| This study proposes a cultural resource site file system for Somalia. The system, entitled the Somali National Site File (SNSF), is designed to list significant Somali cultural resources. It is based on preservation models used in many countries of Europe and the United States. The system's main purpose is to establish a flexible and responsive listing process so that conflicts over cultural resources management priorities are reduced.;This study is not a list of significant historic resources that are to be protected, nor a cookbook for a comprehensive preservation system. The study, however, presents a conceptual framework intended to facilitate the identification, evaluation, and registration of significant historic resources.;It is hoped that the SNSF will form the basis for a comprehensive preservation system that will ensure the management and protection of Somali cultural resources, which are threatened by uncontrolled human activities. These activities include major rural development projects and urban renewal programs sponsored by previous Somali governments, private individuals, and national and international organizations. Unfortunately, former governments have paid little attention to this problem and consequently failed to establish a system for the management and protection of the country's cultural heritage. |
