ABSTRACT
After introducing the Swat Valley in Pakistan and the Italian Archaeology Mission, this chapter considers issues in the planning and delivery of heritage projects – those concerning restoration, conservation, and/or excavation. Community engagement is highlighted to show how the proper adoption of this approach can empower and benefit local communities, not only within the archaeological context but also within the wider economic sector. The chapter then describes three multidisciplinary research and development projects that have applied a range of targeted social mobilisation strategies and sustainable community engagement initiatives for the study and protection of archaeological sites and the development of the tourism sector in Swat: The ‘Archaeology, Community, Tourism – Field School (ACT)’ project; the ‘Saving Bazira Archaeological Site’ (ALIPH) project and the British Council CPF-funded/EssaNoor Project to digitally document, conserve, and preserve the Late Buddhist rock art reliefs. These projects saw the direct or indirect intervention of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan and required a close collaboration between local communities, stakeholders, the authorities, university staff members, and students.
