scientists from all over the world could give us useful advice and especially if theexperts from ACCU NARA could teach us.

151Thailand
Srisomboon Puangporn

The Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture is responsible for keeping the cultural heritageof Thailand. The Fine Arts Department is the key government agency responsible for the sustainable
maintenance, conservation, restoration, promotion, creation and inheritance of national culture.
Although some fields of arts and wisdom have been utilized less and less for social benefit, the Fine
Arts Department is persistent in its intention to pass such arts and wisdom on to responsible new artists
from generation to generation, in order for the department to be accountable to, and become a key
player in society in the creation of national works of art and religion.
Nevertheless, similar to other agencies in the situation currently facing the Thai public service system,
the Fine Arts Department, which has responsibilities covering various matters throughout the country,
has personnel limitations. Experienced staff have gradually been retired year by year in accordancewith the public downsizing policy. Consequently, the rehabilitation of art and cultural works in many
fields has experienced a lack of skilled experts. In addition, economic, social, and political changes,
and competition have also resulted in the neglect of the conservation of art and cultural heritage.
This problem has caused some challenges in maintaining and conserving archaeological sites,
archaeological finds, museums, and artisan works of all kinds. Hence, the Fine Arts Department hasdetermined an implementation policy to create an awareness and sense of ownership of national art
and cultural heritage among the general public as follows:
1. Administer the maintenance, conservation, and rehabilitation of national art and cultural heritage
by involving participation from all relevant sectors.
2. Promote and support the creation of art and cultural continuity.
3. Develop art and cultural heritage as sustainable learning resources in order to provide them witheconomic value.
4. Develop wisdom by creating motivation for society to be aware of, love, and cherish national art
and cultural heritage in order to learn and implement management plans on the basis of proper
technical principles.
5. Develop personnel to enhance the efficiency of sustainable management of art and cultural
heritage either by learning from international practices or by hiring experts to share theirknowledge and experience.
My government section is the Conservation Science Division, which is a section in the Office of
National Museums, Fine Arts Department. My duties emphasize the conservation of antique objects
in national museums and archaeological sites, and objects from other places such as temples, schools,
local museums, etc. The Conservation Science Division’s responsibilities and processes are as follows:
・ Process of survey and analysis of disintegrating and severely damaged cultural materials innational museums, temples, etc., for those places are able to offer funding for treatment ofobjects.

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・ Process of conservation including preventive measures and conservation treatment. Some
antiques for conservation are sent from national museums in other provinces or nearby
archaeological sites. Preventive conservation includes management of the environment
surrounding the exhibition in national museums and storage rooms, where there is proper
relative humidity and temperature control, source light selection, packing and handling, movingof objects, etc.
・ Process of training the authorities and other people about how to look after cultural heritage
using preventive conservation and basic conservation treatment.
・ Process of research and training for investigating the past, obtaining more knowledge, andconservation skill developing and technology developing in each case study.
Regarding the above, I have to manage the conservation of antiques that belong to the national
museum to control and eradicate insects and fungi. For example:
Conservation of paper such as ancient documents called Sa-Mut-Thai, books and albums. First, we
carry out certain procedures including registering the antiques for appraisal and taking photos to create
an extensive photo record. After that we put the objects in clear zip lock bags and place them into a
fridge set at -20 degrees Celsius for two weeks. After that we expose them to normal temperaturesand remove insect residue. When the problem is eliminated, we start the repair work by choosing theglue. There are two types of glue: natural glues such as rice starch, wheat starch, etc.; and synthetic
glues such as methylcellulose glue or MC, Hydroxypropylcellulose or Klucel G glue. In this repair,
we used mulberry paper as backing. There are also two types of mulberry paper: mulberry paper fromJapan, and another type made in Sukhothai, Thailand. Mulberry paper from Thailand is suitable forreinforcement because the typography is more visible and it
is cheaper than Japan’s. I learned about this repair methodfrom SEAMEO SPAFA Regional Centre of Archaeology
and Fine Arts, in cooperation with Centre-regional deConservation du livre, France. Then I started obtaining
more knowledge and developed my own paper conservation
methods from my experience over 10 years. I have spread myknowledge and experience to others in temples, villages andschools, including the practice of preliminary conservation.

Figure 1 Lub-Ror temple

From my experience in surveying and educating how to take care of ancient documents, I found that
there are problems in looking after and understanding the management of documents, such as keeping
Sa-Mut-Thai documents at the Lub-Ror temple at Chumphon province, which is located in the forest in
the southern part of Thailand. The average relative humidity
there is 80%, and the temperature is 28 degree Celsius. The
standards for the preservation of antiques, art objects, andvarious types of paper are not appropriate. As a result, some
paper has begun to disintegrate, some are covered withfungi and some have been partially eaten by many insects
due to lack of care on a regular basis. Stacking causes moredeterioration, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Sa-Mut-Thai at Lub-Ror temple

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I explored this ancient document storehouse in 2014 and continued exploring at Khao Sarm Kaew
temple in the same province, which has the same problem as described above. There is a wall painting
in the temple that is over 100 years old, but the colour has faded as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The
problem is that moisture cannot drain off the surface because the floor is covered with a rug, whichmakes moisture come up the walls. We have to fix this problem by taking rug away and letting the
moisture drain.

Figure 3 Inside Khao Sarm Kaew temple

Figure 4 The wall painting in the temple

Aside from the conservation of antiques, art objects, and certain types of paper, I have responsibility
for ancient fabrics too. Most of the fabrics have been housed at the national museum, Bangkok,
Thailand since 1800. Ancient fabric contains fibres such as cotton and silk. Some that have been
imported from aboard contain fur. I found that there was deterioration of fabric due to age. In addition,
most of the problems involve improper storage methods which have damaged the fabric and make itchange colour due to exposure to sunlight for a long time, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The fabric,
especially silk, is brittle and too difficult to conserve. Lack of knowledge is the main reason why
sunlight and heat have been allowed to cause this problem.
I also have to conserve wood antiques and other wooden objects. These ancient objects are muchstronger than the two types mentioned
above, but their problems have thesame cause: the environment and insect
bites. In July, 2014 I worked for theconservation of book cabinets at thenational museum in Ayutthaya province.
These book cabinets are over 200 years
and valuable for Buddhism. There are

Figure 5・6 Ancient fabric

beautiful patterns from the ancient fine arts ofThailand such as gold lacquer, glass lacquer on thesurface of the wood, and some patterns that camefrom China called Lai Kammalor pattern. In 2011,
Thailand was affected by massive floods. The water
was 20 centimetres high in this national museum
for two months. After the situation had stabilized as
the floodwaters receded, many problems followed.

154

Figure 7.8 Book cabinets

Stains appeared on the surface of the book cabinets, white stain became dull and the patterns faded.
So we removed all the dirt using a solution comprising 50% alcohol and 50% distilled water—but thestains still remain, and this problem is particularly serious for lacquer objects, as shown in Figures 7
and 8.
A number of sandstone Buddhas, made from a type of sandstone found in Ayutthaya province andnearby places, were also damaged. White powder stains had appeared on the surface of the sandstone.
So I took samples for analysis, and found that it was a compound of calcium carbonate and calcium
sulfate. Presumably, it came from the wall when it was in contact with water for a long time, as shownin Figures 9 and 10.

Figure 9 Sandstone
BuddhasFigure 10 Sandstone Buddhas

In regard to my experience in the conservation of antiques at archaeological sites, I would like tooutline two of my projects:
1. Archaeological site: Baan Gu Pra Pa Chai district Nam Pong, Khon Kaen province in northeast
Thailand. This site has been dated to 1177 AD as shown in Figure 11, and many types of antiquessuch as pottery, images of sandstone Buddha and iron tools have been discovered there. My teamwas undertaking conservation work at the site in 2010 and found that many objects had deteriorated
because they had been under the ground for a long time. Iron tools were covered by rust and pottery
was broken, as seen in the sample of antique objects shown in Figure 12. In addition, improper
storage methods, such as keeping antiques in boxes, bad ventilation, etc. had caused more damage.
We cleared the room and started the conservation in a different way.

Figure 11 Archaeological site BaanGu Pra Pa Chai

Figure 12 Sample of antique objects

For an image of Buddha that was made from silver, we used ethyl-alcohol and acetone to remove
stains, and then fixedand coated the surface with Paraloid B-72 to protect it from humidity.

155

For iron tools, we completely removed the rust by using a
special knife and acetone.
The pottery was cleaned by using a brush. It was then fixedwith Paraloid B-72, with the missing pieces replaced withplaster.
I also taught people to value antique objects highly as part of
the nation’s cultural heritage, as shown in Figure 13.
2. Archaeological site: Pratu Pha, Lampang province,

Figure 13 Teaching

Thailand. Located in northern Thailand at around 500
meters above sea level. Pratu Pha is an ancient passage
through the mountains. The present geographic location
still brings to mind a wartime period when Pratu Pha
was used as a strategic fortress in historical and fictional
accounts that coincided with old beliefs. The rockpaintings at Pratu Pha can be found behind the Pratu Pha
spirit house and were scattered in groups along the wallof the rock, which measures 400 meters in length. The
paintings can be divided into seven groups, and the site

Figure 14 Archaeologicalsite Pratu Pha

is approximately 300 meters from Route #1. A total of
1872 pictures were found as shown in Figures 14 and 15.
Two categories serve for differentiation: 1239 pictureswith depictions, and 633 that are unclear or faded. Froma survey of the area where the first groups of paintings
were discovered, traces of improper digging were found,with potsherds and human skeletons scattered around. A
formal excavation was then conducted to find scientifictraces of man in the past and to gather as much evidence

Figure 15 Rock painting

as possible before more damage occurred. From the AMS
radiocarbon dating carried out by Dr. Goran Possnert andDr. Maaud Soderman from Uppsala University, Sweden
on organic substances of rice grain, bamboo and piecesof human skeleton, a date of 3200 – 2900 years BP issuggested.
I started conservation work at Chiang Mai National Museum in 2014, where I surprisingly foundorganic matter antiques that had not decomposed even after a thousand years. All the baskets appeared
to be in perfect condition, showing all the design and decoration patterns. There was evidence found in
the area as follows: hair, rice grains and small wooden spatulas with painted designs on the surface, as
shown in Figure 16. Unfortunately, at that time there were some antiques that had already deteriorated
because of improper preservation, with no humidity or temperature control. For example, fibres that156

Figure 16 Samples of antiques Pratu Pha

had degraded into dust were unable to be used to determine the nature of the cloth. Hair, which wasreported from the excavation to be long hair tied at the back of the head, was also discovered in theform of a short strand of hair. As I was not sure whether it was possible to use plaster to repair theantique pottery, for this conservation, I preserved bones, repaired broken pottery and filled the rest withwhite clay filler in order to avoid the damage that might occur to antique pottery. After all the antiques
have been preserved, they will be exhibited and protected properly at Chiang Mai National Museum in
Chiang Mai province. Therefore, all the antiques can be preserved and remain for future generations.
Summary of the problem of Thailand’s cultural heritage in my experience:
1. The most common problem that I have found is improper management of the environment forthe storage and exhibition of antiques. Thailand’s weather is hot and damp, with a 5 month-longrainy season and summer all year long. Thailand lies entirely within a region with a tropical andmonsoonal climate. The climate is characterized by uniformly high temperatures and heavy rainfall
for most of the year. The average annual rainfall for the whole country is over 1400 mm. The
rainy season lasts from May through October. During the rainy season some parts of Thailand areoccasionally overwhelmed by typhoons from the east or the southeast. Their winds, rain and hightides sometimes cause floods. Such conditions are optimum or near optimum for the growth of
biological life. A great number of cultural materials disintegrate and are destroyed through attacks
by biological agents of deterioration (e.g., insects, microorganisms and higher vegetation), in
particular, those materials which are derived directly from plants and animals, for instance, wood,
paper, textiles, leather, etc. So the climate in antique exhibitions has to be the right temperature andhumidity to protect the objects on display. This is our responsibility: to educate staff to control theindoor climate and develop the technology to do so.
2. Another problem is the lack of knowledge of staff and misunderstandings as to who is responsible
for looking after antique objects during exhibition and storage, which often causes more damage
to the objects. For this problem, the Conservation Science Division takes steps to educate them
about how to look after, move, handle, and pack objects, as well as management of the environment
surrounding objects.
3. There is also the problem of people who intend to damage cultural heritage, such as writing on rockpaintings or stealing objects from archaeological sites, etc.
4. Finally, there is the problem arising from the exhibition and improper keeping of antique objects.
This problem can speed up the deterioration of antiques. It’s hard to manage all the different thingsin an exhibition such as the exhibition of human skeletons and tools from archaeology explorations,and whether they should be arranged in a special way because of their antiquity, especially157

considering variations in the environment. And regarding this problem, I have a case study foran exhibition of antique objects from the Pratu Pha archaeological site at Chiang Mai National
Museum. The museum is now setting up this exhibition and has nearly finished as shown in Figure
17. I would like to gain knowledge in this training about how to manage antique objects fromarchaeological sites in the museum such as human skeletons, pieces of pounded tree bark, pilesof rice husks, etc. A human skeleton will be placed on the sand in the showcase, and I don’t knowwhether the sand will damage it or not.

Figure 17 Showcase for exhibition of Pratu Pha’s antiques

158

Viet Nam
Dang Ngoc Kinh

Circular Earthworks in Southwestern Vietnam
Research and Conservation

Fig.1 Circular earthworks in Cambodia and Vietnam
Base map ArcGIS 2014, location of sites Lê V.Q., Bùi C.H. et al 2013 and Thuy2002

Circular earthworks are archaeological sites surrounded by circular walls usually with two entrances,a circular ditch inside the wall, and an inner platform. They are usually more than 200 meters indiameter. These sites are located on the red soil plateau in southeast Vietnam (Binh Phuoc province)and eastern Cambodia (Kampong Cham province).
The circular earthworks were originally studied by French scholar M. Louis Malleret in 1959, and oneof them was excavated by B.P. Groslier in 1962. In a French article, the sites are called “Ouvrages
circulaires en terre” (Malleret Louis, 1959). These words were translated into Khmer as “PhumMoul” and Vietnamese as “đất đắp tròn,” meaning “circle village.” Because of several political
upheavals in the region, the study of the circular earthworks did not recommence until the 1990s.
Some investigations and surveys were done in Bình Phước (Nguyễn T. Đ. 1984, 2002, Nguyễn V.L.,
1986, Nguyễn K.Q., 2009, Lê V.Q., Bùi C.H. et al, 2013) and Kampong Cham province (Kojo, 1997,
1998, Dega, 1999, Albrecht et al., 2000). In Vietnam, five surveys including test pits were carried out
by the Centre for Archaeological Studies, Southern Institute of Social Sciences in 1985, 2000-2001,
2006, 2011-2012 and 2013-2014. As of spring of 2014, at least 46 sites have been identified to date,increasing from just 12 sites in 1959. Two of them were excavated (An Khương and Lộc Tấn 2) and 21
were test-excavated. One remarkable study is a doctoral thesis about circular earthworks in Binh Phuoc
written by Nguyễn Trung Đỗ in 2002. Recently, a research project involving surveying and mappingarchaeological sites in Binh Phuoc province was conducted by a group of researchers from the Centre
for Archaeological Studies and Binh Phuoc Department of Culture (Lê V. Q., Bùi C. H. et al 2013).

159

Most of the documented earthworks are
situated on hilltops, and are also located nearwater sources. Normally they are situatedclose to each other, about two to threekilometers apart. In Binh Phuoc, there are
four groups of circular earthworks, namely
Lộc Ninh, Bình Long, Bù Nho and Thuận
Lợi, and each group is spaced 10–15 km
distant from each other (Lê V.Q., Bùi C.H.
et al 2013) (Fig.1). The earthworks consistof a concentric earthen embankment likea wall, enclosing a depressed circular area
and a central flat area. In some cases, there
was a small mound in the centre. According
to an intensive survey by Nguyễn TrungFig.2 3D image of Hourn Khim Circular Earthworks, Memot,
Cambodia. Memot Centre for Archaeology. 2014Đỗ (2002), there were six types of circular earthworks in Binh Phuoc. They can generally be divided
into two major layouts. The first is circular, with a circle ditch and one or double entrances, making itlemon-shaped on the plan. The second one is also circular but has no wall and is smaller. Most of thesites have diameters measuring about 180-250 meters. The largest is Lộc Tấn 2 earthworks and thesmallest is Bù Nho earthworks, with diameters of 365 m and 140 m respectively.
Minor excavations at the earthworks demonstrated
that the cultural layers of each site are about 1 m deep
with many archaeological remains, which has beeninterpreted as evidence of permanent settlement at
the sites. The excavations show that the density ofartefacts was highest inside the circular raised part,
indicating the habitation area. In contrast, far fewer
artefacts were reported from the central depression
and outside on the embankment, which seems to havebeen used for another purpose. The interpretation of
the ditch as a water reservoir has also been abandoned,
because of the high permeability of the red soil. The
purpose of the ditch and embankment is probably for
defence or for protection from wild animals (Nguyễn

Fig.3 Artefacts from circular earthworksNguyễn T.D. 2004, Lê V.Q., Bùi C.H. et al 2013

T.Đ. 2002, Lê V.Q., Bùi C.H. et al 2013).
Artefacts from the earthworks, especially stone tools and pottery, share the same tradition withprehistoric sites in southern Vietnam, such as Lộc Giang, Mỹ Lộc and Dốc Chùa. The stone tools
assemblage excavated from the earthworks included shouldered and un-shouldered adzes and axes,
and a few flakes from the reworking of these tools. The identifiable cross sections of adzes or axes
were quadrangular. However, there are fewer shouldered tools than un-shouldered ones, and they are160

usually absent from the upper layers of the stratigraphy, suggesting a transition from shouldered to unshouldered. The pottery is all sand-tempered, and vessel types include pots, dishes, and pedestal bowls.
Surface decoration of the pottery includes paddle decoration with cord-marking, non-corded parallel
impression and simple smoothing that are similar to that reported from Neolithic and late Bronze Agesites of the Dong Nai culture. (Nguyễn T.Đ.2002, Lê V.Q., Bùi C.H. et al 2013) (Fig.3). Unfortunately,
the sites are located in red basaltic soil that is strongly acidic with pH values below 4, which makes it
impossible for organic materials and metal to survive for a long period of time.
The circular earthworks in the red soil region of eastern Cambodia and southeast Vietnam have been
dated from the Neolithic to late Bronze Age. Nguyen Trung Do (2002) suggested an age of 4000 to2500 B.P. based on comparative studies of artefact samples from other prehistoric sites in southern
Vietnam. Until recently, not much radiometric dating has been done due to the problem of the absenceof organic material at the sites. One charcoal sample from a basal layer at the Lộc Tấn 2 site returneda radiocarbon date of 2980±50 B.P. (Nguyễn T.Đ. 2002). In Cambodia at the Krek 52/62 site, one
charcoal sample was radiocarbon dated to 293±70 B.P., and two Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)
results based on organic materials provided dates of 3495±75 B.P. and 3990±70 B.P. In addition,
Michael Dega et al. (2000) presented five new radiocarbon dates based on the organic temper ofpottery from four earthworks in Cambodia. The dates range from 2290-2030 B.C. for the Trameng site
and 320 B.C.-200 B.C. for the Chi Peang site. However, Albrecht et al. (2001) pointed out that thesesamples face similar problems of contamination and should be evaluated critically because they aremuch younger than expected.
One challenge when undertaking research on circular earthworks is the large number of sites andthe large geographical area. In Vietnam, 46 earthworks have been found, and each site area is about
40,000 square meters. Due to the soil acidity and resultant problems with organic preservation, there
are limitations to the amount of information that can be recovered from the circular earthworks.
Therefore, if we continue to excavate using the same archaeological methods, we may not increase ourknowledge of the sites. At this point, we propose that the earthworks should be investigated with new
methodologies and technologies. Potential methods of analysis for future research could include dating
micro-material using AMS, and sampling spores and pollens. Also, the homogenous quality of the
red soil suggests that ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems can be used. GPR is a non-destructive
technique that will help to see what is below the ground surface that cannot be seen with the naked
eye. The density and depth of any artefacts can be predicted, and we may develop a site specific planfor targeted excavation and conservation. As such, this proposed research methodology will assist in
the protection of these cultural heritage sites.
Another problem of this cultural heritage is that the sites need not only to be researched but alsopreserved. Although the Vietnamese law on cultural heritage took effect in 2001 (National Assembly,2001), collaboration between the government and scientists was not sufficient. Rather than a planned
program of research, archaeologists were usually called in to investigate architectural discoveries inpublic buildings or unexpected finds from construction projects such as road works or hydroelectric
dams. The findings in these cases were significant, such as the Thăng Long – Hà Nội Imperial
Citadel (Bùi M.T. and Tống T.T., 2010) or the Lung Leng sites at the hydropower projects on the161

Kon Tum plateau of Vietnam (Nguyễn K.S. 2005). However, these results also caused regret amongarchaeologists as the sites could not be conserved. If sites are protected, they can be studied and bring
continual benefits to the community. Balancing economic growth and cultural heritage protection canbe a challenge.
Recently, collaboration between the government and scholars has improved, and a project to investigate
and map circular earthworks in Binh Phuoc by the Centre for Archaeological Studies and the Binh
Phuoc Department of Culture is one of the outcomes. Maps and land management data integrated witha Geographic Information System (GIS) are important products of this project. The software programused to analyse the data is Quantum GIS. The GIS uses the Vietnamese national coordinate reference
system VN2000, enabling the combination of existing maps with various sources of spatial data,
including roads, land use, elevation, trees, waterways, and up-to-date archaeological information about“sites” and “artefacts” in text and image format (Fig.4). With this project, the government can makedevelopment plans more efficiently and reduce the adverse effects on these archaeological sites.

Fig.4 Geographic information system (GIS) for circular earthworks. Lê V.Q. Bùi C.H. et al 2013

From this project, we have two suggestions for protecting the earthworks in Binh Phuoc. The first
involves administrative measures. These sites are at risk of destruction from the planting of rubber
trees and building construction. Most of them are now located within rubber tree plantations.
Normally, after a 15 year cycle, the plantation will cut down the rubber trees and level the ground for
new planting. The sites may then be destroyed by bulldozers. Some of them are now no longer intact
because the moats on the inside of the embankments have been filled in with the soil from the earthen
walls. Public construction work and roads have also harmed the sites. For example, two circular
earthworks were destroyed to construct schools and five or more were cut by roads. For this reason,
the government should provide management recommendations to the owners of plantations where
earthworks are located, to help to prevent further unnecessary impacts.
The second suggestion concerns a community-based problem. The locals have almost no knowledgeof the circular earthworks. This is not good for protection activities because local communities are162

in charge of their own cultural heritage. Documents from the government and recommendations ofarchaeologists will not be effective if the locals do not know about their cultural heritage. Accordingly,
we suggest that the government informs the community about the history of their region, and explains
the value of the heritage sites in the area. Therefore, the local people can be informed participants indeveloping policy decisions that protect their heritage. To attain this goal, local school children andauthorities may be invited to attend presentations on cultural heritage and visit the museum whereartefacts from local sites are on display. The sites should also be interpreted, for example, by installinga plaque with their name and a brief description. Some important sites could be reconstructed and used
as tourist attractions.
In conclusion, the circular earthworks are archaeological sites located in Binh Phuoc and Kampong
Cham provinces and date from the Neolithic to the late Bronze Age. Minor excavations havedemonstrated that cultural layers reach approximately 1 m in depth. Artefacts from this group ofearthworks, particularly stone tools and pottery, share the same tradition. Due to the problems withorganic preservation, there are limitations to the information that can be recovered. To increase
our knowledge of these sites, the earthworks should be investigated with new methodologies andtechnologies, such as AMS and GPR. Although some attempts have been made to protect these sites,
they are still at risk of destruction from rubber plantations and building construction. Therefore, weshould adopt administrative measures and community-based archaeology to step up heritage protectionin the region. The efforts of archaeologists and the government will be meaningless if the locals do notvalue their own cultural heritage.

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Than, Mao Someaphyvath, Sirik Kada, Som Sophal, Thuy Chanthourn and Vin Laychour (2000).
Circular Earthwork Krek52/62: Recent Research on the Prehistory of Cambodia, Asian Perspectives
vol.39 no.1-2:20-46, © 2001 by University of Hawai’j Press.
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Arts. Phnom Penh.
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trung tâm hoàng thành Thăng Long – Hà Nội từ phân tích đánh giá di tích khảo cổ học [Global
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- Kojo Yasushi and Pheng Sytha (1997). Newly discovered earthworks in Southeastern Cambodia.
Anthropological Science 105-3: 181-187.
- Kojo Yasushi and Pheng Sytha (1998).

A preliminary investigation of a circular earthwork at

Krek, Southeastern Cambodia. Anthropological Science 106-3: 229-244.
- Lê Văn Quang, Bùi Chí Hoàng, Nguyễn Khánh Trung Kiên, Đặng Ngọc Kính, Lê Hoàng Phong,Nguyễn Hoàng Bách Linh, Trần Thanh Tùng, Phạm Hữu Hiến and Đinh Nho Dương (2013).
Nghiên cứu, khảo sát, lập bản đồ di chỉ khảo cổ học tỉnh Bình Phước [Research surveying andmapping archaeological sites in Binh Phuoc province]. Sở Văn hóa Thể thao Du lịch Bình Phước –Viện Khoa học xã hội Vùng Nam Bộ.
- Malleret Louis (1959). Ouvrages circulaires en terre dans I’Indochine Me’ridionale. Bulletin del’École Française d’Extrême-Orient (BEFEO) 49:409-434.
- Memot Centre for Archaeology (2014). What is a Circular Earthwork? http://www.memotcentre.
org/Earthwork_is.html- Nguyễn Khải Quỳnh (2009). Về những thành đất đắp hình tròn mới được phát hiện ở Bình Phước [Onthe circular earthworks discovered recently in Binh Phuoc] Khoa học xã hội số 2: 58-63- Nguyễn Khắc Sử (2005). Di chỉ Lung Leng, nhận thức bước đầu [Lung Leng site, initial perception]Khảo cổ học số 5:3-15.
- Nguyễn Trung Đỗ (1984). Di tích thành đất đắp hình tròn ở Lộc Ninh (Sông Bé) [Circular
earthworks in Loc Ninh (Song Be province)] Văn hóa Óc Eo và các văn hóa cổ ở đồng bằng sôngCửu Long:136-141. Long Xuyên.
- Nguyễn Trung Đỗ (2001) Báo cáo Điều tra, thám sát và khai quật di tích đất đắp hình tròn ở BìnhPhước [Report on surveying and excavating circular earthworks in Binh Phuoc]. SởVăn hóa Thôngtinh tỉnh Bình Phước
- Nguyễn Trung Đỗ (2002). Di tích đất đắp hình tròn Bình Phước. [Circular Earthworks in Binh
Phuoc province]. Viện Khoa học xã hội tại thành phố Hồ Chí Minh.
- Nguyễn Văn Long (1986). Những công trình đất đắp có hình tròn phía bắc Sông Bé [Circular
Earthworks in the north of Song Be province] Khảo cổ học số 1:26-32.
- The National Assembly (2001). Law on cultural heritage No. 28/2001/QH10 of June 29, 2001.

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Final Reports
by Participants

IV. Final Reports by Participants

At Horyu-ji Temple with a local guide (World Heritage Site)BhutanTenzin Wangchuk

Introduction
I wish to make a few comments and comparisons with the current practices in my country and thoseof Japan as my final report for this Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protection in the AsiaPacific Region 2014 with the theme, “Research, Analysis and Preservation of Archaeological Sites andRemains.”
Although I cannot find the words to fully express
my gratitude to the organizers of this wonderful andfruitful training course, on behalf of the Division
for Conservation of Heritage Sites, Department ofCulture, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs,
Royal Government of Bhutan (Pelden Druk Zhung)and on my own behalf, I would like to sincerely
thank (arigato) and extend my heartfelt gratitude
Group photo on opening day

to the Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation
Office, Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO(ACCU); Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan (Bunkacho); National Institutes for Cultural Heritage;
National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo; Nara National Research Institute forCultural Properties; International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural
Property (ICCROM); Nara Prefecture Government; and Nara Municipal Government for giving me
this great once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in this international-standard course, somethingthat I have never experienced before.
Before coming to this training, the concept of archaeology to me had been just excavating and looking
for artefacts, but after attending this training and coming to the end of it, I came to understand that myknowledge had been next to zero. Therefore, this training course was very educational and enhanced
my knowledge in the various aspects of archaeology, and will definitely help me in building mycareer. The training was very relevant to me, my office and my country at large, because, as I always
mentioned, the field of archaeology is very new to me, my office and my country.

History of Archaeology in My Country, Bhutan
For the first time in its history, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan has witnessed the scientificinvestigation of its buried archaeological past. An interdisciplinary team from Switzerland, led byarchaeologist Reto Blumer (SLFA), received the opportunity to excavate and document archaeologicalstructures at the site known as Batpalathang in Jakar dzongkhag (one of the central districts of theHimalayan kingdom) in 1998.

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Batpalathang is the name of a hamlet located about
5 km from Jakar, on the northeastern bank of the
Chamkhar Chu, a river running from the High
Himalayas in the north. The archaeological sites
under investigation are in the immediate vicinityof the building yard for the construction of a new
Renewable Natural Resource Research Centre (RNRRC) for the Ministry of Agriculture of the Royal
Government of Bhutan (RGoB). Both are situatedon an old river terrace. During the earliest phase of

Batpalathang

construction, the remains of unknown antiquity had an
archaeological potential only acknowledged throughutilization of archaeological expertise (a campaign in
April 1999). This expertise was also needed becauseof the proximity, partly overlapping, of new and old.
The results of these first observations, and the fact thatthe remains were conflicting with the progress of thebuilding, necessitated immediate intervention in thesense of a unique archaeological salvage project. This

Jaker Dzong

could be implemented during a second investigation
campaign starting April 2000 and planned until the end of July 2000.

Archaeological Activities in Bhutan・

Scientific Excavation of Drapham Dzong, Bumthan Dzongkhag

・Rescue Excavation of Sangkha Rune, Sarpang Dzongkhag

・Workshop on Legal Aspects of Archaeology, Thimphu

・Documentation of Obtsho Dzong, Gasa Dzongkhag

・Documentation of Chubjekha Dzong, Paro Dzongkhag

Main Objective or Outlook of the activities
Our main aim and objective is to institutionalize archaeology in Bhutan, we are in the process ofsetting up, developing and establishing our own system of management, preservation and conservationof archaeological sites. The foremost thing is to build human capacity in the field of archaeology.
For this we have nine participants who have successfully completed nine classroom and fieldwork
teaching modules, developed by the Department for Prehistoric Archaeology of the University of
Zurich and conducted in collaboration with SLSA, the Museum Rietberg, the Department of Town
Planning of Zurich, Helvetas Swiss Interoperation, and the Division for Conservation Heritage Sites,
Department of Culture, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Bhutan. The teaching modules were
held from spring 2011 to autumn 2013 (second phase of the Bhutan-Swiss Archaeology Project). Eachof the students have written and submitted a diploma thesis on a selected topic. They will then receivea Post Graduate Diploma in Practical Field Archaeology, issued by the Department of Prehistoric

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Archaeology, University of Zurich, and SLSA. With Swiss support, these diploma holders will be able
to run the Bhutanese Central Archaeology Office and also establish archaeological zone plans andconduct rescue excavations. With that, the second phase of the Bhutan-Swiss Archaeology Project will
have been completed.
In the context of the third project phase (2014–16),
Bhutanese-Swiss collaboration is still seen to benecessary and welcome. However, it should be
mentioned that the project’s steering committee
declared the institutionalization of the Central
Archaeology Office as a condition for Swiss
involvement and proceeding with the project’s third
phase. The focus of the third project phase will beon the development of archaeological zone plans,
rescue excavations and carefully selected researchGroup photo on the way back from Gasa

excavations. The Swiss team is looking forward tofurther collaboration.

My Personal Feelings or Observations on This Training Course
I do not wish to elaborate much on this topic, in terms of “how,” “why” and “what,” as the training
course was well planned and based on the needs of every country through the compilation of individual
country reports beforehand, which I particularly liked. Most of the subjects in this training course werevery relevant to me and my office. It was very interesting, educational, and informative, and I gained
a lot of knowledge that I have never encountered before. In general, I found the site visit to Kyushu
National Museum to be something very different, and though the museum is newly constructed, I did
not imagine that they would be so well equipped, with very good infrastructure, and so well managed
under the guidance of a very good director, with the help of well-trained and seasoned office staff.
They have their own conservation studio, which is well equipped with all the latest technology, anda very big storage area, and the building itself isdesigned to be earthquake resistant as a seismic
isolated structure. Likewise, even the Osaka
Museum of History was very interesting to me.
They have well preserved original undergroundarchaeological remains that have been excavatedand which are showcased to the public in thebuilding itself without destroying their original
features, which date back to the 7th century with agreat historical background. They even use the iPad

Kyushu National Museum

as a medium of exhibition to the public, which is very unique. Another site was Fujinoki Tumulus,
which was a very interesting site for me as I have never before seen this kind of archaeological site, oreven heard of it.

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Among the four main topics of this training—Lecture, Presentation/Discussion, Practical Training
and On-site training—I liked and really enjoyed the Practical Training, and the Measured Drawingof Artefacts was very interesting as we were fully engaged both mentally and physically. Mentally I
was concentrating very hard at that time, and physically/practically, I learnt a lot on how to carry out
measured drawing in a more precise way, with the help of many different instruments that I have neverused before.

Conclusion
I would like to submit that my month-long stay here in Japan was very interesting, enjoyable and an
adventure with which I could learn a lot about Japanese principles, methodologies, and techniques
concerning the protection, conservation, management and utilization of archaeological sites throughthe various presentations, practical training and on-site lectures conducted by experts in the field ofarchaeology. Therefore, I would like to pay my deepest respect and express my heartfelt gratitude to
all the eminent lecturers and specialists for sparing their time and sharing their knowledge and wordsof wisdom.

Acknowledgements
My sincere, heartfelt thanks go to the ACCU office and the staff (Mr Nishimura Yasushi, Director;
Mr Takahashi Wataru, Deputy Director; Mr Kobayashi Ken-ichi, Director, Programme Operation
Department; Ms Wakiya Kayoko, Director, International Cooperation Division; Ms Sakimoto Keiko,
Chief, International Cooperation Division; Ms Horikawa Kazuko, Chief, Planning and Cooperation
Division; Ms Nishida Michiko, Planning and Cooperation Division; and Mr Shimomura Nobuhito,
International Cooperation Division) for organizing this training program and giving me this great
opportunity to attend this world-class training course.
Without the eminent help of the interpreter, Ms Hata Chiyako, I am sure that I would not have evenpicked up the A-B-Cs of this training course, as many of the lectures were done in Japanese. So thankyou very much for enabling me to understand everything in this training course.
I wish to also thank the assistants, Ms Suzuki Sonoko, Ms Miki Kazusa and Ms Mitsui Naka, fortheir selfless help and assistance every time I was in need, and for making my stay in Japan a mostwonderful one, even though they had a very busy schedule as university students, and so many otherthings to do.
Thank you, tashi delek, and arigato gozaimasu.

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Cambodia
Hour Sothorn

I. Introduction
From 2 September (Tuesday) to 3 October (Friday) 2014, the ACCU Nara Office held a training course
for the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage and opportunities to learn the latest knowledge
and techniques, all with reference to the characteristics of Japanese archaeological sites and historicbuildings. One of the objectives of this course was also to help human resources development such as
the training of specialists engaged in the planning of cultural heritage protection, and the preservation
and restoration of cultural properties. Participants from 16 countries attended the training course:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao P.D.R, Maldives, Mongolia,
Myanmar, Pakistan, Palau, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand and Vietnam.

II. Course CurriculumThis training is necessary for all participants and also their respective countries in order for them toobtain useful knowledge such as how to conserve, preserve and restore World Heritage Sites including
both tangible and intangible cultural properties. Even though Cambodia is still a developing country,
we are fortunate to be informed of these important global trends in conserving archaeological sites. In
the first session of this training programme I gained a lot of knowledge from Dr Gamini Wijesuriya,
a project manager from the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restorationof Cultural Property (ICCROM), who talked about ICCROM’s work in the research, analysis andpreservation of archaeological sites and remains. He also put forward valuable discussion topics on
the conservation and management of archaeological sites. Suggestions for better site preservation in
our respective countries included examining our principle legislation for heritage protection as wellas other legislation that aids the management and conservation of archaeological sites. Our country
needs to look at our main institutions and regulations in relation to heritage as well as the available
national and international resources. It was stressed that heritage protection needs to be proactive andnot reactive. This session was very valuable in that ideas about heritage protection were discussed,
and suggestions for better site preservation and conservation were identified, which was extremely
applicable to the situation in Cambodia.
Prof. Inaba Nobuko presented a lecture on architectural conservation for wooden structures, thehistory of the Japanese legal system for the protection of cultural heritage, and some of the articles inthe Venice Charter of 1964. Japan’s legal system is very useful for the protection, conservation andpreservation of archaeological sites, even in the midst of widespread city planning and development.
As of June 2014, Japan has 18 World Heritage properties that have been inscribed on the World
Heritage List: 14 cultural sites and four natural sites. My country has only two World Heritage
properties, both of which are cultural heritage sites. The Angkor archaeological site in Siem Reap
province was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992, and the Preah Vihear Temple was171

listed in 2008. Regarding this training, Japan seems to be a pioneer in the Asia/Pacific region in the
management, conservation and preservation of archaeological sites, as led by the Nara National
Research Institute for Cultural Properties.
Through this training, both in the classroom and on-site, it appears as if there are no international
cooperation research teams conducting archaeological research in Japan. In my country, there aremany international agencies working in cooperation with Cambodia on conservation, restoration andresearch. Japan is also involved in several projects such as Japan-APSARA Safeguarding Angkor(JASA), the Sophia University Angkor International Mission, and the work of the International
Research Sites Section of Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.
Nara served as the capital of Japan from 710 to 784 and was known as Heijo-kyo. The Nara Palace(Nara Imperial Palace) extended about one kilometre wide and one kilometre long and served as thesite of the emperor’s residence and government offices. For its great historical and cultural importance,
the palace site is included as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Nara. The Nara Palace has
no surviving wooden structures, but does have vestiges as archaeological remains such as postholesof wooden pillars and other features. Part of the ancient palace has been reconstructed in order to
add to its value as a historic site and to help people know their own traditional style of building. In
Cambodia, there has been no construction of ancient wooden monuments yet, so we usually undertake
conservation, preservation and restoration work. We have many temples that have collapsed due tohuman and natural causes, including the action of insects.
Mr Aoki Tatsuji gave a detailed lecture on the system for protecting cultural properties in Japan.
Cultural properties in Japan are classified into six categories such as tangible cultural properties,
intangible cultural properties, folk cultural properties, monuments, cultural landscapes and groups oftraditional buildings. He also shared with us the role of the national Government in the frameworkof the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties and other laws/regulations. In my country,
Cambodia instituted such a law on January 25, 1996. The purpose of this law is to protect national
cultural heritage and cultural property in general against illegal destruction, modification, alteration,
excavation, alienation, exportation or importation.
Mr Nakamura Ichiro and Mr Sugimoto Kazuki gave us basic knowledge on photographing culturalproperties. Photographs are very important for the study of cultural properties and must be understoodby anyone engaged in such study. I am very interested in photography. I learned to take photographs
using additional light sources in order to produce clear pictures of artefacts and excavated trenches
including photos used for work and documentation. However, my department doesn’t have aprofessional camera or other equipment for taking such photographs. We use only small digital
cameras to take photographs of ceramics and other artefacts that are collected from archaeologicalexcavations.
The Nara National Research Institute’s ceramic storage, wood and bone conservation laboratories use
the modern technology of X-ray computed tomography, with which we can see the interior structure172

of objects in three dimensions. The tomography machines can analyse artefacts that archaeologists
encounter during the excavation of sites. My department does not have wood or bone experts. If we
encounter some pieces of wood, we always need international experts working in the Angkor area tohelp. We know that Cambodian archaeologists must conduct joint research together with other experts
including natural scientists, because Cambodia does not have enough experts or equipment to analysearchaeological finds.
When it opened in 2005, the Kyushu National Museum in Fukuoka prefecture was the first
new national museum in Japan in over 100 years, and the first with a focus on history over art,
comprehensively undertaking the collection, preservation, exhibition and research of various culturalproperties such as archaeological, historical, artistic, folkloristic and ethnological materials. The
museum has many resources for the analysis, conservation, restoration and preservation of thesematerials, for example by using X-ray CT, 3-dimensional scanning, painting scanning, plus storage
facilities to preserve paper, and so forth. Such equipment is useful in preserving and restoring artefacts.
The visit to Matsuura City Takashima Centre for Archaeological Operations, a small museum withmore simplified methods, specializes mostly in marine archaeological finds related to the Mongolian
invasions. This museum showed the technique of removing salt from an artefact by cleaning it andkeeping it in a solution of fresh water and alcohol in which after the removal of salt, P.E.G. treatment
is given in a special chamber to dry the artefact. Since our country does not have any underwaterarchaeological sites, this practice cannot be applied. But the information from the observation andlecture was very important for future reference if needed.
Another large museum we visited was Osaka Museum of History. This museum has long played an
important role in relating the history of Japan from ancient times through today. The history and cultureof Osaka has been researched for over 40 years by the Osaka Municipal Museum, which opened in
1960. The new museum carries out this function through the Naniwa archaeological Resource Centre.
The exhibitions at this museum make use of the unique character of its location and combines newtechnology with materials and experience accumulated in the old Osaka Municipal Museum andmaterials excavated from around Osaka City to form the basis for active ongoing research activities.
Fujinoki Tumulus is known as kofun in Jafupanese, located in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It isestimated to date from the latter half of the 6th century or the late 7th century. The burial mound isabout 50 metres in diameter, 9 metres in height, and the stone chamber the mound covers is 16 metresin length. The excavation of this tomb began in 1985. The tomb yielded gilt-bronze ornaments, horsetrappings, and a stone coffin. The tomb’s appearance is supplemented by the harness excavated fromthe tomb, which is a Chinese product that was imported via the Korean Peninsula. In Cambodia, I have
not yet found any large tombs fit for a king like Fujinoki. Some researchers have suggested that during
the Angkor period, the bodies may have been cremated, rather than being buried in tombs.
Measured Drawing of Artefacts was the most important activity for me. I am interested in pottery
drawing and tool drawings. Participants should have been given potsherds to draw and then taught the173methods and techniques to calculate the diameter and position the potsherd in its proper location, etc.,
which is more important as excavations yield more potsherds than complete or nearly complete pots. I
feel this would have been of greater use to most of the participants. Further, the document part shouldhave incorporated not only the drawing and measurement, but also the method of context recording at
the time of actual excavation.
Presentations on the 16 participants’ countries covered various topics such as World Heritagearchaeological sites, national culture and historic heritage sites, landscapes and intangible culture.
Some presentations showed the problems and needs for cultural heritage properties and conservation.
It was very important to obtain knowledge that I did not have before about such archaeologicalsites, especially their management as related to conservation, preservation and restoration, for World
Heritage Sites as well as national heritage properties, plus the intangible heritage of various ethnic
groups.
Through attending this training and the interaction with other participants over the month, I alsocame to better understand each country’s culture, religion, language and living style. I gained new
knowledge from different Japanese experts who have more than 30 years of work experience in thefield of management of archaeological sites, conservation, preservation and restoration during this onemonth training course. After learning about the Japanese system, it feels as if Japan is better organised,and has strong government support and funding, as well as strong legislation protecting archaeologicalsites. Japan is very proactive in preservation work led by the government. I will improve my work
related to cultural World Heritage Sites, and the national cultural heritage properties and landscapes in
my country. It was useful for me to learn additional skills applicable to archaeological work.

III. Acknowledgments
I would like to take this opportunity to profoundly thank Mr Nishimura Yasushi, Director of the
Asia-Pacific Culture Centre for UNESCO; Dr Gamini Wijesuriya, Project Manager, Site Unit ofInternational Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM);
and Prof. Inaba Nobuko. I would also like to thank all the lecturers: Mr Aoki Tatuji (Agency for
Cultural Affairs, Japan), Mr Wakiya Soichiro, Ms Tamura Tomomi, Mr Yanagida Akinobu, Mr
Hashimoto Hiroyuki, Mr Nakamura Ichiro, Mr Sugimoto Kazuki, Mr Ishimura Tomo, Mr Asai
Ken’ichi (Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education), Mr Fukasawa Yoshiki, Ms Miyoshi Miho, Mr Ikeda
Hirohide, Mr Kaneda Akihiro, Mr Araki Koji, Mr Nakata Atsuyuki, Mr Aizawa Tetsuro, Mr Imazu
Setsuo. Mr Oda Kazutoshi, Mr Matsukawa Hirokazu and Mr Mametani Hiroyuki. I would like to thankthe staff members of ACCU Nara: Mr Takahashi Wataru, Deputy Director; Mr Kobayashi Ken-ichi,
Director, Programme Operation Department; Ms Wakiya Kayoko, Director, International Cooperation
Division; Ms Horikawa Kazuko, Chief, Planning and Coordination Division; Ms Sakimoto Keiko,
Chief, International Cooperation Division; Ms Nishida Michiko, Planning & Cooperation Division; Mr
Shimomura Nobuhito, International Cooperation Division, and Ms Hata Chiyako. Lastly, I would liketo thank Ms Suzuki Sonoko, Ms Miki Kazusa and Ms Mitsui Naka.

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Fiji
Kataiwai Sakiusa Rocky Nadakuitavuki

Evaluation Report
1. Abstract
2. Training activities – personal observations and analysis
3. Limitations

1. Abstract
Over the course of the training program, various analytical methods and practices in the field ofarchaeology and conservation were emphasized through training lectures and practical activities. Withthe training highlighting analytical and advanced technological methods, a wider understanding of theefficiency and sufficiency of archaeology work has been achieved on a personal level.
Creating a more positive and extensive approach to archaeology work in the Fiji Islands is the major
output developed from this participation. On the other hand, there are certain practical boundaries thatwill limit efforts emphasized through this training program, and these are largely due to technologicaladvances and financial disparities; however, that is not to say that these limitations will discouragepractical methods that could be applied in the Fiji Islands, as simple and effective practices werehighlighted that will be applicable to the efforts being made in archaeology and conservation in Fiji.

2. Training Activities – Personal Observations and Analysis
The training activities that were applied in this program were relevant and effective, and this brought
about a wider understanding of the extensive archaeology work that can be applied back in Fiji. Froma personal perspective, the majority of the activities undertaken during this program emphasized thebasic efforts that could be applied but have not yet been realized, and I believe that has been the majorachievement in this training course.

2.1 Conservation Science of Artefacts I, II, II
Dealing with archaeological artefacts is a vital part of archaeology work in Fiji and the materials arein line with the artefact materials highlighted in this training course, from wood and earthenware tometals. Lack of a professional perspective on the conservation and storage of these artefacts is a major
limitation, with little or no understanding of the basic approach needed to counter the effects andconditions that can cause the deterioration of these artefacts over a period of time. Through the training
and lectures, acquisition of this basic knowledge was a major achievement that can and will be applied
to some extent back in the Fiji Islands, let alone the Fiji Museum, on the analysis and treatment of suchmaterial artefacts for a more sufficient and safer state of conservation of these artefacts.

175

Figure 1: Conservation science practical session, NNRICP.

2.2 Recording/Documentation of Artefacts and Cultural Sites: Photography
The photographic documentation of artefacts and cultural sites is an effective approach to better
understand, view and record the subject for further research and analysis; however, the processes andmethods required to undertake a more sufficient technique to create a precise image of artefacts andcultural sites brought about the realization that this was a vital requirement for study and analysis, andthis was what was lacking in Fiji. The various ways of creating clear and efficient photo documentation
on a professional but simple level is a skill that needed to be utilized in archaeology work in Fiji, andthrough the practical process during the training, this was achieved.
Digital data management and use of the required software was a simple skill learnt during the course,
and this is an efficient method that will help in the development of a professional approach, personallyand on a national scale.

Figure 2: Photography practical session, East Palace Garden,
Nara Palace Site.

176

2.3 Measured Drawing of Artefacts I, II, III
I developed a clear understanding of how to draw artefacts in this training practice. Use of a simple,
yet effective and sufficient method for efficiently documenting artefacts is a skill which I had not
developed prior to this training course. This will help in the development of a method in Fiji on thethorough recording and condition reporting of artefacts, which is currently lacking at the Fiji Museum,let alone on a national scale.

2.4 Recording/Documentation of Cultural Heritage Using a 3D Scanner
My personal view is that this would be an effective and efficient method of comprehensively recording
an artefact or cultural site; however, financial constraints is a barrier to achieving this. Simply
understanding the concept and operation of this technology, though, will be effective in demonstrating
the extensive recording and documentation that is possible, no matter which method is undertaken.

2.5 Site Tours and Museum Induction
As a result of these visits, and comparing the efforts undertaken in Japan and Fiji on cultural heritage
my analysis is that there is an immense disparity in the awareness of and attitude towards theprotection and recognition of cultural heritage between Japan and Fiji. In relation to the site tours, theprotection and reconstruction of shrines, temples and palace sites and displaying them to the public
is an outstanding effort in promoting recognition and creating awareness of cultural heritage and its
grandeur, and this is an idea that could be applied in Fiji, as awareness is gradually developing on anational scale.

Figure 3: Todai-ji Temple tour

The unique architecture and technological advances in museums in Japan show that there are no
limitations to what cultural institutions can achieve to protect, preserve and exhibit cultural heritage
with an attractive approach.

2.6 Global Trends and Discussion of Cultural Heritage Issues
In discussing the various global trends highlighted by Dr Gamini Wijesuriya, the broad understandingof cultural heritage, or the modern definition of heritage, on a global scale, was a new concept for177

me. The various ideas and factors associated with this topic has developed my understanding andbroadened the context associated with archaeology in Fiji and its relationship with the global culturalcommunity.
The issues highlighted by the various participants indicates a parallel correlation shared around theworld, let alone the Asia-Pacific region, and this allows the opportunity for us to network together onsuch issues and correspond on the various actions undertaken that may, or will be effective.

3. Limitations
Throughout the training program, there were many advantages in developing new skills and methods
through the lectures and practical sessions; however, the question still remains as to whether they canbe applied in the various participating countries, in this case, Fiji.

3.1 Technological Advances
Many methods learnt during this course were related to the utilization of technological equipment:
・

3D scanner・

3D printer・Radiography/CT scanning・

Photogrammetry・

3D digitizer

・

Photo Editing Software

An understanding of the concept of this equipment and software, along with their efficiency andcomprehensive ability in the field of archaeology and conservation work is vital; however, the disparity
lies in the ability to obtain such equipment and software to utilize in Fiji. This is, and will continue tobe an ongoing limitation; however, the possibilities are endless.

3.2 Conservation Science of Artefacts
Conservation science and its practical efforts may face limitations in Fiji, as the need for chemicals,
tools and equipment during the conservation process of artefacts is vital. The right ideas can beproposed, however, the conditions under which these artefacts are stored may not meet the necessary
standards, as storage facilities are not as uniform as they should be.
On the whole, this training course was enlightening, and provided a comprehensive understandingof the concepts of cultural heritage protection. Utilizing the ideas, skills and methods learnt during
the course of the program is the main objective, and this can be achieved to some extent as manytechnological advances utilized during the practical training sessions are, or may not be available
in Fiji, or in many cases, affordable. However, these skills have opened up opportunities and aprofessional mind-set on how archaeology and conservation can reach such a level, and this highlights
the fact that there are no limits in the documentation, research and exhibition of cultural sites andartefacts.

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Kazakhstan
Altynbekova Dana

The Scientific-restoration laboratory “Ostrov Krym” is the only organization in Kazakhstan, where by
request of state institutes the preservation works of movable archaeological monuments are carried out.
The laboratory fulfils governmental orders of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
the Institute of Archaeology of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan
and regional archaeological centres located in different cities of Kazakhstan.
Apart from conservation and restoration of movable monuments of archaeology, the laboratory “Ostrov
Krym” takes part in conservation of Tamgaly petroglyphs inscribed as a World Heritage of UNESCO.
Our contribution to monument preservation is to restore anthropogenic damage made before the legal
protection of the monument is organized in Kazakhstan, as in many other countries. In the process, a
lot of questions and problems have arisen such as:・Archaeological excavations in emergency and rescue mode・Primary conservation at the site before arriving in laboratory as first aid

・Phased and detailed documentation of each object

・Not just the conditions of excavation

・Remoteness from settlements and signs of civilization

・Lack of advanced technology for more accurate study of the sites

・The administrative work

・Legislation

・ Lack of established management structure
These issues can be solved by a special commission or by participating in international conferences,seminars and training courses, such as the one provided at the ACCU Nara. In this kind of training,
you can always find a lot of answers to questions, where the course participants share their own
experiences of work in their country.
In the work of archaeological sites conservation and restoration, an important point is to use thereversible methods and materials, and acting on the principle - “do no harm”. What I like in Japaneseconservation is the fact that they try to use only natural ingredients for the preparation of adhesives,preservatives, dyes and other materials to the maximum extent.
Some chemicals are used in limited cases, where an artefact is in poor condition. Metal objects requireconservation and restoration, as well as cleaning of corrosion products by hand. Our Scientificrestoration laboratory “Ostrov Krym” works on the same principle, and we use a large variety ofnatural preservatives etc. only with some exceptions. This approach to the archaeological artifacts ismuch more delicate and gentle than using aggressive chemicals whose use is sometimes inevitable.

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Thanks to the international project of Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), I wasamong the participants for training course. Program is dedicated to preserving the world’s cultural
heritage. At the end of this course, which was an interesting experience for me, I found new challenges
in my work for the future. How, what and where you can apply or improve at every stage of the work.
For example, to date, it is considered that damaged artifacts should be treated by restorers at museums.
And for many decades after the collapse of Soviet Union, in spite of the great efforts made in this areain the Republic of Kazakhstan, we have not developed a national school for restorers. This situation
has led to the fact that some of the unique items were partially lost. This situation has arisen as aconsequence of the lack of a central research organization for the conservation and restoration, whichshould carry out scientific and methodical control over the entire network of organizations in this area.
Gaining Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a new step in the study of national history.
During the years of independence, and especially in recent years, thanks to the program “Cultural
Heritage”, a tremendous increase in appropriations for the carrying out of research works on thehistory, ethnography and archaeology. Dozens of expeditions have made outstanding discoveries of
new sites.
The restoration, preservation and museumification works were carried out for discovered monuments.
And unfortunately, these works are not keeping pace with the volume of scientific research andwidespread excavations. In each region of Kazakhstan, an extensive network of research centres
already exists. There are umbrella organizations, institutions NANRK coordinating regional centres.
However, the products of this activity are the thousands of artifacts excavated from the earth every
year. And regional organizations for conservation and restoration find it difficult to handle thesevolumes due to their scientific and technological level.
Currently, in the northern capital of Astana, a new “Kazakh National Museum of the Republic of
Kazakhstan” is scheduled to launch the first major centre covering all areas of conservation andrestoration, followed by training.
Today, however, there are not enough specialists and an appropriate level of qualification. But thanks
to such courses as ACCU, such problems can be approached by professional hands of experienced
Japanese colleagues, and perhaps further cooperation will help Kazakhstan organizations for the
restoration and preservation improve their professional level with a clear structure and formulationof the task sequence. So, in my opinion, before the start of any excavation of the monument, it isnecessary to determine the long term plan, where and who will carry out further work.
For me it was a good experience to see how to use the new materials and technologies which can bedifferent to perform the same work. On the other hand, much more information on the tools using
advanced technology should be introduced, which Japanese colleagues have gone very far.
This training course was very useful and made me look at the old familiar things in new ways. And I

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know exactly where it is necessary to get started, or rather to be improved, after returning home.
Many thanks to all the organizers: Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office, Asia-Pacific
Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), Agency for Cultural Affairs and National Research Institutefor Cultural Properties.

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Kyrgyz Republic
Akmatov Kunbolot

Specialist Final Report on the Training Course at ACCU Nara 2014
Introduction
The Training Course on “Research, Analysis and Preservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains
2014” is one of a series of training courses conducted by ACCU Nara, in which I was lucky toparticipate after a number of unsuccessful applications to previous ones. It was great to receive theinvitation to the training course after all this time and effort.
In this report I will try to share my opinions, impressions and some comments on what I saw, heard
and experienced during the training course.

Authority and Cultural Heritage
First of all, I would like to note the broad support of the Japanese government in the research andconservation of cultural heritage, not only in Japan but also in other countries of the Asian continent,
including Kyrgyzstan.
In this connection I would like to mention our meeting with the vice-governor of Nara Prefecture.
In his speech he clearly gave to understand that one of the important nexuses of our countries is
Buddhist monuments. In his opinion, Japanese culture has been deeply impacted by influences fromCentral Asia. Indeed, the history of Buddhism shows that Central Asia played an important role inthe movement of Buddhism from India to Japan. There are several Buddhist temples and statures in
Kyrgyzstan that support this idea. Unfortunately, the preservation of these monuments leaves a lot to
be desired. Furthermore, as practice shows, in many cases our local authorities don’t know what andhow many cultural properties are situated in their regions.

Ice-Breaking Lectures and Discussions
The training course started with a lecture on the theme “Global Trends in Conservation ofArchaeological Sites” by Dr Gamini Wijesuriya from ICCROM. Noting the positive and negative
trends in the field, he pointed out that some archaeologists don’t pay enough attention to the problem
of conservation and preservation of the archaeological monuments they excavate. In his opinion,
they should not start an excavation unless they have sufficient resources for conservation treatment.
During the lecture he continually underlined the importance of the conservation and preservation ofarchaeological sites and remains. Agreeing with him on this point, I would like to add that conservationand preservation of cultural heritage is a complex problem that demands the cooperation ofarchaeologists, restorers, authorities and the local people living around a heritage site. Unfortunately,at present I can’t see such cooperation in my country.

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We received a lot of information on the theoretical basis of conservation, preservation and managementof cultural heritage from Dr Gamini’s lecture. Furthermore, a great number of websites, books,
legislation and guides titles were cited. Also, I was surprised to, learn that Kyrgyzstan is not a member
of ICCROM. According to Dr Gamini, this situation prevents young specialists from Kyrgyzstan toparticipate in different training courses conducted by the organization. But I am more than sure that the
Kyrgyz Republic needs to be a member of ICCROM.
After the lecture by Dr Gamini, the trainees reported about the problems and needs of cultural heritage
protection in their respective countries. Each report was accompanied with visual materials which
made them more understandable for everyone, as English is not the native language of any of the
trainees. It became clear that we all face the same problems in the preservation of cultural heritage.
Therefore, after each report there were questions and group discussions, in which not only the trainees
but also Dr Gamini and Prof. Inaba actively took part. As usual, Dr Gamini pointed out the importanceof conservation and preservation of cultural heritage, citing different facts and data as evidence.
No less interesting was the lecture by Prof. Inaba from the University of Tsukuba on the basic conceptsof conservation science, such as restoration, reconstruction, authenticity, etc. During the lecture a
serious debate emerged about the authenticity of some Japanese temples. According to Prof. Inaba,
the authenticity of Ise Jingu, which is completely reconstructed every 20 years, is that it has intangible
value. In that case, it seems to me that we should first decide if the reconstruction activity of the temple
is a unique ceremony worthy of international recognition. And if it is, then the reconstruction itself
should be considered as an intangible heritage.
It is possible that I don’t fully understand the heart of the issue, but it seems to me that thereconstruction of the temple every 20 years is aimed at preservation of the temple for the next
generation. The way the Japanese people preserve the temple and associated traditions is worthy ofrespect, but I can hardly say that the ceremony is able to impart authenticity to the temple.

On Legislation and Reconstruction
A great deal of information on the protection, conservation and management of cultural heritage inJapan was heard from Dr Aoki Tatsuji, representing the Agency for Cultural Affairs. It seems to me
that there are not so many differences between Kyrgyz and Japanese legislation on the protectionof cultural heritage. But in the conservation and management spheres there are many things that we
can learn from each other. I don’t know how authentic some of the temples and palaces are, but the
management and utilization of them as tourist attractions are at a high level. It seems to me that thereconstruction of tangible monuments is a priority of Japanese heritage policy, which sometimes
contradicts the principle of authenticity.
Probably one such example is the Imperial Audience Hall in the Nara Palace Site. Judging from its
appearance it is easy to confuse the monument with a modern Japanese traditional structure. I realizethat it is a reconstruction of an ancient building, which is highly hypothetical, but it seems to me that183

what is lacking is an ancient “atmosphere.” I think replicas of the Emperor with retinues and guards
wearing Middle Age armour would create such an atmosphere.
Perhaps I have taken liberties in finding fault, as the situation in the cultural heritage conservation,
protection and management field in my country is not comparable with Japanese cultural heritage
policy. Unfortunately, many archaeological monuments in Kyrgyzstan are being destroyed as aresult of anthropogenic activities. The government is not capable of stopping the looting of historical
heritage, let alone the conservation and reconstruction of them.

On Conservation
The conservation part of the training course began with a lecture by Dr Wakiya Soichiro from
NNRICP on the theme “Mechanism of corrosion of metal objects.” In his presentation, Dr Wakiya
gave us detailed information on the reasons for the emergence of corrosion. Furthermore, the main
steps in conservation treatment were explained. As a continuation of this theme, Dr Tamura Tomomi
from the same institute gave us a lecture on “First Aid for Fragile Artefacts,” after which practicalexperiments were carried out, which allowed us to strengthen our theoretical knowledge. The last yet
no less informative lecture on the conservation of artefacts was given by Dr Yanagida Akinobu fromthe Archaeological Institute of Kashihara. He in dwelt in detail on the question of storage and displayof artefacts. I was astonished hearing information about Japanese archaeologists who try to conserveand preserve underwater archaeological sites and artefacts in situ in Imary Bay.
The lectures were extremely important to me, as iron objects are frequent finds at archaeologicalmonuments in Kyrgyzstan, and in most cases they are corroded and fragile. Of course we try toconserve such artefacts using mostly mechanical cleaning. But because of a lack of special laboratories
and specialists, conservation treatment is not carried out to its logical conclusion. Furthermore, wehave no notion that conservation treatment must be continual and reversible. Of course I am not goingto say that after my attendance at this training course the situation in Kyrgyzstan will become better.
But at least we have begun to understand that the conservation of archaeological monuments must be
an important part of our archaeological researches.
The excursion to the Conservation Science Laboratory of NNRICP left a deep impression on us. I
haven’t seen such kind of research laboratory equipped with modern and high-tech equipment andengaged in cultural heritage conservation and preservation. An interesting moment occurred when the
research assistants of the laboratory asked us to give them a metal coin from our countries in order toexamine its composition with X-ray fluorescence. Our colleague from Tajikistan gave them his ring,
and after a one minute examination we received the data on the composition of the ring. This kind ofoperation with real artefacts is very important, not only from a conservation point of view, but also inthe study of ancient metallurgy and technology.
Seeing all the researches taking place in the laboratory and their results, I caught myself thinking thatevery year in my country we excavate and find archaeological monuments, but because of lack of184

special laboratory and equipment, we extract from them less information.

On Documentation
As conservation science is not developed in my country, with a lack of specialists and laboratories,
it seems to me that there is no other way to preserve artefacts doomed to deterioration than thecomprehensive documentation of them. From this point of view, the documentation part of the training
course was extremely relevant for me. It consisted of photography, measured drawing and 3D scan
activities, which were conducted by well-qualified specialists from corresponding departments ofnational and municipal research institutions in Nara.
For example, in the photography segment, the main techniques and methods used in cultural property
photography were explained and demonstrated. Part of the course time was spent in practical training.
Our instructors kindly shared their knowledge and experience with us and answered the trainees’
questions. The importance of the course is that it was conducted by professional photographersinvolved in the cultural property field.
No less significant for us was the course “Measured Drawing of Artefacts” conducted by specialists
from Nara Municipal Board of Education and Tenri University. In my opinion, it was appropriate that
lecturers paid less attention to theoretical teaching and gave us more time for practical training. During
the course I gained some new practical skills in the measuring of artefacts, which will make mydrawing more accurate.
Another lecture on the documentation of cultural heritage using a 3D scanner was given by Dr Kaneda
Akihiro. He gave an explanation on basic 3D documentation techniques and devices, which were
mostly new for me. However, because of high prices and lack of corresponding specialists, newdevices used for 3D documentation are not available to us. Fortunately, as it turns out, there is a simple
and inexpensive way to overcome these difficulties, which were kindly explained and demonstrated by
Dr Kaneda.

On Temples and Museums
It would not be wrong to say that the history of restoration works in Japan is rooted in ancient times.
Seemingly it was connected with religious structures, which occupied an important role in the spiritual
life of the Japanese people, and were to be preserved for the next generation. It seems to me thattoday’s restoration and reconstruction works of temples by Japanese restorers is a continuation of thistradition. In this connection I would like to mention the grand Todai-ji Temple, which was built in the
8th century and has been damaged and reconstructed several times since then.
Speaking about temples I would like to point out the massive weight of a tiled roof on top of a wooden
frame. According to an estimate by Japanese restorers, the weight of all the tiles of Chion-in Temple isabout 700-750 tons. Of course a firm wooden frame is needed to hold up such a mass, and this task has
been solved successfully by Japanese architects.

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The Museum of the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara is filled with archaeological artefacts
discovered in Nara Prefecture dating from the Palaeolithic period to the Middle Ages. In comparatively
small exhibition halls, the rich and developed cultural and historical past of the Japanese people isdisplayed. In connection with Central Asian archaeology, the figure of a saddled and bridled horsefrom Shijo Tumulus attracted my special attention. Some archaeologists believe that in these figures
the oldest wooden saddles and first stirrups are represented. According to them, the first wooden
saddles and metallic stirrups originated in eastern Asia and then spread west.
Fujinoki Tumulus and the artefacts from it also have some similarities with Central Asianarchaeological materials. From a management point of view I would like to pay attention to thefollowing circumstance. Both in Central Asian and Japanese archaeology, a huge mound over a grave
indicates the high social status of the deceased. This means that such kind of monuments containvaluable items. Although most of these burial sites have been looted, there are some monuments thathave survived until today, such as Fujinoki Tumulus in Japan and Issyk burial mound in Kazakhstan.
Unfortunately, these monuments are still frequent victims of treasure hunters in our respective
countries, which demands urgent measures on behalf of science and the community. In this connection,
Fujinoki Tumulus Museum in the open air is exemplary for us.
The super modern Kyushu National Museum equipped with state-of-the-art technology and its “younger
brother,” Kyushu Historical Museum, produced a great impression on us. They are not only museums
but also grand research centres, where conservation science takes the main position. The museums
are able to practically carry out the entire process from excavation of monuments to documentation,conservation and exhibition of unearthed artefacts. Unfortunately, because of lack of finance and withall the ensuing consequences, museums in Kyrgyzstan are not capable of exhibiting artefacts in aproper way, not to mention the excavation of archaeological monuments and conservation of artefacts.

Concluding Remarks
It should be noted that in contrast to the situation in Kyrgyzstan, the Japanese cultural property
research and conservation field is highly specialized. It is possible to be convinced of this by visiting
not only the respective research institutions and laboratories, but also libraries. There are many
books on historical and cultural heritage written by archaeologists, restorers and other specialists.
Unfortunately, because of the language barrier, most of them are not available to foreign specialists.
However, Kyrgyzstan archaeologists, who are very few in number, are responsible not only for
excavation and documentation of monuments and artefacts, but also for their conservation andmanagement. In other words, the lack of specialist staff is a serious barrier to the development of thecultural property field in my country. Furthermore, there is no definite or fixed state policy on the
study and preservation of cultural heritage, even though the Kyrgyz society, like the Japanese nation,is typically based on ancestor-veneration. Apparently, the effectiveness and productiveness of cultural
heritage policy directly depends on the economic condition of a state.

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Acknowledgments
I would like to express my deep gratitude to the organizers of the training course, particularly the
Agency for Cultural Affairs and ACCU Nara, for the invitation. I would also like to extend my thanks
to the lecturers for sharing their knowledge and experience with us. My special thanks are extended
to the staff of ACCU Nara, who followed us all the time and who made us feel comfortable and safe
during our stay in Japan. Finally, I wish to thank the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic
for UNESCO, Director of the State Historical Museum, Mrs Anarkul Isiralieva, and Chief Research
Officer of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr Bakyt Amanbaeva, for their support during theapplication process for this training course.

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Lao P.D.R.
Sivorravong Souksavanh

Final Report on the Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protectionin the Asia–Pacific Region 2014
-Research, Analysis and Preservation of Archaeological Site and RemainsI. Introduction
This training course was held in Nara city, Japan from 2nd September to 3rd October 2014, jointly
organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan (Bunkacho); Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for
UNESCO (ACCU); International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural
Property (ICCROM); and National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, National Research Institute forCultural Properties [Tokyo and Nara], in cooperation with the Japan Consortium for International
Cooperation in Cultural Heritage; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; Japanese National Commission
for UNESCO; Nara Prefectural Government; and Nara Municipal Government. ACCU hosted theopening ceremony of this course, with participants from 16 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia,
Fiji, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao P.D.R., Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palau, Sri
Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. This training course covered the investigation, conservationand management of archaeological remains, with the aim of providing participants with the latest
methodologies and technologies to apply to our work in our respective countries.
The purpose of this training course was to upgrade the knowledge of participants on the principles
and methodologies for protection of archaeological remains; and we were taught various skills andtechniques for recording and analysing artefacts as well as methods for the storage management andexhibition of artefacts; and we also got the opportunity to establish networks with colleagues from theregion and share our experiences in the field.

II. Activities and Lectures in This Training Course
This training course was one month long, held from 2nd September to 3rd October 2014; starting withthe reception at ACCU amid a warm atmosphere and the excitement of trainees from other countries
who had come to witness the development of Japan’s economy as well as its cultural prosperity. By theend of this training course we could learn many varied things, all of which will benefit me in my workon conservation and protection of cultural heritage, such as the research, analysis and preservationof archaeological sites and restoration of remains, as well as storage management and exhibition ofartefacts. The following is an account of the daily activities covered by the course:- On 3rd Sep., Dr Gamini Wijesuriya presented a lecture on Global Trends in Conservation
Archaeological Sites, and the basic meaning, importance, role, and responsibilities of ICCROM.
In addition, he gave definitions of heritage, archaeological sites and the rescue archaeologicalartefacts, and the advantage of archaeological impact assessment of sites that are threatenedwith development. He stressed that it was important to develop heritage law and management

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of archaeological sites, with the consideration of strict measures for archaeological sitemanagement and preservation.
- On 4th and 5th Sep., ACCU gave us a chance to share our own experiences with each otherthrough the presentation of country reports by each participant. Participants also talked of
the issue of archaeological site risk and cultural heritage site risk involving damage fromdevelopment, natural and human factors, and general deterioration of sites, etc..
- On 8th Sep., we studied the system for protecting cultural properties in Japan, from a lecture by
Aoki Tatsuji (Agency for Cultural Affairs). He explained the classification of cultural properties
in Japan, and it enabled me to clearly understand the definitions of tangible cultural properties
and intangible cultural properties. We also studied folk cultural properties, monuments, culturallandscapes and groups of traditional buildings in Japan and learnt about the role of the national
government in the framework of the Law for the Protection of Cultural Property and other laws
and regulations.
- On 9th Sep., we studied the conservation science of artefacts, through a presentation by Wakiya
Soichiro. He talked about many issues such as conservation treatment, and gave us practice in a
number of methods of mechanical cleaning, and examination of corrosion of metals, desalination(iron objects) and stabilization (copper and bronze objects). However, it was important for me
to learn how to use modern implements in cleaning artefacts by modern implements, including
the circulation of metal, diagnosis by microscopic examination, X-ray radiography and analysis
of materials (usually with XRD) for identification of corrosion agents with XRD (some kindsof corrosion agents act as a protection layer, hence it is important to identify or estimate thespecific corrosion agents present).
- On 10th Sep., we studied First Aid for Fragile Artefacts, a lectured presented by Tamura Tomomi,
in which she taught us how to temporarily increase the strength of artefacts and how to revive
artefacts with the surrounding soil
- On 11th Sep., we studied the conservation science of metal artefacts. The lecture was divided
into two parts, with Part 1 on the conservation science of metal artefacts in storage and display,including problems in the conservation of metal artefacts, consideration of the effect of humidity
on the corrosion of iron artefacts, the corrosion mechanism of bronze artefacts in storage,
and environmental control for preventive treatment. Part 2 was on the corrosion process ofiron artefacts at Takashima Kozaki site, as well as on the location and history of the site, thebackground and purpose of the investigation and the result of the investigation.
- On 12 th Sep., we studied the recording and documentation of artefacts in a lecture on
photography, presented by Nakamura Ichiro (NNRICP) and Sugimoto Kazuki (photographer).
They talked about certain guidelines for the preservation of cultural properties throughphotography, centering on digital records: how to save digital photographs, file management,
and precautions in preparing digital photographs. They also provided basic knowledge on thenature of cultural property photographs. It was important for me to learn at the lecture: the roleof photographs for cultural properties, the types of cameras such as digital single lens reflex
cameras, the formats of savaging digital photograph image, the photograph mechanism, lighting
angle, structural outlines, lenses and image processing.

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- On 15th Sep., we studied the maintenance and management of archaeological sites in practice at
Nara Palace Site, as well as the photographic recording and documentation of artefacts.
- On 16th Sep., we studied digital data management in practice. This enabled me to know how tokeep photographic documentation on a computer.
- On 17th Sep., we went to the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of ancient Kyoto,
including Chion-in Temple, Nijo-jo Castle and Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) forstudying the restoration of wooden constructions, how to maintain temples and traditional
painting of a castle.
- On 18th Sep., we studied the measured drawing of artefacts and earthenware, in a lecture by
Fukasawa Yoshiki, Miyoshi Miho and Ikeda Hirohide. This enabled me to know the significanceof measured drawing and techniques for measured drawing.
- On 19th Sep., we continued to learn about measured drawing of artefacts and rubbing techniques,but this was also new knowledge and important for me in my work, because it helped me tounderstand the shape of items such as pottery, bowls, Buddha statues, etc.
- On 22nd Sep., we studied the recording and documentation of cultural heritage by using a 3D
scanner, presented by Kaneda Akihiro. He talked about methods of 3D documentation, 3D
modelling from traditional archaeological records, laser scanning vs photogrammetry, terrestrial
laser scanning, the triangular method, laser scanning results of pottery, and UAVs. This lesson
taught me how to take photographs in high corners using a UAV and how to use a 3D program
to take pictures for the documentation of cultural heritage.
- On 23rd Sep., we studied Site Museum Operation in Practice at Fujinoki Tumulus, Ikaruga
Cultural Properties Centre. At the Horyu-ji Temple we also learned about the history of
Buddhism in Japan and the background of the temple, presented by a volunteer guide.
- On 24th Sep., we learned about conservation science for artefacts and objects excavated frommarine sediments, and we also found out about the history of Japan vis-à-vis Mongolia, and it
was important for me, to learn how to preserve wooden artefacts.
- On 25th Sep., we went to Kyushu National Museum to learn about facilities for Museum Science
Analysis and Examination. We also studied how to use X-ray scanners in order to look inside ofartefacts and how to copy them with 3D printer.
- On 26th Sep., we learned about inventory systems and exhibition techniques used for artefacts at
Kyushu Historical Museum.
- On 29th Sep., we went to Osaka Museum of History and studied the operation of the Museum.
We also learned about the history of Osaka city and the background of Osakan people in thepast. It was important for me to learn about conservation of the landscape of an ancient city thatwas buried.
- On 30th Sep., we listened to a lecture from ICCROM, presented by Rachael Egerton. There
was also a discussion among participants on suggestions for solving problems relating to
the preservation of sites and remains in their own countries in the future. In the lecture anddiscussion I learnt about values and statements of significance, and it enabled me to identify
defining values and defining significance.
- On 1st Oct., we listened to another lecture by Rachael Egerton, on World Heritage Convention

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and Statements of Outstanding Universal Value. There was also a presentation from participants
about value and significance of East Palace Garden where we had visited and observed the day
before.
Problems suggested in the respective countries of participants in the future:
・ Community awareness, natural disasters, poor planning, new technologies/tools
・ Human vandalism, risk management, climate change, rising sea levels, worldwide pollution
・ Resources
・ Capacity building
・ Planning・ Legal framework・ Lack of policy

III. Evaluation of This Training Course Strong points:
During the training course, ACCU paid attention to us sincerely and made everything convenient
for us, with the payment of an allowance every day for items such as meals (food), accommodation,transportation, and travel. In addition, ACCU prepared study materials for everybody, and it is very
important to note that ACCU had chosen the best lessons in order to teach us as individuals. All thelessons of ACCU will benefit me in my work, now and in the future, and some lessons can also be
applied immediately in my country, for example: the movement of artefacts, lifting artefacts, thesystem for protecting cultural properties of Japan, and the conservation of artefacts, such as how topreserve pottery, jars, bowls, Buddha images, and wooden objects. Also, other lessons can be presently
applied in my country, for example: how to conserve metal artefacts, how to display artefacts in themuseum, photographic recording/documentation of artefacts, using a 3D program for photographyof cultural heritage, the photography of artefacts , measured drawings of earthenware and rubbing,
how to clean artefacts, and how to inventory and exhibit artefacts. I want to emphasize that the system
of museum management in Japan, compared with my country, is excellent, including conservation,
exhibition, education and giving information to visitors, as is the system of cultural landscapeprotection zones.

Lifting artefacts

Displaying artefacts

Measured drawing

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 Weak points:
We could see this in the last few days of the course particularly on the rules of conduct, because
sometimes we caused trouble to ACCU by doing such things as coming late and getting lost.
In addition, although some lessons that ACCU taught were relevant, other lessons cannot be applied
in my country, because modern implements and advanced technology were used, which are unsuitable
for a poor country such as mine. The measures cannot be applied because they need a large budget,
but their benefits are so clear that they may be able to be applied in the future. Such lessons I
mentioned above include the lesson on the X-raying of artefacts to look inside the objects and thelesson on analysis of metal artefacts to identify corrosion and the conservation of metal artefacts. It
is because that we don’t have a laboratory for experiments, and even if we have the chemicals andthe implements, there is also a lack of experts. Most of workers did not study this sort of specialist
work and they graduated from other faculties, so this has made our work really difficult. Also at somemuseums, we did not have enough time to learn many things for the study tour.

Result of analysis on corrosion of
metal

X-raying inside an object

3D scanner printerIV. Conclusion
The Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protection in the Asia/Pacific Region 2014 has provided
all participants with an opportunity to improve and upgrade their knowledge and skills in their own
work for better efficiency, and to study new techniques of conservation and restoration of cultural
heritage. In addition, this training course has provided me with practice and experience in Japan andalso introduced me to modern implements that can be used in various conservation, preservation
and research analysis techniques. This course has been of great value for me, because it gave me theopportunity to learn new things and to share experience and knowledge with my colleagues from othercountries.

V. Acknowledgments
I would like to express my appreciation to the Government of Japan, and the Japanese people, as wellas to the following organizations for giving me the chance to attend this training course: Asia-Pacific
Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan (Bunkacho), International
Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), Ministry192

of Foreign Affairs of Japan; Japanese National Commission for UNESCO; National Institutes for
Cultural Heritage, National Research Institute for Cultural Properties [Tokyo and Nara], and the Nara
Prefectural and Municipal Governments. I am really grateful to Mr Nishimura Yasushi, the ACCU
Director, and I am also truly grateful to all the lecturers and all ACCU staff and the interpreter, who
made the conditions convenient for us during the entire period of this training course.

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Maldives
Ashraf Ismail

Concluding Report
The training course on cultural heritage protection in the Asia/Pacific region 2014 has been avery fruitful and enjoyable experience in terms of the observations, lectures and practical work.
The reflection of the people of Japan along with methods being practiced and the devotion andconcentration shown has given me confidence and the ambition to step forward in changing current
views on history and heritage by communities in Maldives. Representing the Maldives National
Museum, I based my country report on heritage sites in general rather than concentrating on theconfines of the museum, with the aim of sharing, discussing and learning new methods and ideas on
improving the current standard of practice on how the museum and heritage sites are maintained in
Maldives. I am very satisfied to be part of this training course in a year in which ACCU decided tobroaden the spectrum of concentration from that of the previous training programs.
The opening lecture, which concentrated on the definitions of heritage, archaeology and managementof heritage, broadened my knowledge of the basics that I have been applying through helping with theresearch and analysis of heritage sites, working together with the staff of the heritage section.
Important points I would like to highlight according to my understanding of the first lecture are as
follows.
• Creation of strong legislation built upon heritage sites and the community.
• In the modern day, heritage cannot be fenced around anymore.
• Evolution and development bring changes to the nature of society and its thinking, and areimportant factors that need to be taken to consideration before planning for heritage assessment.
• Community understanding needs to be taken into consideration in decision making, in order tocreate more flexible rules that are beneficial to both parties in sustaining heritage.
• Management of heritage sites and artefacts can be transformed into a self-sustaining income
generating process that benefits the community and preservation through involvement of thecommunity understanding of management.
The definitions of heritage in Japan and its practice have opened up my eyes to new ideas thatcan be applied for the understanding of heritage in Maldives. Notably, the definition of intangible
heritage, which includes the people in the practice of intangible heritage, is a very important factor
that needs to be established in Maldives in the near future, along with the way tangible heritage iscategorized through placing importance in its properties. The management of archaeological sites andreconstruction in Japan is something that I take an interest in, regarding how it benefits the community,
which also raises the value given by the people to the site. For visitors, the reconstruction can be seen194

as an illustration of how it originally might have been, which creates interest in seeing a genuine viewof the site.
Designation of cultural property in private ownership is an important point that I picked up from thelecture, and is something that I would like to see established in Maldives. Given the lack of land forflexibility in maintaining a site on land in private ownership, it is a daunting task which I wish to lookfurther into, as there are cases where private landowners accidentally stumble upon sites. I believe thisis an applicable and beneficial point for my country, even with the difficulty in introducing a subsidy
system, and if successful, will become a major way of changing the thinking of local people in how
they can utilize such sites as an income-generating source under the supervision of the department/
government regarding maintenance of the site. This method can be utilized through local government
authorities by the central government.
In general I understand that the maintenance of cultural/historical properties should be carried out in a
way that shows the value of the cultural property to the community. However, that being said, it may
become difficult to establish such a system in a country like Maldives, with an Islamic history of morethan 800 years where its oldest artefacts and sites are from the pre-Islamic period. This is a risk factor
that has shown its effects in a very aggressive fashion in recent times. But through careful planningand consideration I do believe that it is something that can be achieved through the engagement of thecommunity in the planning, documentation and utilization of the cultural/historical property.
The observation and practical sessions on conservation of metal and wooden artefacts gave meknowledge that I can apply directly to my conservation work. I also found out that the methods
I observed in Japan are, in a basic way, very similar to the methods I currently apply in my own
conservation work. This gives me great confidence in my understanding of the procedures that I havebeen following. Although several methods of conservation and preservation that I observed in the
training are inapplicable in my own country due to the high standard and cost, I am greatly honoured
to have observed the high-level techniques practiced in Japan. It was an experience that can be used
for future reference. The stabilization of bronze and copper is a process that I only knew very briefly
through my own research before the training program. The explanation of the details of the process
was very informative, as bronze and copper are the most common elements in the artefacts I workwith.
The excavations and first aid for fragile artefacts was one of the numerous practices I observed forthe first time. I will do my best to apply this at a level that is possible in my country. I believe that mycolleagues who have previously participated in this training program already know and understandthese methods, even though they are not able to fully apply their knowledge and skills due to various
restrictions.
The session on exhibiting ideas was something I am very well experienced in and it was great to sharemy own ideas with my fellow participants. The packaging for artefact transportation with the use of
acid-free paper and cotton fibre creating a soft cushion is an effective and easy applicable method for195Maldives Museum, where we currently handle artefacts as they are, with only the help of gloves. It isalso a technique that I believe is simple enough to be used in moving any kind of valuable from one
place to another.
Recording/documentation of artefacts is a study that I am greatly interested in, as I personally workon documentation of the collection in Maldives Museum. Although documentation in the form ofaccession number, artefact details (owner, description, time period, date of entry to museum, current
status, conservation if any) are well documented through a form that is filled in, the photographic
data is not up to proper standards in my thinking. The methods of artefact and site photography in thesession helped me understand the step-by-step procedure in photography and also photo processing,with which I had had very little experience before the training. The use of a grey card in photography
is something that I have not known before. Experiencing the way it works in bringing out the true
natural colour of the target object is easily applicable in photo documentation, along with the saving
format, protection and storage of the file.
Introduction of other forms of documentation such as measured drawing and rubbing are also
important applicable methods for Maldives Museum. The practical session of measured drawing wasa hard, but effective and accurate way to show the exact details and measurements which cannot beseen by a photograph. It is also the simplest and least expensive method of documentation with themost detailed information included. 3D scanning using multiple photographs and conversion to 3D
data in PDF format using a photo processing program, available at a relatively reasonable price, isanother method that can be applied to heritage sites and artefact documentation, given the low cost incomparison to other methods such as laser scanning.
The study tour of the Kyushu National Museum, Kyushu Historical Museum and Osaka HistoricalMuseum showed great examples of museum development and the vast expanse of technologicalmarvels that come along with it, and how a relatively low-level museum can still sustain and maintaina collection in a decent way. Observation of how the museums operated gave me comparative
information as to how the current Maldives National Museum is operated. Of course, it would be
impossible to achieve such an advancement in structure, capacity and funds directly, as the Kyushu
National Museum is one of the best museums in Japan. But knowledge on the systematic level ofoperation with high-end equipment was given along with alternative methods that can be used at alower level, which can be applied to museums such as in Maldives. The importance of architecture
based on the environment also came to my attention, which I can take back as a good example to theMaldives National Museum.
The establishment of site museums is a project that is being put forward in modern day Maldives,as the archaeological, historical and cultural sites are spread around the many different islands of
Maldives. My observation of how site museums work in Japan has given me some valuable points
on further improving the approach to site museums in Maldives. The idea of creating self-sustaining
cultural centres and site museums operated by the local community at island level is essential for196the proper maintenance and use of the sites, given that overall decisions are to be made throughdiscussions with the local authorities and the Department of Heritage.
In conclusion, considering the whole training program, I have learned many interesting things
applicable to my work as a curator and conservator. My favourite sessions of the program were theopening lectures/discussion, metal and wood conservation, recording and documentation of artefacts,
digital data management in practice and measured drawings of earthenware/rubbing. This training hashelped my understanding of these topics at a much deeper and detailed level, which I can utilize rightaway.
Apart from the content of the training program, I also learned a lot through discussions with my fellow
participants about their opinions and the situation in their respective countries. These discussions
revealed many similar issues that we all face, and that are hard to tackle and find solutions to. Oneof the biggest problems faced in Maldives is the lack of a proper law for heritage as neither thepoliticians nor the government have expressed much interest in passing the relevant bill or respecting
its importance. Apart from the abovementioned problems, the protection of heritage sites and artefacts
faces a very unstable problem of religious extremism induced into the community, which has led toaggressive behaviour on sites regarding artefacts that represent non-Muslim culture or history.
These types of issues are very sensitive issues that need careful assessment before action can be taken
to reach out to people with different opinions on the matter. A strong law is the first thing that shouldbe established to continue to protect all heritage sites. The final lectures on future issues regarding thepreservation of sites and remains highlighted some very interesting ways in which such previously
mentioned problems can be approached. Defining value and creating an understanding of the definition
among the community is the first step to show a reason why the target site or remains should be ofimportance. The value given to a site or remains must not be built upon a single evaluation but rather
an evaluation given by the community and the authorities in such a way that all parties develop a senseof mutual understanding. This will create a genuine identity to represent the particular site, which has
values and morality of evaluation to support the reason why it should be preserved. The evaluation
should be based upon all or some of the following criteria: age/era, physical attributes, historicaltheme, architecture, socio-cultural significance, and economic value. The understanding up to thispoint should be the foundation to planning the preservation, which should be carried out in a way thatwould benefit all parties.
Most of the criteria are also included in the World Heritage nomination steps. But I believe if thesesteps are applied to all listed heritages in Maldives, it could change the view of the community in thisparticular field as it will involve the community and enable them to share their opinions in a much
more effective way than under many of the current practices.
The reason I do not describe the heritage protection methods in more detail in my country in this reportis due to the fact that my specific area of work is based on museums and museology, even though I

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participate in research, analysis, preservation and conservation programs in the field alongside mycolleagues who specialise more in the subject. I also note that the previous participants in this specifictraining program have started applying their renewed knowledge to their work very effectively andshowing positive results. I will end this report in a positive sense and undertake to apply what I havelearned and share this with ACCU. I wish to acknowledge the work of ACCU in organizing thistraining program and thank them for accepting me as a participant. I would also like to thank thelecturers and the helpful staff for the wonderful experience in the beautiful city of Nara and Japan.

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Mongolia
Tserendorj Tsolmon

Depending on the heritage type, there are many different conservation and restoration techniques
used throughout the world. The main objectives of this training course, “Research, Analysis andPreservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains - 2014,” was to outline the international trends inconservation of archaeological sites, present the Japanese heritage conservation system and related
legislation, give participants expertise in heritage conservation management, and research, and analysetechniques used in Japan.

About Lectures and Demonstrations
At the beginning of the training course, ICCROM project manager Mr. Gamini Wijesuriya presented
a very important lecture: “Global Trends in Conservation of Archaeological Sites.” His lecture wasvery valuable and I obtained a great deal of knowledge on archaeological heritage conservation,
management, restoration and reconstruction based on his comparisons of international practice.
The country reports presented by participants gave me a chance to learn about the heritage legislationand conservation practices in Asia-Pacific countries and make comparisons with my own country.
While listening to the country reports, I observed that every country faces problems in heritage
conservation, such as human vandalism, natural disasters, lack of capacity building and modern
equipment, etc. After this 30 day training course, I am thinking that every participant found a way tosolve these problems in heritage conservation, and maybe have a long list of things to do when they goback home.
The lectures “The Cultural Property Protection System in Japan” and “Conservation and Utilizationof Cultural Heritage Resources” by Aoki Tatuji were one of the most important parts of this training
course. His lectures gave me an understanding of the Japanese heritage conservation system and how
the Japanese utilize their heritage.
In the second week of the training course, we worked at Nara National Research Institute for Cultural
Properties, and Mr Wakiya Soichiro and Ms Tamura Tomomi presented lectures on “Conservation
Science of Artefacts” along with demonstrations and practical workshops on how to organize firstaid for fragile artefacts, and how to desalt metal artefacts. The demonstrations were very useful forus, because we used new techniques and new materials such as polyurethane foam, liquid nitrogenfor lifting the fragile artefacts from the site, and the RP System for stabilizing relative humidity andtemperature.
At the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, Mr Yanagida Akinobu presented a very interesting lectureon the desalting of metal artefacts, as well as the Takashima-Kouzaki site. This site is a very important199

Japanese underwater archaeological site and part of the Mongolian cultural heritage abroad. Whilewe were visiting the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, we had the chance to pack archaeologicalartefacts and to display them in an exhibition demonstrated by Mr Hashimoto Hiroyuki.
Desalting, stabilizing, and packing are some of the conservation activities important for archaeologicalartefacts. Besides this, photography and digital documentation are also important in conservation. Afterarchaeological artefacts and sites are uncovered, they deteriorate very easily and become very fragile.
During the lecture and demonstrations by Mr Ishimura Tomo, Sugimoto Kazuki and Nakamura Ichiro,
we studied how to take photos of fragile archaeological artefacts and archaeological sites, as well as
how to process those photos.
During the lectures and demonstrations of Mr Fukasawa Yoshiki, Ms Miyoshi Miho and Mr Ikeda
Hirohide, I practiced how to make measured drawings of archaeological artefacts. The work is very
detailed and needs a lot of patience as everything on a measured drawing should be accurate. At the
Nara Centre for Archaeological Operations, we had more practice on how to make ink rubbings.
At the beginning of the fourth week of the training workshop, Mr Kaneda Akihiro presented a lectureand demonstration on “Recording/Documentation of Cultural Heritage Using 3D Scanner.” Wepracticed operating a Faro laser scanner and a Next Engine laser scanner, and shot aerial photo with theuse of a UAV unmanned aerial vehicle and processed the photos with Agi-soft Photo Scan software.

Study Trips
Since the beginning of the training course, we visited several World Heritage sites in Japan andtemples in Nara city. In the third week of training, we visited the city of Kyoto and saw the restoration
procedure of the ancient Chion-in Temple. According to Mr Asai Ken’ichi, the temple restoration
started in 2011 and will finish in 2019. He also said that 70 percent of the roof tiles will be replacedwith a similar type of roof tile because the old roof tiles have deteriorated so much. From Mr Asai’s
words I was able to understand the Japanese heritage conservation system and management moredeeply. The conservation plan was based on long-term research works, and every activity related withthe restoration was managed so well.
The second trip was to Ikaruga Cultural Properties Centre. There we visited Fujinoki Tumulus. This
tumulus was excavated in 1985 and number of artefacts from the late 6th century were discovered.
When we stayed in the Ikaruga area, we visited Horyu-ji Temple, and there I saw one of the bestpractices in Japan. Retired people were providing a free guide service for visitors at Horyu-ji Temple.
As speech by guide lady, she has been working as a volunteer for 10 years at this temple, and she likes
this work very much.
Our longest trip was to Kyushu by shinkansen. In Nagasaki, we visited an underwater archaeologicalsite, Takashima-Kouzaki site. This place was the most interesting part of the trip because there are over
900 ships related with Mongolian history under the water and large-scale research and conservation

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works were being carried out. Mr Nakata Atsuyuki and Aizawa Tetsuro gave a presentation about thesite and conservation procedures, as well as some of the problems faced with the conservation of metal
and wooden artefacts. They also mentioned that they have some unknown underwater archaeologicalartefacts, the usage of which was very difficult to determine. They also said that Matsuura city has asister city relationship with Khujirt soum in Ovorkhangai province in Mongolia, with no collaboration
with Mongolian research institutes or individual researchers on the underwater archaeological researchat Takashima-Kouzaki site.
On our 2nd day in Kyushu, we visited Kyushu National Museum and Mr Imazu Setsuo guided
us around his museum. According to Mr Imazu, the Kyushu National Museum provides excellent
facilities for modern research, including analysing equipment for all types of heritage. During our stayat the museum, he showed us the operation of an X-ray CT and microscope set on free-arm stand for3D measurement. After gathering data from the abovementioned equipment, a copy of the artefact isable to be printed with a 3D printer. I had previously just heard about 3D printing and not seen it inoperation. That was an interesting and important demonstration for all participants, not only me.
On our 3rd day in Kyushu, we visited Kyushu Historical Museum. Mr Oda Kazutoshi and Matsukawa
Hirokazu welcomed us and gave us a tour of the museum. A specific feature of this museum was its
special showcase and facilities.
Our last trip was to Osaka Museum of History. This museum also provides excellent facilities and has
relationships with Osaka Castle and the ancient capital site, the “Naniwa Palace Site.”

Archaeological Research and Analysis in Mongolia
In Mongolia, several universities and other institutions carry out archaeological excavations withthe permission of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Mongolia. These universities andinstitutions send their previous year’s annual report to the ministry, after which they can receive
permission to excavate. Except for the Institute of Archaeology under the Mongolian Academy of
Sciences, these organizations just carry out excavations and prepare research papers on the excavatedartefacts and sites.
The Institute of Archaeology under the Mongolian Academy of Sciences has some facilities andequipment for analysing and researching archaeological artefacts, but they are not adequate and notmodern either. Mongolian archaeologists also do not have adequate experience in post-excavation
activities, such as how to lift fragile artefacts from a site, how to consolidate artefacts, and how tomake proper documentation for finds, etc.
In urgent cases, our organization, the Centre of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports
and Tourism of Mongolia, sends restorers to the unearthed sites and carries out onsite consolidation andlifting for the artefacts and sites. In 2013, our centre was equipped with several high-tech devices, suchas an X-ray analytical microscope XGT-5200, an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence X-Met-7500

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device (handheld type), and a portable 3D digitizer – Vivid, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
FT-7200 – for analysing the composition of materials and digital documentation. The abovementioned
equipment is now used in research and the analysis of archaeological artefacts discovered in Mongolia.

Suggestions for Further Activities
As a result of the 30 day training course in Japan, I now understand the management of heritage
conservation very well, especially for archaeological artefacts and sites. Every single operation we
saw related to heritage conservation was planned and managed very well in Japan. But in Mongolia,
archaeological artefacts and sites are not well managed. Universities and other institutions justcarry out the excavation, and they do not plan and manage further follow ups, such as conservation,
consolidation and documentation.
Of course, I will share the knowledge I obtained on heritage management with Mongolianarchaeologists, and I hope that Mongolian archaeologists will again be involved with this training in
the future. This training will contribute greatly to Mongolian archaeologists in their management ofarchaeological artefacts and sites.
In addition, after I return to my country. I will try to build collaboration between Mongolian-relatedorganizations and Matsuura city on research matter taken from the underwater archaeological site
“Takashima-Kouzaki.” During our stay in that place, Mr Nakata Atsuyuki expressed his hope tocollaborate with Mongolians on this research project. I also believe that Mongolians would have aninterest in being part of this project.

Conclusions
This training course was extremely effective and impressive for me. The entire program was clear
and all participants felt this because we obtained wide range of knowledge and experience from thistraining course, particularly procedures of conservation, preservation, heritage management, utilization
and archaeological artefact conservation techniques.
Training course consisted of lectures, demonstrations and practical work. The coordination of the
training course was very systematic and efficient regarding the arrangement of lectures, transportationand hotels. The attitude of all staff and organizers was magnificent.
Finally, I would like to express my great appreciation to the training organizers, the Government ofJapan, ICCROM and ACCU Nara, as well as Dr Nishimura Yasushi and his staff who all worked
together with us on this training course.
Thank you.

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Myanmar
Myo Sandar Oo

Introduction
Cultural heritage is essential for an accurate understanding of the history, culture and spirit of eachcountry; it is also a cultural foundation for the past, present and future. Therefore, proper research,
analysis and preservation of archaeological sites and remains are required for us to keep important
cultural heritage safe for the next generation, and accordingly, ACCU Nara, in partnership with
ICCROM and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, organized this training course, titled “Training Course
on Cultural Heritage Protection in the Asia/Pacific Region.” In 2014, its subjects were “Research,
Analysis and Preservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains,” and the program consisted ofpresentations, discussions, lectures, workshops, and study tours of cultural heritage. The training
was held from 2 September to 3 October 2014, in Nara, Japan. In this training, there were a total of
fifteen participants from fifteen countries (Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic,
Lao P.D.R, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palau, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, andVietnam). The course enabled participants to learn from Japanese heritage professionals and to share
their own experiences. The training course consisted of theoretical and practical work and on-site
lectures at different places in Japan, enlightening me and providing an opportunity for me to enhance
my knowledge. I strongly felt that the most important topics in the training course were conservation
science, reconstruction of historical monuments, management of archaeological sites, and museum
science. This is because conservation science, reconstruction of historical monuments, management ofarchaeological sites and museum science are all well conducted in Japan.

Training Course Summary
In the first week, the opening ceremony was conducted on 2 September 2014. We had an introduction
to World Heritage in Nara, where we visited Todai-ji Temple to observe restoration work at a historicsite. The next day, the training course featured an introduction to “Global Trends in Conservation ofArchaeological Sites” by Dr Gamini Wijesuriya, which contained interesting and useful information
for me. I also became acquainted with the different international charters, recommendations, andconventions regarding guidelines for heritage conservation in various parts of the world. On 4-5
September, country report presentations were made by the course participants. It was very interestingand enjoyable for me to learn about the conservation methods being applied in different countries.
All participants presented their country reports, and then discussed approaches to the issues thatwere raised. Dr Gamini Wijesuriya and Prof. Inaba Nobuko gave many useful suggestions for how
to improve the various situations. After that, Prof. Inaba introduced the cultural property protection
system in Japan and the conservation and utilization of cultural heritage resources. She gave detailed
information on the system for protecting cultural properties, including tangible cultural properties,
architecture and other structural monuments, folk cultural properties, cultural landscapes, and so on.
She also spoke on the chronology of laws on historical, cultural, and archaeological properties in Japan.

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In the second week, on 8 September, the lecture delivered by Mr Aoki Tatsuji on “The Cultural
Property Protection System in Japan” covered how Japan has enacted and revised a number of different
laws. The following lecture on “Conservation and Utilization of Cultural Heritage Resources” (cases
in Japan) was very useful for understanding the legal framework for the protection of cultural heritagein Japan. This lecture provided an outline of guidelines for the funding, management, conservation,and protection of cultural properties from both international and national perspectives. The national
government, local government, land owners, and the public are all included in the framework forconsidering how to protect cultural properties and in other laws and regulations. In this week, on
9-11 September, in the subject of “Conservation Science of Artifacts I, II, III,” the main emphasisof the training was on archaeological metal materials and artefacts. This lecture provided me withan excellent opportunity to learn and develop my understanding on the need for archaeological sites
and artifacts. The lecture and workshop on the conservation science of archaeological artifacts wasarranged under the guidance of Mr Wakiya Soichiro and Ms Tamura Tomomi of the Nara National
Research Institute for Cultural Properties, and Mr Yanagida Akinobu, of the Archaeological Instituteof Kashihara. We learned the details of the mechanism of corrosion of metal objects, first aid forfragile artefacts, conservation of metal artefacts in storage and display, and the corrosion process ofiron artifacts at Takashima-Kouzaki site. In this week, we had practical training in museum exhibition
practice. The training was conducted by Mr Hashimoto Hiroyuki. Myanmar has many metal artifacts
and some of them are intended to be display objects at a new national museum. This practical training
was therefore very useful for me.
In the third week, on 15 September, “Nara Palace Site Investigation” was held at Nara National
Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Mr Ishimura Tomo introduced the maintenance,
management, and preservation of structural remains, focusing on the actual conditions and challengesof cultural heritage management. He also gave us an idea of the architecture and the excavation at
the Nara Palace Site (Great Audience Hall), which was very important and informative for me. On
12, 15, and 16 September, a lecture and workshop on “Photographic Documentation of Sites andRemains” and “Digital Data Management in Practice: Photography” was arranged under the guidanceof Mr Nakamura Ichiro of Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Photography is
an important and necessary method for recording archaeological artefacts and sites. He gave us basic
knowledge of the camera, the storage of photographic data, and general photographic knowledge. On
17 September, we went to Chion-in Temple (National Treasure of Japan), Cultural Properties Division,
Kyoto Prefecture Board of Education. We observed the repair work for Mieido (Main Hall). I was
impressed with the Japanese traditional temple conservation system. We also visited Nijo-jo Castle(World Heritage Site), which is one of the finest examples of early Edo period and Momoyama culture
in Japan, as it makes splendid use of early Edo period building designs, lavish paintings, and carvings
that Tokugawa Iemitsu generously commissioned. The Castle was designated as a World Heritage Site
in 1994. We also observed these lavish paintings. In this week, on 18-19 September, all the participantsof the training course participated in practical work on measured drawing of earthenware and taking
rubbings of roof tiles. This lecture and practical work was run by Mr Fukasawa Yoshiki and his groupfrom Nara Municipal Board of Education. One important part of the documentation of archaeological204

artefacts is drawing. Basically, there are two kinds of drawing needed in order to express anarchaeological object of three dimensions through a drawing in two dimensions, and these kinds ofdrawing are combined. Artefacts provide a wealth of information on archaeological sites, and we havea system for the documentation of this information. First: observe the condition of the material, its
characteristics and other information. Second: conserve the artefact for long-term preservation. Third:
present to the public all data on the artefact.
In fourth week, on 22 September, all the participants of the training course participated in practicalwork on “Recording/Documentation of Cultural Heritage Using 3D Scanner.” This lecture and practicalwork was run by Mr Kaneda Akihiro from Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.
He showed us the techniques used in the Laser Scanning and Photogrammetric method. It was very
important and informative for me. Myanmar has one heritage site (three ancient pyu cities) and sevententative listed sites, and we are starting to use the Laser Scanning and Photogrammetric method forthe documentation of monuments. This latest technology is very useful for our cultural heritages. On
23 September, we went to the World Heritage Buddhist monuments in the Ikaruga area. First, we went
to the Ikaruga Centre for Cultural Heritage. This centre provided a good understanding of the Fujinoki
Tumulus, providing video explanations together with the display of many funerary goods. We observedthat the tomb had never been looted; many gorgeous funerary goods have been discovered, such as thegilt bronze saddle fittings with its superb and unique design, which is a rare find in East Asia. Other
burial accessories have also been found, such as the gilt bronze crown and shoes and swords. It is clearthat Fujinoki Tumulus is very important for unravelling the funeral customs of the late 6th century.
We also went to Horyu-ji Temple. We observed the preservation of cultural assets and archaeologicalobservation of Horyu-ji Temple. At this temple, I was interested in the volunteer guide system.
The most important and comprehensive part of our training course was the study tour to the Kyushu
area (from 24 September to 26 September), in which we visited cultural heritage sites and museums
such as Takashima-Kouzaki site, Kyushu National Museum, and Kyushu Historical Museum. On 24
September, we went to Takashima-Kouzaki site (National Historic Relic Site). Mr Nakata Atsuyuki,
Manager of the Cultural Properties Division, Matsuura Municipal Board of Education introduced the
management and conservation of structural remains, focusing on the actual conditions and challengesof the conservation of underwater historical remains. He also showed us actual conservation treatmentof artefacts unearthed at the Takashima underwater site, which was very important and informative
for me. On 25 September, we went to Kyushu National Museum. It was opened in October 2005
as the fourth national museum of Japan. This museum is particularly well-equipped, with facilities
such as advanced storage, scientific study and research divisions, and conservation and restoration
sections for the cultural properties in this museum. Kyushu National Museum showed the high level ofpresentation and display techniques adopted by Japanese professionals. At this museum I studied many
ancient artefacts of Japan and I wanted to prolong the experience, by walking slowly while admiring
the adorable atmosphere, but we did not have enough time. I was impressed with the practical work
using an X-Ray CT Scanner, 3D digitizer and 3D laser printing. On 26 September, we went to Kyushu
Historical Museum. We observed the inventory system and exhibition technique for artefacts. Much

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valuable knowledge was obtained, particularly on excavation studies for promoting archaeologicalsites, organization work for unearthed relics, report preparation and utilization of artefacts.
In the fifth week, on 29 September, we had a day trip to Osaka Museum of History and Naniwa Palace
Site. We observed that the permanent exhibition features numerous full-scale reproductions, models,graphics and large quantities of original artefacts to bring to life the history and culture of Osaka.
Naniwa Palace Site occupies the site of two palaces from two different periods. The palace site has
now been designated a national relic historical site and is a familiar landmark to the citizens of Osaka.
On the study tour to the museums, I had the opportunity, together with all the other participants,
to observe museum science in practice. All the participants obtained a lot of information about theconservation, exhibition and educational aspects of the cultural heritage that we should be preserving.
At Osaka Museum, the underground ruins exhibit was especially interesting.
On 29-30 September, I was impressed with the lectures and discussions on “Future Issues on the
Preservation of Site and Remains” by Ms Rachael Elizabeth Egerton of ICCROM. She gave us an
introduction to the World Heritage Convention and Statements of Outstanding Universal Value. The
lectures provided me with an excellent opportunity to learn and develop my understanding about theneed for management of cultural assets. I also became acquainted with the different international
charters, recommendations, and conventions regarding guidelines for heritage conservation in various
parts of the world, and how ICCROM and other international organizations are playing a significant
role in cultural heritage preservation and protection. On the last day of the training course, all theparticipants discussed the heritage of value, archaeology of renown, and reshaping archaeologicalassessment of significance. This was coordinated by Ms Egerton.

Conclusion
The Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protection in the Asia/Pacific Region 2014 has provided
an excellent opportunity for me to gain in-depth knowledge about Japanese cultural heritage and its
conservation, preservation, and excavation, using both traditional and modern methods. This training
course has provided me with a wealth of technical information which I look forward to utilizing in
my future research work. During the visit to different museums in Japan, I learned the latest methods
and techniques applied by Japanese experts for the proper display of artefacts and their preservation in
the museums. By visiting these museums, I could study the development of museology in Japan andthese techniques will be applied in my own country. Most countries in the Asia/Pacific region sufferfrom insufficient funds and experts for preserving their cultural heritage. We have different kinds ofproblems, with different backgrounds. Therefore, it is essential to cooperate with one another andshare our information and experience. The experience that I have gained during this training programis applicable to the most cases. Throughout the training course, I felt that the entire program was very
valuable for me in handling issues of conservation, restoration, and archaeological work in my job andalso in my country in general. Despite differences in the sites and materials, especially for monuments
built of brick, wood and sandstone, all of the methods that I learned from this course can be applied orused as models.

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Acknowledgements
First of all, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the government of Japan for giving me the chance
to attend the ACCU Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protection in the Asia/Pacific Region 2014,“Research, Analysis and Preservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains” organized by the Agency
for Cultural Affairs of Japan, the Asia/Pacific Centre for UNSESCO (ACCU), the International
Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), theIndependent Administrative Institution, and Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties,
with cooperation from the Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural Heritage, theMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Japanese national government and the Nara prefectural andmunicipal governments.
I want to thank the organizers for their time and effort in providing this training course, beginningwith Mr Nishimura Yasushi, Mr Kobayashi Ken-ichi, Ms Wakiya Kayoko, Ms Sakimoto Keiko,
Ms Hata Chiyako, and all the ACCU staff for their excellent and wonderful organization during theentire course. And I also extend a special word of thanks to all the lecturers. I am also thankful to mygovernment, my director general, and to all the other participants in this training. Again, I am truly
grateful to all parties concerned, and I look forward to sharing this knowledge with my institute andassociates upon my return to Myanmar, and to continue to communicate with, and take joint steps withall of the participants.

207

Pakistan
Ullah Arshad

Pakistan is a very rich country in respect of cultural heritage and its history goes back almost one-anda-half million years, covering the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Buddhist and Islamic eras. The country’s
cultural heritage in the form of stone caves, Buddhist stupas and monasteries, Islamic architecture,etc. requires proper conservation and preservation, and in line with this, museums and their storage
houses have a great repository of artefacts that are in constant need of preservation and attention. This
course by ACCU has provided me with ample opportunity to learn modern techniques useful for thepreservation, conservation and restoration of our archaeological heritage and to analyse the prospectof application of these techniques in Pakistan. Therefore, this Training Course on Cultural Heritage
Protection in the Asia-Pacific Region 2014 (Research, Analysis, and Preservation of ArchaeologicalSites and Remains) has really broadened my knowledge of the conservation and preservation prospectsof cultural heritage and the use of museums as educational, cultural, historical and architectural hubs oflearning. After completing this course it is hard for me to compare the heritage protection mechanism
and conditions of museums in Pakistan with the sophisticated heritage institutions, mechanisms andmuseums of Japan, but this opportunity has greatly helped to point me in the right direction in thisdiversified field, and I will earnestly try to apply these methods back in my own country one way or
another.
The first lecture by Dr Gamini, on global trends in the conservation of archaeological sites, was fullof diverse information on new phenomena in the field of conservation of archaeological sites, but
the aspect of application of a sense of ownership among the population of the country regarding
their archaeological sites is very important in respect of Pakistan. We have not been able to promote
this sense of respect and ownership in the populace regarding their cultural heritage, and as a result,
our cultural heritage is constantly under threat from human vandalism. Even our leaders do not careabout the value of heritage, as we saw in the past, when one of our politicians once tried to constructa stadium on the World Heritage site of Bhirmound (Taxila Valley) dating back to the 4th century BC.
This attitude can be curbed by the publication of periodicals, articles, and creating an environment
which will create a sense of respect among the readers and the common people regarding their richcultural heritage and its global value.
The lecture given by Aoki Tatsuji regarding the cultural property system in Japan was very interestingand showed how the government of Japan is taking great care of its tangible and intangible heritage,
especially in terms of the recognition of scenic valleys and places as natural heritage, which is rampant
here. In Pakistan we have great potential in respect of beautiful scenic valleys and other places situatedin the northern part of the country, and with the same approach of Japan, Pakistan could designate its
beautiful natural sites as natural heritage, and through their promotion, generate a great amount ofrevenue. The approach of central and local government in respect of protecting cultural heritage is208tremendous in Japan, and their mechanism of awarding compensation for acquiring cultural property
from private owners is very quick, in contrast with Pakistan. We have many cultural sites which are theproperty of private owners, and as the government does not pay heed to the acquisition of these sites
due to paucity of funds, consequently most of these sites either vanish or are constantly under threat. It
is also of interest to know that Japan established laws for cultural heritage protection in the early 20th
century and then enacted a new law in 1950. Compared to this, in Pakistan, the Antiquities Act waspromulgated in 1976, and now the provinces have enacted their own Antiquities Acts.
The lecture on conservation science of artefacts by Tamura Tomomi was very interesting, as we cameto know about the use of casting tape and rigid polyurethane foam resin for solidifying the artefacts inthe place of excavation, and wrapping them in a box to bring them safely to a laboratory. In Pakistan
we carry out a lot of excavations but we lack these sorts of modern techniques and equipment. For
example, if we find a precious artefact in an excavation then most of the time we just bring it out ofthe virgin soil without applying these modern methods, and in its transportation to the laboratory
it gets damaged, so application of this method will greatly reduce the chance of damage of freshly
excavated artefacts. Another aspect of that technique regarding the transfer of heavy objects from the
excavation site is very much needed in Pakistan, because in an excavation we sometimes find largesized sculptures, storage jars, etc., and during their transportation there is always the constant hazardof damage, hence application of casting tape and rigid polyurethane foam resin will make them solid,
and with the help of a specialised instrument for lifting heavy objects, we can bring them safely tothe laboratory. Similarly, the fantastic method of removal, and ensuring safety from corrosion of
metallic objects is also very interesting, and application of this method will help the Department ofArchaeology and Museums of Pakistan to eradicate the problem of corrosion of metallic objects.
We have laboratories in our museums, but these laboratories are equipped with old machines withuntrained and insufficient numbers of staff, and this training has brought to the surface that in Pakistan
the administration of all the museums should take immediate steps to make the laboratories functional,
and equip them with modern machines, which will help us greatly in saving our metallic objects fromcorrosion. The use of microscopes and X-ray machines, as we saw here, is very necessary for the
diagnosis and treatment of metallic objects, as through this one can judge the exact problem and theproper treatment can be applied accordingly. In Pakistan some of our conservation laboratories alreadypossess microscopes.
The lecture at the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara Prefecture was commendable and it
further enhanced my knowledge regarding the treatment of iron and bronze objects and saving themfrom corrosion. In Pakistan most of the excavated bronze objects are cleaned with water to makethem shiny for display purposes (especially in the case of coins), but here we learned that water withoxygen causes corrosion and rusting, hence, to make objects attractive we compromise their stability,
which is wrong. With the help of modern equipment, Pakistan can achieve proper maintenance of herarchaeological objects of bronze and iron, as we have the earliest iron objects dating back to 1500 to1000 BC. In Pakistan it is very necessary to install air conditioning in museums and go-downs, which
we are missing presently, to maintain a proper humidity level. The other ways, such as installing209

moisture consuming instruments in the display show cases, and placing RP kits in the boxes of objects
at storage houses for control of moisture, are more convenient, because they are easily available andarranged in Pakistan. At present, however, we lack these sorts of facilities and our artefacts are open tocorrosion and rusting. Recently in some newly-renovated galleries of old museums, air conditioning
has been installed, like in the renovated Quran and Islamic galleries of the National Museum ofPakistan, for controlling moisture and humidity.
The visit to the museum at the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara was very informative and wewere very inspired by the beautiful display of the museum along with its lighting and method ofvoice recording for the description and history of objects. Here the curator, Hashimoto Hiroyuki, haspractically demonstrated how to arrange a perfect display of artefacts. The technique of display andtransportation of objects to their display spot is exquisite. Through use of these modern techniques, inPakistan, we can easily save our artefacts from being damaged during transportation to the place of
display from the go-downs. There have been incidents in which during the process of transportation
by museum staff, some objects fell and were damaged, so this safe method can avoid this danger, andI note that the same sort of cotton and paper is also easily available in Pakistan for the packing ofartefacts.
The session regarding photography of cultural artefacts was marvellous, because this is the firsttime I had come across modern techniques of photographing items with proper light, accuracy andmodern cameras. In Pakistan, the Department of Archaeology and Museums has a separate section
for photography, and every museum has specialist photographer, but they lack this sort of camera andtraining. This modern style of photography is very important in Pakistan for making catalogues ofartefacts at go-downs and in display cases of museums, and these catalogues will also be very helpful
in maintaining a proper record of the artefacts. In Pakistan the museum curator is in charge of a great
number of artefacts present at go-downs and museum displays, and this responsibility is taken andhanded over in a manually-prepared register, so the time it takes in transferring the responsibility fromone officer to another creates problems. Hence if a proper catalogue is maintained, then one can easily
check the record. At present we use normal digital cameras for photographs of objects and use harddisks and CDs for the storage of photographic data. Another aspect is the taking of photographs ofheritage sites from a height, which is common in Japan, in order to have a clear and complete view of
the cultural heritage sites. This is flabbergasting, as they can even arrange a helicopter for that task.
In Pakistan, the Department of Archaeology cannot acquire such facilities, but with the help of cranes
or making an elevated pedestal, our photographers can manage to get exquisite photographs of thearchaeological sites. This process can be applied easily, yet we have not done so. The two photographic
experts, Nakamura Ichiro and Sugimoto Kazuki, taught the participants how to transfer photos to acomputer, manipulate the colour and shading, and preserve it with various methods for a long time forresearch purposes. In Pakistan we do not have large studios with such sophisticated equipment, but tosome extent we can manage the colour of the photographic objects through available computers while
applying a high level of attention and professionalism, and for this purpose, our photographers andarchaeologists must be given proper training.

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The visit to Nara Palace Site was fabulous, and I was mesmerized by the reconstruction of thepalace site with cracks in the wooden poles, as would have been present in the original structureof the Main Hall; this idea of originality is splendid. Another feature of the site is that most of it
has been rebuilt according to its old design. In Pakistan we do very little reconstruction; rather, we
maintain the archaeological site in its original form despite its shabby condition, in order to present
its originality. However at some sites partial restoration has been done—for example, at various
monasteries complexes, stupas, and forts—so this method of restoration and reconstruction withutmost professionalism can be applied in Pakistan, to present the complete shape of historic buildings
and cultural heritage. The authorities face the problem of a rising water table at Nara Palace Site, andthe same sort of problem is present at the Moen Jo Daro World Heritage site of Pakistan, where thewater level is constantly rising, which is very dangerous for the site, and a great number of foreign andlocal conservationists and archaeologists have tried and are still endeavouring to find a solution to thisproblem, but so far in vain, and the problem is getting worse day by day.
The historic visit to Chion-in Temple was very informative, and the participants were impressedby the ongoing conservation work at the temple. In Pakistan we also have many archaeologicalcomplexes which are in need of restoration, but besides the dearth of funds, we don’t have thesame kind of sophisticated material and expertise, like making a complete cover for a stupa siteor tomb during the restoration process. However, for partial restoration of most stone-built stupas
and monastery complexes in Pakistan, we are capable of acquiring the original stone and using thesame masonry methods as used in the original construction; yet the attention Japan’s archaeologists
and conservationists apply to their work is lacking in Pakistan. Covering the entire structure with aroof is very necessary for some sites in Pakistan, such as the renowned Buddhist stupas of Julian,
Mohramuradu, Takht Bhai, etc. (all are World Heritage sites), which are under constant threat of theferocious climate.
The visit to Nijo-jo Castle was very informative, and the method of producing replicas of original
paintings was especially spectacular. In Pakistan we possess rare paintings of the kings of pastdynasties, but their constant display leads to the risk of damage, so with the help of professionals in thefield of painting, we can arrange replicas of our rare paintings to preserve the real ones for the coming
generations in humidity- and temperature-controlled go-downs. Through this professional approach,
Pakistan can also make replicas of rare rock carvings, of which there are a great number in the northernpart of the country.
The lecture on the drawing of artefacts revealed a new fabulous phenomenon to me, and for the firsttime, I underwent training in the professional drawing of artefacts. In Pakistan we have a separate
branch for the drawing of artefacts, but they are not as professional and trained as we saw here, so
this practice and information can easily be transferred to the drawing branch in our museums andheritage offices, which will help us to make accurate pictures of broken artefacts with the exact
depth and motifs. As Pakistan has some beautiful old pottery vessels with beautiful animal motifs,
this informative pattern will help us greatly in the documentation of these artefacts. In the lecture we

211learned about the oldest designs of earthenware in Japan, which go back some 2000 years, having
the marks of a Japanese plant similar to rice. In Pakistan we possess one of the oldest examples ofearthenware featuring beautiful motifs of fish, birds, oxen, etc., with its age going back to 3500 to 4000
BC. Another important part of this lecture was the practice of taking an exact sketch of archaeologicalobjects with the help of special paper and ink. In Pakistan we seldom use this method and normallytake just photographs of the archaeological items for our records and for making a catalogue, sowith this technique we can achieve a precise image of these objects for keeping it on record and also
to prepare a catalogue. We can especially use this method of rubbing for the panels and brackets of
Buddhist art to acquire exact sketches of these items to have a proper record of them.
The lecture on the use of a 3D (three dimensional) method for documentation was very informative,
and showed that in a limited time a large number of artefacts and heritage could be documented. It
has various modes of application, but equipment used for 3D is very expensive and it is presently notpossible for Pakistan to use this method for the purpose of documentation. Despite that, the use of 3D
is crucial in Pakistan for the documentation of archaeological sites and artefacts, and for this purpose,
one of the software applications that we were shown in the lecture, like Agi-soft photo scan, can beapplied as its method of use is simple, the equipment is also not so expensive, it can be arranged inPakistan, and after scanning pictures of artefacts the creation of PDF files is also a convenient way
for research in Pakistan. At present, we use a two dimensional method for documentation and a GPS
system for mapping, and the use of laser systems and drone cameras for survey and documentation isout of reach in Pakistan at the present time.
The visit to Fujinoki Tumulus and its site museum was very interesting, but in contrast to the displayof replicas of original artefacts, in Pakistan we display the original artefacts at the site museums. The
visit to the tomb site showed me how much attention is being extended to its preservation. The tomb is
not open to visitors, but in Pakistan we give access to visitors for all rare tombs and unique sites. Even
though they are encircled and covered in wooden, glass and net cages, visitors are allowed to visit
inside the safe blocks; yet our sites lack the kind of conservation and preservation that is present inJapan.
The visit to Horyu-ji Temple was remarkable and demonstrated the quality if the preservation
overseen by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, as the preservation of this wooden structure is avery laborious and lengthy job. This old, large wooden World Heritage structure entices many visitors
each year. In Pakistan, on the other hand, we have stone-built structures which are older than that, but
the preservation of these sites are not up to the mark. Even when we carry out yearly conservation ofthese sites, due to lack of funds, our different stupa sites have clay roofs, and in torrential rain, water
trickles down to the original structure and damages it. The most inspiring thing for me at the Horyu-ji
Temple site was the role of senior citizens who volunteer to guide visitors, free of charge, just for thepromotion of their country’s heritage. In Pakistan we lack this attitude in society; hence, by creating a
sense of ownership in society we can also promote our heritage. But this will take time.

212On our visit to Takashima-Kouzaki site, we were briefed by the respected lecturers Nakata Atsuyuki
and Aizawa Tetsuro about this underwater archaeological site and the conservation methods that are
employed with the help of modern techniques and equipment. In Pakistan we have an underwaterarchaeological site at Banbhore on the Arabian Sea, but proper investigation of this site has notbeen done yet as we do not have any specialists in this field, but one interesting point, according toJapan’s marine archaeologists, is that a catapult found at the Takashima-Kouzaki site had been usedby Mongolian invaders, and the same sort of catapult was used by Muhammad bin Qasim, a Muslim
general who invaded this Banbhore area of Pakistan in 711 AD.
The visit to Kyushu National Museum was an amazing experience for me, and the building itself
demonstrates the beauty and depth of this historic museum. Here we learned about 3D printers andscanners, which was a wonderful experience for all of the participants, and all of them practically saw
for the first time the functions of a 3D scanner and printer. In Pakistan at this time we cannot afford thisexpensive technology. Here, I learned that most of the storage houses in Japan museums are made ofwood to contain humidity among other things, but in Pakistan most of our storage houses are made ofstone and concrete without any equipment to control humidity and temperature, and that’s why most of
our precious artefacts have corroded. We normally use the CO2 method for pest treatment of wooden
objects and seldom use chemicals for this purpose. 3D scanners can greatly help Pakistan in producing
replicas of splendid Buddha sculptures along with other beautiful artefacts. The display, earthquake
proof quality, and lighting system of Kyushu National Museum is awesome, and it made me proud tosee exquisite artefacts of Ghandara art of Pakistan also adorning the showcase in one gallery of thissplendid museum. In Pakistan we also have the same number of galleries at the National Museum ofPakistan, which depict the history from the Stone Age to the late Mughal period. The electric trackand elevator for the approach to the temple site is a fabulous idea. In Pakistan we need to arrange thistype of elevator for the approach to various World Heritage Buddhist sites, as they are situated at highaltitude; at present, however, concrete steps are available for visitors to approach these sites.
The visit to Kyushu Historical Museum was a tremendous experience for me, and here the mechanism
for treatment of artefacts, the storage facilities, the display concept with proper lighting and moveable
showcases to avoid the danger of earthquakes are fabulous. The concept of steel panels adorned withplastic boxes for the storage of earthenware is present in some museum storage houses in Pakistan,
but we have to extend this to all go-downs. The prospect of restoring earthenware with plaster after
proper cleaning and drawing was great to see. In Pakistan we have beautiful ancient earthenware
with exquisite motifs of animals, but these are mostly found in broken condition during excavation,
so by applying this sophisticated mechanism with concentrated effort we will be able to restore themproperly. The facilities and amenities for visitors at the museums at Japan are gorgeous and theirusage as institutions of learning for children is especially tremendous. In Pakistan we also place great
importance on the educational aspect of museums, and at the National Museum of Pakistan we havearranged a special bus which is used by educational institutions for paying visits to the museum.
During this course we enjoyed the night festival at the East Palace Garden with the enjoyment of213

special cuisine of the past, which used to be served to guests at that time. This idea of depicting real
history in this way is really fantastic, and in Pakistan back in 2007, we organized the same sort ofevent in the form of a Gandara carnival festival at the 2nd century Buddhist site of Taxila Valley at the
Dharma Rajika stupa, which was greatly praised and enjoyed by a huge number of foreign and local
visitors. So the replication of that event in Japan has shown me that it’s important and in future, wewill plan to arrange similar kinds of events at Pakistan’s cultural heritage sites.
The visit to Osaka Museum of History was a great experience that completed the puzzle of how to use
a museum for entertainment, amusement and educational purposes, and it was nice to see how sucha colossal museum was established by the city government with the initiative and collaboration of
the local people. In Pakistan we lack that kind of support and responsibility from the government andpopulation. The palace and castle near the museum looks great, but when I heard about the national
highway passing so close to the site, I was amazed. In Pakistan, according to our Antiquities Act of1975, no development can be made within 200 feet of a historic site, notwithstanding how important
it is, so when a highway was planned to pass close by Moen Jo Daro World Heritage site, the strong
resistance of the Department of Archaeology compelled the authorities to change the path of that road.
The display, lighting system, audio video recording and use of iPads for giving an idea of how the site
may have looked is fabulous in this museum. In Pakistan we can arrange some of these facilities, but
the paucity of funds is a great impediment. The prospect of a salvage excavation to be carried out by
the research centre of the Osaka museum is a great idea from the perspective of the archaeological
heritage of Pakistan, as the government cannot acquire all cultural heritage sites because of a scarcity
of funds, so at least we can conduct salvage excavations at potentially rich archaeological sites inorder to preserve the precious artefacts. It has been done many times, but this aspect still needs more
attention in Pakistan.
In a nutshell, the establishment, display, amenities and facilities of the museums, as well as their use
for educational purposes, is unequivocally a conspicuous phenomenon in Japan. All the museums
I have visited have really broadened my knowledge in the field of museology and given me new
vigour regarding the improvement of museums in Pakistan. It is a fact that we cannot match Japan inthis field but we can improve our museum administration according to the pattern of Japan. We canameliorate education activities in our museums and extend facilities and amenities to the visitors. The
lighting and display of the museums can be further improved. In Japan the condition of the artefacts
at storage houses is very satisfactory and the administration takes great care regarding the humidity
and temperature in the storage houses. In Pakistan, however, our go-downs are in bad condition,
and although they are filled with precious artefacts, the absence of facilities such an air-conditioning
creates humidity and high temperatures, which is very hazardous for our precious artefacts. Hence,
prompt measures have to be taken in this regard. In Japan the concept of reconstruction of heritage
sites prevails but in Pakistan this approach is not present, and we keep sites in their original condition
after proper conservation. In Japan most of the heritage buildings are wooden structures, so theirconservation is very difficult, but in Pakistan most cultural heritage sites are made of stone andtherefore rather easy to conserve. The attention and commitment to the field of cultural heritage that I

214

have seen here has greatly inspired me, and learning these modern techniques will help me greatly in
my future research activities in the field of archaeology, museology, and preservation and conservationof cultural heritage.

215

Sri Lanka
Weerakoon Mudiyanselage Nirupa Priyadarshani

Final Evaluation Report on the Training Course on Cultural Heritage
Protection in the Asia Pacific region 2014, Research, Analysis andPreservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains
Introduction
The training course on cultural heritage protection in the Asia Pacific Region 2014, Research, Analysis
and Preservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains was organized by the Agency for Cultural
Affairs, Japan, Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office, ACCU Nara, ICCROM, Nara
Municipal Government and Nara Prefectural Government. The course was held from 02 September to
03 October 2014.

Significance of Training Programme
I work for the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka under the ministry of National Heritage as anarchaeologist. The Department of Archaeology and Central Cultural Fund are the main governmentorganizations which are responsible for the protection of cultural properties in Sri Lanka. Identificationof ancient monuments, explorations, excavations, conservation and maintenance are some of myresponsibilities related to the work.
Sri Lanka has rich cultural heritage which includes large ancient monuments and sites and also has
8 world heritage sites. It is my great responsibility to protect them and maintain them for the future
generations. I have been engaged in different archaeological projects mainly in the north central
province of Sri Lanka.
This training programme is an invaluable opportunity for me to get further experience at aninternational level and have the chance to share knowledge with professionals from different
countries. This valuable training program helped me to improve and upgrade my knowledge with hightechnology.
The training was held in very nice environment. During the training period, participants feel free tolearn about the lectures and every detail of all the subject. The lectures are valuable not only to Japan,
but also in every corner of the world. The lectures given by the lecturers involved were understandable
for the participants, and communication among the participants helped learn about more things. I
would say this training course was hundred percent successful.
The Japanese research, analysis and preservation system were the principal topics. Accordingly we
had the opportunity to observe these on sites as well as to interact with relevant professionals. It was a216

great benefit that resource persons were either technical practitioners or academics capable of giving
detailed information on their subject. We learn both of the practical knowledge in the field observationand the principles or theoretical knowledge.
Due to the broad scope of the training it can benefit not only the participants in making successful
contributions but also their home countries. This should be the true significance of this training. Mostof the Asian countries have similar kind of problems in the protection of the heritage. There are somespecific problems due to the situation of each country, such as the perceptions of the local communities
and traditions or the communities’ climate. But broadly these countries all have the similar problems
including management of legal system and budget.

Five Weeks in the Training Programme
In the first week of training, we had a Global trend in conservation of Archaeological Sites beginningwith a lecture on that topic by Dr Gamini Wijesuriya, Project Manager for ICCROM. Then two days
were allocated for all participants to make their country report presentation on the problems and needs
for cultural heritage. The participants’ presentations seemed to be very successful. Because there wasa discussion after each presentation which allowed participants to share their ideas and comments on
issues pertaining to his or her country efforts to pressure and restore important cultural properties. On
the last day of the first week we had an introduction about Japanese heritage. It was conducted by Prof
Inaba Nobuko, from University of Tsukuba. We learnt about history of Japanese speciality on woodenarchitecture.
In the second week we had a good introduction on the system of protecting cultural properties inJapan, by Aoki Tatsuji from Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan. We learned about classification ofcultural properties in Japan. There are six types of cultural properties such as
1. Tangible
2. Intangible
3. Folk
4. Monuments
5. Cultural landscape
6. Groups of traditional buildings
We learned each by each in detail. It is very useful for us to learn about this classification. We canapply protection methods separately. Second day in the second week we learned about mechanismsof corrosion of metal objects from Mr Wakiya Soichiro from NNRICP. We learned the six steps ofconservation. Those are planning, cleaning, desalination, reinforcement, bonding, and storage. It was avery important lecture for me as we are not aware of modern methods of conservation.
Third day in the second week we had a lecture about conservation science of metal artefacts by Mr
Yanagida Akinobu from Archaeological institute of Kashihara. We learned by both lectures andpractices. Also we got knowledge about conservation of metal objects in display and storage. We got
the practical experience at Archaeological Institute of Kashihara. As I didn’t have any experience217

on metal artefacts conservation, these teachings were very important. We have learned about metal
artefact storage methods. This new method is called RP system. It will be very useful in my officework. Another important thing I have learnt is first aid for fragile artefacts. In my work, we do many
excavations and find many fragile artefacts. But still we use very old techniques to protect them.
Japanese techniques are modern and safe in fragile artefacts. Now I can share my experiences with mycolleagues when I returned home.
The training course provided us the knowledge of photographing the objects in correct way. As anarchaeologist, it is important for me to learn how to take detailed and precise photographs. In thefield work, we took photos necessary for recording and interpretations. Also we got the knowledge on
the types of cameras and focusing correctly on objects. It is understood that we need a good quality
camera in archaeological recording.
In the fourth week we visited the Japan’s first listed World Heritage Site by UNESCO World Heritage
centre. It is called Horyu-ji Temple. Its history goes back to seventh century and is a huge timber
structure. It is one of the oldest timber structures in the world.
Another interesting site visit was made to Fujinoki Tumulus, which is 400 m west of Horyu-ji Temple.
It is assumed that it was built in the latter half of the 6th century. It was surveyed and excavated from1985 to 1988. The excavation research found a huge house shaped coffin as well as various kinds ofearthenware and superb harnesses. It was interesting as they allowed us to go inside the mound. The
Ikaruga Centre for Cultural Heritage which gives a better understanding about Fujinoki Tumulus
is very informative with modern techniques. It is more important to the visitors. It gives a better
understanding about the funeral rituals of the 6th century.
On Wednesday in the fourth week we went to the study tour to Takashima Island, a national historicsite in Japan. We went to Matsuura City Takashima Centre for Archaeological Operation in Matsuuracity. This centre has two functions. The first is the exhibition facility and the second is the base of the
excavation research of the underwater site. It is important for me to see this underwater site as I have
one subject in my post graduate degree on that.
Sri Lanka, as an island, we also have a rich underwater archaeological heritage, around the country. In
ancient harbour in Galle, in southern Sri Lanka, we have found 37 ship wrecks of 14th century. These
ship wrecks give very useful information about the foreign relations in the era.
We have learned how to conserve underwater archaeological objects there. In the final two days of the
fourth week we went to Kyushu National Museum and Kyushu Historical Museum. Kyushu National
Museum is located on a hill and it is an amazing building. There we learned museum science, analysis
and examination. There we learned about CT and 3D scanning of objects. Accumulating and utilizing
3D data created by digital measuring devices such as X-ray CT scanners would help the research,study, exhibition and preservation of cultural properties. X-ray CT scanners can record the internal218

structures of objects without physically touching them. Data generated by X-ray CT scanners includes
considerably more information than the conventional data which is currently used including pictures,
blue prints and so on. The data from X-ray CT scanners can be used not only to study the structures
and techniques of artefacts, but also to safely preserve and transport artefacts by using the data tounderstand the properties’ current condition. In my opinion X-ray CT scanner is very important in
improving the quality of study in a museum. The use of 3D scanner allows us to study large culturalproperties safely and quickly. It doesn’t need to cut or damage the object. By using both techniques,
image can be created with the 3D printer. Even though the textures and colours differ from the original
object, the shape of the object is made accurate. These images can be used for exhibition and education
purposes.

Comparisons with Current Practices in My Country
The observations and experiences obtained in the training taught me the difference between my own
experiences in Sri Lanka and Japanese practices. As a developed nation, Japan can allocate more funds
to preservation of cultural properties and heritage unlike a developing country such as Sri Lanka. On
the other hand, people of Japan are much aware of their heritage, specially the elder generation, thanother countries.
Although we practice the same charters and international documents such as Venice and Athenscharters, the Japanese process of preserving authenticity of a property must be studied thoroughly.
I didn’t know about restoration through the total dismantling and relocation process before Prof Inaba
taught us. If an object is structurally deteriorated and vulnerable to decay, total dismantling and repair
in the same design and form may be adopted. But partially deteriorated structures may be partiallydismantled when the restoration is necessary. Generally some repair work is done. According to Prof.
Inaba, dismantling and relocation is a general practice in Japan. And that is a popular method in Japan.
As this method is not practiced in Sri Lanka, I think it is good to introduce it to Sri Lanka especially instupa conservation.

Acknowledgment
The ACCU Nara 2014 training program was a great experience for me. I have learned a lot of
information and shared them with people from all across the Asia and pacific regions. It was great tomeet all these participants, and it was really amazing to share thought and subject with them. What I
have learned from the training program will greatly benefit my future archaeological works.
I would like to pay my sincere thanks to the Department of Archaeology and Ministry of National
Heritage of Sri Lanka for giving this opportunity for me, and thanks very much to ACCU Nara for
inviting me to be a participant in the ACCU Nara training 2014. I would like to give my thanks as well
to Dr Gamini Wijesuriya of ICCROM for his kind helps to me. I also would like to thank again Mr
Nishimura and all members of ACCU office. They are very polite, kind, friendly and cooperative. I
wish them all good luck and a successful life ahead.

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BUDU SARANAIARIGATOO GOSAIMASU
AND THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN

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Tajikistan
Abdulloev Umar

Introduction
Being one of the five “stan” countries from the post-Soviet Union period, Tajikistan still has someinfluence in the method of treatment, restoration, reconstruction, conservation, etc. It was wellorganized during the Soviet Union period to deal with cultural and especially historical heritage. But as
we are in the 21st century we cannot always use the old methods, because many new technologies exist
in the world. And the Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office, Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre
for UNESCO (ACCU) in Nara, Japan is the only organization at the moment to give us such a great
opportunity to acquire more knowledge in this sphere. Actually, it was a very good idea for ACCU toorganize this training course not just in one place, but at heritage and other various sites and museums,
such as in Nara, Osaka and Kyushu. This gave us a lot of knowledge about most of them that we didn’tknow before, as well as practice in new techniques, and also made what was taught in the lectures toeasy understand. And as I now know what I have to share the information from this experience withour company and give many recommendations for the projects which are going on right now back in
my country:
The ANCIENT TOWN OF HISOR in Hisor Historical-Cultural Reserve is one of those cultural
heritages in my country. You can see in the following report pictures of the existing monuments which
are mostly not going to be touched during this great reconstruction project. Let me give you some brief
information about the Ancient Town of Hisor and its reconstruction projects. Based on archaeologicalresearch and the discovered artefacts, Tajikistan is going to celebrate 3000 years of ANCIENTTOWN OF HISOR history on September 15th in 2015. At this moment there are huge reconstruction
and restoration works taking place there. The government has already finished the reconstruction of
WORKSHOPS for local craftsmen on the given site, and the reconstruction of a certain part of the
FORTRESS WALL and a WATCH TOWER is now taking place. The next step is going to be thereconstruction of the RULER’S RESIDENCE at its original location, situated on the highest strategic
point inside the FORTRESS. And the visit to Osaka Museum of History gave me another experience
where I could observe the excavation site under the new museum building, which will be very usefulfor the reconstruction of the RULER’S RESIDENCE back in my country. I will definitely share thisexperience with the reconstruction group upon my return. Inside the FORTRESS the reconstruction of
the AMPHITHEATRE will start next, and later on, a couple of SUMMER PAVILIONS (places of rest
for the rulers of Hisor in that period) will be reconstructed around the NATURAL SPRING with puredrinking water. The NATURAL SPRING needs to be cleaned and restored. Based on all the historicalresearch which has been carried out for the Ancient Town of Hisor, another GATE for military use anda TEAHOUSE are supposed to be finished by the end of that project. And the last and most important
step of proper research in our project is going to be KUSHAN PERIOD TWO BUDDHIST MEETINGHALLS - “KATK HIKA-SALA”. We already have some researched works on this site, which do not221have any analogues yet in Central Asia in terms of its large size (see information and picture below).
This is another point supporting my view that I have to conduct more research on this site using theexperience that I gained at ACCU.
I believe and am hopeful that obtaining knowledge through this training will be helpful, and play animportant role in the improvement of our cultural heritage preservation and management. I am going to
make additional contributions to this great project back in my own country by sharing all that I learned
at ACCU.

Conclusion
Through this training in Japan I obtained many new ideas in heritage management. In my opinion,
the protection of cultural heritage needs a relatively complete legal system. A law for the protectionof cultural properties should be the foundation for the conservation and utilization of cultural heritage
resources. I think public education is the most important factor in site management because one of theaims of cultural heritage protection is to have the nation’s culture understood by the public.
I am very proud to have had the chance to learn about modern scientific conservation methods andadvanced management systems from knowledgeable experts. The training course has provided mewith a lot of new knowledge and many unforgettable experiences in cultural heritage protection. On
my return to Tajikistan I will attempt to convey my impressions and experiences to my colleagues andapply the ideas and technologies learned in Japan to my work. Sharing experiences with participantsfrom other countries also broadened my view. This exchange program promotes friendship among
countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and the training course is meaningful and productive.

Acknowledgments
Let me express my gratitude to the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU Nara),
ICCROM, Nara prefecture, the Japanese government, and other organizations with their excellent
staff, all of which have provided an invaluable opportunity for me to draw from the knowledge of, andshare experiences with participants from different countries, and further widen my knowledge. The
knowledge gained through this course will be very useful to enhance the culture of conservation efforts
at archaeological sites and other remains in Tajikistan.
ARIGATO GOZAIMASU!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
TASHAKURI ZIYOD!

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Thailand
Srisomboon Puangporn

Introduction
The Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protection in Asia/Pacific Region 2014 was held from 2
September to 3 October 2014, and there were 16 people from each country. Everyone was friendly
and we had a happy and enjoyable time in this course. The ACCU staff were very nice, very kindand friendly. The lecturers had an informal approach and taught willingly. They did not even seem
fed up with the many questions from participants. This training featured a variety of instruction
including management of cultural heritage such as archaeological site management, exhibitions atmuseums and environment control, the value of archaeological sites, practice and knowhow of thetreatment, conservation and preventive conservation of artefacts, practice and knowhow of moving
artefacts from archaeological sites, recording and documentation of artefacts and archaeological sites,
measured drawing of earthenware, and analysis of facilities for museum science. I received a great
deal of knowledge from various places and different lecturers. The training had practice sessions andworkshops with original objects, which I could understand very well, and I was able to understandJapanese culture from its cultural heritage. I would like to say thank you to the organizers because
I will be able to use the knowledge received in my work to help the development of conservation
practices in Thailand such as environment control in the museums and storage rooms, treatment
conservation techniques and the process of preventive conservation. And next I will pass on what I
have learned to officers at the National Museum.
This training can be applied to my work and lead to development of the Fine Arts Department,
Thailand as follows:

1. Conservation Science of Metal Artefacts
On 9 September 2014 the lecture “Mechanism of corrosion of metal objects” was presented. The
lecturer was Wakiya Soichiro, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.
He explained the mechanism of corrosion in iron and copper artefacts andshowed the reasons for corrosion after excavation. He also showed ironcorrosion through a microscope, and I was able to identify compounds ofiron. When iron reacts with oxygen and water, it results in a compound ofgoethite (brown), magnetite (black) and iron chloride. After identifying theiron compounds, I tried treating the goethite (brown) to make iron goodcondition. In the case of iron chloride, it is a serious case and the treatment
methods are complicated. I can use this knowledge in my work with thefollowing iron and copper conservation techniques:
1. Before treatment conservation, everybody must analyse the ironartefact with microscopic or X-ray radiography even if the iron is so big (my office has an223

equipment that can handle X-ray radiography at about300 Kev).
2. Analyse the compound of iron and treat only the goethite (brown).
3. Develop an instrument for metal treatment conservation similar to the one shown in the photo.
This instrument is necessary for metal treatment conservation because the process of metal
treatment creates a great amount of metal dust andmetal fragments, so it is not safe for workers and causes
pollution. I will create a cheaper version because my
office does not have the money to purchasing one.
4. If the iron corrosion is iron chloride, I will use an alkaline
solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate and sodium
carbonate (soak for about six months).

2. Conservation Science for Objects Excavated from Marine Sediments
On 24 September 2014, there was a study tour at Matsuura Municipal Board of Education. The
lecturers were Nakata Atsuyuki and Aizawa Tetsuro, and they spoke about the Takashima-Kouzaki site(underwater site), which is located on Takashima Island to the south of the main Japanese islands. It isa beautiful island with unspoilt nature environment, and the site can be seen from Matsuura Municipal
Board of Education’s office. From this lecture I discovered the significance of Takashima Island in
the past. Takashima Island caught a great deal of attention as the “Island of the Mongol Invasion”.
The topic included information about conservation treatment for artefacts unearthed at TakashimaKouzaki site, which is useful for my work because Thailand has an underwater site with a sectionthat has been excavated, located to the east of the country, where many artefacts such as pottery
pieces, ingredients, textiles, and wooden and metal items have been found. The problems associatedwith underwater artefacts are the same as at the Takashima site, and I received knowledge about theconservation treatment of artefacts including wooden, rope, lacquer and iron items. I was particularlyinterested in the functions of each room in the Takashima Centre for Archaeological Operations. There
are two functions, the exhibition facility and the base for excavation research which includes a storage
room, a laboratory, etc. The storage room has many big tanks and many instruments for the treatmentof artefacts, and we also learned at this site the treatment method for metal and wooden artefacts. I can
use this in my work, and will pass on the techniques I learned to officers in the section for excavationsin Thailand. Hopefully, that section will be able to purchase large tanks and instruments for a room forconservation treatment, and set up a storage room for keeping artefacts after treatment conservationand environment control under proper conditions. After that I will reform the conservation treatment ofwooden and metal items in my office as follows:
Saving treatment method
Metal artefacts:
1. Clean the metal artefacts using clean water.
2. Desalt the metal artefacts using clean water and soak for about one year (change water every
month).
3. Copper artefacts require stabilizing treatment.

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4. Metal artefacts must be left to dry.
5. Impregnate the metal artefacts with acrylic resin.
6. Keep the metal artefacts in the degassing pack in good condition.
Wooden, lacquer, rope artefacts:
1. Clean the artefacts with clean water.
2. Desalt the artefacts with clean water and soak for about one year
3. Impregnate the wooden artefacts and rope artefacts with acrylic resin.
4. In this case, use polyethylene glycol (PEG) with aconcentration of about 10-48% and temperature control
at 60 degrees Celsius. For lacquer artefacts use sugar(lactitol or trehalose) with a concentration of about 1048% and temperature control at 60 degrees Celsius.
5. Leave the artefacts to dry.
6. Keep the artefacts in the degassing pack and keep ingood condition.

3. First Aid for Fragile Artefacts
On 10 September 2014 a lecture with the topic “First Aid for Fragile Artefacts” was presented. The
lecturer was Tamura Tomomi, Conservation Science Section, Nara National Research Institute forCultural Properties. This lecture was interesting for me because it gave me new knowledge. Normally
I work at the laboratory of the National Museum, and this knowledge could mark the beginning ofcooperation between scientists and archaeologists in Thailand. In the past, scientists and archaeologists
have worked separately in the field. Almost all artefacts are broken when they are moved fromarchaeological sites by workers who do know how to correctly move and store artefacts, such as
those at the Pratu Pha archaeological site, Thailand, which is shown in the photo. I will provide theinformation that I have learned to officers at the site and assist them in the purchase of equipment andchemicals for applying this technique. This knowledge will greatly benefit the Fine Arts Department
because there are insufficient conservators, and it therefore takes a long time to carry out conservation
treatment. So keeping artefacts in good condition is necessary. There are three techniques for first aid
for fragile artefacts: temporary reinforcement of artefacts using washi (Japanese traditional paper) andgauze (lining), lifting artefacts using liquid nitrogen, and lifting artefacts using rigid polyurethane foam
resin. In the training, everybody successfully practiced with objects at areal site. This technique is not difficult and can be used in our country.
But I would select the method of lifting with rigid polyurethane foam
resin because I like to use chemicals and they are easy to carry on to thesite.
The project for first aid for fragile artefacts using lifting with rigid
polyurethane foam resin has several promises in Thailand as follows:
1. Cooperation with the archaeology section and presentation on first225

aid for fragile artefacts using lifting with rigid polyurethane foam resin.
2. Organizer (archaeology section) will take a seminar and workshop, and invite the staff who are
involved in excavation.
3. I will demonstrate this technique at a real archaeological site using lifting with rigid
polyurethane foam resin.
4. Finally, everybody at the seminar and workshop will practice this technique.

4. Recording/Documentation of Artefacts: Photography
On 12 and 16 September 2014 there were lectures on the topic “Recording/Documentation of Artefacts:
Photography”. The lecturers were Nakamura Ichiro and Sugimoto Kazuki, Photography section, Nara
National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. This training was very interesting because of thelarge studio and many kinds of cameras, so it provided inspiration for buying new camera. And I liked
both lecturers because they were very nice and very friendly, and tried to teach students who did notknow how to use a camera. After participating in these sessions I picked up a lot about photography
techniques and understood the basics of taking good photographs: adjust focus, aperture, shutter speed,
ISO sensitivity and light management for quality photographs. We practiced indoors and outdoors(East Palace Garden), and everybody found the workshops enjoyable and meaningful. I now know
about the management of image files after taking the photo and this will greatly benefit me because I
must take photos of artefacts all the time for reports. Afterthe workshops, I now know the principles for taking artefact
photos and image processing using the Adobe Bridge CS6
program and saving them as JPEG or TIFF images. As aresult of this course I plan to modify a room that can serve asa studio for taking artefact photos. There are many rooms in
my office that can be modified for this purpose.

5. Recording/Documentation of Cultural Heritage Using 3D Scanner
On 22 September 2014 a lecture was presented on the topic “Recording/Documentation of Cultural
Heritage using 3D scanner”. The lecturer was Kaneda Akihiro.
This lecture covered the technology of archaeological site photography, large artefact photography, andcreating 3D images. The lecturer talked about modern technologies for archaeological site photography
including photogrammetry, laser scanning, remote sensing and prospection. All of the techniques wereinteresting for me because they are new and modern, especially laser scanning, which is an expensive
technology. It is a fast photographic technique by which a laser is directed onto the object, reflected
to a detector and then processed by program to create a 3D image as shown in the photo. And I wasinterested in large artefact photography using a digital camera and then transferring the photo into
the Agisoft Photo Scan program, because I often have problems taking photos of large artefacts, forexample one of the gates of Suthat Temple. This is 6 meters high and 4 meters wide, and located in
Bangkok National Museum, as shown in the photo. If I use normal photography I cannot take a photoof all of it. After studying about this program I think it can be applied to this particular artefact; thistechnique is easy to use and the price of the program is reasonable.

2266. Museum Exhibition in PracticeOn 11 September 2014 a lecture was presented on the topic “Museum Exhibition in Practice”. The
lecturers were Yanagida Akinobu and Hashimoto Hiroyuki, Archaeological Institute of Kashihara,
Nara Prefecture. This topic was very interesting because for exhibitions in the National Museum inThailand, it is a problem to maintain proper environment control and keep artefacts in good condition.
The lecturers taught us about environment control for preventive treatment. The method includes useof air conditioning and a humidity conditioning agent under
the RP (Revolutionary Preservation) system, and shows
the temperature and RH so that I can use it in Thailand
National Museum. In particular, the lecture taught about
the Revolutionary Preservation system for keeping artefacts
before and after conservation treatment. The system includes
an RP agent, which absorbs moisture and oxygen from theair, with the package sealed with ESCAL film (high gas
barrier film that has a low oxygen transmission rate and low water vapour transmission rate) as shownin the photo. This can keep the artefacts in good condition with no contact with the outside, because
air and water are the cause of an artefact’s deterioration. This can be applied to my work and I will
start a project to introduce the RP system to keep artefacts in the National Museum (about 40 National
Museums). I will pass on what I have learnt to officers at the National Museum. And I was interested
in the exhibition of this museum because the exhibition was managed so beautifully. I liked thetechnique used in the collocation and presentation of artefacts, which enabled people to look under theartefacts with a mirror. Some artefacts also had a magnifying glass for a close up view, as shown in thephoto. I will present this idea to the National Museum in Thailand for use in the exhibition room.

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Conclusion
This training course took about 21 days and every day produced very good memories and included a
lot of diverse knowledge. I can apply what I have learnt to my work and develop ideas for my office. I
would like to say thank you to the organizers for selecting me, even though I am not an archaeologist.
All the ACCU staff and lecturers were very nice and friendly. I think the training course would beof benefit for any worker who is involved in cultural heritage (such as archaeologists, conservators,
scientists, curators and officers at archaeological sites or museums). Because Japan has manytechnologies and advanced knowledge, it can support and add to the knowledge base of other countries
in Asia. In addition, the course helps in forging cooperation and good relations between the people ofeach country and across diverse cultures.

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Viet nam
Dong Ngoc Kinh

Letter from Nara
The Training Course on Cultural Heritage Protection in the Asia/Pacific Region 2014 was organizedby the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan (Bunkacho); Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO(ACCU); International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property(ICCROM); and National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, National Research Institute for Cultural
Properties [Tokyo and Nara]. The course was held in Nara, Japan from 2 September to 3 October 2014.
The training course was offered to participants from 16 countries that are signatories to the UNESCOWorld Heritage Convention, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz
Republic, Lao P.D.R., Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palau, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand
and Vietnam.
On the first two days, each of us shared our experience of cultural heritage protection in our respective
countries. Cultural heritage is a historical, traditional and cultural symbolic presence of a country andhelps connect people to their cultural origins. This ranges from prehistoric sites to temples or castles,
and together helps to tell the story of each country. All developing countries share much the sameunderlying problems of cultural heritage protection. First, the processes that damage cultural heritage
sites in developing countries are due to a lack of overall appreciation and insufficient management.
The authorities are usually not completely aware of the overall scale and severity of the problem andthreat, or even the value of cultural heritage. Developing countries also have no management plan orproper funding for conservation of cultural heritage. In addition, poor management can also include
unscientific restoration. The original character and value of the site may be lost because of an inexpert
restoration that is not conceived, supervised, and implemented by skilled professionals. A shortage oftrained people and limited conservation technologies are the second problem in developing countries.
There are few skilled professionals—archaeologists, conservation experts, material specialists,
structural engineers and historic architects—to participate in conservation activities. There are also few
laboratories that have the technology and means for the analysis, documentation and conservation ofarchaeological sites and artefacts.

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In the following days, we learned about the system for protecting cultural properties in Japan. The
Japanese system includes tangible cultural properties, intangible cultural properties, folk culturalproperties, monuments, cultural landscapes, and groups of traditional buildings, and primarily focuseson tangible culture conservation. When an excavation is carried out with the aim to preserve an
original site, conservation technology will be applied in a variety of forms.
First of all, by investigating the excavation environment, deterioration factors can be explored and theinformation will be used to identify the state of deterioration and consider methods of conservation.
Also, the conservation sciences of cultural property need material analysis, which is important forcleaning, restoration and other processes. Different materials need different methods, and in part of thecourse we focused on the conservation treatment of metal artefacts.
The conservation treatment for metal objects began with microscopic examination and X-ray
radiography for diagnosis and XRF (X-ray Fluorescence Analysis) to analyse the condition of object.
After that, object was cleaned and physical methods, such as use of a scalpel, grinder and air abrasive,
were applied to remove soil particles, pebbles and concretion. The iron artefacts were covered withiron oxide-hydroxide, Beta-FeOOH had been produced in the presence of chloride irons, a significant
causative factor for corrosion. Similarly, the copper and bronze artefacts, which had appeared stable
at the time of unearthing, had corroded and suffered disintegration after several years due to copper
chloride. The corrosion rate tends to increase with increasing RH (relative humidity) and the chloride
corrodes metal artefacts even if they are stored in low humidity condition. As a result, it is important
for the safety of metal objects to keep RH as low as possible. To absorb moisture and oxygen fromthe air, RP (Revolution Preservation) is used. I was very surprised to find out that a simple RP system
will result in an RH of less than 10% in a microenvironment. Many metal artefacts have been foundin Vietnam. However, they are usually not well preserved because of the cost of environment control.
The RP system is an inexpensive method, however, and can be widely used in Vietnamese museums.
With this system, larger quantities of metal artefacts can be stored.
The second important part of conservation is documentation. The first session, “Documentation of
Artefact: Photography” was an introduction to photography for archaeologists. It is recommended
that we become familiar with cameras and understand the basic functions of a camera, such as
shutter speed, ISO, aperture and depth of field. The difference between each image is an issue ofquality, which will result in more archaeological detail. Moreover, an understanding of lighting canhave an enormous impact on the given textures, form and inherent detail of objects, giving valuable
information. Depending on the complexity of the artefact’s shape, lighting can be experimented withby finding the best position, and this is often a laborious job.
Second, in the session “Measured Drawing of Artefacts,” we learned how to draw archaeologicalobjects accurately, make a top view, side view and section illustrations. Archaeological illustration is
not just creating a pretty picture of an object. It should be designed to convey information as accurately
and with as much detail as possible. The goal is to provide the most information in a form that viewers

230can read. The object must be observed from all angles, making you examine its uses, its damage, andits intricacies. Photography and drawing are a vital part of the most important skill in archaeology,
so these classes were very useful for me. Knowledge about methods of recording, photographing anddrawing artefacts will help my illustrations become accurate and clear.
Third was documenting archaeological artefacts using a 3D scanner and an X-ray computed
tomography scanner. The workshop aimed to instruct archaeologists how to use 3D laser and X-ray
CT scanning in the conservation of cultural heritage projects, how it works, why we might need to use
it, and how it could be applied. The recording of position, dimensions and shape is a necessary part ofalmost every project, forming an important element of the documentation and analysis process. Laser
scanning generates a point cloud and provides a digital geometric model of an object, from which a
replica can be generated for display. X-ray CT scanners have been used to study inside archaeologicalartefacts such as wood statues and metal tools. In essence, an X-ray CT scanner comprises an
X-ray source with an X-ray detector opposite the X-ray source. An X-ray beam shines through thearchaeological artefact and is absorbed differently depending on its material. This means that a 3D and
X-ray scanner together can record the exterior and internal structures of cultural properties without
physically touching them.
Generally, access to 3D and CT scanners for archaeological research will continue to be a problem.
Even in Japan, 3D and CT scanners tend to be too expensive for exclusive archaeological use. The
initial purchase cost is high and there is the issue of the cost of maintenance and repair. However, they
still are useful technologies of interest to archaeologists, and it is clear that complex and sophisticatedtechnology will aid archaeology even more in the future.
The next part, after documentation, is reconstruction, exhibition and storage. The session onreconstruction was interesting and contained some very useful ideas. By using traditional methods andtechniques, the Japanese can conserve not only the building itself but also the tangible and intangible
value of the building such as the architecture, painting, paper, tiles and other traditional handicrafts. In
addition, the reconstruction process can be used for tourism purposes or festivals and gives visitors atrue experience, which may transmit cultural values and history. During the course, we visited many
historical sites that are reconstructions, such as Todai-ji Temple, Kohfukuji Temple, Gangoji Temple,
Nara Palace Site, and Horyu-ji Temple in Nara; Chion-in Temple, Nijo-jo Castle, and Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto; Naniwa Palace Site in Osaka; and Takashima Island and Dazaifu Tenmangu inFukuoka. On September 27 we had a special event at East Palace Garden. There we watched actors
recreate the historical character of the imperial family, and enjoyed traditional food and music. It
shows how an archaeological site can be used for the community.
We also visited some museums such as the National Treasure Museum, Nara National Museum,
Kyushu National Museum, Kyushu Historical Museum, and Osaka Museum of History. All of them
have an impressive exhibition room with a moderate amount of artefacts, but they all have a focused
topic. I particularly liked the illustrations behind the artefacts that give the viewer more information

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than a simple written explanation. Digital devices also support the display. A public computer
provides visitors with access to various data in an exhibition room with a friendly touch screen.
At Ikaruga Centre for Cultural Heritage, an LCD screen can also help recreate the scene inside thecoffin of Fujinoki Tumulus before it was excavated. At Osaka Museum of History, visitors can use
their smart devices to see a computer graphics reconstruction of a palace. Osaka Museum of History
also shows how to link a museum and a historical site. Through the device, visitors can look out toNaniwa Palace Park where the foundation of the building was reconstructed. In addition, the museum
storage rooms, where cultural properties are preserved and stored, are designed carefully. Conditions
such as appropriate humidity and lighting, the structural design of air conditioning equipment, andstorage facilities were set up in a sensible way. The designers also planned for natural disasters or
fires. Besides this, I was particularly interested in the educational activities of the museum. There isan interactive room where young visitors can learn about culture and history through activities such as
playing the role of an archaeologist, and making pottery.
In conclusion, the training course was very useful, and many ideas that cropped up during the course
can be applied to Vietnam. Not only in the lectures but also on Nara’s streets I learned a lot about
cultural preservation. The Japanese have a real appreciation of their cultural heritage and it shows intheir attitudes and the way sites are preserved. Together, the government and the Japanese people haveacted to protect their cultural heritage, which makes Japan different.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank ACCU, ICCROM, National Institutes for Cultural Heritage and Agency for
Cultural Affairs for organizing and accepting us on this training course. We are particularly gratefulto Dr Nishimura, director of ACCU, and all the staff of ACCU, Mr Takahashi, Mr Kobayashi, Ms
Wakiya, Ms Horikawa, Ms Sakimoto, Ms Nishida and Mr Shimomura, who provided a wonderfulcourse and were always kindly looking after us and making sure our stay in Japan was comfortable.
Thanks are also due to our interpreter, Ms Hata, and all presenters for taking the time to share with us
their very useful experiences. Thank you Suzuki san, Miki san, and Naka san for all you did for us. We
will never forget the great experience we had together.
Sayonara - See you Nara.

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Lecture andworkshop activity:
Documentation ofculturalheritage Photography
and using 3D scanner233

V. Appendix
1. List of Participants
2. List of Lecturers
3. Acknowledgements for Cooperation
4. List of Interpreter and Assistants

Appendix

5. Staff Members, ACCU Nara Office

Full moon fest at East Palace Garden (World Heritage Site)1. List of Participants
Bangladesh
Jayed Muhammad
Assistant Custodian

Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Rangpur Museum, Tajhat Jamidarbari, Rangpur, Bangladesh
Tel: (+880) 52 162779 Fax: (+880) 52 162779
jayrdju@gmail.com

BhutanTenzin WangchukArchaeology Field Technician

Department of Culture
Archaeology Section, Division for Conservation of Heritage Sites
P.O. Box 233, Thimphu, Bhutan
Tel: (+975) -2-322 694 Fax: (+975) -2-321 285
tongshangpa@gmail.com
Cambodia
Hour Sothorn
Technical Staff

Department of the Conservation of Monuments in Angkor Park and Preventive Archaeology
APSARA Authority
Bang Korng, Ampil, Town Siem Reap, Siem Reap province, Cambodia
Tel: (+855) 63 76 06 62 Fax: (+855) 63 96 48 19
sudhanesvara@yahoo.com
Fiji
Kataiwai Sakiusa Rocky Nadakuitavuki
Field Research Officer

Department of Archaeology, Fiji Museum
Fiji Museum, Thurston Gardens, Suva, Fiji
Tel: (+679) 3315 944 Fax: (+679) 3318 909
saqsa_kataiwai@hotmail.com
Kazakhstan
Altynbekova Dana
Restorer

Department of Restoration, Scientific-restoration laboratory “Ostrov
Krym” Ltd
050034, Venezianov str, 6/5, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Tel: (+7) 727 253 08 25 Fax: (+7) 727 253 08 25
tengri05@mail.ru

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Kyrgyz Republic
Akmatov Kunbolot

Senior Science Researcher

Department of Archaeology
State Historical Museum of Kyrgyz Republic
Square Ala-Too, Bishkek, 720040 Kyrgyz Republic
Tel: (+996) 0312 626107 Fax: (+996) 0312 626102
kunbolot@mail.ru
Lao P.D.R.
Sivorravong Souksavanh
Academic Staff

Department of Information, Culture and Tourism
The Section of Cultural Management
Lak Meany Village, Pakse District, Champasak Province, Lao P. D. R.
Tel: (+856) 31 252267
sivorravong@gmail.com
Maldives
Ashraf Ismail

Assistant Curator

Department of Heritage, Ministry of Youth and Sports
Museum Building Chandhanee Magu/Male, MaldivesTel: (+960) 3323206 Fax: (+960) 3326796
axraf@live.com

Mongolia
Tserendorj Tsolmon

Specialist of Foreign Relation and Tangible Heritage

Protection Division for Tangible Heritage
Centre of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture
Sports and Tourism
210620a Ulaanbaatar, Sukhbaatar District, Sukhbaatar square 3, Street of
Jamyan, Central Cultural Palace “B” section, Center of Cultural Heritage
Mongolia
Tel: (+976) 11312735 Fax: (+976) 11312735
tsolmon@monheritage.mn
MyanmarMyo Sandar Oo

Assistant Lecturer (Ancient Monument)

Department of Archaeology and National Museum, Ministry of Culture
Bagan Branch, Bagan, Myanmar
Tel: (+95) 67 408038 Fax: (+95) 67 408286
myosandaroo8@gmail.com

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Pakistan
Ullah Arshad

Assistant Director (Publication)

Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan
Department of Archaeology and Museums 1nd & 2nd Floor, Block No. 2,
Plot No. 4, G-7 Markaz, Sitara Market, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: (+92) 51 2202149 Fax: (+92) 51 2202695
taxilamuseum1928@yahoo.com
Palau
Meyar Egan Yaoch

Koror State Ranger/Conservation Officer

Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement
Koror State Government
P.O. Box 116, Koror, Palau 96940
Tel: (+680) 488 8738/2150 Fax: (+680) 488 6683
rorrangers@palaunet.com
Sri Lanka
Weerakoon Mudiyanselage Nirupa Priyadarshani
Research Assistant

Department of Archaeology, North Central Province Regional Office
Regional Office, North Central Province, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Tel: (+94) 25 22 22 411 Fax: (+94) 25 22 22 411
nirupadarshani@gmail.com

Tajikistan
Abdulloev Umar
Research AssistantArchaeology, Historical and Cultural Reserve, Ministry of Culture
Hisor street, Hisor district, Tajikistan
Tel: (+992) 918 66 9016
shukr0509@mail.ru

Thailand
Srisomboon Puangporn
Scientist

Conservation Science Division, Fine Arts Department
Naphra That Road, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
Tel: (+66) 22241352 Fax: (+66) 22249912
pu.ang-po.rn@hotmail.com

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Viet Nam
Dang Ngoc Kinh

Archaeologist

Centre for Archaeological Studies, Southern Institute of Social Science
No.270 Nguyen Trong Tuyen, ward 8, Phu Nhuan District
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Tel: (+84) 8 3 9975377 Fax: (+84) 8 3 9990056
dangockinh@yahoo.com

2. List of Lecturers
Lecturers from Abroad:
Gamini WIJESURIYA

Rachel Elizabeth EGERTONInternational Centre for the Study of
the Preservation and Restoration ofCultural Property (ICCROM)
gw@iccrom.org

Historic and Cultural Heritage
Science and Capability Unit
Department of Conservation
New Zealandreemidge@hotmail.com

Project Manager

Technical Advisor

Lecturers from Japan:
INABA Nobuko

TAMURA Tomomi

World Heritage Studies, Graduate School ofComprehensive Human Science
University of Tsukuba
inaba@heritage.tsukuba.ac.jp

Conservation Sciences Section
Centre for Archaeological Operations
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural
Properties
ret6024@nabunken.go.jp

Professor

AOKI Tatsuji

Specialist for Cultural Properties

Researcher

YANAGIDA Akinobu

Monuments and Sites Division
Cultural Properties Department
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan (Bunkacho)t-aoki@bunka.go.jp

Researcher

WAKIYA Soichiro

HASHIMOTO Hiroyuki

Conservation Sciences Section
Centre for Archaeological Operations
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural
Properties
wackies@nabunken.go.jp

The Museum, Archaeological Institute ofKashihara, Nara Prefectureh-atom@kashikoken.jp

Researcher

Conservation Science, Archaeological Instituteof Kashihara, Nara Prefecture
yanagida@kashikoken.jp

Manager of Curaters Division

SUGIMOTO Kazuki
Photographer

Saidaiji Photo Studiohigeji@nabunken.go.jp

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NAKAMURA Ichiro

Official Research Photographer

Photography Section
Department of Planning & Coordination
Nara National Research Institute forCultural Properties
ichiro@nabunken.go.jp
ISHIMURA Tomo
Senior Researcher

International Cooperation Section
Department of Planning & Coordination,
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural
Properties
tomoishi@nabunken.go.jp
KANEDA Akihiro
Senior Researcher

Archaeological Research Methodology Section
Centre for Archaeological Operations
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural
Properties
akaneda@nabunken.go.jp
ASAI Ken’ichi

Project General Manager

Cultural Properties Division
Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education
k-asai29@pref.kyoto.lg.jp
FUKASAWA Yoshiki
Visiting Professor

Tenri University
acw-aqua@hera.eonet.ne.jp
ARAKI Koji

Chief, Lifelong Learning Department

Cultural Property Preservation Section
Ikaruga Town Board of Educationsyougai@town.ikaruga.nara.jp
MIYOSHI Miho

IKEDA Hirohide
Chief
Nara Municipal Board of Education
Nara Municipal Archaeological Research Centre
ikeda-hirohide@city.nara.lg.jp
NAKATA Atsuyuki
Director, Curator

Matsuura Municipal Board of Education
Cultural Properties Division
nakata.a@city.matsuura.lg.jp
AIZAWA Tetsuro
Technical Staff

Matsuura Municipal Board of Education
Cultural Properties Division
Centre for Archaeological Operations
aizawa.t@city.matsuura.lg.jp
IMAZU Setsuo
Chief

Museum Science Division
Kyushu National Museum
imazu@kyuhaku.jp
ODA Kazutoshi
Head

Curaters and Research Section
Kyushu Historical Museum
oda-k9471@pref.fukuoka.lg.jp
MATSUKAWA Hirokazu
CuratorCuraters and Research Section
Kyushu Historical Museum
matsukawa-h9829@pref.fukuoka.lg.jp
MAMETANI Hiroyuki
Section Head

Curatorial Board
Osaka Museum of History
mame@mus-his.city.osaka.jp

Deputy Director

Nara Municipal Board of Education
Nara Municipal Archaeological Research Centre
miyoshi-miho@city.nara.lg.jp

241

3. Acknowledgements for cooperator
TANII Toshihide, Director, Kawamo Art Research Institute
ONO Toshiaki, Consultant, Kawamo Art Research Institute
SHIMIZU Sahoko, Associate Curator, Nijo Castle Office
SUGIMITSU Makoto, Exective Director, Kyushu Historical Museum
ISAKI Toshiaki, Deputy Director, Kyushu Historical Museum
TOYOOKA Takushi, Director, Nara Prefectural Board of Education
Nara Municipal Archaeological Research Centre
TANAKA Yuko, Osaka City Cultural Properties Association

4. List of Interpreter and Assistants
Interpreter:
HATA Chiyako

Training Coordinator

Assistants:
MIKI Kazusa
Graduate Student, Master’s Program in World Heritage Studies, University of Tsukuba

MITSUI Naka

Graduate Student, Master’s Program in World Heritage Studies, University of Tsukuba

SUZUKI Sonoko
Graduate Student, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Nara Women’s University

5. Staff Members, ACCU Nara Office

NISHIMURA Yasushi, Director
nishimura@accu.or.jp
TAKAHASHI Wataru, Deputy Director
takahashi@accu.or.jp
KOBAYASHI Ken’ichi, Director, Programme Operation Department
kobayashi@accu.or.jp
WAKIYA Kayoko, Director, International Cooperation Division
wakiya@accu.pr.jp
HORIKAWA Kazuko, Chief , Planning & Coordination Divisionhorikawa@accu.or.jp
SAKIMOTO Keiko, Chief , International Cooperation Division
sakimoto@accu.or.jp
NISHIDA Michiko, Staff , Planning & Coordination Divisionnishida@accu.or.jp
SHIMOMURA Nobuhito, Staff , International Cooperation Division
shimomura@accu.or.jp
Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office,Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)
757 Horen-cho, Nara 630-8113
Tel: (+81) 742 20 5001 Fax: (+81) 742 20 5701
E-mail: nara@accu.or.jp URL: http://www.nara.accu.or.jp242