DURHAM University has established its first Unesco academic chair.
The Unesco Chair in Archaeological Ethics and Practice in Cultural Heritage, the 13th Unesco chair in the UK, has been awarded to Professor Robin Coningham, a leading South Asian archaeologist.
Prof Coningham, professor of archaeology and pro-vice-chancellor at Durham, made worldwide headlines last year when he and his team discovered a tree shrine predating all Buddhist sites by at least 300 years.
The chair means Durham University will do more research into cultural heritage.
Prof Coningham said: “Cultural heritage and archaeology can play a unifying role in post-conflict responses but the unethical or imbalanced promotion may alienate communities, generate conflict and lead to the destruction of heritage.
“Through the Durham Unesco Chair, we seek to address this challenge by shaping debates and policies on professional standards and responsibilities and the economic, ethical and social impacts of the promotion of heritage.”
Prof Ray Hudson, the acting vice-chancellor, said: “It’s extremely fitting that Durham University should host this Unesco Chair as joint custodians alongside Durham Cathedral of our own Unesco World Heritage Site.”
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