Global Heritage Fund

ACROSS THE WIRE

Militants Attack UNESCO Holy Site in Timbuktu

May 17, 2012

According to multiple reports out of Timbuktu, militants from the Ansar Dine Islamist group have attacked and burned the tomb of Sidi Mahmoud Ben Amar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s the first major destruction of a shrine in Mali, and a clear warning to the rest of the country’s cultural heritage sites.

Looting a Growing Problem in Post-Mubarak Egypt

May 16, 2012

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With its first post-Mubarak presidential election just days away, Egypt’s political turmoil has been the focus of global headlines for well over a year. Since the popular uprising in January 2011, instability and a lack of security have plagued the country’s heritage sites, not only in terms of tourism, but looting as well.

In Memoriam: Herb Stovel, Conservationist

May 02, 2012

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Professor Herb Stovel, a Canadian conservationist who spent four decades leading efforts to protect cultural heritage sites around the world, passed away last month after a long battle with cancer. Stovel was one of the world’s most renowned experts in heritage conservation, and GHF would like to recognize his many contributions to the field.

Timbuktu’s Treasures Threatened by Conflict

April 13, 2012

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Few of Earth’s ancient cities have the mystique to match Timbuktu. During its golden age in medieval times, Timbuktu was a thriving desert trading capital, as well as an intellectual and spiritual center, from which Islam spread throughout Africa. Since then, the city has fallen into serious decline, suffering from poverty and desertification. Now it faces another threat: war and conflict.

Turkey Increases Pressure on International Museums to Return Antiquities

April 11, 2012

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The grand opening of what Turkey plans to be the “biggest museum in the world” may be more than a decade away (the republic celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023), but the country’s government appears eager to recover what it says are illegally excavated antiquities from institutions around the world.

World Heritage Sites Go Dark for Earth Hour

April 06, 2012

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Many of the world’s major cultural heritage sites went dark last week to recognize Earth Hour, a worldwide event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to raise awareness about climate change.

Leaked Government Memo Warns of Organized Looting in Syria

March 21, 2012

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Looting is not a new problem for Syrian cultural authorities. Despite harsh punishments doled out to offenders (up to 20 years in prison), gangs of looters have operated in the country for years, smuggling artifacts over the border to satisfy antiquities markets in Europe and the US. But a government memo leaked earlier this month suggests that the current conflict has put Syrian cultural sites at an even greater danger of organized looting.

Troops Leave, Archaeologists Return, as Hope for Iraq’s Cultural Relics and Tourism Industry Grow

March 20, 2012

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On December 17th, the same day the last U.S. troops left Iraq, a group of archaeologists from Stony Brook University arrived in the country, becoming one of the first foreign archaeology teams to visit in more than 20 years.

Vietnam’s My Son Seeks Solutions for Increased Tourism

March 19, 2012

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In 2004, Vietnam’s My Son Sanctuary — imperiled at the time by Vietnam War damage, illegal looting, deterioration from exposure, overall decay, and vegetation overgrowth — became the focus of a GHF project. After successful efforts to support urgently needed stabilization, archaeological documentation, planning, site conservation and training, My Son was declared a “Completed Project” in 2006.

Palestine to Submit 20 Sites for UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination

March 08, 2012

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On its first day as a full-fledged UNESCO member state, Palestinian officials wasted no time announcing plans to submit the names of 20 sites in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza for nomination to the World Heritage List.

Syrian Army Attacks Palmyra’s Roman Ruins

March 05, 2012

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Since the violence that erupted in Syria nearly one year ago — a war that has so far left thousands dead and become one of the world’s biggest stories — the damage to the country’s ancient cities and cultural sites as a result of the conflict has remained largely unknown.

Pakistan Promises to Protect Kalash Culture

March 05, 2012

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The Kalash are a unique tribal community living in the Hindu Kush mountain range, in Pakistan’s wild northwest frontier. A popular tale tells of their descent from members of Alexander the Great’s army, which tore through the mountains more than 2,000 years ago. DNA tests have apparently found no actual connection, but the myth has persisted well enough to play a key role in Kalash tourism.

Government Says Lamu Port Will Not Interfere with Heritage Sites

February 29, 2012

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As leaders of Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia gather in Lamu this week to celebrate the beginning of the “Lapsset” project (Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport and Economic Development Corridor), Kenya’s government has assured Lamu residents that heritage sites will not be affected.

Thai Prime Minister Visits Ayutthaya to Assess Flood Damage and Future Prevention

February 21, 2012

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Speaking in Ayutthaya this week as part of a World Heritage Site celebration, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed confidence that this year’s flood prevention plan will guard against a repeat of the 2011 floods that shuttered hundreds of factories and damaged 158 historic monuments.

Modernization Threatens Nepal’s Historic Towns

February 17, 2012

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In 1979, seven historic monumental zones in the Kathmandu Valley were collectively designated Asia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. For scholars and tourists alike, these Hindu and Buddhist monuments are what immediately come to mind when picturing Nepal’s rich cultural heritage. But according to a German architect who has been working in Nepal for four decades, it is only a matter of time before modernization wipes out the majority of the country’s ancient architecture.

Beijing Developers Demolish Home of China’s “Father of Modern Architecture”

February 10, 2012

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In 1931, after earning his master’s degree in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, Liang Sicheng returned to China where he joined a newly formed Beijing organization called the Institute for Research in Chinese Architecture. For seven years he and his wife Lin Huiyin, one of China’s first female architects, lived in the courtyard house located at 24 Beizongbu Hutong, where together they completed their groundbreaking book, History of Chinese Architecture.

Egypt’s Tourism Sector Tumbles Amid Violence

February 03, 2012

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For the millions of Egyptians whose incomes depend on tourist money, a bleak economic outlook grew even bleaker this week after a soccer riot in Port Said left as many as 74 dead. Considered the worst outbreak of violence since Hosni Mubarak was overthrown a year ago, the clashes were followed a day later by protests that resulted in injuries to nearly 400 people.

Turkey Contributes $5 Million to UNESCO Emergency Fund

February 01, 2012

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Since last November’s controversial vote to introduce Palestine as its 195th member, UNESCO has been eager to recoup the funding it lost when the U.S. and Israel withdrew their support for the organization — about 22 percent of the group’s annual budget.

Ancient Cave Monastery in Need of Conservation

January 31, 2012

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Dug into the side of Mount Erusheli in southern Georgia, the ancient cave monastery of Vardzia is not just spectacular physically, it is also one of the region’s most important historical and cultural sites.

Bosnia’s Top Cultural Institutions Under Threat

January 25, 2012

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Nearly two decades after a brutal war that killed hundreds of thousands of civilians, displaced two million from their homes, and destroyed museums and libraries, Bosnia-Herzegovina’s top cultural institutions are again in imminent danger — this time because of political conflict and neglect.

AP Profiles Banteay Chhmar, “Second Angkor Wat”

January 19, 2012

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As physical conservation and community development progress at Banteay Chhmar, the international community is finally beginning to see what unique and historic treasures have remained hidden for so long in the remote jungles of northwestern Cambodia.

Census Declares Thousands of China’s Heritage Sites “Disappeared”

January 18, 2012

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The results are in from China’s most recent national heritage census — the first in more than 20 years — and they’re not good.

NATO Employed “No Strike List” to Protect Libya’s Heritage Sites from Air Attacks

January 06, 2012

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For months leading up to the overthrow of Muammar el-Gaddafi, Libya’s cultural heritage sites — which include some of Africa’s most spectacular ancient Greek and Roman ruins — faced the fire of NATO air strikes. Thankfully, they survived.

Developing Nations Struggle for UNESCO World Heritage Status

January 04, 2012

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As Heritage on the Wire reported last month, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage treaty, which was signed in Paris in 1972. Over four decades, the list has expanded to include 936 of the world’s most important cultural and natural heritage landmarks. But with new sites being added every year, there is confrontation brewing between developed and developing nations over the list’s exclusivity.

No Resolution on Preah Vihear as Cambodian, Thai Foreign Affairs Ministers Meet

January 03, 2012

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After a year that saw border tension boil over between Cambodia and Thailand, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of both countries met in Phnom Penh this week to discuss a range of issues stemming from the deadly clashes at Preah Vihear temple in February. It was the first visit by Thailand’s Surapong Tovichakchaikul to Cambodia since the Thai change of government in August.

Nazca Lines Threatened by Unsustainable Tourism

December 16, 2011

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In the 1920s, when commercial planes began flying across the Nazca Desert in southern Peru, passengers reported seeing “primitive landing strips” on the ground below. Closer studies by anthropologists revealed a series of ancient geoglyphs spanning some 50 miles of arid plateau, ranging in complexity from simple lines to stylized monkeys, spiders, hummingbirds, fish, sharks, orcas, llamas and lizards.

UNESCO World Heritage Convention Celebrates 40th Anniversary

December 02, 2011

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On November 9th, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova launched the 40th anniversary celebrations for the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, a unique international treaty that linked for the first time the concepts of nature conservation and preservation of cultural properties.

China Adopts Guideline to Promote Cultural Development

November 23, 2011

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Last month in Beijing, the Communist Party of China (CPC) held a series of meetings to discuss cultural reforms and how they can impact social and economic development. At the end of the session, the committee adopted a guideline aimed at boosting China’s soft power and maintaining cultural security following the ongoing economic boom.

Former GHF Board Chair Examines Potential for Heritage, Development and Democracy in Libya

November 14, 2011

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“In the wake of Muammar el-Gaddafi’s fall, Libya’s major cities are flooded with arms and the detritus of war, tribal divisions are on display, and the new Interim Transitional National Council is uncertain in authority, direction and voice.

UNESCO Grants Membership to Palestine

November 01, 2011

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Palestine was granted full membership to UNESCO on Monday, a landmark event that allows Palestinians the right to nominate heritage sites of outstanding universal value for inclusion on the World Heritage list. It becomes the organization’s 195th member.

UNESCO Hosts Emergency Libya Conference in Wake of Gaddafi Overthrow

October 25, 2011

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Late last week, we reported on Libya’s cultural heritage surviving amidst civil war, as well as hopes for a tourism boom in the wake of the conflict. Two days later, following the capture and killing of head of state Muammar Gaddafi, the country began its transition into a new era of governance and opportunity.

Libyans Guard Cultural Heritage with Hopes of Post-War Tourism Boom

October 18, 2011

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Since civil war broke out in Libya at the beginning of 2011, the state of the country’s cultural heritage has been extremely precarious. Security and visa issues have halted virtually all tourism, while conservation projects such as that funded by Global Heritage Fund (GHF) at Cyrene have been temporarily shut down.

Pingyao Named One of China’s Top Cultural Cities

September 26, 2011

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In 1997, Pingyao was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its exceptional preservation of an intact, classic Han Chinese city from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Fourteen years after its inscription, and some 750 years after being founded, Pingyao has again been honored as one of China’s top cultural cities.

In Aftermath of Earthquake, Haiti Builds Toward Brighter Future

September 15, 2011

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GHF has been investigating a multi-year project of historic monument conservation, community development, training and cultural heritage revitalization for the National History Park of Haiti, inscribed in 1982 as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

GHF Senior Advisory Board Member Tracks Progress at Pingyao

August 29, 2011

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Dr. Vincent Michael, a member of GHF’s Senior Advisory Board (SAB), recently visited Pingyao, where GHF has been working since 2007 to preserve the vernacular architecture, revitalize and stimulate traditional arts, and establish special historic areas. Dr. Michael summarized the trip in an article on his excellent blog, detailing the progress of GHF’s conservation work at Pingyao Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is considered the first banking capital of China.

National Geographic Constructs Clay Model of Göbekli Tepe

August 24, 2011

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National Geographic recently featured Göbekli Tepe on the cover its June 2011 issue, in an eight-page story titled “The Birth of Religion.” The article, which discussed how Göbekli Tepe is reshaping ideas about the Neolithic Revolution and the dawn of civilization, brought more attention than ever before to the ancient site, which had never had a conservation program prior to becoming a GHF project site.

Japan Rescues Cultural Assets in Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami

August 12, 2011

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On March 11th, when a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated the eastern shores of Japan, a coastal town called Rikuzentakata was among the most violently hit. Approximately 10 percent of its 23,000 residents were killed by the disaster, including one third of its city officials, while the downtown core was turned to rubble. Among the destroyed buildings was a municipal museum—at once a safe haven for the town’s most important cultural relics, then suddenly a ruin.

Glacial Lake Floods Threaten Nepal Village, Ancient Monastery

August 03, 2011

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Halji village, located in northwestern Nepal’s remote Humla district, is a settlement of approximately 400 inhabitants. Best known for its 1000-year-old monastery, a potential World Heritage Site, the village has also become increasingly popular among trekkers due to its position at the end of the Great Himalayan Trail.

Archaeologists Continue Race Against Clock at Afghanistan’s Mes Aynak

July 28, 2011

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As we reported last November, French and Afghan archaeologists have been working feverishly to excavate Mes Aynak, a 9,800-acre site in eastern Afghanistan that contains the ruins of an ancient Buddhist settlement. Since then, the conservation team has expanded to include more than 100 laborers, but the site remains on track for demolition.

AP: Angkor Wat Plagued by Mass Tourism, Insufficient Management

July 19, 2011

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At the forefront of Cambodia’s emerging tourism industry, Angkor Wat is regarded by archaeologists as the world’s largest religious building. Built in the 12th century, the complex, located in Siem Reap, spans some 150 square miles and is featured on the nation’s flag.

Illegal Quarrying Leads to Collapse at Hampi’s Varaha Temple

July 01, 2011

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A team of experts from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun rebuilding a wall of the Varaha temple, part of UNESCO World Heritage and GHF project site Hampi, after it crumbled due to rainfall and mining in the area.

International Conference to Focus on Libya’s Endangered Heritage Sites

June 29, 2011

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This weekend in Naples, at an international conference focusing on endangered Libyan heritage sites, GHF will be represented by Dr. Serenella Ensoli, director of GHF’s Cyrene project.

“Fate of Old Beijing” Chronicles Destruction of Ancient Hutongs

June 09, 2011

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Since Beijing’s earliest days, its narrow lanes and alleys known as hutongs have been an intricate part of the city’s identity. Once made up almost entirely of these culturally-significant areas, Beijing today is rapidly modernizing, and the old quarters are becoming increasingly threatened by both economic and social forces.

GHF Remembers Donny George, 1950-2011

June 06, 2011

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Donny George, an esteemed Iraqi archaeologist and friend of GHF, passed away this year at the age of 60, leaving behind a legacy of invaluable and everlasting contributions to the preservation of Iraq’s cultural heritage.

Cyrene Survives Revolt as Tourism, Conservation Halt

May 25, 2011

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Tourism and conservation have been put on hold at Cyrene, but the spectacular ancient Greek site has survived Libya’s revolution intact. This, according to a local tour guide, is because tanks were not employed in the deadly fighting in nearby Shahhat, a modern town whose suburbs reach the edge of Cyrene.

ICOMOS Releases New Heritage At Risk Report

May 18, 2011

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The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) recently released Heritage at Risk, a global report on endangered monuments and sites around the world.

Cultural Heritage Could Provide Needed Economic Diversity for Least Developed Countries

May 10, 2011

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In 1971, the United Nations began using the term “Least Developed Country (LDC)” to refer to countries with the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development and the lowest Human Development Index ratings. Since then, a mere three countries—the Maldives, Botswana and Cape Verde—have “graduated” from the classification, while 48 remain.

Cambodian Temples Reportedly Damaged by Thai Shells; Conflict Shifts Again to Preah Vihear

April 26, 2011

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Military fighting continued Tuesday between Cambodian and Thai troops—the latest episode in an ongoing land dispute that over the past five days has claimed at least 12 lives, displaced thousands of villagers and put the area’s cultural heritage sites directly in the line of fire.

International Day for Monuments and Sites Celebrates World’s Cultural Heritage

April 22, 2011

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This past Monday marked the 29th annual International Day for Monuments and Sites, which meant special activities to promote cultural heritage around the world.

Indonesia Requests International Help to Save Borobudur Temple

April 08, 2011

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Nearly six months after the deadly eruptions at Mount Merapi last year, Indonesian preservation experts have requested international assistance to help save Borobudur Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

More than 350 Japanese Cultural Properties Damaged by Earthquake and Tsunami

April 01, 2011

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Last week, we blogged about damage to the walls of Zuigan-ji temple in the aftermath of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan.

Damaged Zuigan-ji Temple Shelters Earthquake and Tsunami Survivors

March 24, 2011

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Zuigan-ji, one of Japan’s most famous Buddhist temples, located in Matsushima, has been damaged as a result of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan’s eastern shores last week.

European Parliament Calls on China to Halt Destruction of Ancient Kashgar

March 14, 2011

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In a resolution released Thursday, Members of the European Parliament (MEP) called on China to immediately stop the destruction threatening the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar and to carry out a comprehensive expert inquiry into culture-sensitive methods of renovation.

Intramuros Struggles to Revive Cultural Identity

March 01, 2011

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A recent BBC audio slideshow took a look at the past and present state of historic Intramuros, as well as what can be done to revive and restore the old walled city.

Babylon Preservation Key to Reviving Iraq Tourism

February 16, 2011

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It has been a long time since Iraq’s name was mentioned with any frequency in the global tourism conversation; decades of brutal governance, war and conflict have reduced much of the once-glorious nation to an unsafe and unappealing ruin.

Preah Vihear Temple Damaged in Thai-Cambodian Border Clash

February 10, 2011

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Preah Vihear Temple, an 11th-century Khmer temple located along the border of Thailand and Cambodia, has apparently been damaged as a result of military fighting between the two countries — the latest episode in an ongoing land dispute that has put the UNESCO World Heritage Site at risk.

Looting and Vandalism Threaten Egyptian Antiquities

February 04, 2011

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Amidst the intense political turmoil in Egypt, where demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak have brought a state of chaos to the nation, archaeologists across the world remain extremely concerned for the well-being of Egypt’s countless ancient treasures.

GHF Leads Historic Restoration Project at Hampi, Ancient Capital of the Vijayanagara Kingdom

January 24, 2011

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Situated along the banks of the Tungabhadra River, the site of Hampi, India, is one of the world’s most stunning archaeological ruins, with its collection of over 500 monuments spread across 26 square kilometers of spectacular natural scenery.

Citizens, Conservationists Clash in Djenné, Mali

January 18, 2011

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It is a question all conservationists must consider: at what point does preservation become oppressive?

Roman Baths Complex in Allianoi, Turkey Buried in Sand to Make Way for New Dam

December 14, 2010

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The ancient city of Allianoi, Turkey, along with its sophisticated spa complex whose remains date back to the Roman Empire (2nd century AD), has been completely covered with sand in advance of a new dam being built in the area.

Historians in Ukraine Aim to Preserve Wooden Churches

December 10, 2010

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For centuries, Ukraine has been renowned for its unique religious architecture, and a major part of this has been its impressive collection of wooden churches.

Citizens, Conservationists in Beirut Rally to Protect Architectural Heritage

December 07, 2010

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Once charmingly referred to as the “Paris of the Middle East,” a more accurate comparison for today’s Beirut might be Dubai—that is, a city full of modern spires and rampant development.

War in Afghanistan Jeopardizes Heritage of Several Sites in Region

December 03, 2010

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The conflict in Afghanistan has placed several historic cities and buildings in grave danger from a heritage standpoint. With all eyes focused on the war, ancient Middle Eastern history has suffered from a lack of preservation effort.

Ancient Shipwrecks Looted by Sport Divers in Turkey

December 02, 2010

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Despite being hidden 30 meters beneath the ocean’s surface, underwater relics out of Turkey’s storied past are no safer from looting than those found above ground.

Satkhanda Tower Subject to Constant Vandalism, Despite Continued Preservation Efforts

December 02, 2010

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One step forward, two steps back. That seems to be the pattern preservation experts in Lucknow, India face in their battle to save the Satkhanda tower, as repairs are continuously damaged within weeks of completion.

Cambodia’s Angkor Wat Threatened by Diminishing Underground Water Supply

December 01, 2010

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Development and tourism surrounding Cambodia’s Angkor Wat continues to cause problems for the ancient Khmer temple. Already suffering from unsustainable tourism and insufficient management issues, the temple could start crumbling from beneath its very own walls.

Railroad Construction Damages Pagodas in Archaeologically Important Myanmar Town

November 29, 2010

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Local residents in Mrauk U, Myanmar have voiced their concern over the construction of a new railroad that they say is damaging important cultural sites. Work on the railroad began November 7, and already sources say it has damaged or destroyed ancient pagodas, stupas, walls, strongholds, religious libraries, moats, and city walls.

Afghan Archaeologists Trying to Salvage Ancient Monastery, But Running Out of Time

November 16, 2010

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About 20 miles south of Kabul, in an abandoned Soviet copper mine, lies Mes Aynak, a former Al-Qaeda training camp where Afghan and French archaeologists are working furiously to salvage a recently-discovered Buddhist religious site. The site, called Tepe Kafiriat, is estimated to be 2,600 years old and contains both ruins of an ancient monastery and domed shrines known as “stupas.”

Vandalism, Unsustainable Tourism Threaten the Great Wall of China

October 26, 2010

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During the last week of September, the Great Wall of China hosted the largest photography exhibition in Chinese history. Titled “Stay You”, the exhibition generated more than 10,000 submissions and urged participants to submit photographs that “showed themselves being themselves.” However, many of the winning submissions displayed a startling trend: tourists defiling large portions of the Great Wall.

Massive Hydroelectric Dam Threatens to Flood Ancient City of Hasankeyf, Turkey

October 12, 2010

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For 10,000 years, the Southeastern banks of the Tigris River have seen more than 20 cultures come and go in the ancient city of Hasankeyf. Today, the site is littered with archaeological treasures left behind by these settlements—from thousands of human-made dwellings carved into surrounding cliffs, to palaces, mosques, and the famed Old Tigris Bridge.

Ancient Silk Road City Set for Demolition, Development

October 12, 2010

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For centuries, China’s Kashgar prefecture has existed as a unique and historic region, set far apart from the rest of the country. Situated along China’s westernmost edge, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is a place whose population is made up mostly of Muslim Uighurs, and whose residents, for more than 2,000 years, have made their homes in rural areas.

Bulldozer Destroys Historically Rich Heritage Site in Cambodia

September 28, 2010

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Last September, disturbing reports emerged from the rural Memot area in southeastern Cambodia: a 2,500-year-old archaeological site in Samrong Village had been bulldozed in a matter of hours, leaving behind no trace of the historic circular earthwork that could offer insight into some of the earliest human settlements in Cambodia.