Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region
Factors affecting the property in 2016*
- Desertification
- Flooding
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Housing
- Land conversion
- Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
- Management systems/ management plan
- Wind
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Deterioration as a result of exposure to difficult environmental conditions such as wind with sand and floods
- Urban encroachment
- Absence of a management plan with government commitment
- Flooding
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Housing
- Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
- Management systems / management plan
- Wind and Desertification
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2016
Total amount approved : 68,900 USD
| 2005 | Elaboration of the Management Plan for Jebel Barkal and ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 2004 | Conservation of the mural paintings of Jebel Barkal and ... (Approved) | 38,900 USD |
Missions to the property until 2016**
2004, 2006, 2007: World Heritage Centre missions; 2011: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2016
The State Party did not provide a report on the progress in implementing the recommendations adopted in Decision 38 COM 7B.5, requested by the Committee at its 38th session (Doha, 2014). No recent information on the state of conservation of the property is available.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2016
It is regrettable that despite the implementation of important activities for the property in the framework of the Sudan-Qatar Archaeological Project (QSAP), which include among others the rehabilitation of the stonework of the pyramids, excavations and greening to combat desertification, no information on the state of conservation of the property has been provided.
The Committee also recommended that in the framework of this project the management and monitoring system of the property also be addressed, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies. The management plan and a comprehensive monitoring system are essential to adequately address long-term conservation needs. The component of the QSAP project concerning this property should ideally be based on these strategic plans.
Furthermore, no information has been provided concerning the completion of the mapping to clearly identify boundaries of the five component parts according to the standards identified in Annex 11 of the Operational Guidelines. This is especially important in view of the two camps at al-Begrawiya and Jebel al-Barkal that currently provide shelter for the Sudan-Qatar Project teams, but whose future purpose may be adapted as tourism facilities.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2016
40 COM 7B.28
Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (Sudan) (C 1073)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B.Add,
- Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.5, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
- Deeply regrets that the State Party did not submit a report on the state of conservation of the property, as requested by the Committee at its 38th session in 2014;
- Expresses its concern about the absence of information about the state of conservation of the property despite the ongoing Sudan-Qatar Archaeological Project;
- Requests the State Party to submit detailed information on the state of conservation of the property and reiterates the need to address, as a matter of urgency, the previous recommendations, namely to:
- Provide a report for each of the five component parts,
- Fully develop the management plan and to elaborate a comprehensive monitoring system,
- Complete the mapping of the property according to the requirements set forth in the Operational Guidelines;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2017, 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 42nd session in 2018.
Draft Decision: 40 COM 7B.28
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B.Add,
- Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.5, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
- Deeply regrets that the State Party did not submit a report on the state of conservation of the property, as requested by the Committee at its 38th session in 2014;
- Expresses its concern about the absence of information about the state of conservation of the property despite the ongoing Sudan-Qatar Archaeological Project;
- Requests the State Party to submit detailed information on the state of conservation of the property and reiterates the need to address, as a matter of urgency, the previous recommendations, namely to:
- Provide a report for each of the five component parts,
- Fully develop the management plan and to elaborate a comprehensive monitoring system,
- Complete the mapping of the property according to the requirements set forth in the Operational Guidelines;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2017, 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 42nd session in 2018.
SudanExports
* :
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.
