On 20 July 2023, ICCROM Director-General Webber Ndoro was in the Republic of Korea for the joint ICCROM and NRICH international symposium, "World Archaeology: Ancient Cities and Royal Capitals." The symposium was the first outcome of the MoU signed between NRICH and ICCROM in June.
The "World Archaeology" symposium brought together international experts who discussed cases of investigation and research on archaeological sites in Korea, Zimbabwe, Egypt, and Türkiye and related conservation and management policies that have contributed to the development of these sites and their surroundings.
In opening remarks, Director-General Ndoro noted the Republic of Korea's impressive on-the-ground actions to conserve archaeological heritage and encouraged the sharing of expertise with other Member States in Southeast Asia and beyond. He thanked Korea once again for their continuous commitment and fruitful collaboration with ICCROM and expressed hopeful expectation of more collaboration in the next five years under the MoU.
The Director General gave the keynote speech on “Ancient cities in Southern Africa" with specific reference to the World Heritage site of Great Zimbabwe. Watch the full lecture at the link to the livestream.
"Our topic today, though we are dealing with ancient cities, is very relevant to the planning of today's cities." – ICCROM Director-General Webber Ndoro
Prior to the symposium, the Director-General visited Pungnaptoseong, an earthen fortification dating back to the Baekjae Kingdom situated in Pungnap-dong, Seoul. He spoke with The Korea Herald and Yonhap News Agency about archaeology, heritage and the difference between the two.
“Archaeology is what we decide to go and discover and do research on, but it only becomes 'heritage' when communities, or the people themselves began to identify with the place.”
This joint international symposium on archaeology is one of the key components of the new collaboration agreement between ICCROM and NRICH. Next year’s symposium will be held in Italy, and more details are forthcoming.