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A very successful 'Archaeology in Conflict' congress

5 Intense days of good lectures in Vienna

Published on 11 April 2010

Author(s): Rene Teijgeler

Type:  Congress report

120 Established and future scholars assembled to discuss the protection of cultural heritage in times of conflict.

Supported by the World Archaeological Congress (WAC) and the Association of National Committees of the Blue Shield (ANCBS), the organizers of the International Conference on ‘Archaeology in Conflict’ in Vienna can proudly look back on a very successful 5 day gathering. Scholars, students and practitioners in the field of Cultural Heritage, in total 120, gathered from all over the world to discuss the protection of cultural heritage in times of an armed conflict.

It was a very full program for 5 long days but certainly worthwhile. I was especially impressed by the ‘Next Generation’ program and lectures given by a number of young MA and PhD students. Listening to them confirmed my confidence in the scholars of tomorrow. The Friday sessions on the conflict in the Middle East showed daring views on politics and archaeology, not an easy subject in the context of the region to say the least.

On the first day we learned more of the excellent work by the Cultural Property Protection Officers in the Austrian army. Also, and that was new to me, we listened to presentations from our Russian collegues on the ‘Roerich Society’, a Russian painter, philosopher, scientist, writer, traveler, and public figure. He was also the author and initiator of an international pact for the protection of artistic and academic institutions and historical sites (Roerich’s Pact) and a founder of an international movement for the defence of culture.

Another highlight was the speech deliverd by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon in the historic conference hall in the Austrian Parliament that the congress participants were able to attend. He called for more political will to tackle climate change. “Even with limited resources... if (states) put a policy priority on climate change, these limited resources can be invested: this is a smart investment which can create a green economy and green growth by generating more green jobs. That is what all leaders believe. Now they must deliver it,” he added.

My own presentation on the need for ‘Guidelines for Military-Heritage relations in Times of Conflict’ was very well received. My starting point was the so-called ‘Oslo-Guidelines’ that regulates the relations between the military and the humanitarian sector during a natural disaster. From that guideline and others as well the heritage sector can learn a lot in their attempt to clarify their relations with the military. However, it became clear that the road to succesful guidelines will be a very bumpy one as not all of the participants understood the framework in which these guidelines will be applicable.

In the summmer the papers of the congress will be published in their short versions in "Forum Archaeologiae", Austria’a online archaeology journal.

For more on the past congress ‘Archaeology in Conflict’ see their website at…
For the future proceedings in ‘Forum Archaeologiae’ see at …
For more on WAC see at...
For more on the ANCBS see at...

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