"As cultural institutions move into the new millennium, rapid cultural and social changes will take place making it difficult for institutions to develop and manage cultural resources" (Summerhayes 2001a:6). The objective of this program was to provide distance education in cultural heritage management. The program was set up by Dr Glenn Summerhayes (Australian National University) and Dr Stuart Bedford (NZ Historic Places Trust) and was financed by the Sasakawa Pacific Island Nations Fund.

The objective of the program was to train nationals in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu in the following areas of cultural heritage management:

1) Identification and recording of cultural and archaeological sites;

2) Archaeological assessment and excavation techniques;

3) Heightening public awareness of cultural and archaeological sites;

4) Production and distribution of reports throughout the community;

5) Development of cultural heritage management policy;

6) Development of cultural heritage database.

During 2001, the SW Pacific Cultural Heritage Training Program (SWPCHTP) ran workshops in both Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. For descriptions of the PNG workshops go to 'Kavieng 2001' and Tatau '2001', Buka 2002 and then Manus 2003, at the top of this page.

Papua New Guinea

The Sasakawa Pacific Islands Foundation (SPINF) has undertaken to fund the SWPCHTP for three years. During 2001 the program was run in New Ireland Province. Planning for the 2002 (Manus Province) and 2003 (North Solomons Province) workskops is underway. The PNG training program began in October 2001. The trainees were from National, Provincial and Local Level Government authorities.

One of the main of objectives of the program was for the participants to become familiar with the cultural significance of a wide range of artefacts. Below are a series of pictures showing dentate Lapita motifs from the Kamgot site excavated by Summerhayes. At the conclusion of the training program the participants will be familiar with the important role Lapita plays in our understanding of the colonisation of the Pacific region.

For further (general) information about archaeology in New Ireland click "New Ireland archaeology".

Vanuatu

The Vanuatu training program successfully began in September 2001 and is set to continue in 2002 and 2003. It was delivered by Dr. Glenn Summerhayes and Dr. Stuart Bedford in affiliation with Mr. Ralph Regenvanu of the Vanuatu National Museum and Cultural Centre. The 2001 workshop was held on Malakula, Northern Vanuatu. The next Vanuatu workshop is scheduled for 2002.

 

For information about the Vanuatu workshop click on "Vanuatu program 2001 "

 

For information about the Vanuatu workshop click on "Vanuatu program 2002"

Further information regarding the Vanuatu is available on the Vanuatu Museum & Cultural Centre website.

For information on the forthcoming Buka 2003 workshop program click here