Why It Is Important to Keep Documenting Our Historical Sites By Architect Fatema

Being born in such a rich historical landscape, we often take for granted the historical sites and structures spread across our country, from the tombs of Makhli, to the forts hidden between the mountains up north. Pakistan is laden with intricate historical tapestries, built over past civilizations, entrenched in the lives of millions of people that came before us years and years ago. These historical structures have become an invaluable and intrinsic part of the local social and cultural fabric, and in this era of rapid urbanization, it is imperative that the proper measures be taken for the preservation of these landmarks.
Documentation is often the first step in the preservation process. It includes gathering any manner of information about the site or structure in question i.e. physical features and dimensions, materials and techniques employed, the layout of the structure, how it was being used, etcetera. Documentation leads to the creation of databases that house relevant information, becoming an integral part of current and future research endeavors.

Understanding History

The better we document our historical sites, the more we understand about them. When visiting the ruins of the Dharmarajika Stupa in Taxila, it is hard to make sense of the ruins at first -where to go, what to see first, or to even imagine what the structure was before time took its hold. A quick glance at the map of the ruins immediately helps you gain a better understanding of the site -the central stupa and the hierarchy of the ones around it, the circulation route, even a glimpse at what the completed complex would have looked like.
Thus, the documentation of the layout of the site not only helps the researcher understand the site, but also the general public, inculcating in them a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the history around them.

Learning from Our Ancestors

Documenting historical sites often leads to the study of materials and techniques used in the structures, still standing despite the years and constant exposure to the natural elements. Mughal architecture is a prime example, a showcase of materials, from the colorful tiles of Wazir Khan Mosque to the masonry of the Lahore Fort, a study into it shows which materials were used in what type of construction, and how these materials bore the test of time.
Documentation allows us to study the exact detail of the precious stones embedded in the column detailing of the Sheesh Mehal, and the mathematical pattern of the muqarnas that frame the arches of many Mughal construction. In today’s time, when we are losing centuries-old building techniques to the ease of modern construction, our historical sites provide anchors that tie us to the techniques and skills of our ancestors.

Document Changes Over Time

Even though they are still standing, many of our historical sites are in critical conditions of decay. It is thus important that they are documented in regular intervals to observe changes in conditions like cracks, or weakening of walls, so that proper conservation measures can be taken before it is too late, and changes are recorded properly for future references.
It is also important that after the conservation effort, record of the original conditions is maintained. An example of this is the recent renovation of the Picture Wall of the Lahore Fort under the Agha Khan Trust for Culture. In the picture below, you can observe the exact effects of the conservation effort.

The World of Digital Documentation

With digital technology evolving at a rapid pace, it is important that our documentation methods be up to date with the digital world. When most of Pakistan’s ancient sites -Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Taxila- were first excavated in the 1920s, the documentation methods used were much different from the ones used today. With high-quality cameras, laser technology, satellite imagery, and many other techniques, we are now able to document a much greater amount of information while causing much less disturbance to the site.
While efforts like heritage360.pk have developed virtual models and detailed panoramas of some of Pakistan’s historical sites, it is safe to say that we still have a lot of distance to cover before we are caught up with digital documentation methods employed by more developed countries.

Documentation and Social Media

It is interesting to note the effect that social media has had in documenting historical sites. While the pictures shared on social media cannot be compared to proper documentation, these pictures showcase snippets of our historical sites in that moment in time. Not only has social media played a huge part in reacquainting the youth with their history, it has become a means of informal documentation, an unimaginable database of pictures taken at different moments in different days, under different lights and through different eyes. Thus, even though they might not provide analytical data, pictures on social media paint a social and cultural landscape around our historical sites that may prove to be invaluable in the future.