Dear colleagues,

More information about the earthquake and resulting tsunamis in the Indian 
Ocean. According to the UNESCO among the historic and natural sites that have 
been affected:

- The Old Town of Galle: A fortified Sri Lankan city founded in the 16th 
century by the Portuguese, the site mixes European architecture with South 
Asian traditions. 

- Mahabalipuram: A coastal group of sanctuaries carved out of rock, the Indian 
city was founded by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries. 

- The Sun Temple of Koranak: The 13th-century Indian temple portraying the sun 
god Surya is located on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. 

- Ujung Kulon National Park: Comprising the Ujung Kulon peninsula and several 
islands, the Indonesian park is home to inland volcanoes, lowland rainforests 
and several species of endangered plants and animals. 

- The tropical rainforest of Sumatra: Comprising three national parks, the site 
is home to a wide range of rare plants and animals, many of which are 
endangered.

One bit of good news was that the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram survived the 
tsunami's onslaught, because of a rock wall built in 1978 to protect it from 
erosion. Animals from the natural parks in Sumatra are also survived thanks to 
the reaction of elephants.

Our colleagues from Galle (Sri Lanka) said that Maritime Archaeology Unit in 
Galle were destroyed in the tsunami, collections and equipment are lost but the 
team is OK and local people are also helping them to recover the site. More 
dramatic is the situation in the German Ancient Ruhuna Project/Godavaya 
Excavation located in the mouth of the Walawe Ganga river.  At this moment 
there is not news from Godavaya excavation team and the habitants in the 
surrounding villages of Paybokka and Godavaya.

Some heritage sites in Phuket island (Thailand) are also damaged but there is 
not any preliminary rapport at the moment.

All the best,

Jordi

******************
Dr. Jordi Juan i Tresserras
Professor associat - Gestió del Patrimoni Arqueològic / Turisme Cultural
S.E.R.P./ Dept. Prehistòria, Història Antiga i Arqueologia
UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA

Coordinador dels Cursos de Postgrau en Gestió Cultural
UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA
Pg.Vall d'Hebron, 171 Ed.Llevant Desp.115
08035-Barcelona
(Catalunya, Espanya)

Tel.(+34) 93 4034427
Fax.(+34) 93 4034746
Correu-e: [log in to unmask]

www.ub.edu/cultural
www.gestioncultural.org/ibertur
www.ub.es/medame/principal.html

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