Stakeholders Meeting Report, Chilas Rock Carvings Cultural Landscape Project

A vast landscape of more than 50,000 rock carvings and 5000 inscriptions, dating back some 9000 years, is being impacted by the construction of the Diamer-Basha Dam in northern Pakistan. Several entities are collaborating on the development of an Emergency Action Plan to mitigate the potentially damaging effects on this rich cultural legacy, including the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority, the Heidelberg Academy, Rogers Kolachi Khan & Associates, the Prince Claus Fund, and World Monuments Fund. In More than 35 villages will also be affected by the dam. Therefore, a priority is to effectively engage these communities in the documentation and assessment process. In December 2010, a stakeholder meeting of more than 70 representatives from the villages was held to share local knowledge about the heritage, tangible and intangible, from their respective communities that they feel is of value and at risk. This report documents the results of the meeting.