SRI KSETRA and PYU ANCIENT CITIES

Myanmar’s First World Heritage Sites

U Win Kyaing, Principal

Field School of Archaeology,

Dept. of Archaeology and National Museum

Proposed property boundaries

include entirety of the three

ancient brick walled cities and

peri-urban areas and ancient

landscape engineering features.

Buffer zones follow natural

features such as mountains and

streams, local administrative

boundaries and land ownership

and protect the environmental

context of the ancient cities and

associated features such as

natural resource extraction sites.

THE SERIAL NOMINATION

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HALIN

Sagaing Region,

Shwebo District

E 95° 49’ 7”

N 22° 28’ 12”

NOMINATED PROPERTY

(HA) 1,243

BUFFER ZONE 2,198

TOTAL AREA 3,441

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BEIKTHANO

Magwe Region,

Taungdwingyi

District

E 95° 22’ 46”

N 20° 0’ 14”

NOMINATED PROPERTY (HA)

1,188

BUFFER ZONE 2,879

TOTAL AREA 4,067

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SRI KSETRA

Bago Region,

Pyay District

E 95° 17’ 24”

N 18° 47’ 54”

NOMINATED

PROPERTY (HA) 3,378

BUFFER ZONE 1,713

TOTAL AREA 5,091

Serial Lists in Pyu Ancient Cities

TRANSMISSION OF BUDDHISM ACROSS

SOUTHEAST ASIA

• (Criterion ii): Over a prolonged period of interaction between

indigenous societies with Indic cultures to the west starting after the

2nd century BCE, Buddhism achieved its first permanent foothold in

Southeast Asia among the Pyu cities, where it was embraced by all

classes of society.

The structural activities can be differentiated

the city’s architectural development and

chronology

FIRST LITERATE URBAN CIVILIZATION

IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

• (Criterion iii): The Pyu Ancient Cities marked the emergence of

the first historically-documented Buddhist urban civilization in

Southeast Asia. The establishment of literate Buddhist

monastic communities arose in tandem with the re-

organization of agricultural production, the specialized

production of manufactured goods, the construction of

religious monuments in brick, and the development of unique

mortuary practices.

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INNOVATIVE URBAN PROTOTYPES

• (Criterion iv): Technological innovations in resource

management, hydraulic engineering, agriculture and

manufacturing of brick and iron at the Pyu Ancient Cities created

the preconditions leading to significant advances in city planning

and building construction, resulting in the creation of urban

prototypes which proved critically influential for later city

formation in Southeast Asia.

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Outline History of Sri Ksetra

Traditional chronicles preserved many accounts of Sri Ksetra and

founders are said “the descendants of Tagaung” . The city was marked

the beginning of Buddhism, 25 kings ruled and their patrons in

establishing religious buildings. The decline of the city was attributed

city-chaos by the invasion and tribal conflict.

The Life Span of Sri Ksetra City on Scientific View

A sample of iron production site in the centre of the city gives a scientific

dating_Radio Carbon 14 test in Iron Production site_ 90_ 150 A.D

The Life Span of Sri Ksetra City

An example of statuary remains dated 2nd_3rd century A.D

SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CITY

UNDER THE MANAGEMENT ISSUES

1. Planning, Management and Policy

2. Conservation

3. Maintenance

4. Scientific Research

5. Ownership

6. Use of the Site

7. Interpretation

8. Visitor Access

9. Risks

Planning, management and Policy

National Laws and Regulation

zoning, monument conservation, site management, public

education

Customary Protection

venerated and sacred place, traditional nat spirit

Existing Structures and Local Development Plans

railway, Khittaya new expansion

Financial Resources

increased annual budget, Trustee fund, international

funding

Human Resources

increase set of staff

Conservation

living monuments

excavated structures

in-situ and sensitive remains

different phases presentation

later structure

Maintenance

traditional and cultural priority of present society

implementation by the community and institution

Scientific Research

national and international scholar

Italy Lerici Foundation

Department and Field School of Archaeology

joint with Cambridge and Sydney University

Ownership categories of ownership

current status

Use of the Site religious function 20. 62 Ha.

agricultural practices 3741. 98 Ha.

residential function 216. 81 Ha.

institutional function 76. 58 Ha.

transportation and

utility of infrastructure

tourism and pilgrimage 756. 48 Ha.

Total 5091. 00 Ha.

Interpretation museum

information panel

heritage information and guided tour

Visitor Access departmental

local

Risk earthquake

flood

fire

theft and vandalism

FIELD SCHOOL OF ARCHAEOLOGY For the new staffs and graduated who intended professional archaeologists

Teachings such as:

Field Archaeology Archaeological sciences

Prehistoric Archaeology Protohistoric Archaeology

Historic Archaeology Ancient architecture

Epigraphy and Numismatology Art and Iconography

Museology Structural conservation

Chemical Conservation Cultural Heritage Protection

FSA relevance to the protection management of heritage

professional specialization such as:

international heritage law

management of heritage

landscape conservation and management

conservation of vernacular architecture and artifact

Sri Ksetra Heritage Trust

Established on September 4th, 2012

Executive Committee_ 15 with total 1200 members

Practice_ registration

organize, talk, meeting

tour, gift, case,

publicity signboard, workshop

heritage knowledge distribution to schools

celebrity activities, advice and suggestion to institutions

collaboration with FSA, MoC, SK Office, Hmawza Library

meeting with ICOMOS

attempt extended trip to Sri Ksetra

author’s talk in Hmawza

Photo Exhibition

Discussion on Pyu Epigraphy

upgrade display Shwephone-pwint Museum

Sri Ksetra Heritage Trust

Aim wish to follow rules and regulations of UNESCO and participated in

safeguarding of Cultural Heritage by the collaboration of any NGO,

Organization and Institution

to protect any action of cultural heritage loss and decay

preparing a memorial publication about World Heritage Nomination Process on

Pyu Ancient Cities of Myanmar

Conclusion

International known level “World Heritage Listed”

OUV criteria,

integrity, authenticity

Protection and management

Institutional and communal participation

Appropriate development plan

face challenges

Transitional condition

Thank You!

Protection

Boundary demarcation, current status of ownership and land use

Zoning

monument conservation

site management

pubic education

Security

Factors affecting the properties

(i) Development pressures

(mechanized agriculture,

non traditional crops,

transportation infrastructure,

encroachment and non-traditional human settlements,

garbage dumping,

mining and gravel extraction,

looting and gold sieving

Utilities infrastructure

(ii) Environmental pressures pollution, climate changes not felt at all

plants, growth of trees penetration and making cracking structures

(iii) Natural disaster and risk preparedness (earthquake, flood, fire)

(iv) Responsible visitation

(v) Number of inhabitants within the property and the buffer zone

State of Conservation

plan

OUV and others

monitoring

Management

operated guidelines for implementation of WHC convention

MANAGEMENT VISION

A Heritage Site with a balance between antiquity and livingness, where

its potential Outstanding Universal Value is safeguarded, promoted and

communicated to contemporary life and to bring these values into play to

contribute to local community economic, social, and cultural development,

by integrating heritage preservation into environmental conservation and

sustainable development through a participatory approach to the property’s

management, undertaken in cooperation with other stakeholders including the

sangha (monk body) and the local community.

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PYUCOM

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