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Article
A Presence of the Past: The Legal Protection of Singapore’s Archaeological Heritage
International Journal of Cultural Property (2013)
  • Jack Tsen-Ta Lee
Abstract
Singapore is not well known for its archaeological heritage. In fact, chance finds in the early twentieth century and systematic archaeological excavations since the 1980s conducted at sites around the Singapore River have unearthed artifacts shedding light on the island’s early history. In addition, the value of archaeology for a deeper knowledge of Singapore’s British colonial past is increasingly being recognized. Nonetheless, Singapore law provides only a rudimentary framework to facilitate archaeological investigations and protect cultural artifacts. This article considers how the National Heritage Board Act (Cap 196A, 1994 Rev Ed), the Planning Act (Cap 232, 1998 Rev Ed), and the recent Preservation of Monuments Board Act 2009 (No 16 of 2009, now Cap 239, 2011 Rev Ed) may be strengthened in this regard.
Keywords
  • Archaeology,
  • national monuments,
  • planning law,
  • Singapore,
  • treasure trove
Publication Date
December 16, 2013
DOI
10.1017/S094073911300012X
Publisher Statement
© 2013. This article appears in a revised form, following peer review and editorial input by Cambridge University Press, in (2013) 20(3) International Journal of Cultural Property 257–288 (© International Cultural Property Society; published by Cambridge University Press: doi 10.1017/S094073911300012X). This pre-publication version may be obtained from Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University (InK) at http://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/1193/, from SelectedWorks at http://works.bepress.com/jacklee/39, and from the Social Sciences Research Network at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2362830.
Citation Information
Jack Tsen-Ta Lee. "A Presence of the Past: The Legal Protection of Singapore’s Archaeological Heritage" International Journal of Cultural Property Vol. 20 Iss. 3 (2013) p. 257 - 288 ISSN: 1465-7317
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jacklee/39/