Chavin (Archaeological Site)
Factors affecting the property in 2002*
- 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
- Lack of a Management Plan
- Deterioration of the site
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2002
Total amount approved : 75,550 USD
| 2002 | Archaeological site of Chavín (NOT IMPLEMENTED) (Approved) | 26,800 USD |
| 1998 | Emergency assistance - Chavin Archeological site, Peru (Approved) | 37,250 USD |
| 1994 | Protection plan for the site of Chavin (Approved) | 4,000 USD |
| 1988 | Expert mission to prepare a technical assistance ... (Approved) | 7,500 USD |
Missions to the property until 2002**
September-October 1999: ICOMOS expert mission
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 2002
Previous deliberations:
25th session of the Committee (Chapter III.294)
25th extraordinary session of the Bureau (Chapter V.249)
Main issues: Lack of a management plan; deterioration of the condition of the site.
New information:
At the end of 1999, a sub-commission set up for the site pointed out the need to:
- carry out a complete study of the stability of the monumental zone’s architectural structures,
- strengthen some sectors especially some external walls and some interior walls of the Galleries,
- re-examine the visiting circuit,
- identify water filtration and ventilation conducts and
- strengthen the damming walls to avoid the overflow of the Mosna River.
Part of the work carried out since then was presented at the 25th extraordinary session of the Bureau. Information was given on the conservation work started in some critical zones of the Galleries, the Labyrinths, Doble Mensula and Lanzón as well as the renewal of the tourist circuit and the continuation of research with the co-operation of the University of Stanford. Additional detailed information on the actions, which remain to be carried out were sent by the National Culture Institute (INC) on 11 February 2002. They are spelt out in an emergency plan which includes: making wooden flooring for the tourist circulation, underpinning certain walls and galleries, withdrawing alluvial layers, “emboquillar” walls, restituting lithic elements, cleaning ducts, sealing surfaces and damming walls of the Mosna River and continuing conservation studies.
However, Chavín is still lacking the requested general management plan.
Action Required
The Bureau acknowledges the efforts made by the State Party to preserve the site, in particular through the implementation of priority actions within an emergency plan. However the Bureau encourages the State Party to finalise and implement the Management Plan for the site and requests a detailed progress report to be submitted by 1 February 2003, for its twenty seventh session.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2002
26 COM 21B.63
Chavin (Archaeological Site) (Peru)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Notes the state of conservation report and the decision taken by the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraph XII, 125-127;
2. Encourages the State Party to finalize and implement the management plan;
3. Recognizes the efforts carried out by the State Party in order to preserve the site, in particular by applying priority measures in the framework of the emergency plan;
4. Requests that a progress report be submitted by 1 February 2003 for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.26 BUR XII.125-127
Archaeological site of Chavin (Peru)
XII.125 The Bureau was informed of the conservation difficulties existing at the Archaeological site of Chavin as well as the emergency measures undertaken. These measures concern the immediate halting of earth removal, the underpinning of some walls that risk collapse, the cleaning of ventilation conducts, the establishment of topographical plans to identify water filtration and the development of tourist circuits. The Bureau noted that the members of the Commission for the Chavin Master Plan had been pre-selected and that an enlarged Consultative Committee should define the Management Plan. An expert meeting should be held in May 2002 to assist the Commission for the Chavin Master Plan in defining this Plan.
XII.126 The Observer of Peru provided additional information on the work already undertaken that represents the first phase of a procedure for the Master Plan that will be established taking account of the recommendations made in 1999 by the ICOMOS expert. The second phase will be elaborated and the implementation of the emergency plan, based on an evaluation of the structural stability of the monument for which emergency assistance has been requested. Furthermore, the Observer of Peru confirmed the willingness of the authorities to finalize the Master Plan.
XII.127 The Bureau acknowledged the efforts made by the State Party to preserve the site, in particular through the application of priority actions within an emergency plan. However, the Bureau encouraged the State Party to finalize and implement the Master and Management Plans of the site and requested a detailed progress report by 1 February 2003 for study at its 27th session in April 2003.
The Committee is requested to note the decision by the Bureau (please refer to document WHC-02/CONF.202/2 - paragraphs XII. 125-127.
PeruDocuments examined by the Committee
26COM (2002)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.
