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| Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka | Nederlands | ||
Avondster Excavation Report Official Presentation of the “Avondster Excavation Report” and the “Artefact Catalogue of the ship, Avondster” – 23rd November 2007The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in Sri Lanka have jointly organized an event on the 23rd of November 2007 to be held at the Auditorium of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, to officially present the “Avondster Excavation Report” and the “Artefact Catalogue of the Avondster”. Both reports were published by the Centre for International Heritage Activities in the Netherlands on behalf of the Avondster Excavation Project. The excavation of the Avondster ship, which wrecked in 1659 while at anchor in Galle harbour (Old), is the first major underwater archaeological excavation project undertaken by the Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU) of Galle. MAU was formed in 2001 under the Mutual Heritage Centre programme and was managed jointly by the Central Cultural Fund, the Dept. of Archaeology and six other institutions of which the Embassy of the Netherlands is also a member. The Avondster, a Dutch VOC ship, is one of the many ships which wrecked in and around the bay of Galle. The Avondster site excavation began in 2001 and continued until 2004. It was then temporarily suspended after the Tsunami disaster in December 2004. The year 2005 was devoted to rehabilitate the Maritime Archaeology Unit destroyed by Tsunami and to continue the preparation of scientific research materials and documentation. The project, which was sponsored mainly by the Netherlands Cultural Fund, was carried out in cooperation with the Amsterdam Historical Museum, the University of Amsterdam, the Western Australian Museum, the James Cook University, Townsville and the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History. From the Sri Lankan side, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Dept. of Archaeology, the Central Cultural Fund, the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology and the Dept. of National Museum extended their cooperation to make the excavation project a success. During the post-Tsunami period, in addition to the above national and international organizations, the CER (Cultural Emergency Response) of the Prince Claus Fund and UNESCO also assisted the MAU to continue its present activities. The Avondster project had a number of aims and objectives in addition to the survey, excavation and conservation of the site and artefacts. One of the primary goals was to build the capacity of the young Sri Lankan Archaeologists and conservators and associated infrastructure for the continuation of a permanent maritime archaeology programme in Sri Lanka. Another important goal of the project is to develop a Maritime Museum and a Visitor Centre to showcase Sri Lanka’s broad maritime history, its sites, and the people involved, with the initial displays based on the material recovered and research undertaken during the Avondster Excavation Project. With regard to the Excavation Reports, the Volume No. 1 covers the period from 2001 and 2002 was released in 2003. The two volumes presented today cover the archaeological excavation and research activities undertaken by the Avondster Project from 2003 to 2005. In 2006 Sri Lanka and the Netherlands further strengthened their cultural cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a series of heritage site preservation and development projects. This programme focuses especially on the major heritage sites in the southern region of Sri Lanka such as the Ancient Fort of Galle, Matara, Kataragama Sacred temple, and Katuwana, with a view to further expand and develop the Cultural Tourism activities already in practice and supporting the economy of the region. Under the ongoing cooperation programme 16 stand alone projects costing to a value of Rs. 702.0 million have been earmarked to be implemented from 2006 to 2009. The projects such as the Conservation of Ancient Dutch Warehouse in the Fort of Galle, conservation of the Ancient Forts of Katuwana and Star Fort of Matara have reached their final stage of completion. A maritime museum complex is proposed to be established in the Ancient Dutch Warehouse of the Fort of Galle under the ongoing cultural cooperation programme. The Sri Lankan public will be able to witness the final and positive outcome of the project shortly. Note:
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