February 1, 2001

Museum Security Guidelines Now Available Free

To: securma@xs4all.nl
The "Suggested Guidelines for Museum Security" are now available free online at the ASIS web site. They are no longer on the "Member Only" section. Museum security personnel are invited to visit the web site at add the Guidelines to their library or list of favorite places on their browser. Perhaps they should forward the link to their Museum Director, as well. The web address is as follows:
http://www.asisonline.org/museumsecurity.html
Michael Daly, the Chairman of the ASIS Museum, Library and Cultural Property Council was instrumental in getting this change made. It has been pending for at least four years. Now, even the smallest museum has ready access to the Guidelines.
Steve Keller

India Quake Crumbled Monuments

By NEELESH MISRA, Associated Press Writer
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) -
India's massive earthquake struck a history-rich region, collapsing ancient mosques and palaces, cracking Hindu temples and burying priceless relics in museums. Gujarat state, where Friday's magnitude-7.7 quake hit hardest, was a center of India's tourism industry filled with monuments and artifacts ranging from the ancient Indus Valley civilization to the British colonial era. ``Historical monuments have taken a sound beating. The 15th and 16th century structures are the worst affected,'' said architect and conservationist Ravindra Vasavada. Officials said the quake badly hurt the area's tourism industry, which attracts 70,000 foreign and 5 million domestic travelers each year. A fortified section in the opulent former palace of 15th century emperor Ahmed Shah collapsed in a heap of debris. Another tower suffered deep cracks and seemed on the verge of collapse, forcing authorities to close off the area. In Ahmedabad (news - web sites), the state's largest city with more than 70 protected monuments, several Islamic mosques were damaged. The earth's movement collapsed domes in several royal sandstone tombs, knocked large panels of ornate architecture askew and wrenched gaping cracks in ancient mosques. In Bhuj, at the quake's epicenter, the state's largest museum collapsed, burying artifacts dating back centuries. There was little hope of salvaging the relics, said Vasudevan Nair, a conservationist with the Archaeological Survey of India. In the same area, several chhatris - or royal monuments to the dead - at the mausoleums of Hindu kings crumbled to the ground. The quake ruined 12-century temples with exquisite stone carvings, and settlements were damaged in Dholavira, part of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. Portions of several palaces of former Hindu rulers suffered in the temblor. Cracks have also developed in the 11th century Sun Temple in the state's Modhera region. To the north of Gujarat, the ancient forts and palaces of Rajasthan weathered the quake with only a few cracks and tumbling stones. Hardest hit was the imposing, honey-colored Jaisalmer Fort, 250 miles north of the quake's epicenter, which is among India's most popular tourist attractions. The 12th century sandstone fort suffered minor cracks in its walls. A few large stones were jostled from its Hawapol Gate. But most of the other monument were largely unscathed. Rajasthan state's chief architect Vijay Kumar Mathur attributes the resiliency of the monuments to ancient masonry skills.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/

February 1, 2001

CONTENTS:

Museum Security Guidelines Now Available Free

India Quake Crumbled Monuments