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Monitoring of world heritage sites

Abhayagiri Vihara, Jetavanarama, Alahana Parivena Complex (Polonnaruva), Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy, under the UNESCO-Sri Lanka umbrella. After the completion of the programme, these sites need to be properly landscaped and provided with signage and other visitor facilities. The most important aspect of this programme constitutes the sustained maintenance of the sites.

A congregation of experts from the UNESCO and the Cultural Triangle was held recently to adopt necessary steps for enhanced monitoring of the World Heritage Sites of the Cultural Triangle. During the last two decades a major programme of excavation and conservation was conducted in the six historical sites.

Abhayagiri Vihara, Jetavanarama, Alahana Parivena Complex (Polonnaruva), Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy, under the UNESCO-Sri Lanka umbrella. After the completion of the programme, these sites need to be properly landscaped and provided with signage and other visitor facilities. The most important aspect of this programme constitutes the sustained maintenance of the sites.

The custodian of the sites being the Government Department of Archaeological Survey, the maintenance of these important archaeological sites should necessarily be done by this authority.

This task could well be accomplished by the experienced staff of the Cultural Triangle on their being affiliated to the Government Department, which procedure would benefit the future prospects of the officers concerned as well.

The present paper was submitted to the UNESCO by the Senior Archaeologist, Prof. P. L. Prematilleke, who served as the local member of the UNESCO team of Specialists that met a few years ago to review and conceive methods of monitoring the World Heritage Sites of the Cultural Triangle. The contents of the paper would provide useful guidelines to the enhanced monitoring of these sites

At the moment there are only 45 Asian sites out of a total of 291 World Heritage Sites of the World. Among the 45 Asian Sites, India (14), China (7), Sri Lanka (6) and Pakistan (5) enjoy having larger numbers, while the balance is distributed in the South East Asian countries.

Though the Asian Sites are numerically small, yet the sites are of great historic value whose beginnings go back to very remote times. Another important factor is that the majority of the Asian Sites are of a religious nature, which context demands specific treatment in the preservation of monuments belonging to such major religions of the world: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. The countries concerned have been able to sustain the vestiges of a bygone age which enjoy pride as 'Cradles of Civilization'.

Sri Lanka, though a tiny pec in the world map, assumes pride of place in having a great civilization going back to more than 2500 years.

The island's pre-historic sites go back to a period more than 25,000 years B.P. The recent site studies by archaeologists have unravelled the gradual evolution of the pre-historic and proto-historic civilizations to historic period. At least one of the sites that has witnessed this evolution, namely, Anuradhapura, has gained recognition as an important World Heritage Site. It is for this reason that, in commencing the UNESCO-Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Project, the then Director General, Dr. Amadou-Mahtar M.'Bow declared at the Kandy convention in 1990, launching the International Campaign of the Cultural Triangle: "The Cultural Triangle has to be preserved.

It must be preserved for the sake of Sri Lanka, since it forms part of the country's historical core and gives supreme expression to its religious values, national identity and artistic creativity.

It must be preserved for the sake of Asia as a whole, for it is a centre of Buddhist tradition that has deeply impregnated the culture of the entire region and has heightened the sense of Asian solidarity.

It must be preserved for the sake of the world at large, since it forms an integral part of its indivisible heritage. The serene perfection which is has attained by harnessing the outstanding resources of art to the expression of a faith and by linking the works of culture to the acts of living epitomizes some of the fundamental aspirations that are shared by people everywhere irrespective of their differences of race, language or religion".

Except one natural site, the Sinharaja Forest, which is one of the Asia's primeval forests preserved to posterity the other sites included as World Heritage Sites constitute historic city centres (i.e. Anuradhapura, Polonnaruva, Sigiriya, Kandy and Galle) and one major Buddhist monastic site Dambulla, whose beginnings go back to pre-Christian times. Of these sites, all excluding Galle, are being managed since 1980 by the UNESCO-Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Project. Hence a critical assessment of this project would be essential for the understanding of the Management of the sites and the resultant monitoring programme.

The cultural property belonging to the Cultural Triangle fulfils the criteria enumerated in Article 1 of the Convention. The Sites include monuments that are of unique and outstanding universal value and represent great artistic achievements of creative genius, that have exerted influence in the development and evolution of architecture, monumental arts or town planning and landscaping. The sites are outstanding samples of the heritage of a civilization which belong to a common Asian cultural context.

Anuradhapura

The earliest capital of Sri Lanka (C. 5th century BC to 10th century A.D.). The city is a clear example of ancient urban and town planning as envisaged in the Indian town planning system of remote times. Buddhism having been the state religion of the time, large monastic establishments were founded in the beautifully laid out parks, and these were embellished with great monuments of a religious character among which the pagodas or stupas are funerary structures that vie with the great pyramids of Egypt in their symbolism and architecture.

Polonnaruva

Polonnaruva is the medieval capital that succeeded Anuradhapura, but lasted only a couple of centuries (11th to 13th century A.D.). Though the period was a short one, yet the great rulers of the time had sustained the artistic efforts of the early period while attempting to create a new ideal.

The Hindu influence exerted on the city due to South Indian invasion and short period of rule, has resulted in the foundation of Hindu religious shrines the vestiges of which still remain. The period is important for the creation of a syncretistic ideal between Buddhism and Hinduism. The large brick built monuments and colossal images portray the great civilization that the Sri Lankans enjoyed in the past.

Sigiriya

Sigiriya is a unique natural site, a rock citadel of the 5th century A.D. which had been continually occupied by the rulers, and monks for several centuries.

The site is replete with boulder gardens, water gardens, moats and ramparts and palaces. The rock paintings of Sigiriya constitute some of the best products of the ancient world.

Dambulla

Dambulla is Sri Lanka's largest group of cave shrines well-known for a massive collection of Buddhist murals of the late medieval times of Sri Lankan History. (17th - 18th century A.D.).

Kandy

Kandy located among the central hills was the last capital city of the ancient ruling monarchy (16th - 19th century A.D.). The city is an urban site with a living tradition amidst the continuity of a late medieval social system. The city witnessed the occupation of the country by three colonial powers, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. The architectural styles of the then Western traditions are found mingling with the indigenous styles and maintain to this day a unique synthesis of the arts and crafts. The Buddhist and Hindu Cultural tradition existing side by side are of outstanding value for the promotion of human understanding and harmony.

Management of sites Plan of Action

The working of the UNESCO-Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Project was commenced in 1980 with the adoption of a resolution at the general conference of the UNESCO (Paris - October - November 1978).

The plan of action is based on the results of several expert missions and on preliminary studies carried out by the Directorate of Antiquities which identified history, aesthetic and architectural value of the selected monuments and sites.

The plan of action is aimed at a multidisciplinary and integral approach through actions in the field of preservation, restoration and presentation of historical monuments and sites.

The implementation of the project is undertaken by Sri Lankan Government and international co-operation is mobilized by the UNESCO through its membership.

Infrastructure facilities

The reinforcement of the management of monuments and sites were fully appreciated and several expedients were planned: training of architect restorers training of mural conservators provision and upgrading of laboratory facilities

Provision of latest scientific equipment required for data processing, dating methods, photogrammetry etc. The UNESCO also assists the local efforts at an international level to publicize the activities to the world by assisting in the preparation of films, posters and holding of seasonal exhibitions of artifacts and photographs.

Collaborative agencies

Through the organ of the UNESCO several international agencies, namely, the World Food Programme of the United Nations System and the United Nations Development Programme play a major role in assisting the management of the monuments and sites of the Cultural Triangle which were declared World Heritage Sites since 1983.

Locally, the main funding source remains the sale of tickets to tourists visiting the sites. Since the commencement of the Cultural Triangle, there has been a steady increase of tourists to sites.

Methodologies

The Cultural Triangle Project is primarily a two-pronged programme of

(i) Archaeology: Excavation, data processing, artifact and mural conservation, research and display, education and training.

(ii) Architectural conservation, landscaping and layout, education and training.

The archaeological programme with excavation and other related activities at each site is being carried out through Archaeological Directors who are Senior Archaeologists and University Dons. The conservation programme is managed by architectural firms through their respective conservation directors.

The two disciplines are interwoven and methods of coordination have been devised in the interest of the monuments and sites.

Excavations follow the norms laid out in the New Delhi Charter, while conservation of monuments follow the Venice Charter.

The sites selected for excavation and conservation follow different methods of demarcations into quadrants, sectors etc. and are managed by the Archaeological Director with a group of assistants and field officers who would manage excavations, data processing, laboratory conservation, preparation of progress reports and display of artifacts. The conservation of monuments are managed by a director of the particular architectural firm and all exposed monuments as well as surface monuments in danger or those that need preservation are being managed by a group of architectural assistants. Once the monuments are conserved the area is landscaped and laid out in order to preserve the ancient environment.

In addition, the infrastructure work is reinforced by the establishment of a laboratory system both for dating purposes and artifact conservation, and training programmes in field archaeology and conservation of built environment. Promotional activities as mentioned earlier are being managed by a publicity section, which Research and Publications section constitutes an important activity in the programme. [t1]

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