International Chapters & Global Liaisons
The International Council for Culture, Heritage, Archaeology and Civilizations (ICHAC) operates as a decentralized, globally connected network. To effectively safeguard cultural heritage, coordinate field archaeology, and support cross-border scholarly exchange, ICHAC establishes Regional Chapters and appoints Country Liaison Officers worldwide.
Our international chapters serve as operational hubs—connecting local universities, museums, antiquity authorities, and independent researchers directly with ICHAC’s global research initiatives and digital preservation repositories.
Mandate of Regional Chapters
- Each ICHAC chapter and liaison office acts under the charter of the Council to execute four core objectives:
- Field Collaboration & Salvage Documentation: Coordinating regional archaeological surveys, monument monitoring, and emergency heritage documentation.
- Scholarly & Editorial Liaison: Facilitating manuscript submissions, peer review panels, and research symposia in partnership with ICHAC peer-reviewed journals.
- Heritage Tourism & Cultural Corridors: Mapping sustainable heritage trails, organizing local academic study tours, and training community heritage guides.
- Institutional MoUs & Fellowships: Brokering bilateral agreements between regional universities, heritage trusts, and the central ICHAC Secretariat.
Regional Desks & Chapter Networks
1. South Asia & Indus Basin Chapter (Founding Secretariat)
- Regional Focus: Indus Valley Civilization sites, Gandhara Buddhist heritage, Mughal monuments, Cholistan & Thal desert fortifications, and Sufi shrine architecture.
- Coordinating Secretariat: Bahawalpur / Lahore, Pakistan
- Key Initiatives: Hakra riverbed archaeological mapping, epigraphic documentation of historic bastions, and academic tourism itineraries across the Punjab cultural corridor.
- Contact:
southasia@irchac.com
2. Central Asia & Silk Road Liaison Desk
- Regional Focus: Trans-Eurasian trade routes, Timurid and Samanid architecture, oasis irrigation systems, and Islamic codicology/manuscript preservation.
- Priority Nodes: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
- Key Initiatives: Comparative studies of glazed tile architectural geometry and Silk Road caravanserai conservation.
- Contact:
silkroad@irchac.com
3. Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Chapter
- Regional Focus: Ancient Near Eastern civilizations, Islamic monumental urbanism, Nabataean archaeological sites, and historic oasis settlements.
- Priority Nodes: Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the wider Levant.
- Key Initiatives: 3D photogrammetry of arid-zone monuments, climatic architectural documentation, and preservation of rare archival decrees.
- Contact:
mena@irchac.com
4. Southeast Asia & Maritime Corridors Desk
- Regional Focus: Classical riverine temple sanctuaries, Khmer/Mon stone architecture, hydraulic systems, and maritime Silk Route epigraphy.
- Priority Nodes: Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.
- Key Initiatives: Digital archiving of waterfront stone temples, traditional woodcraft documentation, and eco-heritage tourism models.
- Contact:
southeastasia@irchac.com
5. Europe & The Americas Scholarly Liaison
- Regional Focus: Museum collection provenance, collaborative university research grants, digital humanities development, and anti-illicit antiquities advocacy.
- Key Initiatives: Facilitating international research fellowships, dual-affiliation symposia, and academic library distribution of ICHAC open-access publications.
- Contact:
international@irchac.com
Country Liaison Officers (Call for Nominations)
ICHAC Country Liaison Officers are senior scholars, archaeologists, university faculty members, or museum curators who serve as the official focal persons for ICHAC within their respective countries.
Responsibilities of a Liaison Officer:
- Represent ICHAC at national heritage forums, archaeological congresses, and academic conferences.
- Identify endangered local heritage monuments and manuscripts eligible for ICHAC digital preservation grants.
- Recommend qualified peer reviewers and editorial board candidates for ICHAC publications.
- Assist in coordinating logistics for international delegations, field schools, and heritage study tours visiting their country.
Establish an ICHAC Chapter or Become a Country Liaison
We are actively expanding our global representation and welcome expressions of interest from established scholars, academic departments, and cultural organizations interested in founding a regional chapter or serving as a national liaison.
Application Requirements:
- Comprehensive Academic Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Brief Institutional Profile (if applying on behalf of a university department or research center).
- One-page Statement of Intent outlining planned regional heritage initiatives, collaborative projects, or academic symposia.
Submit an Expression of Interest
Direct all formal inquiries and dossiers to the International Coordination Office:
✉ director@irchac.com
🌐 Council Portal:https://irchac.com