ICOMOS Scientific Symposium

📍International Convention Centre, Sydney

📅 September 2023

ICOMOS is the International Council on Monuments and Sites. They’re a body that promotes the protection of heritage, and is activiely involved in the protection of World Heritage Sites across the globe. Their international conference was held in Sydney this year, and I was able to speak about my Found a Fossil research, and how we can protect heritage at a community level.

Session: Responsibility - Community Leadership in Heritage

Oral presentation; 10-15 minutes, or 6 minutes (poster as a back up)

Title: Forgotten Finders: Recognising responsibility for heritage discoveries

Abstract:

Due to their universal importance, cultural and natural heritage, such as fossils and Indigenous artefacts/sites, are protected by international treaties, as well as national and state laws. While natural and cultural heritage objects are obviously different, they are both items that can be discovered in our modern landscapes and, furthermore, they are often found by ordinary citizens who are may be unfamiliar with heritage laws. In Australia, the legislation that aims to protect these heritage materials is difficult to find, hard to understand, and rarely addresses the discovery of heritage material, or what steps to take when a heritage item or site is found. Poor communication of legislation occurs frequently, with both federal and state government responsible. To address this problem, the Found a Fossil project was created, with the release of an Australia-wide survey that aimed to understand how Australians perceive fossils and Indigenous artefacts, what they may do upon their discovery, and their awareness of current heritage protections. Results have shown that while there is enthusiasm among the public to report new finds, confusion over who are the correct authorities to contact, a lack of transparency by government departments, and poorly communicated legislation are creating boundaries to the protecting heritage in Australia. While survey responses have helped to outline concerns and problems with current heritage protections, they have also illustrated potential solutions that cater to the needs and wants of local communities. By recognising that responsibility for heritage can lay with both government and community groups, this research has begun a conversation about how these relationships might be navigated to improve the protection of Australian heritage, and the incredible stories it can tell.