Although each site and region have different requirements and limitations, it is possible to develop some basic criteria for the design and construction of archaeological covers in dry and wet climates that could be applicable to other similar sites with certain modifications. (...)
Although each site and region have different requirements and limitations, it is possible to develop some basic criteria for the design and construction of archaeological covers in dry and wet climates that could be applicable to other similar sites with certain modifications. Based on this premise, WMF, in collaboration with Banamex, the Fundación Pedro y Elena Hernández, A.C., CONACULTA, and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), organized an international workshop (“Taller sobre Lineamientos para la implementación de cubiertas arquitectónicas en contextos arqueológicos”) on protective covers for archaeological sites in Palenque, Chiapas, in October 2009. The workshop gathered Mexican and international field experts in archaeology, conservation, design, tourism, and site management, to discuss the issues concerning the design and construction of protective shelters for archaeological sites in Mexico and elsewhere in the world. After several roundtable discussions and site visits to former Watch sites and WMF field projects—Yaxchilan, Teotihuacan, and Chalcatzingo—the teams of experts came up with basic terms of reference to be followed in the design and construction of protective covers in Mexico.
The discussions and proposals presented at the six-day workshop have been compiled in the publication Guidelines for the Installation of Architectural Protective Covers for Archaeological Sites.
The National University of Trujillo, Peru, and the National Institute for Anthropology and History in Mexico hosted the second International Workshop on Architectural Covers in Archaeological Contexts in December 2011. International field experts convened during the four-day workshop, which included site visits to Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna, Chan Chan, and Huaca Cao. The event was sponsored in part by WMF, through the Robert W. Wilson Challenge.
