Cultural Conservation

In Kenya, cultural and natural heritage has a particular value. Its pre-historic heritage not only tells the story of man's origin and evolution but has also contributed to the understanding of the earth's history: fossils and artefacts spanning over 27 million years have been discovered and conserved by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). Alongside this, the steady rise in the market value of African art has also affected Kenya. Demand for African tribal art has surpassed that for antiquities of Roman, Byzantine, and Egyptian origin, and in African countries currently experiencing conflicts, this activity invariably attracts looters, traffickers and criminal networks. This book brings together essays by heritage experts from different backgrounds, including conservation, heritage management, museum studies, archaeology, environment and social sciences, architecture and landscape, geography, philosophy and economics to explore three key themes: the underlying ethics, practices and legal issues of heritage conservation; the exploration of architectural and urban heritage of Nairobi; and the natural heritage, landscapes and sacred sites in relation to local Kenyan communities and tourism. It thus provides an overview of conservation practices in Kenya from 2000 to 2015 and highlights the role of natural and cultural heritage as a key factor of social-economic development, and as a potential instrument for conflict resolution

Conservation of Cultural Heritage covers the methods and practices needed for future museum professionals who will be working in various capacities with museum collections and artifacts. It also assists current professionals in understanding the complex decision-making processes that face conservators on a daily basis. The uniqueness of this book lies in correlating the aspects of material science and the behaviour of artifacts in a museum environment. It will be of special benefit to museum professionals not trained in conservation. Covering a broad range of topics that are key to sound conservation in the museum, Conservation of Cultural Heritage is an important tool for students and professionals alike in ensuring that best practice is followed in the preservation of important collections.

Conservation of Cultural Heritage covers the methods and practices needed for future museum professionals who will be working in various capacities with museum collections and artifacts. It also assists current professionals in understanding the complex decision making processes that faces conservators on a daily basis. Covering a broad range of topics that are key to sound conservation in the museum, this volume is an important tool for students and professional alike in ensuring that best practice is followed in the preservation of important collections.

Preserving What Is Valued explores the concept of preserving heritage. It presents the conservation profession's code of ethics and discusses four significant contexts embedded in museum conservation practice: science, professionalization, museum practice, and the relationship between museums and First Nations peoples. Museum practice regarding handling and preservation of objects has been largely taken as a given, and it can be difficult to see how these activities are politicized. Clavir argues that museum practices are historically grounded and represent values that are not necessarily held by the originators of the objects. She first focuses on conservation and explains the principles and methods conservators practise. She then discusses First Nations people's perspectives on preservation, quoting extensively from interviews done throughout British Columbia, and comparing the British Columbia situation with that in New Zealand. In the face of cultural repatriation issues, museums are attempting to become more culturally sensitive to the original owners of objects, forming new understandings of the "right ways" of storage and handling of materials. Miriam Clavir's work is important for museum professionals, conservators, those working with First Nations collections in auction houses and galleries, as well as students of sociology and anthropology.

In Kenya, cultural and natural heritage has a particular value. Its pre-historic heritage not only tells the story of man's origin and evolution but has also contributed to the understanding of the earth's history: fossils and artefacts spanning over 27 million years have been discovered and conserved by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). Alongside this, the steady rise in the market value of African art has also affected Kenya. Demand for African tribal art has surpassed that for antiquities of Roman, Byzantine, and Egyptian origin, and in African countries currently experiencing conflicts, this activity invariably attracts looters, traffickers and criminal networks. This book brings together essays by heritage experts from different backgrounds, including conservation, heritage management, museum studies, archaeology, environment and social sciences, architecture and landscape, geography, philosophy and economics to explore three key themes: the underlying ethics, practices and legal issues of heritage conservation; the exploration of architectural and urban heritage of Nairobi; and the natural heritage, landscapes and sacred sites in relation to local Kenyan communities and tourism. It thus provides an overview of conservation practices in Kenya from 2000 to 2015 and highlights the role of natural and cultural heritage as a key factor of social-economic development, and as a potential instrument for conflict resolution

This two volume guide provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles and guidelines for documenting cultural heritage places. It seeks to aid heritage managers and decision makers in understanding their roles and responsibilities inn this essential activity. Volume 1 (Guiding Principles) explains why heritage managers must make sure that heritage information fully integrated into all research, investigation and conservation activities. Through the discussion of basic principles, benefits and new approaches, it assists those in charge of preserving immovable cultural heritage by bringing current heritage information practices to a new level. By recording we create a reference for evaluating change and add to the understanding of a site. By documenting we guarantee that information is systematically collected and preserved for future use. By managing the information we make it available and provide a basis for sharing our knowledge and understanding. Volume 2 presents illustrated examples from around the world. Good documentation of a site allows for better understanding of the site's value. Recognizing value and significance is often the first step toward a site's eventual conservation. The information obtained through the documentation process allows conservation professionals to record current conditions, consider appropriate conservation options, plan interventions, apply treatments, and finally, measure the results of their efforts. Documentation can be a tool in resolving a conservation issue. This volume presents several illustration examples from around the world, in various stages of conservation.

In September 2008, a combined annual conference for the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology, the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology and the Australian Association for Maritime History was held at the magnificent Institute Building of the State Library of South Australia in Adelaide. The conference was entitled "Archaeology from Below - Engaging the Public" and hoped to address the relationship between archaeology and the public. Papers presented in this session broaden discussions on the interactions of professionals and the public with respect to in situ stabilisation, preservation and management of terrestrial and underwater cultural heritage sites and their associated archaeological finds.