Terra 2008

This title explores the issues surrounding the study and conservation of earthen architecture. Earthen architecture constitutes one of the most diverse forms of cultural heritage and one of the most challenging to preserve. It dates from all periods and is found on all continents but is particularly prevalent in Africa, where it has been a building custom for centuries. Sites range from ancestral cities in Mali to the palaces of Abomey in Benin, and from monuments and mosques in Iran to Buddhist temples on the Silk Road and Spanish missions in California. This volume's 64 papers address such themes as earthen architecture in Mali, conservation of living sites, local knowledge systems and intangible aspects, seismic and other natural forces, and the management of archaeological sites. The contributors represent a wide range of international institutions. The book will be of interest to conservators and site managers as well as those studying earthen architectural heritage worldwide.