Training for Cultural Property Protection

Abstract

Abstract When sacred places, agricultural infrastructure, traditional gathering spaces, and other elements of cultural life are spared during conflict, a community in trouble has a greater chance for peace in the future. Since damage by US and Polish Forces at Babylon was reported in 2003, academic and military partners have been working to institutionalize a cultural property protection program within the US Department of Defense and NATO. Archaeologists and other heritage professionals provided subject matter expertise and combined their knowledge with military advice in order to achieve a goal of “the right information to the right people at the right time.” These efforts have included development of cultural property inventory and geospatial information; awareness training and professional military education curriculum; development of military regulations governing identification and management of cultural property forward; and research into the relationships between damage to cultural property and exacerbation of conflict. Cultural Property Protection can and should be implemented during all phases of military operations from the very earliest planning stages, during conflict, and throughout stabilization and return to civil society. The academic military partnership has provided guidance and advice for how to effectively plan for the presence of cultural property on the battlefield including methods for avoidance and minimization of potential and/or collateral damage. Detailed examples and case studies taken from actual military experiences illustrate the value of military organizations having a comprehensive capability for recognizing and respecting cultural property and the consequences when those capabilities are lacking.