Beyond the emergency simulation, participants gained practical knowledge in archival cataloguing, metadata development, and conservation planning. They also toured the new facility and explored how its low-cost, low-footprint model could be adapted to other sites facing similar constraints. The training mirrored the structure of UNESCO’s Manual on World Heritage Archives Management, which distills the project’s lessons and is now available in multiple languages across the region.

'Now I have a better understanding of how to prepare Ban Chiang’s monitoring system for our specific risks, especially the high humidity and flooding,' said Ms Kanokwalee. She also highlighted the value of collaboration across Fine Arts and heritage professions across the region, many of whom rarely work together day-to-day.

As attention turns to replication, the Ayutthaya Records Preservation Facility now serves as a working model: proof that effective archives management doesn’t require expensive, high-tech solutions, just shared knowledge, cross-sector collaboration, and a long-term commitment to protecting the records that safeguard our most treasured places.

'In the future, we would like to initiate this type of training in our country,' said Soulisak Phaitho, Deputy Head of the World Heritage Management Division, Department of Heritage, Lao PDR.

• Safeguarding World Heritage Site Archives in South-East Asia
• UNESCO Workshop Portal 

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