|
MARITIME AND CULTURAL UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE PROGRAMME - MUCH Some countries have legislation to protect MUCH sites and the resources required to implement active programmes but many countries do not. CIE has developed and implements a range of programmes and projects in a number of countries in regard to maritime an underwater cultural heritage and the following is a brief outline of some of these activities. More information can be found in the Projects page as per Country. |
 |
||||||
|
Sri Lanka From the 1990s, Robert Parthesius has been involved in MUCH activities in Sri Lanka and from 2002-2006 in association with Bill Jeffery they have been involved in the implementation of an axcavation and conservation project on the Dutch shipwreck Avondster (1659)located in Galle Harbour. In 2001, a Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU) was formed under the Mutual Heritage Centre, managed by the Sri Lankan government agency, the Central Cultural Fund, in cooperation with international partners in the Netherlands, Australia and Mexico, and sponsored by the Netherlands Cultural Fund. The Avondster project had a number of aims in addition to the survey, excavation and conservation of the site and the recovered 3,000 artefacts. One of the primary goals was, through the involvement of the Sri Lankan archaeologists and conservators, to build up local capacity and the associated infrastructure, so that they could continue with a maritime archaeology programme, including site and artefact conservation requirements in Sri Lanka. Another important goal was the development of a Maritime Museum, based to some extent on the material recovered from the Avondster, but also incorporating Sri Lanka’s broader maritime history, its sites and the people involved. The Avondster site was also selected because it was under threat. Read the Avondster article... Through a UNESCO initiative, the Galle MAU served as a regional training centre in maritime archaeology for the Asia/Pacific region with field-schools in 2006, 2007 and 2008. These initiatives go hand-in-hand very nicely, not only for the Sri Lankan team but for the many other practitioners throughout the region. The experiences with the Avondster project was very positive and we were very proud that regardless of the dramatic interruption after the Tsunami (2006) the spirit of the Sri Lankans was unbroken. Together we were able to rebuild the basic facilities infrastructure and the plans for the UNESCO regional training centre were a bit delayed but not jeopardized. More information on MUCH Programme Sri Lanka South Africa, Tanzania and Mozambique Since 2007 preparations for building the capacity to implement a Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage (MUCH) Programme in South Africa, Tanzania and Mozambique commenced. In association with key stakeholders from within each country and UNESCO, the CIE formulated and received a commitment for a capacity building programme in these countries.
The programmes will take three to five years and will culminate with the establishment of a sustainable ‘Competent Authority’. It will progressively build up the theoretical and practical skills of a number of individuals from the stakeholders. The programme will include an investigation and documentation of a number of sites to begin the development of a Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Database. The engagement of the community is important in understanding their contemporary connections with their sites and the histories and in developing the databases. Programme outcomes will be directed at informing and working with the community on its maritime and underwater cultural heritage and the need for its protection. Another important aspect of the capacity building programme will be the development of academic programmes. More information on MUCH Programme Tanzania More information on MUCH Programme South Africa More information on MUCH Programme Mozambique Hong Kong In Hong Kong, Bill Jeffery’s ongoing work there led him to train a group of Hong Kong divers according to the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) training programme, culminating in an excellent NAS Part 2 Survey Report of a scatter of ceramics off Port Island in Hong Kong waters. Together they went on to form a group known as the Hong Kong Underwater Heritage Group (HKUHG) and have successfully applied for funding from the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust to compile a database of underwater cultural heritage sites and report on their work through a website, publication, journal articles and a brochure. The 18-month HKUHG project began in August 2009 with the commencement of the compilation of a database and a website. More information on MUCH Programme Hong Kong, China Sub-Saharan Africa regional collaboration A regional meeting on Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage (MUCH) was held at Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa from 17-19 February 2010. The workshop was hosted by the South African Heritage resources Agency (SAHRA) with support from Robben Island Museum (RIM), The Centre for International Heritage Activities (CIE) and with guidance from the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) and the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) in South Africa. The participating countries were: Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Kenya. To strengthen the MUCH regional collaboration developed at this meeting, participating countries formed the MUCH regional group and formulated a number of goals and objectives for the group to pursue (see African Regional MUCH Agreement in Documentation page). The document was signed by all participants at the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island on 19 February 2010 and supported by Kenya. On a visit to Kenya in April 2010 Kenya further expressed their commitment to regional cooperation on this initiative.
A recent outcome of this collaboration has been the development of a grant application submitted to the African World Heritage Fund for a 5 year project in building capacity in implementing MUCH activities associated with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention and a number of World Heritage Sites in the five countries named above. The Project will have SAHRA as its main administrative base, driven from the Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit. This is based on the fact that the participants of the 17-19 February 2010 workshops mandated SAHRA to facilitate the development of this funding proposal and play a regional role of facilitating training in the region with the support of the Centre for International Heritage Activities (CIE). Go to the regional group on Maritime & Cultural Underwater Heritage... Indian Ocean sub regional capacity building proposal In 2009, CIE developed a phased regional programme for the Dar es Salaam UNESCO office in capacity-building, infrastructure set-up and institutional (bureaucratic and academic) commitment for Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania in MUCH management and development and the support required for ratifying and implementing the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) www.nauticalarchaeologysociety.org CIE utilises the United Kingdom Nautical Archaeology Society’s (NAS) training programme as a basis for implementing its capacity building programme in the various countries in addition to the requirements of the UNESCO Convention and the needs of establishing and pursuing an active MUCH programme in the various countries. NAS is a non-government organisation and a registered charity in the UK. Its aims are to increase an awareness of the value and preservation of our archaeological heritage associated with the marine environment, shipping and other maritime and activities, and to develop the skills of individuals and groups in participating in projects involving site surveying, research, excavation, conservation and publication. To help in these endeavours it has developed a five-part training programme to progressively increase the theoretical and practical development and skills of anyone who is keen to learn, including archaeologists, scientists, historians, recreational divers, and members of the community who can’t dive as well. These courses are recognized in about 30 countries as teaching ethically sound and the best practices in implementing maritime and underwater cultural heritage. Anyone can become a member of NAS and receive a member’s newsletter and a peer reviewed journal, The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. |
|
