Digital Archiving of Lost Cultural Heritage of South and Central Asia of the 1st Millenium

Vision and Goals

The "Joint Database Kyoto - Vienna" project seeks to preserve and digitally archive invaluable visual documentation of South and Central Asia, focusing in the first steps on Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. Since the 1960s, both Kyoto University and the University of Vienna have conducted extensive research in Afghanistan, particularly at significant archaeological sites such as Bamiyan, Ai Khanum, and Hadda. These locations, central to the region’s cultural and religious history, have since been lost or severely damaged due to prolonged conflict. The project aims to make this documentation accessible to scholars, future researchers, and the public, facilitating the preservation of these vital historical records.

KAAMA and (W)HAV

Kyoto University holds an extensive photographic collection from Japanese archaeologists like Takayasu Higuchi, Shoshin Kuwayama, and Akira Miyaji. Tousand of images had been digitised and stored in the digital database The Kyoto University Archives for Archeological Missions to Asia - KAAMA.

The University of Vienna, in turn, contributes significant documentation of on the one hand field research especially to Bamiyan by Deborah Klimburg-Salter in the 1970s and on the other hand of the close with the National Museum of Afghanistan since 2004. The material was digitized and stored in its entierty in the digital database of the Western Himalaya Archive Vienna (WHAV) and partly in the Shahi Kingdoms Database.

Parts of the material currently archived in the WHAV is scheduled to migrate into the WHAV's multimedia successor, the Himalaya Archive Vienna (HAV), in the next years. This will enable the implementation of a joint search interface with KAAMA which aims at providing easy to use, shared, mutual access to parts of these collections.
This collaborative initiative should enable a comprehensive digital archive, support scientific assessments, and bridge gaps in existing research data of the respective institutions. It is furthermore hoped that the present cooperation will serve as an impetus for the cooperation and mutual integration with other collections of relevant materials.

This project underscores the importance of open access to historical records and digital preservation by paying attention to ethical and security issues, which plays a critical role in safeguarding lost heritage and shaping future generations’ understanding of these irreplaceable sites.

Meetings and Progress

The project has progressed through a series of collaborative meetings funded by different institutions, outlined below, where essential strategies and methodologies were developed. March 2019 in Kyoto Although the idea stems from the long term cooperation between scholars from Vienna and Kyoto (see Kabul Museum website - link), the initial meeting laid the groundwork for a strategic collaboration, aligning objectives for a comprehensive digital archive. Discussions focused on the standards for long-term preservation, classification, and accessibility, with attention to ethical and copyright considerations.

October 2019 in Kyoto (Strategic Partnership Meeting)

On 8 October, the University of Vienna signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Kyoto University, elevating their collaboration to a new level by expanding fields of cooperation and fostering academic exchange with one of Japan's top universities. On October 24 and 25 of 2019, researchers and representatives of Kyoto University and the University of Vienna gathered for a Joint Workshop in Kyoto to discuss current and future fields of cooperation. The panel on Asian Studies will convened scholars from both universities exploring the history, culture, and religions of Inner and South Asia, with a special emphasis on the mountainous frontiers along South Asia’s northern rim. This gathering aimed to reinforce and expand the longstanding collaboration between CIRDIS and Kyoto University’s Institute for Research in Humanities.

KU - UNIVIE Joint Grant Program 2022/23

The KU-UNIVIE Joint Grant Program 2022/23 offered the opportunity to reactivate this idea, which had stalled somewhat due to the corona pandemic. In setting up the proposal, the necessity of expanding the focus area to Central Asia, and of stimulating a generational change in the scholars involved in this project became clear. The activities of the program have been conducted in the course of three intensive meetings in Vienna and Kyoto.

August 2022 in Vienna
This first meeting served to plan in detail the upcoming meetings and workshops, outline the roadmap for the next year, and meet with cooperation partners in Vienna.
December 2022 in Kyoto
In this meeting in Kyoto, team members from both universities reviewed the vast archives of the Institute for Research in Humanities in Kyoto, including the already digitized material. Key issues addressed in a public workshop included copyright sensitivity, data classification, and plans for a common open-access framework. This gathering also highlighted the need for additional funding and resources to enable further expansion.
February/March 2023
The final meeting, held in Vienna, focused on drafting a planned project proposal for larger-scale funding, prioritizing archival materials deemed critical to research by senior scholars. Workshops with specialists offered additional insights that informed the proposal, enhancing the scientific rigor and the interdisciplinary reach of the project.

Project Outcomes and Future Directions

As a result of these meetings, the collaboration partners are in constant communication and planning a joint application for additional funding. Efforts are underway to finalize the digital interface that will connect Kyoto and Vienna’s archives, allowing seamless access for researchers worldwide. The project also aligns with digital humanities initiatives at both universities, promising broader interdisciplinary collaboration and reinforcing both Kyoto and Vienna as leading research centers in cultural history of South and Central Asia with a focus on Afghanistan. This project not only memorializes lost sites of cultural significance but also strengthens the cultural and scientific ties between Japan and Europe, promoting a shared commitment to preserving history for future generations.

Main Particpants (among others):

Erika Forte, Minoru Inaba, Deborah-Klimburg-Salter, Malgorzata Lenka, Jürgen Schörflinger, Verena Widorn

Funding Institutions:

Kyoto University, Vienna University