The impact on archaeological heritage by development-led excavations in Malta : 1980-2015

Abstract

International organizations like UNESCO and the Council of Europe have emphasized that the responsibility for protecting archaeological heritage belongs to all individuals, as it is a shared cultural legacy. As international organisations, they provided legal mechanisms for countries to adapt their national legal frameworks for the protection and preservation of archaeological heritage. This study uses the introduction and the implementation of the 1992 Valletta Convention on the Protection of Archaeological Heritage in Malta. Currently, archaeological heritage is under constant threat in Malta due to construction and development within the private and public sectors. The research focuses on the increase of uncovered features during development-led excavations and the method of preservation in situ or by record. It looks at the period before and after the implementation of the Valletta Convention, in order to assess the importance of archaeological monitoring during development-led excavations, as well as the trend towards preserving archaeological discoveries. By reviewing a sample of eight years of case files from the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage from 1980 to 2015, it was possible to outline the development of archaeological heritage management before and after the enactment of the CHA in 2002 and the implementation of archaeological monitoring during development-led excavations. The study also shows that increased archaeological surveillance during development-led excavations has led to more discoveries, suggesting that the measures taken to protect archaeological heritage within proposed development areas have been effective.