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State of Conservation (SOC)

Samarra Archaeological City (2011)

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds

Total amount provided to the property: USD 100,000 from the Nordic World Heritage Fund for training and documentation aiming at the preparation of the Nomination File.

International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0
Total Amount Ap proved: 0USD

Missions**
2011  Report on the Joint World Heritage Centre-ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring Mission to ...
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Weathering and lack of maintenance affecting the fragile structures;

b) State of conflict in the country that does not allow the responsible authorities to assure the protection and management of the property.

Corrective Measures

a) Establishment of a local management coordination unit on the site;

b) Preparation and implementation of a conservation and management plan;

c) Maintenance and emergency conservation activities.

 

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.

Current conservation issues

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

The State Party indicates that there is a special department within the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in Baghdad which apparently follows-up Samarra. No precise indications are provided if this is the local management unit or the functions it carries. The State Party reports that restoration works have been completed at the Al-Malwiyya minaret which was affected in 2005; the summit has been returned to its original status and the spiral, base and slope have also been addressed. Cracks have been filled at the northern wall of the mosque to ensure stabilization. Work has been carried out to prepare the site for visitors, including maintenance of bathroom facilities and providing information on the site and electricity. No further information is provided on additional emergency conservation works. The State Party notes the need for international assistance to address the conservation of the site and expresses its wish for the property to remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger as the threats to the property continue. 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 of this report, no date had yet been established for the mission.

Conclusion

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies recognise the efforts made by the State Party in addressing the conservation and protection of the property, but highlight the limited support, resources and capacity to address conditions in a comprehensive and sustained manner. They also note that current conditions can be further exacerbated by visitation if no public use plan or adequate resources are in place to ensure the protection of the property. They underscore the need to carry out a reactive monitoring mission to assess present conditions, to identify measures for the conservation of the property and to develop the conservation and management plan. They encourage the State Party to submit an International Assistance request to carry out the condition survey of the property and to develop a holistic conservation plan which identifies priority measures for implementation, in consideration of the existing conditions and potential uses of the property. 

Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

35COM7A.21
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

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

2. Recalling Decision 34 COM 7A.19, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),

3. Notes the work carried out by the State Party for the protection and conservation of the property and encourages it to continue with its efforts to implement the identified corrective measures for the property, in particular the implementation of priority conservation measures and the development of the conservation and management plan;

4. Invites the State Party to submit an International Assistance request to carry out the condition survey of the property and to develop a conservation and management plan;

5. 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;

6. Also 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;

7. Decides to retain Samarra Archaeological City (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

35COM8C.2
Link to the decision

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.21

The World Heritage Committee,

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

2. Recalling Decision 34 COM 7A.19, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),

3. Notes the work carried out by the State Party for the protection and conservation of the property and encourages it to continue with its efforts to implement the identified corrective measures for the property, in particular the implementation of priority conservation measures and the development of the conservation and management plan;

4. Invites the State Party to submit an International Assistance request to carry out the condition survey of the property and to develop a conservation and management plan;

5. 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;

6. 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;

7. Also 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 Samarra Archaeological City (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Samarra Archaeological City
State Party:
Iraq
Date of Inscription: 2007
Nomination records (Year): 1982, 2006
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)
Danger List: Yes
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Threats*
  • War
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-11/35.COM/7A.Add
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 289
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2007
Threats to the Site:

The state of conflict in the country does not allow the responsible authorities to assure the protection and management of the property.


* : 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.