UNESCO Mandates 'Trauma-Informed Monument Care' Protocol After Archaeologist Accidentally Touches Ancient Pottery During Routine Inspection
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is now requiring all archaeological sites to file “Emotional Impact Assessments” before accepting UNESCO protection status, according to a new directive released Wednesday that has already prompted a cascade of panic across 112 heritage sites worldwide.
“The first casualty of heritage protection is the monument’s emotional well-being,” explained Dr. Armanthar Velez, a senior UNESCO inspector who spent 34 years studying how ancient structures process collective grief. “We’ve seen monuments develop post-traumatic stress disorder from being photographed too often, and that’s why we’re mandating ’touch avoidance protocols’ for all archaeological work.”