Chief Roi Mata s Domain. No This information was carefully considered by ICOMOS in reaching the final decision and recommendation in March 2008.

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1 Chief Ri Mata s Dmain (Vanuatu) N 1280 This infrmatin was carefully cnsidered by ICOMOS in reaching the final decisin and recmmendatin in March Literature cnsulted (selectin): Official name as prpsed by the State Party: Lcatin: Brief descriptin: Chief Ri Mata s Dmain Shefa Prvince Cultural Landscapes f the Pacific, Thematic Study, ICOMOS, December Technical Evaluatin Missin: 22 t 28 September 2007 Additinal infrmatin requested and received frm the State Party: ICOMOS sent a letter t the State Party n 18 December 2007 n the issue f the bundaries and the questin f cmmercial leases. Three sites n Efate, Lelepa and Artk islands (three f the 83 islands f Vanuatu) are assciated with the life and death f the last hlder f the title paramunt chief r Ri Mata f what is nw central Vanuatu. Ri Mata, wh lived in arund 1600 AD, had a prfund impact n sciety during his lifetime and cntinues t be revered tday fr the mral values he espused, and fr his scial refrms which led t widespread cnflict reslutin. He is nw the central figure in ral traditins, knwn thrughut the Pacific, and his frmer dmain, particularly the sites f his hme, death and mass burial, prvide material prf f his actins, give authrity t his successr chiefs, and act as cntemprary surces f pwer and inspiratin fr scial practices and the way peple relate t their land. Categry f prperty: In terms f categries f cultural prperty set ut in Article I f the 1972 Wrld Heritage Cnventin, this is a site. In terms f the Operatinal Guidelines fr the Implementatin f the Wrld Heritage Cnventin (2 February 2005) paragraph 47 it is als nminated as a cultural landscape. 1. BASIC DATA Included in the Tentative List: 1 st Octber 2004 Internatinal Assistance frm the Wrld Heritage Fund fr preparing the Nminatin: N Date received by the Wrld Heritage Centre: 23 January 2007 Backgrund: It is a new nminatin. Cnsultatins: ICOMOS has cnsulted its Internatinal Scientific Cmmittee n Histric Gardens and Cultural Landscapes. Cmments n the assessment and management f the natural heritage values f this prperty were received frm IUCN n 13 December 2007 and are related t the fllwing issues: The State Party prvided supplementary infrmatin n 28 February 2008 and their respnse is included in this reprt. Date f ICOMOS apprval f this reprt: 11 March THE PROPERTY Descriptin The archipelag f Vanuatu, lcated sme 1,750 km east f nrthern Australia, cnsists f 83 islands, many f which are vlcanic in rigin. The mst ppulated is Efate where the capital, Prt Vila, is situated. The cultural landscape nminated cmprises sites n Efate Island, and Lelepa Island, the whle f Artk Island and the sea between. Lelepa and Artk islands are tw small islands ff the nrth-west cast f Efate Island. These sites are part f the last Ri Mata s dmain as paramunt Chief f Efate and its utlying islands. Sheltered by the central muntain range f Efate, the rich vlcanic sils alng this part f Efate s castal plain cmbined with a diverse marine envirnment t prvide the basis fr a lng histry f relatively dense settlement. Supplementary infrmatin states that the cre zne is ha. The nminated prperty cvers sites assciated with the life and death f the last Ri Mata and his cntinuing legacy in terms f ral traditins and inspiratin. These sites are knwn frm cllective memry and were substantiated thrugh archaelgical explratin. Specific dates fr the life f Ri Mata are nt knwn but a date arund 1600 is nw accepted frm the archaelgical evidence available. Ri Mata s dmain cvered frm Tukutuku in the suthwest f Efate Island t Sama Pint t the nrtheast f the island and included the islands f Lelepa and Artk; the sites chsen fr the nminatin cver nly a part f that dmain. - Typlgy f the prperty - Marine envirnment - Financing 92

2 The nminated prperty cnsists f: Sites assciated with Ri Mata s life, death and burial: Ri Mata s residence, Mangaas, Efate Island The site f Ri Mata s death, Fels Cave, Lelepa Island Ri Mata s mass burial site, Artk Island The intangible assciatin between the three sites and Ri Mata: Ri Mata s legacy These are cnsidered separately and then verall: Sites assciated with Ri Mata s life, death and burial: Ri Mata s residence, Mangaas, Efate Island The site is lcated n the narrw fertile castal plain, abutting in the suth raised cral reefs and cliffs rising t 200 metres. Entrance t the site frm the sea is thrugh a thin passage between the raised reefs, headed by several massive, ancient trees, including three tamanu (Calphyllum inphyllum), said t have been planted by Ri Mata. Immediately inland frm the beach is a level area identified as a dancing grund (mwalala) and dminated by a large banyan tree, prbably dating frm Ri Mata s time. The mwalala includes the lcatin fr slit drums used t summn the cmmunity fr dances. Further inland is the area identified as Ri Mata s residential yards and the site f his huse. Many f the names f the yards have been linked frm ral evidence t Chiefs titles within Ri Mata s curt. The ftings f stne walls, cnstructed dry f cral bulders, are in evidence acrss the site. Mst are cnstructed parallel t the beach n a series f raised beach ridges. Walls arund the dancing area frm an irregular curved enclsure while thse nearer the huse site are mre rectangular. Sme wall stnes have been plundered since 1927 fr cpra pits and n survey has yet been undertaken f under-grund evidence. The full significance f the verall wall netwrk has therefre yet t be established. Scattered acrss the site are sacred bulders f extic gelgical prvenance treated with respect by the lcal cmmunity. Slab stnes als mark burials in part f the site identified during excavatins in Tw ther areas utside the nminated bundary cntain burial features munds with upright slabs pssibly linked t earlier hlders f the Ri Mata title. Sme surface finds, such as pttery and grindstne, were identified in surveys carried ut in 2005, as a preliminary t the nminatin. The abandnment f the site arund 1600 AD is seen t cincide with the death f the last hlder f the Ri Mata title. The site f Ri Mata s death, Fels Cave, Lelepa Island Oral traditin relates hw Ri Mata crssed frm Mangaas t the island f Lelepa t attend a naleana r feast; falling ill after the feast, he was taken t Fels Cave where he died. The cave is a tall cavern sme 35 metres high, 47 metres deep and 52 metres brad, with a cmparatively lw entrance 6 metres high which faces ut t Artk Island. Much f the inner walls f the cave are cvered at head height with paintings, bth red and black, and engravings. These present a wide range f images, such as birds, fish, human and anthrpmrphic figures, nn-figurative frms and engraved cuples filled with black pigment. Radi-carbn dating f a black image suggests it was created in Ri Mata s time. Elders cnsider that ne r mre f the large images f armed men, in the vicinity f the dated painting, culd depict Ri Mata. Ri Mata s mass burial site, Artk Island The small island f Artk, the site f Ri Mata s mass burial, lies apprximately 3,000 metres frm Efate Island. It has a distinctive shape f a central cap f uplifted cral limestne 90 metres high, rising frm a cral platfrm interspersed with sandy inlets. Ever since the time f Ri Mata s burial, the island has been cnsidered fanua tapu, r sacred, and grazing and gardening have been frbidden. As a result f 400 years withut human interventin, the island s tree cver has increased and the vegetatin nw supprts species rare elsewhere. The nminated burial site lies sme 50 metres inland frm the suthern cast, facing the mainland. It is marked by tw large and several smaller headstnes and several large cnch shells. The area was excavated in 1967 and as part f the cnslidatin wrk, the headstnes were re-erected and the extent f the excavated site marked ut by a line f cral bulders. Excavatins revealed a large burial site with a single central figure with his head against the largest headstne, surrunded by 50 mre burials f men, wmen and children presumably f his family and curt. The burial site lies at the edge f a netwrk f dry stnewalled fields. This field system cvers mst f the level areas n the island the castal platfrm as well as the raised plateau and was riginally bunded by a cncentric series f perimeter sea walls, f which a few sectins still survive. Only the fundatins remain f mst f the walls, with the cral bulders frm the upper curses being spread acrss the landscape. Analysis f the field patterns has suggested that the earliest enclsures were the smaller, mre irregular nes, nearest the sea and that these culd pssibly have been used as residential yards. Behind these, the larger mre rectilinear walls, extending t the central spine f the island, might have been garden enclsures. Abve n the highest level, enclsures were perhaps assciated with defensive measures. The ccupatin f the island is thught t have cnsiderable time depth, as evidenced by a scatter f Mangaas pttery ( BP) but as yet n detailed 93

3 surveys have been undertaken, f fr instance identified rck shelters and burial sites. Althugh the dssier states that the visible cultural heritage f Artk Island ffers an exceptinal perspective n the landscape f a 16 th century chiefly dmain, withut the benefit f further explratin, many questins remain unanswered as t hw the island was used and by whm, and thus its rle as part f Ri Mata s dmain is unclear. The intangible assciatin between the three sites and Ri Mata: Ri Mata s legacy The element that links all three sites tgether and t the present day is Ri Mata s life and achievements. He features in a cmmn cre f ral traditins acrss central Vanuatu as a surce f pwer and inspiratin fr the impact f his scial refrms based n naflak matricians, Naflak is a frm f kinship reckning thrugh the matrilineal line. It prbably already existed but Ri Mata extended it frm a system f land tenure t the regulatin f marriage and thus als f cnflict, thrugh prviding peple with allegiances that extended beynd the cnfines f their immediate settlements and narrw existing scial grups. He encuraged clans nt t wage war against members f the same matriline and als intrduced natamwate peace feasts as a means f settling the lng era f island-wide cnflicts knwn as the Great Efate War. Buffer zne The three sites are jined tgether by a stretch f sea. A buffer zne encmpasses further stretches f sea between Efate, Lelepa and Artk Islands and includes part f the shre. The rural landscape f the shre has very limited existing develpment with nly a few villages and farming plts. The buffer zne includes many f the named sites mentined in the Ri Mata legends apart frm thse already in the cre zne and is said t encmpass a large part f Ri Mata s dmain. The areas excluded are thse with cmmercial leases: Tukutuku n mainland Efate, the eastern side f Lelepa Island, and the interir f Efate Island. While the vegetatin may have changed frm the time f Chief Ri Mata, the undisturbed quality f the area cvered by the buffer zne adds strngly t the understanding and cntext f the three sites. Histry and develpment The earliest settlement s far dcumented is n Efate Island where pttery can be dated t arund 3100 BP. It is presumed that similar cmmunities were als present acrss what became Ri Mata s dmain, althugh the earliest date is 2900 BP. The end f pttery prductin arund 1500 BP seems t have preceded the intrductin between BP frm utside the area f a chiefly title system, related t similar systems in western Plynesia. Life in Vanuatu experienced a catastrphic disruptin in 1452 AD with the eruptin f the Kuwae vlcan in the Shepherd Islands t the nrth. In abut 1600 AD a lng perid f persistent warfare knwn as the Great Efate War appears t have cme t an end, with the reslutin f cnflict being attributed t Ri Mata. One result was the exdus f chiefs frm Efate t the Shepherd Islands, sme suggesting that Ri Mata instigated a kind f scial revlutin. After Ri Mata s death and burial n Artk Island, the settlement f Mangaas was abandned and never resettled. It is suggested that after his death, cnflict culd have resumed which prved fatal fr his cmmunity wh dispersed r mved elsewhere. At the end f the 19 th century, descendents f the lesser chiefs were living n Lelepa Island. Eurpean cntact begun arund 1840 and twenty years later there were numerus Eurpean settlements including missinaries. Frm the 1870s Fels Cave had becme a turist attractin with regular visits frm British naval vessels. By 1898 mst peple had been cnverted t Christianity. Epidemics subsequently decimated the ppulatin f Efate and surrunding islands frcing survivrs int a few larger settlements, with Eurpean settlers acquiring the vacated land, which they held until independence in Since independence, 55% f the land n Efate has nw been leased t freign investrs. Frm 1957 research has been cnducted int ral traditins f the area and int the archaelgy f Mangaas, Fels Cave and the Artk burial site. In 2005 a brief recnnaissance survey f Artk island was undertaken. Chief Ri Mata s Dmain values The values f the nminated prperty are related t the histry and ral traditins assciated with Ri Mata and their manifestatins in the landscape. 3. OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE, INTEGRITY AND AUTHENTICITY Integrity and Authenticity Integrity The nminatin is f part f Ri Mata s dmain. In terms f integrity the issue is whether sufficient has been nminated t understand the full values f the site. It is clear that the three main sites f Ri Mata s residence, death site and grave are the key sites. Hwever Ri Mata is credited with peaceful reslutin f cnflict and the cntext within which this happened culd perhaps be better understd by evidence frm sites in the hinterland where archaelgical surveys have identified 189 additinal Natinal Register Histric sites alng the castline sites f ptential imprtance. 94

4 Mre specifically further explratin is needed t determine the bundaries f the residence and whether remains adjacent culd be assciated with Ri Mata r his predecessrs. Authenticity The authenticity f the nminated sites is nt in dubt, including their strng assciatins with ral histry. ICOMOS cnsiders that the cnditin f integrity has nly been partly met and the cnditin f authenticity has been met. Cmparative analysis This nminatin is seen as ne f the first tw cultural nminatins frm independent Pacific Island States. The ther cultural site frm the Pacific, Rapa Nui Natinal Park, is seen t belng t Chile rather than an independent Pacific Island natin. East Rennell in the Slmn Islands is a natural site. The 2005 wrkshp n the Thematic Framewrk fr Wrld Cultural Heritage in the Pacific identified principal themes fr the regin including sites in which intangible assciatins are imprtant. The Chief Ri Mata s Dmain fits this latter theme. The cmparative analysis cnsiders chiefly title systems, mass burials, the cnvergence f archaelgy and histry, and the cntinuing ral traditins f Ri Mata. Attentin is drawn t the fact that chiefly title systems are widespread thrughut the Pacific, but that the system in Vanuatu is unique in the way its elements reflect cgnate systems and terms used in western Plynesia (althugh Vanuatu culture is nt Plynesian), and in terms f the time depth extending t fur centuries ver which memry has been preserved. Mass chiefly burials have been fund in several sites acrss the Pacific, dating frm arund 1400 t 1800 AD. Ri Mata s grave is distinguished by three factrs: the large number f peple buried with him apparently vluntarily, the high number in prprtin t the assumed ppulatin at the time; and the ral traditin assciated with the chief Ri Mata. The ral traditin f the Pacific islands is rich with narratives naming chiefly ancestrs fr up t 50 r mre successive hlders f the title and details f migratins. The traditins assciated with Ri Mata are particularly rich in their prtrait f the man and stries f the flight t Efate after the eruptin f Kuwae vlcan. Bringing tgether ral traditin and archaelgy, the nminated sites present a unique cnvergence in the Pacific regin. Taking a glbal perspective, there are numerus recrded mass burials, and many scieties that preserve lng ral traditins, in sagas, family histries, narrative histries etc. The significant qualities f the nminated sites relate t a cnvergence between ral histry and archaelgy, the prfile f the man assciated with them and the fact that they can be seen as exemplars fr the wider Pacific culture. IUCN states that the nminatin is particularly gd in shwing the living cnnectin between Pacific peple and their envirnment, and the natural values f this site that have been preserved because f the tabs assciated with the area. ICOMOS cnsiders that the cmparative analysis justifies cnsideratin f this prperty fr the inscriptin n the Wrld Heritage List. Justificatin f the Outstanding Universal Value The nminated prperty is cnsidered by the State Party t be f Outstanding Universal Value as a cultural prperty fr the fllwing reasns: The sites f the residence, death and burial f the last paramunt chief Ri Mata are: Exemplars f the exceptinal living cnnectins between Pacific peple, their landscapes and their traditins. Reflect the cnvergence between ral traditin and archaelgy. Are witness t the persistence f Ri Mata s scial refrms relating t kin grup reckning and cnflict reslutin which still infrm disputes tday. Criteria under which inscriptin is prpsed The prperty is nminated n the basis f cultural criteria (iii), (iv) and (vi). Criterin (v) is als cnsidered by ICOMOS. Criterin (iii): bear a unique r at least exceptinal testimny t a cultural traditin r t a civilizatin which is living r which has disappeared. This criterin is justified by the State Party n the grunds that the dmain is a cntinuing cultural landscapes that reflects the way chiefs, wh pay a majr scial rle, derive their authrity frm previus title hlders; and in particular hw the tapu prhibitins n the use f Ri Mata s residence and burial site have been bserved fr 400 years and cntinue t structure the lcal landscape and scial practices. ICOMOS supprts this justificatin althugh cnsiders that the attributes that carry this value extend beynd the nminated site. ICOMOS cnsiders that this criterin has been justified, althugh fr a larger area than currently nminated. 95

5 Criterin (iv): be an utstanding example f a type f building, architectural r technlgical ensemble r landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human histry. This criterin is justified by the State Party n the grunds that the landscape f Ri Mata s dmain, as exemplified in the sites f his residence, death and burial, is an utstanding example f a Western Pacific landscape in the way it reflects chiefly systems f small scale scieties which are seen t be a significant stage in human histry. ICOMOS cnsiders that the evidence fr Ri Mata s reign and scial refrms, as exemplified in the landscape and as reflected in current scial and cultural systems, d prvide evidence f an exceptinal link between ral and archaelgical traditins and a persistent spiritual attachment t the landscape, and can be seen as an example f Pacific chiefly systems, but cannt be seen t illustrate a significant and specific stage in human histry. ICOMOS cnsiders criterin (v) t be mre apprpriate. ICOMOS cnsiders that this criterin has nt been justified. Criterin (v): be an utstanding example f a traditinal human settlement, land-use, r sea-use which is representative f a culture (r cultures), r human interactin with the envirnment especially when it has becme vulnerable under the impact f irreversible change. This criterin was nt cnsidered by the State Party. ICOMOS cnsiders that this criterin is justified fr the reasns set ut by the State Party fr criterin (iv). The landscape f Ri Mata s dmain is an utstanding example f a settlement which is representative f Pacific chiefly system, particularly in the way peple interact with their envirnment ver time in respecting the tangible remains f the three key sites assciated with Ri Mata and being guided by the spiritual and mral legacy f his scial refrms. ICOMOS cnsiders that althugh this criterin was nt prpsed, it culd be justified, prvided sme adjustment is made t the bundaries. Criterin (vi): be directly r tangibly assciated with events r living traditins, with ideas, r with beliefs, with artistic and literary wrks f utstanding universal significance. This criterin is justified by the State Party n the grunds that the landscape f Ri Mata s dmain memrialises his deeds in intrducing naflak matricians as a means f cnflict reslutin, and its value fr cntemprary sciety thrugh Central Vanuatu, tying peple inextricably t the landscape. ICOMOS cnsiders that Chief Ri Mata still lives fr many peple in cntemprary Vanuatu, as a surce f pwer evident thrugh the landscape, and as an inspiratin fr peple negtiating their lives. ICOMOS cnsiders that this criterin has been justified fr the landscape f Ri Mata s dmain which extends beynd the nminated bundaries. ICOMOS cnsiders that the criteria (iii), (v) and (vi) and the Outstanding Universal Value have been demnstrated; hwever the attributes which carry utstanding universal value g beynd the current bundaries. 4. FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROPERTY Develpment Pressure Up t 50% f Efate Island has been leased t freign investrs, and sme f this land is in the prpsed buffer zne. The leasing is part f residential accmmdatin bm. A new zning plan fr the areas near the nminated site has been prpsed and shuld be released in The greatest recent threat is t Artk Island, the whle f which was leased t an Australian investr in 1994 t develp a turist resrt, in direct cntraventin f the tab. Althugh this lease is said in the nminatin dssier t have been technically revked in 2006, the lessee still has nt withdrawn rights and custmary rights have nt yet been reinstated. The gvernment has stated that it intends t present legislatin t vid this lease. N timetable was prvided in the nminatin, but in respnse t a request fr further infrmatin, the State Party in its supplementary material has stated that the lease culd be revked by Parliament in March 2008, and legal issues surrunding the cmpensatin fr the Australian investr reslved at the same time. The issue f cmmercial leases fr aquaculture in the sea jining the nminated sites was mentined in the nminating dssier and at the time f the missin. In respnse t a request frm ICOMOS fr clarificatin, the State Party has respnded that an existing lease fr harvesting fish fr aquaria, which has attracted much criticism, has nt been renewed fr Further a Japanese funded prject has been put in place t re-stck native fish species. It is stated in the supplementary dcumentatin that it is anticipated that tapu restrictins, cmbined with Wrld Heritage status and the benefits f marine turism will finally clse the dr n cmmercial reef explitatin. Visitrs All the sites are vulnerable t visitrs tuching lse stnes and ther smaller cmpnents. Cmmunity guides are being trained see belw. Graffiti The dssier acknwledges a certain amunt f graffiti n the walls f Fels Cave. Sme is frm the 19 th century but thers are recent, circa A campaign f awareness has been initiated within the Lelepa cmmunity t prevent further vandalism. 96

6 Impact f climate change This issue is nt addressed in the dssier. Clearly any change in sea level wuld have a prfund impact n tw f the sites and their setting. Risk preparedness N frmal arrangements are in place fr dealing with emergencies. ICOMOS cnsiders that the main threats t the prperty is cmmercial leases, in particular the lease f the whle f Artk Island and the aquaculture lease, but als the threat f further cmmercial leases ver land in Efate Island. 5. PROTECTION, CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT Bundaries f the nminated prperty and buffer zne As a cultural landscape cnsisting f sites n three islands separated by several kilmetres f pen water the delineated bundaries are particularly imprtant. In the mapping presented in the riginal nminatin, the nminated area is a triangle f water just tuching the land at a single pint n each f the three islands. Supplementary infrmatin prvided by the State Party has cnfirmed that the whle f Artk Island is included, but has als cnfirmed the riginal tight bundaries fr Mangaas and Fels Cave. At Mangaas, the bundaries have been determined by surface and sub-surface archaelgical investigatins. Hwever, an imprtant cnsideratin is a cntiguus site west f the cre area where archaelgy experts have nted t be ne f the few multi-perid sites fr the study f Pacific Island habitatin. The Mangaas site is said t appear t be the periphery f a much larger settlement which extended further still alng the cast twards Mangaliliu village. This adjacent layering f histry needs recgnitin and prtectin. Prtectin within a buffer zne may nt be enugh as the plan indicates cnstructin f traditinal huses adjacent t the Mangaas site. The area t the suth west f the delineated area f Mangaas is land area exchanged with the Alepa family fr Artk Island s that Chief Ri Mata culd be buried n that island. Cnsequently, cnsideratin shuld be given t including this area as well since there is an assciative value with Chief Ri Mata and it wuld prvide prtectin fr the larger area. At Fels Cave the bundaries cver the interir f the cave with a simple rectangle frm the edge f the entry t the cave t the water. Access t the cave appears t be utside f this drawn bundary as the steep area between the edge f the cave and the beach is nt easily accessible. The bundaries need adjusting t cver the access and the immediate hinterland t the cave. Currently excluded frm the nminated area, but included in the buffer znes are many sites named in Ri Mata s legends. Particularly ntable is the pint f Nangus Katu, where the remains and fllwers f Chief Ri Mata crssed the sea frm Efate Island t Artk Island. Oral histry relates that the sea parted t allw the peple t walk t the island and n cral nw grws within this alignment. This site is west f the village f Mangaliliu and nt currently included within the triangle f water that defines the ptential Wrld Heritage area. The State Party has said that this site was excluded as there are n visible remains. ICOMOS cnsiders that the strength f this nminatin is the extent and present day relevance f ral traditin that links Ri Mata t many identified sites. It cnsiders that the nminatin wuld be much strengthened by the inclusin f mre f these sites. The buffer zne was defined in the nminatin as the view shed frm the Chief Ri Mata grave site n Artk Island. In reality the prpsed buffer zne des nt include this whle view shed. Excluded are an area f nrthwest Efate Island that includes the sea and the slping hillside, and Lelepa Island t the tp f the muntain ridge. Currently the buffer zne bundary line n nrthwest Efate is apprximately half a kilmetre belw the ridge and des nt include any f the western prmntry f Efate Island near Tukutuku pint. Bth f these areas were mitted as they are under the jurisdictin f anther Chief r under leases fr cattle ranching. Hwever, these areas are clearly within the view planes frm the island and shuld be included within the buffer zne. The area within the buffer zne cntains tw small villages and very little existing develpment. Cnsequently, the visual field is remarkably intact. In respnse t a request frm ICOMOS n the bundaries, the State Party has indicated that it des nt cnsider that the cre area can be extended as it des nt cnsider that the lcal cmmunity wuld accept restrictins n land currently in the buffer zne. Currently n restrictins are in place n buffer zne land- see belw and sme f it is subject t cmmercial leases. ICOMOS cnsiders that the bundaries arund Mangaas and Fels Cave d nt include even sufficient land t allw full understanding f the sites. ICOMOS further cnsiders that the values fr which the prperty have been nminated extend beynd the tight bundaries and particularly t the landscape that unites the nminated sites and carries further assciatins with Ri Mata, and which currently are vulnerable t develpment. ICOMOS cnsiders that the bundaries f the cre zne d nt fully encmpass the scpe and extent f sites assciated with Ri Mata r sites which have the ptential t demnstrate time depth t Ri Mata s reign; r the immediate setting f the key sites; it further cnsiders that the buffer zne f the nminated prperty needs t be extended t cver all f the view shed frm Ri Mata s grave. Ownership Mst f the land in the cre and buffer zne is in custmary wnership. Of particular cncern is the issue f utstanding leases fr the entire Artk Island, fr aquarium fishing within the cre zne, and fr cmmercial develpment n Efate Island within the buffer zne. 97

7 The Artk Island was ffered by Chief Met Kaltiti, the custmary wner fr a 75 year rural cmmercial lease t an Australian investr in Despite strng bjectin f the Ministry f Justice, Culture and Wmen s Affairs, the Natinal Cuncil f Chiefs, and the Efate Cuncil f Chiefs, the lease was registered by the Department f Lands in As n develpment ccurred n this lease in a ten year perid, a new 75 year lease was signed in 2004 with a 12 mnth develpment perid. In the nminatin it is said that when n develpment had ccurred by Octber 2005, the lease was technically revked. Hwever it appears that the lessee has been uncperative, advertising the sale f this lease fr develpment as recently as 2006 and negtiatins with the lessee t return the land have prved t be ineffectual. Althugh the cntrl r the cancelling f this lease is said t be a high pririty f the gvernment f Vanuatu, nthing has yet been agreed. Apprpriate cntrl f Artk Island by the lcal custmary grups wuld be difficult with an uncperative freign investr. A large develpment in the middle f the island wuld negatively impact n the integrity f the histric resurce. The area f sea between the three islands (in the cre zne) has been leased fr aquarium farming. The State Party in its supplementary infrmatin said that this lease had nt been renewed fr 2008 and it was anticipated that further leases wuld nt be given. It appears hwever there is n specific regulatin currently in place t prhibit such leases in the cre and buffer znes. see abve. ICOMOS cnsiders that reslutin f the Artk lease and a cmmitment nt t sign further cmmercial aquaculture leases must be achieved t allw prtectin f the cre area. Furthermre ICOMOS cnsiders that part f the buffer zne alng the cast shuld be included in the cre zne and prtected frm cmmercial leases, and that verall the buffer zne needs prtectin fr views. Prtectin Legal Prtectin The land laws and ways f decisin making within Vanuatu are cmplex yet cmplimentary. There are natinal laws gverning land use as well as a traditinal land tenure stewardship system. One issue is the land tenure system allws the land t be leased fr seventy five year perids t freign investrs withut adequate cntrls in place t prtect cultural resurces. The preservatin rder fr the prperty is under legislatin entitled Preservatin f Sites and Artefacts Act (Chapter 39 f the Laws f the Republic f Vanuatu). This current preservatin legislatin has a minimal penalty fr vilatin f the Act. It is said that the penalties are t be increased at the next legislative sessin scheduled fr Nvember The new penalties shuld be 5,000,000 vatu r apprximately $500,000. The cre and buffer areas culd be prtected under the Envirnmental Management and Cnservatin Act N 12 f The nminatin dssier states that the Vanuatu Cultural Cuncil is currently wrking with the Ministry f Internal Affairs t secure a preservatin rder fr the prperty. At the mment nly Ri Mata s burial site has prtectin under a clnial law that is still in frce. A prtectin rder will shrtly be gazetted fr the entire island f Artk extending the existing prtectin fr the site f Ri Mata s grave. The law as currently written appears t be nly fr natural resurces nt cultural resurces. While this Act gverns prtected r prpsed prtected areas all the definitins and types f cntrlled activities deal with natural resurces. Cnsequently, a number f parallel additinal definitins and divisins wuld need t be added fr cultural cnservatin. The buffer zne has been mapped fr histric sites and 189 individual sites have been listed n the Natinal Register within it. It is critical that buffer zne prtectin is develped. Currently the area within the buffer zne has very limited existing develpment but there is significant develpment pressure n Efate Island fr turism. Very specific use and design cntrls will be necessary t restrict cmmercial develpment, t maintain the view sheds acrss the buffer zne and t guide apprpriate develpment. N guidelines are currently in place fr the buffer zne. These are t be put in place as part f the revisin f the Management Plan which shuld be cmpleted by March Traditinal Prtectin The Republic f Vanuatu legislatin acts as a cmpliment t the chiefly system. Land rights and custmary wnership in Vanuatu fllw ther Pacific Island patterns f custdianship rather than wnership. The clan is the custdian and individuals are designated by the Chief certain areas fr gardening fr sustenance. The implicatin f this system is that land is nt a cmmdity but sacred and held fr future generatins. The cre area is under the cntrl f several chiefs related by family that have agreed t this nminatin. Prminent psitins in the Wrld Heritage Turism Cmmittee are held by family members. While this is a cperative situatin, it als creates a prblem when part f area needing cntrl is under the jurisdictin f anther Chief. Traditinal tabu restrictins, althugh pwerful have nt been sufficient t stp cmmercial leases n Artk Island, n part f the sea in the cre areas, n Tukutuku pint, Efate Island, visible frm Artk Island, r n the east f Lelepa Island, parts f which are visible frm Ri Mata s grave n Artk Island. ICOMOS cnsiders that lack f legal prtectin fr the cre and buffer zne is a cause fr cncern, given the pressure fr develpment and the uncertainty ver the lease n Artk Island, and that necessary legal prtectin needs t be put in place as a matter f urgency t reinfrce traditinal prtectin. 98

8 Cnservatin Inventries, recrding, research Research undertaken under the jurisdictin f the Vanuatu Cultural Centre (VCC) is quite cmprehensive. Recent archaelgical wrk has been dne thrugh the VCC by experts frm the Australian Natinal University. It is likely that this cmplimentary relatinship will cntinue which is beneficial as there is research wrk that still needs t be dne. Additinal archaelgy needs t be undertaken bth adjacent t the residence, t cnnect (r nt) this site with the area designated as Chief Ri Mata s residence, r with earlier chiefs, and arund the grave site, in rder t cnfirm r therwise the pssibility f a substantially larger grave site. The 189 additinal Natinal Register Histric sites alng the castline shuld be analysed fr the cnnectins with Chief Ri Mata and their larger clan cntext. Present state f cnservatin Mangaas: The site is cvered with scattered stnes, the remains f stne walls and als sacred extic stnes carefully psitined n the site. Little active cnservatin f the site has taken place. In respnse t increase in visitrs, a prgramme f mnitring has been initiated with a number f fixed mnitring pints identified. Fels Cave: A mnitring prgramme was initiated in 2001 with 11 fixed mnitring pints t recrd bth natural and visitr issues. Artk Island: Little active wrk has been undertaken since the burial site was excavated and n wrk has been dne t stabilise the remains f the stne walls. All the remains n the island are in need f adequate surveys and planned preventative cnservatin wrk. Active Cnservatin measures Currently nly passive cnservatin measures are in place t ensure that minimum damage is caused by visitrs t the three main sites, but this is linked t mnitring arrangements. ICOMOS cnsiders that the basic cnservatin needs t be put n a mre structured basis t cpe with the anticipated increase in visitr numbers. Management Management structures and prcesses, including traditinal management prcesses The preservatin apprach is ne f nafsan natn, r learned scial rules respected by all in the cmmunity. Plicy framewrk: management plans and arrangements, including visitr management and presentatin The Management Plan designates tw rganizatins t wrk hand in hand, the Vanuatu Cultural Centre (VCC) and the Wrld Heritage Turism Cmmittee (WHTC). The VCC have taken the lead in rganizing the research and develped a cmprehensive database fr the 189 sites within the buffer zne area. A system f trained VCC field wrkers frm cmmunities thrughut Vanuatu has been set up t wrk n cultural issues at the cmmunity scale. These field wrkers are psitined within the cmmunity but return t the VCC fr training and exchange with the ther field wrkers. The Management Plan was develped thrugh cnsensus with members f cmmunities. The Actin Plan incrprates these values and details specific shrt and lng range planning gals such as envirnmental resurce prtectin, ral histry recrding and disseminatin, guide training, cmmunity capacity building, and cmmercial activities including supprt fr authentic craft prductin. Guides have been trained, safety strategies develped and a framewrk is in place fr apprpriate interpretatin. It is a very ambitius plan and sme f the timing is t shrt, but the intent and ptential executin is cmmendable. It des hwever need extending t cver the buffer zne mre specifically. There may be a need fr additinal expertise t allw actin t be undertaken in a cmprehensive and timely manner and there will certainly be a need fr resurces. As IUCN pints ut that as nted in the nminatin dcument, the basis fr financing the mnitring and management f the site is wrrisme. IUCN cmments that a majr prtin f the prpsed cre and buffer znes are lcated in the marine envirnment and yet there is relatively little descriptin f the marine cmpnents r prescriptin fr their mnitring and management. IUCN further states that Inscriptin f the prperty n the Wrld Heritage List will mst likely result in increased turism and assciated cmplicatins fr management. A Turism Management Plan is als in its nascent stages. Guides have been trained, safety strategies develped and the framewrk is in place t effect apprpriate interpretatin. The resurces f the cmmunity by themselves may nt enugh t accmplish all the required tasks and additinal input frm preservatin and turism prfessinals may be necessary t launch the prcess. The sale f hand crafts is suggested by the Turism Management Plan. It is highly desirable that the custms and cultural elements that are develped be authentic t lcal culture and place. Invlvement f the lcal cmmunities Lcal cmmunities are fully invlved in the management f the site and will be invlved in the implementatin f the Management Plan. 99

9 Resurces, including staffing levels, expertise and training The VCC has tw fieldwrkers fr the Lelepa regin and they have experience in cultural heritage matters, particularly ral histry. They wrk with cmmunity vlunteer experts. There is a need fr this expertise t be supplemented by expertise in archaelgical landscape management t safeguard the fragile cre sites and thse in the buffer zne. Currently there are almst n resurces t manage the prperty. Financial benefits frm cmmercial leases t custmary land wners have nt, it is acknwledged in the nminatin dssier, flwed back t manage r upgrade the prperty. Incme generatin is a high pririty, particularly frm turs fr visitrs. Seed mney will be needed t implement bth the Management and Turism Plans. ICOMOS cmmends the Management Plan as an aspiratinal dcument but cnsiders that it needs t be extended t the buffer zne and the marine envirnment. ICOMOS cnsiders that the management system fr the prperty is adequate but is under-resurced. The resurces f the cmmunity will need t be augmented in rder t allw the Management and Turism Plans t begin t be implemented. Expertise in archaelgical landscape management will need t be prvided. 6. MONITORING There is a well thught ut mnitring plan fr change within the nminated sites n land. Designated mnitring sites will be visited n an annual basis by VCC staff and mre regularly by tur guides and landwners. There is hwever a danger that mnitring is fr safety rather than cnservatin cncerns. Fr instance at Mangaas ne f the mnitring statins is a Tamana trees alng the shreline. Rtten branches have been remved in a way that might damage the tree. There is n mnitring f the marine envirnment between the land sites. ICOMOS cnsiders that the mnitring system is adequate but shuld be strengthened t cver the marine envirnment. 7. CONCLUSIONS The landscape and ral traditins assciated with Ri Mata display a remarkable cnvergence. What has been nminated are three small parts f this landscape the residence, death site and burial f Ri Mata, with bundaries tightly drawn arund tw f them. What draws tgether these three sites and gives them cntext is the wider landscape f hills, fields, shre and sea, which were Ri Mata s dmain. And this cultural landscape cntains much evidence assciated it seems, with Ri Mata and his predecessrs, which culd prvide a wider picture f Ri Mata and his dmain. Currently, althugh the vegetatin may have changed since Ri Mata s day, the undisturbed quality f its rural landscape f a few villages and farming plts, adds strngly t the understanding and cntext f the three sites, framing as it des the views between them. This buffer zne has n prtectin and there are clear threats assciated with develpment leases that culd be applied in this area. ICOMOS des nt cnsider that the current bundaries fully reflect the full values f the site excluding as they d the immediate setting f the sites, in the case f Mangaas assciated archaelgical remains, and mre generally much f what cnstituted Ri Mata s dmain, within which there are an extensive netwrk f sites assciated with him. There is a need t put the nminated sites int this wider cntext and t prvide prtectin nt nly fr the specific sites but als fr the landscape that links them tgether. ICOMOS cnsiders that cnsideratin needs t be given t extending the bundaries t cver sites alng the shre assciated with Ri Mata, and extending the buffer zne t include the full view shed frm Artk Island. ICOMOS als cnsiders that the prtectin is needed fr the nminated sites and als fr the buffer zne, t sustain the setting f the knwn sites, and that this prtectin wuld need t preclude mst cmmercial develpment. There is als a need t avert the main threat t the site frm utstanding leases fr develpment f Artk Island and fr aquaculture in the sea between the three sites. It is essential that the Artk lease is revked, that cmmitment is given that n further aquaculture leases will be issues, and that apprpriate prtectin fr the cre and buffer zne including the marine areas will be put in place. Recmmendatins with respect t inscriptin ICOMOS recmmends that the examinatin f the nminatin f Ri Mata s Dmain, Vanuatu, t the Wrld Heritage List be deferred in rder t allw the State Party t: Put in place legal prtectin fr all f the nminated areas. Put in place cntrls fr develpment in the buffer zne, and extend mnitring and management t the marine areas. Cmplete the revcatin f the lease fr Artk Island. Gain agreement at bth chiefly and legislative levels t limit further explitatin by cmmercial leases in the cre and buffer zne, including aquaculture leases. Identify adequate resurces t allw the implementatin f the Management and Turism Plans. 100

10 Enlarge the bundaries t include mre f the landscape f Ri Mata s dmain, at a minimum the envirns f the residence t encmpass knwn remains, the setting and histric access t the cave, and the additin f Nangas Katu and the shre n Efate and Lelepa Islands, which includes sites assciated with Ri Mata. Enlarge the buffer zne t include the full view shed frm Artk Island including the ridge and peninsula near Tukutuku. 101

11 Map shwing the bundaries f the nminated prperty

12 Artk Island Ri Mata s magic stne

13 Pssible black rck-art depictin f Ri Mata, Fels cave Ri Mata s mass burial site, Artk Island