The Sunday Times (Malta)  [Printer-friendly version]
July 16, 2006

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY URGES PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE AREAS

[Rachel's introduction: "The precautionary principle should be
followed at all times to safeguard the unknown part of Malta's
cultural heritage resources as required by the Cultural Heritage
Act," the society said.]

By Fiona Galea Debono

The Archaeological Society of Malta, one of the NGOs in the Flimkien
ghal Ambjent Ahjar coalition, said yesterday that some
archaeologically sensitive areas would be subjected to unnecessary
urban pressure as a result of the government's rationalisation scheme.

Having viewed aerial photographs of the areas earmarked for inclusion
in the development zone rationalisation, submitted following the issue
of the draft local plans for public consultation, the society said
that many appeared to go far beyond the criteria outlined in the
Cabinet memo and should not be considered.

"The Gozo submissions in particular can only be described as a request
to ravage its fragile landscape," said its president Patricia
Camilleri. "No one with the good of Gozo at heart could possibly
imagine that such submissions could be accepted, whether they
interfere with archaeology or not."

An inventory of archaeology and archaeologically sensitive areas has
already been compiled by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority
for the purposes of the local plans and "in no way should these
guidelines be transgressed", the society insisted.

It felt that several areas needed proper and professional
investigation to ensure that the criteria outlined in the Cabinet memo
were being adhered to.

However, it said, it was not simply a question of sticking to the
criteria laid down by the Cabinet. "Retaining the integrity of Malta's
archaeology is not only a matter of making sure that cart ruts are not
built over, temple sites left untouched and buffer zones respected.
Much of Malta's archaeology still lies under the ground and often
stretches way beyond the visible, or recorded signs.

"The precautionary principle should be followed at all times to
safeguard the unknown part of Malta's cultural heritage resources as
required by the Cultural Heritage Act," the society said.

Also, in line with the European Convention on the Protection of the
Archaeological Heritage, physical manifestations of archaeology should
be kept integral within their particular landscape. If this is
encroached upon, the archaeology is, at the very least, disturbed and
often dismembered, the society said.

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