Conservation and Heritage Management Award

2013 CHM winner Sudharshan Seneviratne accepts his award.

The Conservation and Heritage Management Committee invites nominations for the Conservation and Heritage Management Award to be presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting. This award is made in recognition of an individual's or institution's exceptional achievement in any of the following areas:

1) Archaeological conservation (the conservation of an artifact, monument, or site);
2) Archaeological conservation science (an advance in the deterioration analysis or treatment of archaeological materials);
3) Archaeological heritage management (the overall management of a site or group of sites including their preservation and interpretation to the public);
4) Education/public awareness of archaeological conservation through teaching, lecturing, and exhibition, or a publication.

The Award is open to any international individuals, institutions, or organizations, public or private, who merit recognition for their contributions to the preservation of our archaeological heritage. Eligibility is not restricted to members of the AIA or to U.S. citizens.

Please send name(s), a CV, and a substantive statement about the nominee's qualifications for the award to:

Due Date for Nomination
Completed nominations for the 2014 prize should be received by Institute Headquarters at the address below no later than May 1, 2013, for the award to be presented at the following Annual Meeting.

Conservation and Heritage Management Committee
Atten: Awards Department
Archaeological Institute of America
656 Beacon Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02215-2006
Email: awards@aia.bu.edu

2013 Conservation and Heritage Management Award: Sudharshan Seneviratne

Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne of the University of Peradeniya is being recognized for his tireless efforts to protect and conserve the archaeological heritage of Sri Lanka and, as importantly, to present the shared cultural heritage of the people of Sri Lanka in a manner that respects and celebrates the cultural diversity of the island nation. Seneviratne’s efforts include archaeological conservation, advocacy, education and training, and raising cultural awareness. As Archaeological Director of the Jetavana Project at Anuradhapura, Seneviratne worked on the conservation of the Jetavana stupa, the largest masonry structure in Sri Lanka. Under his direction, the displays in the site museum were reorganized to emphasize the multi-cultural, multi-religious and commercial aspects of the site rather than simply its role as a Buddhist ‘monastic city.’  As Head of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Peradeniya for nearly ten years, Seneviratne is instrumental in training the next generation of South Asian archaeologists. In recent years Seneviratne has served as Senior Cultural Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Director General of the Central Cultural Fund.

Past Winners of the Conservation and Heritage Management Award

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