Hatra

• War
• Illegal activities
• Major looting of Iraqi archaeological sites 
• Destruction and damage due to the armed conflict

Destruction and damage due to the armed conflict

Not yet identified

Not yet identified

Total amount granted (for all World Heritage Sites of Iraq):

• USD 6,000 from the Italian Funds-in-Trust
• USD 1.5 million by the Government of Japan (for cultural heritage, including World Heritage)
• USD 154,000 by the Government of Norway (for cultural heritage, including World Heritage)
• EUR 300,000 by the Government of Italy (for cultural heritage, including World Heritage)
• USD 35,000 by the Government of the Netherlands (for cultural heritage, including World Heritage)
• USD 100 000 Heritage Emergency Fund - support for Iraqi World Heritage properties
• USD 35,782 from the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust (for Strengthening capacities in state of conservation reporting on properties inscribed on the list of World Heritage in Danger)
• USD 50,000 from the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust (Strengthening capacities for the documentation and conservation of Properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger in Iraq)

On 31 January 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/277/documents/. Additional information was submitted on 4 March 2023. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions is presented, as follows:

• Erosion and deterioration are noted at Allat Temple, and its back wall has an inclination of about 50cm. The middle iwan arch of Samya Temple is at risk due to the movement of its keystone, and the upper parts of the Triad Temple have heavily suffered from weathering;
• The State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) is cooperating with the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) for the implementation of a project to provide urgent first aid to the damage incurred due to the conflict;
• Through the project supported by ALIPH, and implemented by a team from International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies (ISMEO), in cooperation with the Nineveh Inspectorate of Antiquities and Heritage, future conservation work at the property addresses urgent intervention at the western wall of the Allat temple, the central iwan arch and floor of the Samiyah temple and stabilisation works in the Mithra temple;
• Documentation of the site was carried out in 2020 by a team of experts through the support of ALIPH. A three-to-five-year conservation plan is being developed and will be provided once agreed upon;
• Conservation and restoration work at the property has included restoring and re-attaching sculptures to their original places at the Great Temple, commencing the restoration of artifacts, and cleaning the site from the remnants of conflict, as well as general upkeep to remove vegetation. Pilot protection measures were carried out for the alabaster floors of Allat Temple, and by installing iron gates for all entrances to the temples. Solar lighting has been installed at the Temenos;
• Rehabilitation work was carried out at the Italian Expedition House, which included the installation of solar panels , as well as for the Antiquities Protection Police station. A site laboratory for the conservation of artifacts has been established;
• The Hatra Statuary Salvage Project (HaSSP) has successfully restored 99% of the statues damaged during conflict;
• A retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (RSOUV) was finalized by the State Party, and reports on assessment and first aid interventions, carried out through the collaboration with ISMEO and ALIPH, were provided;

The State Party has provided information regarding ongoing and planned actions at the property, including documentation, conservation, rehabilitation projects, and conservation planning. It is clear that some of the reported measures have been carried out as a priority for the protection of the property. These efforts, undertaken in cooperation with international experts and support, are acknowledged.

Some information has also been provided regarding urgent interventions identified at various monuments that should be undertaken to prevent further damage and collapse. It is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to pursue such priority actions, noting that any emergency stabilisation work should only be undertaken in cases where collapse or further damage is imminent, and according to the principle of minimal intervention. Remedial and repair work should be guided by a comprehensive Conservation Plan prepared in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies.

The State Party has reported that the security situation of Hatra is stable, and following its invitation, a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission visited the property in June 2023, to further assess the damage and to discuss with the State Party the short, medium, and long-terms goals and actions required to protect the property, as well as the elaboration and implementation of corrective measures and achievement of the DSCOR. It is recommended that the State Party implement the mission’s recommendations, with particular regard to carrying out investigations related to the water table; finalizing the conservation plan for the Temenos area on the basis of a detailed damage assessment of its monuments, and scientific analyses, after which pilot interventions could be selected and monitored over time to assess the efficacy of any proposed action; elaborating a monitoring programme; carrying out an assessment of potential threats in the area situated between the inner and outer city walls, and accordingly elaborate additional possible protection measures; preparation of a site management plan, with a visitor management plan, and including the necessary human and financial resources, in addition to capacity building; and, elaborating a strategy and resources for documentation management.

Work on the elaboration of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) was initiated remotely through collaboration between the State Party, the World Heritage Centre, and ICOMOS. Following a preliminary online meeting in January 2021, a second online meeting was organized on 21 March 2022, with the participation of the State Party and the international experts implementing projects at the property. Subsequent to the follow up on this process and the mission undertaken to the property, a proposed DSOCR, corrective measures, and a timeframe for implementation have been established, and are recommended for adoption.

The World Heritage Centre, in collaboration with ICOMOS, has initiated the process to support the State Party in the elaboration of the retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (RSOUV), through an online technical workshop. The State Party has pursued the elaboration of the RSOUV, which is presented in Document WHC/23/45.COM/8E.