SAARC Archaeology and Heritage Management Training Workshop: Footsteps of the Past, Custodians of the Present, Heritage of the Future

16th to 18th December 2018
Kabul, Afghanistan

Background
Tangible Cultural Heritage (TCH) of South Asia is not limited to World Heritage Sites and the landscape is dotted with archaeological sites indicating the long and eventful history of the Region.  In many of these TCH sites there are associated Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) which are neglected due to lack of resources.  There are sites in the Region which are yet to be identified, conserved, restored and managed for posterity.  However, the biggest challenge the SAARC Region is facing now is the lack of human resources.  This workshop hopes to lay the foundation in building the human resources of the region to face the challenges of Heritage Management for present and future.

Workshop Training Modules  
This is a tentative module and will change according to the Resources Persons nominated by each Member State.

  1. Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMP).
  2. Site interpretation and public awareness.
  3. Disaster preparedness for cultural heritage.
  4. Documentation of archaeological sites.
  5. Photo-documentation of paintings and murals.
  6. Collection management in archaeological sites and museums.
  7. Cultural Impact Assessments in Development Projects.

Resource Persons for the Workshop
Each Member State is kindly requested to nominate a minimum of 1 Resource Person from mid to senior level professionals.  The field of expertise can be one from the list below but not limited to the fields identified below.

  1. Archaeological Excavations
  2. Artefact conservators (metal, terracotta, wooden, glass, etc.)
  3. Disaster Preparedness and Management of Cultural Heritage
  4. Collection Management
  5. Tourism promotion of archaeological sites/tangible cultural heritage
  6. Architectural conservation
  7. Archaeological Surveying
  8. Archaeological Impact Assessments
  9. Experts on GIS and 3D modelling.

Target Participants for the Workshop
The Nominees for the Workshop may be selected from amongst diverse disciplines among Academics and Policy Makers.  Priority should be for early to mid-career level professionals involved in heritage management, policy makers and persons associated with the World Heritage Sites in the Region.  Resource Persons should be selected from mid to senior level professionals.

Academics and Scholars should include but not limited to:

  • Archaeologists,
  • Art Historians,
  • Conservators,
  • Planners,
  • Architects,
  • Curators,
  • Museologists,
  • Heritage Site Managers,
  • Persons working with national and local authorities with experience in the fields of archaeological Conservation and Preservation,
  • Tangible and Intangible Heritage Experts,
  • Managers, planners and staff of heritage sites.

Details for Participation at the Workshop

  1. Official Nominees from the Member States
    The SAARC Cultural Centre invites all Member States to send a maximum of Five Official Nominations.  One of the Nominees should be a Resource Person with an expertise mentioned in No. 5 of this document (mid to senior level professionals).  The others should be early to mid-career professionals working at or in charge of a heritage site of the Member State.

    • The SAARC Cultural Centre would provide the local hospitality (Hotel accommodations on full board basis) and the local transport to all Official Nominees of the SAARC Member States (Participants / Resource Persons).
    • The Airfare of the Official Nominees of the SAARC Member States is to be borne by the respective Member State.

    The Host Country can nominate a maximum of 15 Official Nominees and they will be provided with the Workshop material and the Cultural Tour but no accommodation during the Workshop.

  2. Other Participants
    Category A – The SAARC Cultural Centre would also accept the participation of other Participants/Resource Persons from the Member States (other than the Official Nominees of the respective SAARC Member States).  Air Travel to be borne by the participant and SCC will provide accommodation, Workshop material and the cultural tour.

    • Other Participants (Category A) Selection of Other Participants in this category will be at the discretion of the SAARC Cultural Centre depending on the availability of space.

    Category B – Participants from the Host Country where the Workshop is held can participate.

    • Other Participants (Category B) from the Host country will not be provided with accommodation.
    • Selection of the Other Participants will depend on the availability of space.
  3. Other Information
    • The Language of the Workshop will be English.
    • All participants must submit a Site Report/Country Report.
    • The Workshop material (delegate kit, tea, working lunch) as well as invitations to special events and the cultural tour would be extended to all participants.
  4. Nomination Process
    1. The Official Nominees will be selected by each Member State comprising of leading archaeologists, architects, planners, conservators, site managers and those working with local authorities with experience in the field of management of cultural heritage sites and persons in charge of archaeological sites (Heritage Managers) from the Member State.  Official Nominations should be submitted to the SAARC Secretariat, with the Registration Form (Annexure 1) and the Format for the Submission of Site Reports/Country Papers (Annexure 2) attached (or downloaded from the SCC website) and the details requested at 7.5 of this document.
    2. All Other Participants (Category A and Category B) from each Member State should forward their information (including the Annexure 1 & Annexure 2) through the respective Foreign Ministries to the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu.
    3. All Applications must be sent through the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Ministry of External Affairs to the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu.  An Advance copy can be emailed to the SAARC Cultural Centre.
  5. All Participants should include:
    1. Full Name and Affiliation of the Person and other details requested in the Registration Form attached herewith.  (Registration Form – Annexure 1)
    2. Detailed CV of the participant.
    3. Scanned Copy of Passport
    4. The Site Report of a Tangible Heritage Site the participant (Official Nominees and Other Participants) is familiar with.  The Site Report should be submitted in the Submission Form attached herewith.  (Format for the Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports – Annexure 2)
    5. The Officially nominated Resource Persons are requested to prepare Country Reports (ie. Situation of the respective Member States) from the perspective of his or her expertise.  The Country Report should be submitted in the Submission Form attached herewith.  (Format for the Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports – Annexure 2)
  6. Format for Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports
    The Format for the Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports are attached as a separate document (Annexure 2).

Site Reports/Country Reports
All participants must prepare a Site Report/Country Reports of an archaeological or cultural heritage site which you are familiar with.  These Reports will be used as case studies during the Workshop.  Please use Annexure 2 to submit the Site Reports.  The Report must contain the following information.

  • Basic Information (Location – Longitude and Latitude, Country, State/Province, District, Town, Village, etc., a map of the area, etc.)
  • Type of Site (Religious, Administrative, Agricultural, Residential, etc.)
  • Authority/Ownership of the Site (Local Government, State Government, Religious Order, etc.)
  • Description of the Site (History, chronology, architectural details, landscape, etc.)
  • Current status (the number of visitors, infrastructure available for visitors, information available for visitors, etc.)
  • Existing publications regarding the site.
  • Websites which refers to this site.
  • Any other relevant details.

Time Schedule for the Workshop & Site Report Submissions
Call for Participation: 27th March 2018
Deadline for accepting Nominees & Participants: 25th November 2018
Submission of Site Reports/Country Reports: 25th November 2018

Workshop: 16th to 17th December 2018
Cultural Tour: 18th December 2018