archaeology

Karina Arifin, Deputy Professor of Archaeology University of Indonesia,
22 September - 24 September 2003

Due to the instable and fast changing situation of the Sangiran Early Man site a First Reactive Monitoring Mission to Sangiran was organized and undertaken by Karina Arifin, Deputy Professor of Archaeology University of Indonesia.This Mission aimed to document the current situation of the site, to identify the attitude and awareness of the local communities living on the site, evaluate the overall situation and conditions in terms of archaeological research as well as in terms of management issues and to examine future activities. Thus this mission included visits of governmental departments as well as talks to local people living on the site.

Several problems the Sangiran site is currently facing could be identified by the First Monitoring Mission:
* Due to its size and open profile, the Sangiran site, having several access points, is difficult to safeguard. Therefore, it has been clandestinely plundered by domestic and foreign people.
* Local communities are still living on the site, most of them -despite the arid and infertile condition of the area- depend on agriculture for living. Thus, the economically difficult situation of local people results in ignorance of the importance of the archeological value of the site, and the feeling that the World Heritage status limits their activities and prevents them to get a better income and way of life. This is especially a true for the inhabitants of the Regency of Karanganyar.
* The condition of the rather fragile soils strategraphy, which is unable to withstand high annual rainfall and therefore is easily recovered represent one of the current problems concerning the preservation of the Sangiran site.
* Despite this, the Sangiran site faces severe difficulties regarding the management of the site itself and of the museum. Ineffective management has a negative affect on the development and construction of the archeological site and on the improvement and alterations of the museum. Another problem of great importance is the lack of human resources in particular the lack of qualified staff for the museum and specially trained employees like guardians and tour guides for the site.
* Concerning research matters, there is an absence of university involvement and a lack of collaboration between the Sangiran site and the Department of Paleoanthropology of national universities. The involvement of university professors and students in the research and excavation process of the Sangiran site can be fruitful and profitable for both sides.
* Finally, the vorlaeufige/proposed zonation for the Sangiran site has so far not been followed up by a government decree to state its legal status, as it has never been socialized to the local government or other related parties such as investors. In order avoid harmful constrictions within the zoning of Sangiran site it is firstly necessary to install new boundary marks and secondly to socialize the zonation of Sangiran site to various institutions and people as further to inform them about the rights and obligations within the zonation.

Nevertheless, several projects in order to improve and promote the Sangiran site not only as an archaeological site but also as a tourist place are in progress. The Kabupaten of Sragen is interested in developing the Sangiran site as a tourist area. Whereas his initiative is welcome, it is necessary to guide his future projects in order to ensure that the alterations undertaken are both, benefiting the local communities but not harming the site or the archaeological excavations. The Kabupaten Karnaganyar, on the other hand, has selected an area of 13 ha as the location of the terminal rubbish dump from three regencies: Karanganyar, Boyolali and Solo. The inhabitants of this area are strongly supporting this plan, because it will firstly increase their income and secondly they will be able to use the organic material as fertilizer for their land.
However, in order to stabilize the situation on Sangiran site and to preserve and conserve this heritage, it will be essential to not only address government departments, archaeological researcher and investors but to also involve local people themselves, as they are not only living on the site but also depending economically on the land.

Visit to Sangiran
Philippe Delanghe, Programme Specialist, Culture Unit
Alexa Schorlemer, Consultant, Culture Unit
9 December 2003

During their mission to Prambanan and Borobudur World Heritage Site (9 December - 11 December 2003), Philippe Delanghe and Alexa Schorlemer also made a field visit to Sangiran World Heritage Site.
Aim of this visit was to observe the current condition of the site, to discuss the different problems with the local authorities and to prepare a request for international assistance to be addressed to the World Heritage Centre.
Concerning the constructions that are undertaken at the site, the mission team could observe that so far a major entrance gate to the site has been constructed and the road leading to the site is also undergoing construction works in order to be widened. Whereas the construction of the watchtower providing a panoramic view of the landscape, decent sanitary facilities and nice, traditionally styled souvenir stalls has been finished, there still are huge construction works going on in order to enlarge the museum and to renovate its older parts. Furthermore, a viewing theatre has been established where a movie on human evolution and the site will be shown. To be able to observe those spots from the watchtower where successful excavations had been executed, it was proposed to install huge flags. Although this idea is generally approved, however, its implementation stills seems to face difficulties. The construction of the so-called "Jurassic Park" will also start in April / May 2004. At the moment the local government is still engaged in land acquisitions. Even though no construction is foreseen, the local government clearly stated its need for further advice.
Concerning the admission fee, the local government estimates it wants to charge an admission fee per visiting school class of 40.000 IR. For individuals, no decision has been made so far.

The inventory of the fossils is proceeding very slowly as there is only one archaeologist permanently posted on the site. (Around 1000 pieces [0.1 %] have been inventoried) The mission team was also asked to recommend a database programme to digitalise the inventory. The problem of illegal selling of fossils has improved as the finders are now quickly reimbursed under the local initiative of the Bupati (Regent) if they take the fossils to the museum
Concerning the current situation in Karanganyar, so far no Bupati has been elected for this regency. As such, there is no further news on the planned building of a waste dump. A socialisation workshop initiated by the Central Government was organised for the communities in the Karanganyar regency as furhter World Heritage Education had already been introduced in the local curriculum. This is in line with the National Governments regulation to include local contents into the curriculum, but a first trial in Indonesia related to World Heritage Sites.

International Monitoring Mission to Sangiran
Yves Coppens, Professor of Paleoanthroplogy at the College de France,
In 2004

The Indonesian Government, being aware of the difficult situation of the site, requested for UNESCO`s professional assistance to coordinate and monitor activities on the site and to support the safeguarding of the site by sending a Reactive Monitoring Mission to Sangiran. UNESCO Jakarta Office passed on this request to the World Heritage Centre in Paris. Further, first steps towards the organization and implementation of an international experts mission have been taken. Dr. Yves Coppens, Professor of Paleoanthroplogy at the College de France has been approached and agreed to direct the mission to Sangiran site. Thus an international experts team will most probably be sent to Sangiran in 2004.

The Asian Academy for Heritage Management
1st Field School, 22 November - 5 December 2003, Macau
Attended by Karina Arifin

Conserving Asia`s Built Heritage: An Integrated Management Approach

The first field school of the Asian Academy for Heritage Management in Macau SAR has been organized by UNESCO Bangkok, the Institute of Tourism Studies (IFT) Macau SAR, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)", Culture Institute (Government Macau) and the University of Hong Kong. The field school was attended by 25 participants form various intuitions and organizations form various Asian countries.
The field school was designed to equip the participants with various concepts, strategies and management in urban conservation as well as the experience to apply their knowledge gained from the field school in a group work project. The theme for the first field school has been Integrated Conservation in order to reflect the shift in the emphasis of the conservation, from monuments to living historic towns that happened in the last two decades. To better understand management issues in conservation projects, several field trips around Macau and Hong Kong were conducted.

"The definition of cultural heritage now not only includes single monuments and works of art but also historic areas and cultural landscapes. There are also changes in the approach to conservation - social elements are now equally weighed with architectural and historic elements".

Sharif Shams Imon