Maldives maps heritage sites to preserve history and boost research
Nationwide project will create free digital archive of historic sites, supporting conservation, education and future cultural tourism efforts
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives is nearing completion of a nationwide effort to document its historical and archaeological heritage sites, creating what officials say will become the country’s first comprehensive digital archive to support conservation, academic research and long-term cultural preservation.
The project aims to record the location, history and condition of hundreds of heritage sites across the Indian Ocean archipelago, many of which face growing threats from coastal erosion, climate change, urban development and natural deterioration.
Officials say the database will help authorities make informed conservation decisions while giving students and researchers free access to information that has previously been difficult to obtain.
More than 400 heritage sites have already been identified and catalogued across the country. Survey and documentation work has been completed in 18 of the Maldives’ 20 administrative atolls, while teams are currently working in Alif Alif and Alif Dhaalu atolls.
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Heena Waleed told Parliament that documentation in the remaining two atolls is expected to conclude during July before the project moves to the capital, Malé. Once work there is completed, the nationwide cataloguing effort will be finalized.
According to the minister, all information collected during the project will be made available through a free online database, allowing students, researchers and the public to search and access records of the country’s historical sites.
She said the archive would also provide policymakers with reliable data to guide future heritage protection and development initiatives.
The documentation initiative also includes a Maritime Survey being carried out jointly by the National Centre for Cultural Heritage and Japan’s Kyoto University to gather additional information and improve the management of heritage sites across the island nation.
The project comes as the Maldives seeks to strengthen protection of its cultural heritage alongside its globally recognized natural attractions. Although best known for its luxury resorts and coral reefs, the country is home to centuries-old archaeological remains and historic Islamic monuments that reflect its long history as a trading hub in the Indian Ocean.
The minister also said the Maldives continues to pursue UNESCO World Heritage recognition for its historic coral stone mosques. A nomination submitted earlier this year has been accepted for evaluation, with a UNESCO assessment mission expected to visit the country in September.
Officials say World Heritage status would not only strengthen preservation efforts but also enhance cultural tourism in the Maldives.
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