Heritage goes high-tech
To protect world heritage sites from the detriments of urban expansion,
Nevine El-Aref explores the latest measures to preserve the richness of the region's heritage
Egypt and most of its Arab neighbours are known to be the cradle of civilisation, renowned for their treasured antiquities reflecting the region's grandeur, splendour and richness. Within the small circle of Egypt and the Arab world lie the remains of the Pharaonic, Assyrian, Babylonian, Islamic and Coptic civilisations, not to mention the unique ecological vistas. But as has been witnessed around the world with the advent of high-speed modernisation, the last two decades have subjected this invaluable heritage to tremendous damage. The speedy expansion of urban and agricultural development around the ancient monuments, coupled with the lack of comprehensive topographical maps or accurate geographical measurements defining their buffer zones have been the main causes of damage.
One of the key causes for dispute and miscommunication between developers in the region and experts around the world has in fact been the absence of the necessary technology for the optimal exchange of information. This conflict, however, may soon be overcome.
Experts have long been calling for the development of human resources and the implementation of a comprehensive programme to enable archaeologists in the region to properly gather and store data. Last week in Egypt, precisely that was done: a Flemish-financed project aimed to identify and develop human resources in the Arab region to record and document world heritage sites was launched. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), the National Centre for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (CULTNAT) and the World Heritage Centre (WHC). It will enable junior Arab archaeologists to use Information Technology (IT) to establish an efficient technical information base -- critical to the adequate protection and preservation of monuments and to prevent further dilapidation.
The idea of such a training programme was brought to light in December 2000 during the 24th session of the World Heritage Organisation (WHO), when Arab countries presented hazy reports on their world heritage sites. The result was a call for immediate action and for concrete steps to be laid out. "The lack of accurate documentation of sites has often led to serious damage," Giovanni Boccardi, chief of the Arab States Unit of the WHO told Al-Ahram Weekly. Such damage is evident in the old city of Cyrene in Libya, and Saint Abu Mina monastery in Egypt. Both sites have been shifted from the World Heritage List to the World Heritage Sub-List, compiled for sites in danger.
Cyrene, for example, Boccardi explained, is threatened by the expansion of the modern city. The only existing plan of this world heritage site was drawn in 1930 and since then no further studies have been undertaken. "Not a single archaeologist knows exactly where the boundaries of the modern city are and how it expands into the ancient one," he said. "Some other world heritage sites were lucky enough and succeeded to overcome the problem, such as the Giza Plateau. The antiquities officials were able to stop a section of the ring-road that was intended to flyover a very important necropolis of the Old Kingdom," he continued. "We are not against any modern development in the Arab countries, we are only calling for providing the basic information needed -- a topographic map, geographical measurements -- to define the size and the buffer zone of every site along with recent photos to prevent any infringement."
Based on that, the Flemish-funded project proposal was put together. "Lead by qualified instructors from both international and regional institutions, the programme seeks, in effect, to regroup young archaeologists attached to local governments to use modern and advanced tools in order to prepare a comprehensive information system for their world heritage sites," Boccardi told the Weekly. "This interdisciplinary group of experts was chosen due to its members' extensive experience in mapping and conserving world heritage sites."
At the Saqqara necropolis, 25 kilometres south of Giza Plateau, dozens of junior Arab professionals ranging from 25 to 35 years of age gathered on a spring morning to commence their two-week-long workshop. "We choose the Memphis necropolis to be the case study neither because it is a world heritage site nor for its overwhelming monuments but for being a thoroughly documented site suitable to set an example of what must be done," Boccardi told the Weekly. Karim Hendili, consultant at the Arab States Unit of the WHO, explained that the prime objective of this workshop is to update relative information to the sites deemed "world heritage", in order to ensure that they conform to the rigorous standards set by the international organisation.
During the workshop, trainees will prepare systematic monitoring tools to assist site managers in planning and evaluating conservation activities at "world heritage" properties using information systems and other related techniques provided by CULTNAT. The national experts amongst the gathering will also be introduced to the use of advanced digital information systems that might be applied for periodic reporting of the Arab States Region in 2007 targeted mainly towards the national experts who will be on the training programme.
"These elements could be taught individually depending on the needs of each site and regional partner," Boccardi told the Weekly. The second phase of the project will be executed two months later in Tunisia at Ichkeul National Park. During the month-long phase two guide trainees will provide teaching on how to develop documentation and conservation of a natural world heritage site. The Ichkeul National Park is a major stopover for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds such as ducks, geese, storks and pink flamingoes who come to feed and nest there. Ichkeul is also the last remaining lake in a chain that once extended across North Africa.
