Shared Guardianship: Involving Communities in Sustaining the Cultural Heritage of Salt Range, Pakistan

Abstract

Archaeological heritage serves as a crucial means of understanding our past, providing insights into the development of our cultures, beliefs, and technology. Furthermore, it contributes to tourism and generates revenue for local communities, making it an essential asset to preserve for future generations. Salt Range, the enigmatic rock formations, mainly housing the prehistoric and historic remains. However, natural disasters, illegal excavations and lack of care by the custodians have led to damage to archaeological remains. To protect these remains from further damage, government departments oversee managing and protecting matters, which are spread across the country. The significance of these remains necessitates preservation efforts that date back to the 18th Century. However, despite such efforts, the study of community archaeology as a means of heritage preservation remains inadequate in Pakistan. This highlights a critical gap in understanding how the community can be involved in the conservation of their cultural heritage. Therefore, there is a need for concerted efforts to promote community involvement in archaeological preservation. This research paper highlights the important archaeological remains of Salt Range, their state of preservation, and how locals can be involved in preservation of important sites.

Presenters

Arslan Butt
Assistant Professor, Archaeology, University of Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Cultural Studies

KEYWORDS

Community Engagement; Salt Range; Heritage Conservation; Heritage Protection

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