UNESCO Experts Voice Concern Over Flooded Ayutthaya World Heritage Site

[webfact]

UNESCO experts voice concern over flooded Ayutthaya World Heritage Site

BANGKOK, Dec 9 – International experts of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) expressed concern about the stability of the monuments, foundations and decorative works at Thailand’s historic city of Ayutthaya after it was hit by the country’s most disastrous flooding in decades.

“There is a need to closely monitor the condition of the sites and the affected monuments, especially in the next few months as foundations and structures dry out, as well as, of course, over the long-term,” said Tim Curtis, chief UNESCO’s Bangkok culture unit.

The entire island of historic Ayutthaya and its surrounding area was submerged by floods for over a month since Oct 4. In some areas, the flood waters reached a level of approximately three metres. While the water has receded in the inner island, a number of monuments in the outer periphery remain flooded. More than 100 historic monuments in and around the Ayutthaya World Heritage Site have been affected by floods, according to the Ministry of Culture’s Department of Fine Arts.

In response to the flooding crisis, the first official international expert mission to Thailand on the restoration of the Ayutthaya Historical Park and cultural monuments in Ayutthaya, at the request of the Thai government, was held last week to plan for post-flood recovery. It included damage assessment, emergency stabilisation, restoration, and planning to make the impact less severe in the long-term.

With support from UNESCO, the mission included Carlo Giantomassi, mural painting expert from Italy and Dr Zoran Vojinovic, a water management specialist from the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands.

Mr Giantomassi said the situation of the murals is of serious concern. They have been damaged by water and salt, and also show cracking. Due to the water being drawn up into the images, capillary action, the water has risen up from 80cm to 2 metres high. Field testing found both sulphate and nitrate salts, which deteriorate, degrade and ultimately destroy the classic murals.

“The situation is very bad in 90 per cent of the cases, because of the humidity from the 80 cm to 2 meters levels and the presence of sulphate and nitrate. A great problem in Thailand is the humidity and capillarity. Every wat [temple] I visited was affected by this problem. If you don’t stop it completely, there will be a lot of damages in the future,” he said.

Dr Vojinovic provided suggestions that water management needs to be carried out at both micro- and macro- levels. The flow capacity of the waterways in Ayutthaya is approximately 1,500 cubic meters per second. As the measured inflow on Oct 4 was 3,300 cubic meters per second—over double the waterways capacity--flooding occurred.

“A combination of both structural and non-structural solutions needs to be considered; one without the other will not be sufficient,” he said.

Dr Vojinovic also suggested that in the short-term, existing dykes can be improved or raised, canals should be dredged and portable dykes and pumps can be deployed.

In the mid-term, some of the channels can be widened, multi-purpose ponds can be built for water retention during the rainy season, and monuments can be flood-proofed, he said. In the long-term, measures may be needed to counteract the mega-scale of water, such as construction of diversion channels.

Through the assistance of the Japanese government, Yoko Futagami, a conservation specialist and Dr Tetsuo Mizuta, a flood risk management specialist, also joined the mission.

Ms Futagami from the Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Culture Heritage said the monuments show salt efflorescence and accumulation of salt and mud which leads to growth of algae and scaling of the brick surface.

The field survey mission was undertaken on Nov 30 and Dec 1 at key monuments in Ayutthaya, some of which are still partly flooded, such as Pom Phet Fort and Wat Chaiwattanaram, while others are already dry, such as Wat Phra Si San Phet. A detailed assessment will be required to determine the extent of any damage. The water management experts surveyed the existing permanent and temporary waterways and water management infrastructure in the historical island and the outside area, while the mural conservation specialists inspected temples with important murals such as Wat Pradoo and Wat Puttaisawan.

The international experts worked alongside Thai specialists from the Asian Institute of Technology, Department of Public Works and Town Planning, Engineering Institute of Thailand, ICOMOS Thailand and the Association of Siamese Architects. The mission was accompanied by specialists from the Fine Arts Department and representatives of the embassies of Portugal and the United States.

“We have two issues at hand: first is the heritage conservation of Ayutthaya as a World Heritage Site in a living urban landscape; second is the flood water management issue of the whole flood plain. We need to link those two together,” concluded Mr. Curtis of UNESCO Bangkok.

The historic city of Ayutthaya was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991. Founded c. 1350, Ayutthaya was the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. Its remains, characterised by prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of its past splendour. (MCOT online news, UNESCO)

-- TNA 2011-12-09

[pisico]

Why Thais for a couple of centuries now have shown little interest in safeguarding their own culture and heritage?

Floods are not new to Thailand. Last year, 2010, Ayuttaya was seriously flooded and damaged as well.

It would be interesting to know what is Thailand's contribution to Unesco in dollars and how much more it gets in return.

Ayuttaya designated as a World Heritage Treasure does not mean that Thais do not have a responsibility in maintaining their own cultural monuments and sites.

But, TIT and Thailand would expect someone else to solve a problem that should be the sole responsibility of this country IMHO.

[AyG]

Westerners tend to fetishize the old. Americans seem to think that if something's a couple of hundred years old it's really special and important. In Europe it takes a few centuries before something is considered particularly significant.

In Asia there's less reverence for the past. For example, so-called ancient temples in Japan have been rebuilt every dozen years or so, and are in fact little older than a dodgy sofa.

In the case of Ayutthaya, there was no interest in the temples at all for centuries following the Burmese conquest. It was just one man who in the late fifties/early sixties fought for their preservation.

You only need to look at the ugly juxtaposition of modern concrete monstrosities with ancient temples to realise how little these temples mean to the average Thai. And why-oh-why aren't electricity cables been routed underground to make the city more attractive to the oh-so-important tourists (and their dollars)?

[pisico]

Westerners tend to fetishize the old. Americans seem to think that if something's a couple of hundred years old it's really special and important. In Europe it takes a few centuries before something is considered particularly significant.

In Asia there's less reverence for the past. For example, so-called ancient temples in Japan have been rebuilt every dozen years or so, and are in fact little older than a dodgy sofa.

In the case of Ayutthaya, there was no interest in the temples at all for centuries following the Burmese conquest. It was just one man who in the late fifties/early sixties fought for their preservation.

You only need to look at the ugly juxtaposition of modern concrete monstrosities with ancient temples to realise how little these temples mean to the average Thai. And why-oh-why aren't electricity cables been routed underground to make the city more attractive to the oh-so-important tourists (and their dollars)?

It is true, in the New World, the oldest history dates from 200 BC at best. What predates all that are caves with scratched drawings and in basic colors. The pyramids in Mexico, Guatemala and structures in Peru are not older than Teotihuacan 200 BC. It is still standing. Compare that with Ayuttaya.

Your argument is valid and begs the question: Why have Unesco care and restore something that Thais couldn't give a hoot about?

Let them worry and care about their own culture and their special heritage.

Since you mentioned Americans, I add to that comment this: USA contributes with more than 20% of the total UNESCO budget. That money comes from the pockets of USA taxpayers. why should USA taxpayers pay for something that Thais (as you well described) have little reverence or respect for?

[webfact]

AFTER FLOODS

Ayutthaya's monuments of serious concern : Foreign experts

Story : Thai News Agency

Photo : Prasert Thepsri/Nation Photo

Unesco's international experts have expressed concern about the stability of the monuments, foundations and decorative works in the historic city of Ayutthaya, which were hit hard by the worst flooding in decades.

Tim Curtis, chief of Unesco' Bangkok culture unit, said there is a need to closely monitor the condition of the sites and the affected monuments, especially in the next few months after the foundations and structures dry out and over the long term.

The entire island of historic Ayutthaya and its surrounding area was under water for over a month starting on October 4. In some areas, the floodwaters were about three metres deep. While the water has receded in the inner island, a number of monuments in the outer periphery remain flooded. More than 100 historic monuments in and around the Ayutthaya World Heritage Site have been affected by floods, according to the Ministry of Culture's Department of Fine Arts.

At the request of the Thai government, the first official international expert mission to Thailand on the restoration of the Ayutthaya Historical Park and cultural monuments was held last week to plan for post-flood recovery. It included damage assessment, emergency stabilisation, restoration, and planning to make the impacts less severe in the long-term.

With support from Unesco, the mission included Carlo Giantomassi, mural painting expert from Italy and Dr Zoran Vojinovic, a water management specialist from the Unesco-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands.

Giantomassi said the situation of the murals is of serious concern. They have been damaged by water and salt, and also show cracking. Due to the water being drawn up into the images, there has been capillary action with water rising from 80 centimetres to two metres high. Field testing found both sulphate and nitrate salts, which deteriorate, degrade and ultimately destroy the classic murals.

"The situation is very bad in 90 per cent of the cases, because of the humidity from the 80 cm to two metres levels and the presence of sulphate and nitrates. A great problem in Thailand is the humidity and capillarity. Every wat [temple] I visited was affected by this problem. If you don't stop it completely, there will be a lot of damage in the future," he said.

Vojinovic said that water management needs to be carried out at both micro- and macro- levels. The flow capacity of the waterways in Ayutthaya is approximately 1,500 cubic meters per second. As the measured inflow on October 4 was 3,300 cubic meters per second—over double the waterways' capacity- flooding occurred.

"A combination of both structural and non-structural solutions needs to be considered; one without the other will not be sufficient," he said.

Vojinovic also suggested that in the short-term, existing dykes can be improved or raised, canals should be dredged and portable dykes and pumps can be deployed.

In the mid-term, some of the channels can be widened, multi-purpose ponds can be built for water retention during the rainy season, and monuments can be flood-proofed, he said. In the long-term, measures may be needed to counteract the mega-scale of water, such as construction of diversion channels.

Through the assistance of the Japanese government, Yoko Futagami, a conservation specialist and Dr Tetsuo Mizuta, a flood risk management specialist, also joined the mission.

Futagami from the Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Culture Heritage said the monuments show salt efflorescence and accumulation of salt and mud, which leads to growth of algae and scaling of the brick surface.

The field survey mission was undertaken on November 30 and December 1 at key monuments in Ayutthaya, some of which are still partly flooded, such as Pom Phet Fort and Wat Chaiwattanaram, while others are already dry, such as Wat Phra Si San Phet. A detailed assessment will be required to determine the extent of any damage. The water management experts surveyed the existing permanent and temporary waterways and water management infrastructure in the historical island and the outside area, while the mural conservation specialists inspected temples with important murals such as Wat Pradoo and Wat Puttaisawan.

The international experts worked alongside Thai specialists from the Asian Institute of Technology, Department of Public Works and Town Planning, Engineering Institute of Thailand, ICOMOS Thailand and the Association of Siamese Architects. The mission was accompanied by specialists from the Fine Arts Department and representatives of the embassies of Portugal and the United States.

"We have two issues at hand: first is the heritage conservation of Ayutthaya as a World Heritage Site in a living urban landscape; second is the flood water management issue of the whole flood plain. We need to link those two together," concluded Curtis of Unesco Bangkok.

The historic city of Ayutthaya was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991. Founded circa 1350, Ayutthaya was the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. Its remains, characterised by prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of its past splendour.

-- The Nation 2011-12-09

[IsaanUSA]

Since you mentioned Americans, I add to that comment this: USA contributes with more than 20% of the total UNESCO budget. That money comes from the pockets of USA taxpayers. why should USA taxpayers pay for something that Thais (as you well described) have little reverence or respect for?

Then where would we film our kickboxing movies?

On a serious note, I have no problem with some of my tax money being used to preserve world heritage sights. I'm sure I've paid a lot more for bombs and missles than for preserving buildings that the locals don't seem to care for (according to this thread).

[harrry]

If Thailand wants foreigners to help pay for their flood damage at the site they should stop charging foreigners more than thais there.