State of Conservation (SOC)

Requests Approved: 0 (from2001-2001)
Total Amount Ap proved: 7,000USD

2002: Expert mission; 2005: World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission

a) Rise in the water table;

b) Impact on structures due to earth trembling and other forms of damage likely to result from the use of heavy earth-moving equipment;

c) Lack of conservation plan, defining short-, medium-, and long-term objectives and establishing technical parameters (materials, techniques, etc);

d) Need for a management plan, to include research, presentation and interpretation, the role of stakeholders (e.g. the Mar Mena community), staffing, sponsorship, visitor facilities, access, etc.

a) Implementation of a rapid condition survey of all excavated remains and urgent conservation measures in order to provide protection to structures against earth trembling and other forms of damage likely to result from the use of heavy earth-moving equipment;

b) Lowering of the water table by means of drainage ditches and pipes, inside and around the archaeological area;

c) Establishment of an efficient system for monitoring the water table in the archaeological site and in the surrounding zones;

d) Preparation of a conservation plan, defining short-, medium-, and long-term objectives and establishing technical parameters (materials, techniques, etc);

e) Consultations with stakeholders with the objective of preparing a management plan, to include research, presentation and interpretation, the role of stakeholders (e.g. the Mar Mena community), staffing, sponsorship, visitor facilities, access, etc.

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

In its report presented in 2007, the State Party announced the completion of the works by 2010.

During its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008), the World Heritage Committee took note of the information provided by the State Party on the actions being taken to address the existing threats, and urged the State Party to continue its work on the corrective measures adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006). As well, the World Heritage Committee invited the State Party to consider submitting a request for International Assistance to support the preparation of the conservation and management plans, and reiterated its requests to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, a draft Statement of outstanding universal value including the conditions of integrity and authenticity, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009.

The State Party’s report was received on 1 February 2009 and notes the following:

a) Statement of Outstanding Universal Value

The State Party report also includes what is presented as a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, as requested by the World Heritage Committee during its 32nd session. However, although this section of the report provides an interesting account of the principal sources of interest in the history and archaeological excavation of this property, the account provided does not conform to the expectations of the World Heritage Committee (as described in the Operational Guidelines) in preparing a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (reflecting articulation of the criteria identified for inscription, authenticity, integrity and management mechanisms).

b) Rise in the water table

The State Party report also provides an overview of threats posed to the property by the raising of the water table in the vicinity of the property, resulting from a land reclamation programme for agricultural development of the region, and by the building of a large road to facilitate movement through the site. The lowering of the water table has resulted in the property’s dry clay soils becoming semi-liquid and the collapse of a number of structures. Measures taken by the Supreme Council of Antiquities .to counteract this phenomenon has thus far proven insufficient. The State Party concluded this part of its report by summarizing findings of the 2005 mission (which have been previously reported to the World Heritage Committee).and by describing current plans to respond to the problems.

The State Party report notes that a Ministry of Culture project for reducing the water table by 5m has been developed, scheduled to begin soon, has a three year time line for implementation. The report notes the importance of implementing this project in ways cognizant of economic and political aspects and integrating the full participation of the region’s farmers, and which will ensure careful monitoring of hydrological results.

c) Other matters

The State Party report describes preparing a request for an international campaign for 4-5 million dollars along the lines of that the one launched for the Nubian monuments of Abu Simbel in 1959. This international campaign would « support the implementation of a more elaborate site management plan that will not only include restoration and rehabilitation, but also education, training, awareness, local community participation etc. for the conservation and management of the site and its vicinity ».

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies would note that while the effort to launch an ambitious international campaign for the conservation of this property is laudable, that its definition and objectives will be shaped by development of the conservation plan and management plan previously requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session, and described in the State Party report as essential support for long term care of the property’s archaeological resources. Realization of both plans would be best and most expeditiously accomplished by the State Party preparing a request for international assistance from the World Heritage Fund as previously suggested by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies would also note that the preparation of effective conservation and management plans depends on the preparation of a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value approved by the World Heritage Committee, and would urge that preparation of such a statement according to the requirements of the Operational Guidelines be given priority.