A Presence of the Past: The Legal Protection of Singapore's Archaeological Heritage
International Journal of Cultural Property, Vol. 20, Issue 3, pp. 257–288, December 2013
Singapore Management University School of Law Research Paper No. 4/2014
28 Pages Posted: 4 Dec 2013 Last revised: 3 Jan 2015
Date Written: February 28, 2013
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
JEL Classification: K11
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation