| Abstract: |
In 2005, the Cultural Agency (<i>Dinas Kebudayaan dan Parawisata Kabupaten Deli Serdang</i>) of Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra province in Indonesia approved a National Housing Development Ministry project '<i>Taman Puteri Deli</i>' in Namorambei sub-district, adjacent to the village of Deli Tua Lama and the town of Deli Tua Pasar, some 12 kilometres distance south of the provincial capital Medan. Seemingly unbeknown to the Cultural Agency the area approved for development included the site of an extensive, unique, mediaeval fortified settlement known locally as <i>Benteng Puteri Hijau</i>, the Fort of the Green Princess. Since 2008, the result of this approval has been extensive damage inflicted to the ramparts and ditch of the former settlement site in the southeastern segment of the site and destruction of archaeological remains in and around the core area. Seemingly no environmental impact study was undertaken prior to commencement of development nor any survey for the identification of existing cultural remains--the Agency was simply unaware that any such possibility existed. Later, in 2010 a further, seemingly illegal housing development, has since destroyed and otherwise severely damaged part of the northeast corner of the side. Belatedly, the BP3 (Badan Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala, Conversation Institute for Aceh and North Sumatra) was asked to ascertain whether the remains of the earthwork were actually man-made--something strikingly obvious to anyone with any sense of appreciation for cultural landscape. In 2008, an anonymous team was formed to assess the cultural value of the site. Some 5 years after the beginning of destruction of valuable cultural heritage site there is still no resolution to the various issues involved, nor any conservation management plan for future conservation of the site. Due to the damage inflicted by the contractor of the National Housing Development Ministry, any chance of submitting this locally unique for consideration to UNESCO as a candidate for World Heritage status has now been lost.
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