A LONG-TERM RESPONSE TO THE NEED TO MAKE MODERN DEVELOPMENT AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE ARCHAEO-CULTURAL RECORD MUTUALLY COMPATIBLE OPERATIONS: THE GIS CONTRIBUTION

The paper discusses the definition of a framework of principles for the management of regions of archaeo-cultural value, which are destined to sustain modern development. Kouklia-Palaepaphos in SW Cyprus, where a three-year pilot project is taking place, is an extensive archaeological region, rich in sensitive anthropogenic data, which lacks a management plan that would render the preservation and enhancement of its archaeological resources, and its economic development, mutually compatible operations. The project combines, (a) geophysical surveys (extensive coverage) and excavations (small-scale in high risk plots); (b) production of a 3D digital land relief of the archaeological zone, with current property and land-use status; (c) development of a multidimensional digital platform using GIS, which will combine cartographic information with archaeological data, organised on a relational database. The final product is an electronic macro-scale management and planning tool for the region, which can be continuously annotated. As such, it is an invaluable policy- and decision-making tool for various state authorities. More importantly, development agencies will be able to consult it, and employ it as the basis for a micro-scale archaeological investigation of the area they plan to develop, which ought to become de facto the initial stage of any private or public project. What a developing agency will invest, in terms of time and money, by funding the archaeological investigation of the area that is meant to undergo development would be minimal compared to (a) the total investment budget and (b) the cost of unforeseen delays caused by rescue operations that may in the end lead to a demand for substantial modifications of final plans after the construction phase has begun. The above application is meant to heel an open wound caused by a clash of interests between modern development and the preservation of archaeo-cultural data. This clash has had negative repercussions on many socio-economic, industrial (construction and tourist industries), cultural and environmental issues. Cyprus is in need of a more effective preservation policy that will protect: (a) the archaeo-cultural record and (b) the taxpayer from a serious waste of public funds. It ought to be underlined that different versions of the proposed methodology have been the modus operandi of heritage management authorities in Europe and the United States for decades.