Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information.

i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)

Iraq
Factors affecting the property in 2011*
  • Flooding
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Water infrastructure
  • Other Threats:

    fragile mud brick structures

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Partial flooding and seepage due to a dam building project
  • Fragile mud brick structures
  • Absence of a comprehensive conservation and management plan
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Nearby construction of a dam entailing partial flooding and seepage
  • Armed conflict
Corrective Measures for the property

a) Relocation or cancellation of the dam project

b) Emergency excavations and protective measures against seepage

c) Establishment of a local management unit on the site

d) Preparation and implementation of a conservation and management plan

e) Protection and consolidation of fragile mud brick structures

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
No specific timeframe has yet been set by the World Heritage Committee or State Party, which mainly depends upon the evolution of the situation in the country.
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2011

Total amount provided to the property: USD 6,000 from the Italian Funds-in-Trust.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2011
Requests approved: 1 (from 2003-2003)
Total amount approved : 50,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2011**

November 2002: UNESCO mission for the Makhool Dam project; January 2011: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2011

The State Party submitted a short report on the state of conservation of the property on 29 December 2010 in response to the Decision made by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010).

The report indicates that the negotiations have continued with the Ministry of Water Resources to construct a jetty for the protection of the city which is expected to be concluded by the end of 2011. However, it reiterates that the construction of the dam has only been postponed and not definitely cancelled. Work has also continued on the restoration of the Tabira gate and the surrounding area; the conservation of collapses and cracks at the arch to stabilise it, in addition to removal of debris and consolidation of the debris. Additional interventions at the Ziggurat, temples and the main palace of the city are foreseen for 2011. No technical specifications have been submitted for these proposed interventions. The State Party also indicates that a management and restoration plan is in the process of preparation; no timeframe for completion has been provided. The UNESCO Office for Iraq has been assisting in trying to organise the reactive monitoring mission requested by the World Heritage Committee but at the time of drafting this report, no date had been established for the mission. Finally, the State Party requests that the property remain in the List of World Heritage in Danger as the conditions that warranted its inscription have not been addressed in full.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2011

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note the efforts made by the State Party in addressing the conservation of the property but wish to underline that its current state of conservation has not been comprehensively addressed, in particular the dam project that is still under consideration which constitutes a threat to the property. They also note that the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, the identification of boundaries and the proposal for the Desired state of conservation have yet to be developed and/or finalised. They reiterate the need to carry out a reactive monitoring mission to ascertain present conditions and to identify measures for a holistic conservation proposal. They also reiterate the invitation to the State Party to submit an International Assistance request for the development of a conservation and management plan and the implementation of priority conservation measures.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2011
35 COM 7A.20
Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) (C 1130)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-11/35.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 34 COM 7A.18, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),

3. Notes the efforts made by the State Party in addressing the conservation of the property and encourages it to continue its work for the protection of the property, in particular the implementation of the identified corrective measures;

4. Requests the State Party to submit, as per Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, detailed and updated technical information on the proposed jetty for the protection of the property and on the conservation interventions foreseen for the property;

5. Invites the State Party to submit an International Assistance request for the development of a conservation and management plan and for the implementation of priority conservation measures;

6. Reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, and to finalise the retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012, as well as to provide a detailed map of the boundaries of the property;

7. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2012, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012;

8. Decides to retain Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

35 COM 8C.2
Establishment of the World Heritage List in Danger (Retained Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Following the examination of the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-11/35.COM/7A, WHC-11/35.COM/7A.Add and WHC-11/35.COM/7A.Add.Corr),

2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 35 COM 7A.24)
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 35 COM 7A.25)
  • Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 35 COM 7A.15)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 35 COM 7A.1)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 35 COM 7A.32)
  • Colombia, Los Katios National Park (Decision 35 COM 7A.16)
  • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 35 COM 7A.2)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 35 COM 7A.3)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 35 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 35 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 35 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 35 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 35 COM 7A.8)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 35 COM 7A.19)
  • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 35 COM 7A.9)
  • Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 35 COM 7A.29)
  • Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 35 COM 7A.30)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 35 COM 7A.20)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 35 COM  7A.21)
  • Islamic Republic of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Decision 35 COM 7A.26)
  • Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 35 COM 7A.22)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 35 COM 7A.10)
  • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 35 COM 7A.11)
  • Pakistan, Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Decision 35 COM 7A.27)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 35 COM 7A.33)
  • Philippines, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Decision 35 COM 7A.28)
  • Senegal, Niokolo Koba National Park (Decision 35 COM  7A.12)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 35 COM 7A.31)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (Decision 35 COM 7A.18)
  • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 35 COM 7A.17)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 35 COM 7A.14)
  • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 35 COM 7A.34)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 35 COM 7A.23)
Draft Decision: 35 COM 7A.20

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-11/35.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 34 COM 7A.18, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),

3. Notes the efforts made by the State Party in addressing the conservation of the property and encourages it to continue its work for the protection of the property, in particular the implementation of the identified corrective measures;

4. Requests the State Party to submit, as per Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, detailed and updated technical information on the proposed jetty for the protection of the property and on the conservation interventions foreseen for the property;

5. Invites the State Party to submit an International Assistance request for the development of a conservation and management plan and for the implementation of priority conservation measures;

6. Reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, and to finalise the retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012, as well as to provide a detailed map of the boundaries of the property;

7. Also requests the State Party, should the conditions allow it, to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to the property to assess the state of conservation and to identify required conservation measures;

8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2012, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012.

9. Decides to retain Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Report year: 2011
Iraq
Date of Inscription: 2003
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(iv)
Danger List (dates): 2003-present
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 35COM (2011)
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.


top