The government set up the DNOR or National Body for Operation Rova to coordinated the totality of the works. This national body was composed of four experts from the country who independently manage all actions concerning the restoration of the ROVA, a royal site consisting of several wooden palaces, the main one being surrounded by stone, as well as a temple which is completely in stone.

Since it was officially instated, the DNOR team has undertaken the coordination of a series of activities in accordance with its mandate: a detailed inventory of the objects saved from the flames (20% of the collection), the completion of the archaeological digs on the site itself, the completion of the first preliminary architectural plans, the commencing of the reinforcement works to the main building, the rebuilding of the temple and the building of an access ramp for the site machinery. All these works could only be carried out after the site had been rendered sacred again. A traditional ceremony, involving the sacrifice of a zebu, was held around the royal tombs to ask for the forgiveness and the blessings of the Ancestors.

Thanks to the enthusiastic help of UNESCO, an emergency fund was opened based on Gael de Guichem's report (ICCROM), which allowed an expert to be brought the site and the first restoration works to be begun. This fund was also used to set up and to run the DNOR.

In June of this year, the residents of the capital were able to see the new provisional corrugated roof of the temple being completed as well as witness the first attempts at covering the towers of the main palace, which are about forty metres in height. DNOR will do all in its power to have the temple back in operation by next christmas. It is still too early at present to give a ruling on the future role of the ROVA as long as no balance has been struck between its functional and its emotional aspects. Each concrete decision on the matter raises too many comments in which passion usually rules over reason. In fact, what the Malagasy deeply wish is a faithful reconstruction of the original, but that is only possible for the outer part of the palace. The idea of doing the same to the interior is purely utopian, especially considering that 80% of the objects were destroyed in the fire. Moreover, all we would have would be good copies. Most Malagasy people find this hard to admit, so it is also one of the DNOR's missions to explain the matter to them and convince them of a more realistic form of restoration.

The first estimate of the total cost of the works was set at 20 million US dollars over a period of five years. The budget the DNOR now disposes of will permit it to continue its work for a few months. The future depends on the real commitment of our national and international partners.

On the 24th of June last, a delegation of the DNOR led by their director Mr. Raharisoanaivo met with high-ranking officials of the UNESCO and its Secretary General for Madagascar in order to give an account of the progress of the works and to hand over the first detailed report. A programme of the various later stages was also discussed during this important meeting. Among the other topics discussed besides architecture was the possible digitalization of all pictures etc. related to ROVA, particularly those of the interior decorations. Indeed, though the information would seem sufficient for the reconstruction of the external architecture of the palace, this is not the case for its interior. The existing images are too embryonic and varied. Information will have to be collected at a number of iconographic museums. We are therefore asking all persons and institutions who might have photo material to help us.¹
We could them transfer them to CD-ROM for computer analysis. CIDOC could play an important role in this operation.

J.A. Rakotoarisoa
P.O. box 564, Antananarivo,
Madagascar

	Tel.: 261-221047 Fax: 261-228218
	e-mail: musedar@syfed.refer.mg