| Uttar Pradesh comprises a rich archaeological heritage characterised by a consistent continuity of human activity from the Palaeolithic to modern times. This is evidenced by thousands of sites, remains, and monuments of archaeologically distinct periods in almost every part of the state. They represent various facets of history, art and architecture, language and trade, associated with those times. Statutorily only those sites and remains fall within the definition of ancient sites and remains which have been in existence for more than hundred years. They include the sites or remains of ancient monuments, such portions of land adjoining the site, which may be required for fencing or covering in order to preserve such them and also the means of access to and convenient inspection of such monument. The responsibly for their protection and conservation is primarily vested with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and State Archaeological Directorate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The most significant sites and remains are declared protected under the provisions of The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 by the Central Government. Their protection, maintenance and conservation is the responsibility of Archaeological Survey of India which has branch offices to look after this work in U.P. at Agra, Lucknow and Patna. Currently the number of sites, monuments and remains protected by the ASI in U.P. is 786. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 17th General Conference of UNESCO adopted ‘The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage’ in 1972. This convention provided for a ‘World Heritage Committee’ which would ‘establish, keep up-to-date and publish’ a World Heritage List of cultural and natural properties submitted by the States and considered to be outstanding universal value. This committee would provide technical cooperation under the World Heritage Fund for safeguarding World Heritage Properties to countries with insufficient resources for their upkeep. As of January 2002 the number of sites on the World Heritage List stood at 754. 16 Cultural and 5 Natural sites (protected under the ASI) in India have been included in the World Heritage List. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other ancient archaeological sites and remains are declared protected under the provisions of The U.P. Ancient & Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites & Remains Preservation Act, 1956 by the Government of U.P. Currently about 100 such sites and remains have been declared protected under this Act. These are being protected, conserved and maintained by the Directorate of Archaeology U.P. Under a State Government Scheme, the Department of Archaeology has undertaken the construction of Site Museums at Mau Kalan and Shivdvar in district Sonbhadra, Halia and Chunar in district Mirzapur, Mahoba in district Mahoba and Lalitpur in district Lalitpur. The purpose of this scheme is to preserve and display the architecturally and sculpturally more significant finds at the place of their recovery in specially constructed museums at the site itself. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registration of antiquarian remains in personal possessions of individuals and institutions is made mandatory under the provisions of The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 of the Central Government. Registration of such antiquities is being implemented in Uttar Pradesh by the Directorate of Culture, Government of U.P. The offices for such registration have been established at Lucknow, Faizabad, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Jhansi, Agra and Bareily, each of which is headed by a Registration Officer. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The large number of ancient sites and remains, which are not protected under the Central or State Government’s Acts also need attention. Special provisions are required for their protection. Considering their number and the area over which they are spread the task of their protection and conservation is enormous and can only be possible with the active involvement of local bodies such as Grama Panchayats, Panchayat Samities, Municipalities and Corporations. They would be required to regulate development and construction work in the vicinity of such sites, as also agriculture and digging operations thereby providing protection to such remains and monuments. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Directorate of Archaeology Uttar Pradesh and its Regional Units carry out annual maintenance work at the monuments protected under the State Act. As and when required, major conservation works are also undertaken particularly in respect of monuments which are in advanced stage of decay. Barua Sagar Fort in Jhansi district and Chunar Fort in Mirzapur district are two important monuments where such works are currently underway.
The list of ancient sites and remains protected by the Directorate of Archaeology, U.P. is as under
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