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  Throughout
history, people have settled and built their communities in
river valleys. This means that many of the world's archaeological
sites and historical buildings and monuments can be found
in these areas. Often they include sacred buildings such as
churches and temples and their burial sites, which can be
of great value to the local inhabitants. Such heritage can
be lost forever when a valley is inundated
with water to create a reservoir.
In the past, there have been dam projects
where no efforts have been made to explore or save any of
the local heritages. More recently, special measures have
been taken on some projects. They have included:
- Intensive archaeological investigations at sites believed
to have been inhabited by ancient civilisations, before
dam construction proceeds.
- Relocation of burial sites.
- Redesign of dams, to minimise the losses.
- The dismantling, relocation and re-erection of ancient
monuments.
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