The Fiji Museum is leading a training workshop on archaeological survey and mapping in Molituva, Tailevu in a bid to raise awareness among indigenous communities about the importance of safeguarding their old village and other cultural heritage sites and how best to record them.
Twenty four participants from the four provinces of Naitasiri, Rewa, Namosi and Tailevu are part of this workshop.
Fiji Museum director, Sagale Buadromo said this was the second workshop to take place in Fiji. The first one was undertaken on Voua Village, Nadroga province in May this year.
“This second workshop is being carried out as a response to the Fiji Museum, in particular the Departments of Prehistorical Archaeology and Historical Archaeology being inundated by the number of requests from the different provinces in Fiji, daily requesting their staff to survey and map their old sites in danger of being demolished,” Ms Buadromo said.
“Most of these sites are endangered by developments being carried out such as the building of infrastructure like roads, farming, and mining to name a few.
“By having these workshops, the museum aims to raise awareness among indigenous communities in Fiji about the importance of safeguarding their old village and other cultural heritage sites and how best to record them.”
The villagers will be taught that economic and cultural gains can be achieved by protecting such sites and if feasible, may benefit villagers in the form of visitor fees through the establishment of eco-tourism sites.
Sites, such as Bilo Battery (Veisari, Suva),Tavuni Hill Fort, in Sigatoka, Nadroga province are two such examples that have attracted visitors both local and international to the sites and helped in its upkeep.
“It is envisaged that similar workshops can be done in future on Vanua Levu and Rotuma, should funding be made available,” Ms Buadromo said.
The workshop, which is financially supported by the French Embassy, in association with the Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA) and the Fiji Museum, ends tomorrow.