Terra

Earthen architecture and materials are mostly absent from history, design, and construction technology courses. There is no industry to support continued investigation of earthen materials, and the scientific and technological research base for it and its conservation is very limited compared to that of stone, brick, and timber. The Terra project sought to develop the conservation of earthen architectural heritage into a science; a field of study; a professional practice; and a social endeavor.

• The Earthen Architecture Research Survey was conducted in 1998 to poll the field regarding perceived research needs and to identify current research initiatives.
• The UNESCO Chair on Earthen Architecture was formally inaugurated in 1998 through the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme. The Terra partners were charged with identifying university partners and coordinating the development of curricula and faculty for earthen architecture conservation within this consortium.
• The second Pan-American Course on the Conservation and Management of Earthen Architectural and Archaeological Heritage, familiarly known as PAT99, was hosted in Trujillo, Peru, in 1999. Twenty-seven architects, archaeologists, and conservators—representing twelve countries in Latin America—participated as students in the intensive six-week course.
• A management plan for Chan Chan, Peru, undertaken by the Instituto Nacional de Cultura—La Libertad, with the support of UNESCO and the Terra partners, was completed in 1999 and approved by government officials in January 2000.
• A planning methodology similar to that employed for Chan Chan was adapted for application at Joya de Cerén in El Salvador through a cooperative project of the Conservation Institute and Concultura, and at Ft. Selden in New Mexico by New Mexico State Monuments.
• An experts meeting organized in conjunction with the 8th International Conference on the Study and Conservation of Earthen Architecture (Terra 2000) provided an opportunity for scientists and other conservation professionals to exchange ideas about avenues of research and opportunities for collaboration.
• A three-day colloquium on "Protective Shelters for Archaeological Sites in the Southwest" was held in Tumacacori, Arizona, in 2001, focusing on protective sheltering for archaeological sites, particularly earthen sites in the Southwest. The colloquium papers were published in a special edition of the journal Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, vol.5, no.1 & 2 (2001).
• A bibliography on the Study and Conservation of Earthen Architecture, sorted by author and by general category

There is a wealth of earthen architectural heritage the world over and thus a widespread challenge to preserve this important legacy. From entire cities to monumental sites to intricately decorated surfaces, the range and complexity of earthen architectural materials and applications make conserving this heritage a formidable task.

The International Centre for Earth Construction—School of Architecture of Grenoble (CRATerre-EAG); the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)