Project

In the 1960s, one of the first projects undertaken by WMF was at Lalibela. A team of Italian conservators documented the churches, undertook stabilization efforts, and worked to bring international attention to the importance and fragility of these extraordinary structures. (...)

In the 1960s, one of the first projects undertaken by WMF was at Lalibela. A team of Italian conservators documented the churches, undertook stabilization efforts, and worked to bring international attention to the importance and fragility of these extraordinary structures. Since 2007, UNESCO and WMF have partnered to address the conservation of the site, its management, presentation, and the training of local personnel in sustainable conservation practices for the long-term maintenance of the site. A goal of the project is to demonstrate that shelters are not required on the site, as sustainable solutions can be found that will allow the churches to be viewed as free-standing structures as originally intended. Currently, new protective shelters have been placed over four churches. While this may mitigate some water damage at the site, it changes the view of the churches and does not necessarily address the systemic problems at the site. To date, WMF and UNESCO have completed archival research, photogrammetry and laser scanning of all the churches, GIS of the site, preliminary assessment of the state of conservation of the churches, and environmental and physical monitoring of one of the churches to develop a clearer understanding of environmental changes and their impact on the structures. WMF is collaborating on the documentation efforts with the Zamani research project of the University of Cape Town. WMF held a training course at Lalibela in summer 2012, which included classroom sessions, field activities and site visits. A pilot project will be carried out at one of the churches in most urgent need of repair, Biet Gabriel Rafael, in late 2012. The training program participants will develop and test a range of repair and preservation techniques that can eventually be applied across the entire site.