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Exploring archaeology, community engagement and cultural heritage protection in South Asia, this book considers heritage management strategies through community engagement, bringing together the results of research undertaken by archaeologists, heritage practitioners and policy makers working towards the preservation and conservation of both cultural and natural heritage. The book highlights the challenges faced by communities, archaeologists and heritage managers in post-conflict and post-disaster contexts in their efforts to protect, preserve and present cultural heritage, including issues of sustainability, linkages with existing community programmes and institutions, and building administrative and social networks. The case-studies illustrate larger-scale projects to small micro-level engagement, across a range of geographical, political, social and economic contexts, providing a framework that links and synchronises programmes of archaeological activities alongside active community engagement.

The chapters ´Introduction´, ´Community Engagement in the Greater Lumbini Area of Nepal: the Micro-Heritage Case-Study of Dohani´ and ´Conclusion´ of this book are available open access under a CC BY 4.0 license at link.springer.com.

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Robin Coningham holds UNESCO´s Chair in Archaeological Ethics and Practice in Cultural Heritage at Durham University, UK and has extensive experience of archaeology and post-disaster heritage interventions across South Asia. He is interested in sustainable community engagement with archaeological excavations and site preservation, and the balance between heritage protection, pilgrimage and development.

Nick Lewer is now Director of Coral Associates Ltd. He was formerly Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University. He has worked widely in South Asia focusing on community engagement, dialogue processes, education, and project monitoring and evaluation.

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