Center for Documentation and Conservation - CDC, Jamshoro
Sindh possesses a rich cultural legacy that echoes in the innumerable archaeological sites and monuments spread throughout the province. To capture the diversity, scale, distribution and chronology of this heritage, the Center for Documentation and Conservation (CDC) was established in November 2013. The Jamshoro-based center serves as a hub for the systematic documentation of heritage sites across every district in Sindh.
The center’s primary mandate is to carryout comprehensive documentation of the heritage sites and monuments across all the districts of Sindh, creation of a comprehensive digital inventory and digital mapping of Sindh’s tangible heritage. Beyond documentation, the center serves as an academic and community pillar through:
- Capacity Building: Providing technical assistance to educational institutions and collaborating with University departments of Archaeology, Anthropology and Architecture.
- Professional Development: Hosting internship programs and trainings.
- National and International liaisons: Facilitating national and international liaisons on heritage studies.
- Public Engagement: Organizing workshops, lectures, walks and symposiums to raise awareness about heritage documentation and preservation.
Documentation Methodology
The documentation process is rigorous and multi-layered. Sites are categorized by district, taluka, and archaeological/historical period. For every site surveyed, the CDC maintains a detailed record including:
- Precise GPS coordinates and architectural drawings.
- Archaeological/Historical era affiliations and comprehensive condition reports.
- Extensive photographic archives.
Furthermore, the center actively processes the cultural repertoire collected from field survey/excavations which is cleaned, classified, and researched before being displayed at the CDC office in Jamshoro. This not only provides a tangible link to the Sindh’s storied past but also serves as a laboratory and research center for young cohorts interested in the heritage studies.
District Wise Documentation of Sindh's Heritage.
The Digital District Documentation of Sindh’s Archaeological Heritage sites recorded and compiled by the Center for Documentation and Conservation-Endowment Fund Trust (CDC-EFT) is a rare and an extra-ordinary endeavor showcasing sheer commitment and love for the land of Sindh and its cultural heritage. This project serves as a digital record of documented sites scattered throughout Sindh. The project is saved over Google Maps, and it hosts data like GPS coordinates, a brief history of the sites, some photographic data and layout of the sites and satellites imagery of settlements/sites of the districts of Sindh.
The CDC team has recorded and documented the following districts: Dadu, Khairpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Larkana, Badin, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Sanghar, Ghotki, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Sujawal, Matiari, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushahro Feroze, Umerkot, Karachi and Jacobabad since 2017 and it is still in pipeline for completion.
The Chairperson CDC-EFT, Dr. Nilofer Shaikh leads the following team of CDC professionals which serve with the tasks mentioned below:
- Uzma Soomro (Archaeologist) -
- Abul Khair Kazi (I.T Assistant) -
- Ali Abdullah Bhutto (Architect) -
- Naveed Hussain Shaikh (CAD/ Data entry operator) -
- Lajpat Rai (Field Archaeologist) -
- Aftab Aziz Ranjhani (Field Archaeologist) -
EFT is very proud to share this project data for Academics, Educational and Research based purposes for students and professionals of relevant fields, as it serves as a comprehensive directory of recorded documentation which no other institution has produced till time and date.
This data is a record of immense value for The Endowment Fund Trust and if anyone is interested in requesting access, you must click on the box below and agree to our terms and conditions and an EFT data operator will link up with you after your verification and for the grant of your request.
Disclaimer: PLEASE BE NOTED THAT THIS PROJECT IS SAFEGUARDED AND PROTECTED BY THE PROPERITPRY COPYRIGHTS AND THE ENDOWMENT FUND TRUST HAS ALL THE RIGHTS.
Endowment Fund Trust’s CDC has documented huge number of heritage sites across Sindh. This compiled data section contains historical backgrounds , eras, images, layout plans and GPS coordinates of the sites that would serve as a digital directory of documentation and as a record for educational and conservation purposes .
To review the data, please fill up your details and agree to our terms and conditions. As EFT, receives your data request our official will revert to you for approval of your
Following are some documents showcasing the projects activities and annual reports of the center.
