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Chavin (Archaeological Site)

Peru
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
  • Financial resources
  • Human resources
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other climate change impacts
  • Other Threats:

    Deterioration of the site

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  •  Lack of sufficient human and financial resources
  • Need for an integral site management

 

International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Requests approved: 3 (from 1988-1998)
Total amount approved : 48,750 USD
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998

The National Institute of Culture of Peru informed the Secretariat about the delicate state of conservation of the Chavin Archaeological Site and the threat posed to it by the El Nino phenomenon. It was reported that torrential rains had occurred in early 1998 and that an imminent danger existed of flooding and infiltration of water in underground galleries. With the support of the World Heritage Emergency Fund (US$ 37,250 approved by the Chairperson on 3 March 1998), preventive measures are being undertaken, including improvement of the drainage system, construction of protective structures, application of cappings on the walls and filling in of old excavations.

Action Required
The Bureau takes note of the information on the emergency situation at Chavin caused by the El Nino phenomenon. It requests the Peruvian authorities to keep the Committee informed on the measures taken in this respect as well as on the impact of El Nino on the site. It also encourages the authorities to plan for long-term preventive measures and the stabilization of the site in the context of a comprehensive management plan for the site.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998

In 1998, Emergency Assistance was provided to the Peruvian National Institute for Culture for taking protective measures at the archaeological site of Chavin against the possible impact of the El Nino phenomenon. The Emergency Assistance has enabled to improve the drainage system at the site and to improve the stability of the galleries in the temple, preventing their possible collapse.

The works at the site and a preliminary technical report from the expert who supervised the execution of the works show that this site had never been the subject of a specific conservation and maintenance programme and that the state of conservation of the major structures was very bad. The report identifies a great number of factors that possibly affect the site, such as climatic conditions, structural instability, topography, characteristics of the materials used in the construction, badly managed tourism etc.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1998

The Bureau took note of the successful implementation of the Emergency Assistance for the site. It expressed concern, however, about the overall state of conservation of the site and encouraged the Secretariat and the advisory bodies to provide expertise to update the monitoring report prepared in 1993. This should enable the Peruvian authorities to draw up a project for the preparation of a comprehensive master plan for the site, making use of the expertise that has been obtained in the preparation of similar plans for other archaeological sites in Peru, such as Chan Chan.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 BUR V.B.56
Chavin (Archeaological site) (Peru)

The Bureau took note of the information on the emergency situation at Chavin caused by the El Nino phenomenon and that the Chairperson had approved emergency assistance to take corrective measures at the site. It requested the Peruvian authorities to keep the Committee informed on the measures taken in this respect as well as on the impact of El Nino on the site. It also encouraged the authorities to plan for long-term preventive measures and the stabilization of the site in the context of a comprehensive management plan.

No draft Decision 

Report year: 1998
Peru
Date of Inscription: 1985
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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