In Conversation: Monument Restoration and Scientific Conservation in Southern India

Archaeological conservation of monuments in India at the central and state levels is a field more than a century old, formulated under colonial rule and born of the scientific awakening of the past century in Europe; it has thus been idealised, framed, and executed in alignment with Western discourses. Despite growing recognition that conservation projects operate in complex contexts that fall short of conservation ideals, heritage bodies and organisations seem unable to broaden established conceptions of scientific conservation. Against this backdrop, the paper discusses the restoration of a medieval temple complex in southern India. While managing the restoration project, the messiness of on-site conservation practice, contrary to scientific conservation ideals, highlighted the gap between theory and practice. The paper notes the need for more open and inclusive scientific conservation theories, ideals, and pedagogy.