Decision 46 COM 7B.14

Arslantepe Mound (Türkiye) (C 1622)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7B.202 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyad, 2023),
3. Welcomes the work undertaken at the World Heritage property to repair the damage caused by the effects of the earthquakes of February 2023 and reiterates its invitation to the State Party to call upon the Convention’s assistance mechanisms to support further repair work in the affected parts of the World Heritage property;
4. Also welcomes the survey work undertaken by the State Party to determine the exact extent of the archaeological remains and reiterates its request to the State Party to continue survey work to further detail and analyse the extent of archaeological remains, in particular to the north and west of the property, and to submit a report on the results of such surveys to the World Heritage Centre for review;
5. Notes that the five-year term of the Management Plan for the property has expired in 2024 and requests the State Party to initiate the revision process in a timely manner, with particular reference to the Conservation Plan and strategy, the Risk Preparedness Plan and the Visitor Management Plan, and to submit the draft Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies prior to its adoption;
6. Takes note of the progress reported by the State Party in the implementation of previous Committee decisions and requests the State Party to continue to address them, in particular by:
   1. Revising the Conservation Protocol into a Conservation Plan, including conducting risk assessment, developing a Risk Preparedness Plan and preparing a cautious strategy for anticipated research and excavation, which is a key issue in developing a sustainable conservation strategy for the property, defining the location and extent of archaeological deposits on the property, particularly to the north and west, and assessing the state of conservation of previously excavated archaeological areas that may remain unsheltered,
   2. Preparing, prior to the implementation of the new roof shelter project, a technical archaeological impact assessment report on the proposed interventions, detailing all aspects of the construction works, including the circulation of personnel and materials, and detailing the nature and location of the rainwater gutters, pipes and surface water drains on the mound and how these will be linked to the new drainage channel,
   3. Preparing a Visitor Management Plan relating to visitor access, circulation and management on the property, as clarification of the exact number and type of facilities, and revising the Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment accordingly or providing an additional one to address the additional aspects of anticipated future developments
      
      and further requests to submit the above to the World Heritage Centre for review;
7. Finally, requests the State Party to submit an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2025 for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.