Hoarafushi Old Cemetery (HAF-HRF-1)

The Maldives Heritage Survey works to systematically inventory and digitally document the endangered cultural heritage of the Maldives. The materials documented through this work are critically endangered, facing both natural and human threats that jeopardize the survival and accessibility of historical information for this vital node in pre-modern global economic and religious networks at the cross-roads of an interconnected Indian Ocean world. The data made available here was collected by our Field Team using a FARO Focus S350 Lidar scanner, a Nikon D750, and a DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone for photogrammetry. The site includes a now abandoned mosque surrounded by a low coral-stone harima wall ritually demarcating it from the nearby cemetery. Locals say that it prayer stopped being performed here around 15 years ago citing that it was too dark to pray here in the evening and people were frightened to enter the cemetery at night - this despite the fact that a number of high powered flood lights were installed along the path of the cemetery. These lights are no longer turned on in the evenings. To the east of the mosque is a modern building used for the ritual washing of corpses before burial. The cemetery is overgrown and generally uncared for but still being used. Three recent burials are marked with plain mounts of sand into which two plain wooden sticks are set vertically at the ends. There are maintained walking paths connecting the gates on the north and the west sides. The gates are sturdy metal and opaque preventing any view from the outside. The gates are set within high walls. the lower potion of the wall is coral rubble to a height of 0.88m , on top of which is a cinder block extension raising to a height of 1.98m. External Project Link: \N Additional Info Link: https://maldivesheritagedata.oxcis.ac.uk/index.htm