CULTURAL HERITAGE OF LIBYA

ICOMOS-UK Christmas Lecture and Wine Reception – 15 December 2011, 6.30 – 8.30 pm

The extraordinary wealth of Libya’s cultural heritage encompasses the Greek and Roman monuments of the Mediterranean coast between Tunisia and Algeria such as Cyrene, Leptis Magna, Sabratha, the desert and Gebel pre-desert tribal cultures of the huge expanses of southern Libya stretching down to the borders of Chad and Niger, towns on the salt route across the Sahara, such as Ghadames, and the spectacular pre-historic rock art sites of Tadrart Acacus.

Arch of Tiberius, Leptis Magna

These irreplaceable elements of the world’s culture stretching back thousands of years face very real threats in the wake of the recent military action. The need to acknowledge the importance of these sites cannot be overestimated, and to prepare them for the challenges that a rapidly developing tourist industry could bring.

Dr Hafed Walda will profile the cultural heritage of Libya – its World Heritage sites and the many urban and desert sites that remain totally un-designated and un-protected – and offer his view on the needs now facing the country to raise awareness of this legacy and put in place structures to sustain their value.

Dr Hafed Walda. After gaining his bachelor’s degree in his native Libya, Hafed came to the Institute of Archaeology in London where he obtained his doctorate in Roman Art and Archaeology. At the British Museum he co-ordinated the setting up of the new Roman Gallery which has become a focal point for many visitors to the Museum. He used his experience in directing the excavation at Leptis Magna to advise the Libyan Department of Antiquities in the creation of the new museum. Currently Research Fellow at King’s College London, where as well as teaching courses in Roman Art, Roman Architecture and Introduction to Archaeology, he is involved in digitalisation projects within the School of Arts and Humanities. In September 2011 he was part of a Blue Shield delegation to Libya representing the Libyan Department of Antiquities and in October 2011 he represented Libya at an UNESCO Expert meeting in Paris.

For more information, and information on how to book please contact us by  email on admin@icomos-uk.org or call 020 7566 0031

Remote Access to World Heritage Sites – conference 23-24 November 2011

Remote Access to World Heritage – I Know Where I’m Going, Conference, 23-24 November 2011, Edinburgh, UK

The UK National Commission for UNESCO is running a conference on the potential for new technologies to create remote-access for visitors to World Heritage or other cultural or natural sites.  St Kilda World Heritage Site will be used as a case study throughout the Conference to look at the issues of providing remote access to sensitive sites. See also the Scottish Ten website, which is a five-year digital project to scan and create digital models of the 5 Scottish World Heritage Sites, and 5 international sites in order to better conserve and manage them.