Global Heritage Fund

SUCCESS STORIES

Global Heritage Network Expands in Second Year as Critical Platform for Conservators

December 20, 2012

When GHF launched Global Heritage Network (GHN) in 2011, its goal was to create not only a geospatial database using Google Earth, high-resolution satellite imagery and detailed mapping of the developing world’s most significant cultural heritage sites, but to pair it with an online community of conservators, archaeologists, local communities, government officials, donors and volunteers, whose insights and observations are critical to monitoring these sites.

SUCCESS STORIES

2013 Field Work to Explore Surroundings of Ciudad Perdida, Colombia’s “Lost City”

December 12, 2012

Since 2009, Dr. Santiago Giraldo has led GHF’s efforts at Ciudad Perdida, Spanish for “Lost City,” a spectacular and mysterious ancient settlement situated high in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. Working in partnership with the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH), one of the project’s main goals has been to document and map the main site and other outlying settlements that haven’t been visited in years by anyone other than looters.

SUCCESS STORIES

Chavín on Display at Major Exhibition in Zurich

December 11, 2012

A major exhibition called “Chavín: The Arrival of the Gods in the Andes” opened at the Museum Rietberg in Zurich last month, bringing international attention to one of the most culturally significant archaeological sites in South America.

GHF In the News

Dr. Vince Michael Explores Evolution of Cultural Heritage Conservation

December 11, 2012

This week, in an op-ed for the Huffington Post, Dr. Vince Michael, GHF’s Chief Conservation Officer, explored some of the key issues facing heritage conservationists. The article, titled “Cultural Authenticity in the 21st Century,” touches a number of bases, from evolving definitions of the term “authenticity” with regards to preservation, to the disturbing number of endangered cultural heritage sites across the world, to the need for a better understanding of “heritage economics” in order to drive investment in these sites.

ACROSS THE WIRE

UNESCO Director General: World Heritage Sites Need Better Protection

December 05, 2012

After a year that saw the UNESCO World Heritage Convention celebrate its 40th anniversary, the most poignant takeaway may be the questions raised about UNESCO’s limitations when it comes to truly protecting World Heritage Sites.

GHF IN THE NEWS

GHF Featured in NBC Coverage of Syrian Conflict

November 30, 2012

Just days after Emma Cunliffe’s updated report on Syrian cultural heritage sites was posted to the Global Heritage Network (GHN) Community, NBC News interviewed Cunliffe and GHF’s Dr. Dan Thompson for a story about war-related damage to these sites.

ACROSS THE WIRE

Mes Aynak Petition Surpasses 60,000 Signatures, and Counting

November 28, 2012

As of November 28th, more than 60,000 people had signed an online petition to save Mes Aynak, a 2,600-year-old Buddhist monastery complex that also happens to be home to one of the world’s largest copper deposits. Today, archaeologists are working furiously to salvage as much of the 100-acre site as possible, while activists fight to prevent its demolition by a Chinese government-owned mining company at the end of 2012.

ACROSS THE WIRE

Debate Continues Over Hampi Bazaar Evictions

November 27, 2012

In July 2011, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) removed some 250 families housed in “illegal encroachments” along the 700-metre-long colonnaded pavilion of the 16th-century Virupaksha temple, otherwise known as “Hampi Bazaar.” The evictions, announced less than 24 hours before the demolition of some of these stalls and homes was set to begin, triggered an ongoing debate about the ASI’s handling of residents living illegally on a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

ON THE VERGE

Timbuktu “Increasingly Becoming Headquarters” of Al Qaeda in Northern Mali

November 26, 2012

It’s been eight months since renegade soldiers overthrew Mali’s democratically elected president, leading to political turmoil in the south and a complete takeover by various rebel groups in the north. Timbuktu, one of the world’s most fabled ancient cities, quickly fell into the hands of Al Qaeda-linked militants who have been relentless in their continued destruction of the World Heritage Site.

ON THE VERGE

GHN Posts Updated Report by Emma Cunliffe on Damage to Syria’s World Heritage Sites

November 21, 2012

Global Heritage Network (GHN) has posted a new report by Emma Cunliffe, author of the widely-cited “Damage to the Soul: Syria’s Cultural Heritage in Conflict” report, on the updated condition of Syria’s endangered cultural heritage. The update summarizes the current state of Syria’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all of which Cunliffe relates have been damaged by shelling, fires, and/or looting.

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