Mahmoud El Sandidy, Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, General Director of Museum Conservation.

APPLYING PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION METHODOLOGY IN PROTECTING AND MANAGING HERITAGE AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE ARAB WORLD

This paper discusses in details the concept of preventive conservation methodology and strategies in field of Cultural heritage preservation, it will examine the current development of the Methodology to be used in protecting archaeological and cultural heritage sites in the Arab world with a comprehensive application in two important Archaeological sites in Egypt, the Nobel Tombs, west of Aswan and the Greco-Roman Catacomb of Kom Elshoqafa in Alexandria, however the suggested methodology could be used in other sites in the Arab Region with the aim of introducing this newly developed concept is to allow long term protection of heritage sites from numerous deterioration factors including natural and man-made disasters and to reduce the high costs of continues and repeatable restoration on the sites which may affect different values integrated in heritage sites and alter its authenticity and implementing inadequate development projects within the heritage sites and its buffer zones. The paper also introduces a comprehensive methodology of proper management of the archaeological sites which allow descent use of the sites and ensure the preservation of the values on these sites according to international preservation standards. The author has reviewed many successful applications of the concept in many sites (among them, Risk Management of Heritage sites, Unesco 2012), other examples from U.S.A, U.K. and Italy were used to introduce a comprehensive plan for Risk assessment, preservation and management of the selected sites. The study includes detailed study about the nature of various risks and deterioration factors in the Arabian sites with a special focus on the selected sites in Egypt, a detailed study about socio economic pressure of development projects was conducted. The study investigates existing management and conservation plans and development project by using SWOT analysis. The research project includes analytical investigation of deteriorated samples from both sites to characterize the nature and the deterioration problems in these sites by use of many analytical instruments including XRD, IR, SEM, these studies were carried out to evaluate, compare and understand the nature of deterioration problems in both sites. The paper illustrates the result of a preventive conservation methodologies survey using a designed questionnaire for archaeologists, site managers, conservators, architects and various stake holders in heritage sites as well as intensive analysis of current conservation and management plans. Based on the obtained results a comprehensive plan of preventive conservation methodology and different strategies based on the state of Conservation was suggested by the author to manage and preserve the heritage assets. The outcome results ensured the importance use of comprehensive plans based on preventive conservation strategies in protection and managing heritage sites in the Arab world.