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Rummaging through history
ISLAMABAD:
The land where Pakistan is situated today provides much pre-historic evidence of different phases of human cultural development in the region and merits study.
This was highlighted in a conference on Thursday on Pakistan’s cultural heritage with a focus on archeology and museum conservation.
The 3-day conference has been organised by the American Institute of Pakistan Studies with support from the US Embassy in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Ministry of Culture. Twenty-six leading scholars from Pakistan and ten from US involved in excavation and research have been invited to present their findings.
Experts and researchers presented papers on the importance of archaeology to history and culture of modern Pakistan, cultural heritage of Sindh and Balochistan, challenges of preserving and presenting the past in the present, heritage education at universities, archaeology and cultural heritage training and recent surveys of historic monuments.
Department of Archaeology and Museums, Ministry of Culture, Director General Dr Fazal Dad Kakar said archaeology is the study of past human societies primarily through the recovery and analysis of material culture and environmental data which they left behind, including artifacts, architecture, bio-facts and cultural landscapes. The land where the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is situated today had been the seat of world’s leading civilizations from the times immemorial. Evidence from the pre-historic and historic periods provide concrete evidence of many different phases on human cultural development in this region, he said.
During the colonial era, significant progress was made when remains of the Indus valley civilization were unearthed on the soil of Pakistan.
He said the discovery of first historic cities at Taxila and Gandhara art and architecture added much to the country’s history and culture.
However, the most startling discoveries through archaeological researches came after independence.
President American Institute of Pakistan Studies Madison Dr J Mark Kenoyer, said two most important goals of archaeology and cultural heritage management is to study archaeological remains in order to better understand the history of human culture and to endeavour to preserve the record of human culture for future generations to study.
Recovering information about the past involves excavation and documentation of ancient sites, followed by conservation, analysis and interpretation of the artifacts recovered from the excavations.
At each stage of the process of archaeological research, there are numerous challenges that are the result of limited resources, preservation of the archaeological remains, priorities of various institutions and human biases.
He said contemporary archaeological approaches to excavations and cultural heritage management are designed to meet these challenges with rigorous methodologies and interpretive frameworks.
At various sessions of the conference, speakers discussed how museums and site management can become more focused on outreach and education and presenting innovative ways to conserve both sites and artifacts.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2011.
Rummaging through history – The Express Tribune
ISLAMABAD:
The land where Pakistan is situated today provides much pre-historic evidence of different phases of human cultural development in the region and merits study.
This was highlighted in a conference on Thursday on Pakistan’s cultural heritage with a focus on archeology and museum conservation.
The 3-day conference has been organised by the American Institute of Pakistan Studies with support from the US Embassy in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Ministry of Culture. Twenty-six leading scholars from Pakistan and ten from US involved in excavation and research have been invited to present their findings.
Experts and researchers presented papers on the importance of archaeology to history and culture of modern Pakistan, cultural heritage of Sindh and Balochistan, challenges of preserving and presenting the past in the present, heritage education at universities, archaeology and cultural heritage training and recent surveys of historic monuments.
Department of Archaeology and Museums, Ministry of Culture, Director General Dr Fazal Dad Kakar said archaeology is the study of past human societies primarily through the recovery and analysis of material culture and environmental data which they left behind, including artifacts, architecture, bio-facts and cultural landscapes. The land where the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is situated today had been the seat of world’s leading civilizations from the times immemorial. Evidence from the pre-historic and historic periods provide concrete evidence of many different phases on human cultural development in this region, he said.
During the colonial era, significant progress was made when remains of the Indus valley civilization were unearthed on the soil of Pakistan.
He said the discovery of first historic cities at Taxila and Gandhara art and architecture added much to the country’s history and culture.
However, the most startling discoveries through archaeological researches came after independence.
President American Institute of Pakistan Studies Madison Dr J Mark Kenoyer, said two most important goals of archaeology and cultural heritage management is to study archaeological remains in order to better understand the history of human culture and to endeavour to preserve the record of human culture for future generations to study.
Recovering information about the past involves excavation and documentation of ancient sites, followed by conservation, analysis and interpretation of the artifacts recovered from the excavations.
At each stage of the process of archaeological research, there are numerous challenges that are the result of limited resources, preservation of the archaeological remains, priorities of various institutions and human biases.
He said contemporary archaeological approaches to excavations and cultural heritage management are designed to meet these challenges with rigorous methodologies and interpretive frameworks.
At various sessions of the conference, speakers discussed how museums and site management can become more focused on outreach and education and presenting innovative ways to conserve both sites and artifacts.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2011.
Rummaging through history – The Express Tribune
