Digital Heritage Trails Project

The project involved the documentation of vulnerable archaeological sites in the Indus Delta region of the southern province of Sindh, in Pakistan. These were: Banbhore, Ratukot, Lahiri Bandar, Jam Jaskar Goth, and Ranokot. The “digital twins” of these sites were developed to support effective site management, heritage conservation efforts, and climate impact mitigation. 

Additionally, to increase accessibility, the project developed a multilingual digital trail which is available in English, Urdu, and Sindhi, the three most commonly spoken languages in the delta region. The trail includes historical research, expert interviews, folkstories, 3D models of the sites, and illustrations, images, and maps. Moreover, the project also involved fisherfolk communities at Ibrahim Hyderi, Hashim Goth, and Keti Bandar in the Indus Delta through interviews and documentation, especially on climate change and its impact on their livelihood and histories. 

In addition to the above, as part of DHTP, two multilingual documentaries titled the Lost Cities of the Indus Delta and Cursed Waters: Stories from the Indus Delta were created, exploring the sites and the impact of climate change on the delta and its archaeological heritage. Aside from being available in English, Urdu, and Sindhi, the documentaries have also been translated into Pakistan Sign Language (PSL) by Deaf Reach Pakistan. 

As part of the project, and acknowledging the digital divide, MaritimEA delivered 30 informational sessions to schools between Ibrahim Hyderi and Keti Bandar in the Indus Delta. In total, these sessions reached nearly 1200 students. During these sessions, the project was successful in raising awareness on how climate change is impacting heritage sites in the delta region and also on responsible interaction with heritage sites and archaeological material. Informational brochures distributed amongst the students also ensured sustainability and retention of knowledge gained during the session as well as a newfound appreciation and awareness of our deep relationship with the sea. 

The Digital Heritage Trails Project (DHTP) was supported by the Cultural Protection Fund in partnership with the British Council and the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport. The project was developed by MaritimEA Research in partnership with Kaspar Consulting, A.P.P.A.R.A.T.U.S. LLC/Chrononaut, and the TDF MagnifiScience Center, with Pakistan Sign Language translation support from Deaf Reach Pakistan.