Property: Royal Hill of Ambohimanga
Id. N°: 950
State Party: Madagascar
Criteria: C (iii) (iv) (vi)
The Committee inscribed the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga on the World Heritage List under criteria (iii), (iv), and (vi):
Criterion (iii): The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is the most significant symbol of the cultural identity of the people of Madagascar.
Criterion (iv): The traditional design, materials, and layout of the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga are representative of the social and political structure of Malagassy society from at least the 16th century.
Criterion (vi): The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is an exceptional example of a place where, over centuries, common human experience has been focused in memory, ritual, and prayer. The Committee emphasized that the site is a classic example of an associative cultural landscape, which fully justifies the application of criterion (vi), linking the tangible and intangible values. The Observer of Madagascar informed the Committee that the inscription of the first cultural site on the World Heritage List would inspire the people of her country to protect their heritage.