Strategies needed for relic conservation: UNESCO chief representative

An excavation hole in Thanh Long Royal Citadel centre. (Photo: Organising committee)

Hanoi (VNA) - Head of UNESCO Representative Office in Vietnam Christian Manhart has affirmed that the Thang Long Royal Citadel centre is among the rare relics in the world that manifests the continuity and the history of humankind.

An international symposium themed “20 Years of Research, Conservation and Promotion of Values of Thang Long Royal Citadel relic – Hanoi” was held in Hanoi on September 8 with the participation of some 200 experts, both domestic and international.

Speaking at the event, head of the UNESCO Representative Office in Hanoi Christian Manhart stressed that research and conservation of relics is a long-lasting process that requires strategic planning and implementation from relevant authorities.

The Thang Long Royal Citadel is an attestation of more than 10 centuries of exchanges and cultural influences from all over Asia, the official affirmed and stressed that there are still many archeological layers lying underground, waiting to be explored.

Echoing the point of view, Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Tran Sy Thanh said that the excavation of the Thang Long Royal Citadel relic is a massive undertaking in the history of Vietnam and Southeast Asia’s archeology. The first steps of the work were started in 20 years ago, in December 2002,  at 18 Hoang Dieu street, and they exposed traces of the Thang Long Royal Citadel in a period of history that spans 13 centuries, with relics and civilisation layers lying one on another.

This is a typical relic complex that bears a long-lasting historical and cultural depth, Thanh affirmed, adding it serves as a material evidence reflecting the high skills and containing historical, architectural and art values.

To help provide a deeper and more comprehensive knowledge on the basic values of the Royal Citadel in the fields of architecture and culture, conservation and value promotion, the Hanoi official expressed his hope that experts will contribute ideas and solutions to conserve the relic.

Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Tran Sy Thanh speaks at the symposium. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The outcomes of the symposium will serve as a scientific foundation for Hanoi authorities to build a plan on the restoration and revival of the palace structure in the time to come, especially the application of digital technology around relics, Thanh said.

The event saw 31 presentations from scientists, experts and relic managers, both national and international. They touched upon outcomes yielded from the activities at the Thang Long Royal Citadel over the past 20 years since its exposition, especially 10 years since its recognition as a world cultural relic in the field of archeological excavation following a proposal by ICOMOS.

On September 9, experts will discuss and share experiences in conservation and restoration of architectural works in the relic complex, shed light on global values of the relic complexes in the world, and study measures to conserve and bring into play the value of the archeological site at 18 Hoang Dieu street.

Participants at the symposium. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The symposium creates a chance for experts and managers to review the prominent results in the management, research, conservation and promotion of the values of the Thang Long Royal Citadel centre since 2002. This is especially so with the outcomes of the archeological excavation since the complex was included into the list of the world cultural relics by UNESCO.

This also serves as a forum for both domestic and foreign experts working in the fields of research, conservation and promotion of relics to exchange and learn experiences from one another, and to provide scientific consultation on the orientations for the work concerning the world cultural relic – the Thang Long Royal Citadel./.