Amphitheatre of El Jem
Factors affecting the property in 1992*
- Commercial development
- Housing
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1992
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1992**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1992
Despite the efforts of specialists and the Tunisian authorities for conserving this site, the Bureau was concerned about the modifications which affected its environment, and requested the competent authorities to take urgent measures necessary to re-establish the' harmony of the site and its surroundings, halt all new constructions in the immediate environs and demolish the shopping arcade constructed on one side of the amphitheatre. If it is not possible to demolish the arcade, then it would be desirable to conceal it with a hedge. Insofar as the organization of spectacles inside the amphitheatre does not imply irreversible developments, the Bureau considered that the recreational activities do not constitute a threat to the conservation of the site.
The Permanent Delegate of Tunisia to UNESCO has informed the World Heritage Centre that the President of the Republic has instructed the competent authorities in charge of the protection of the archeological site to take all the necessary measures to implement the recommendations of the Bureau. Accordingly, all new construction works have been halted and the shopping arcade built on one side of the amphitheatre is to be concealed by a hedge in order to avoid any direct interaction between the commercial area and the archeological site; furthermore, the construction of permanent structures within the amphitheatre has been prohibited.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1992
16 BUR VI.43
El Jem (Tunisia)
Despite the fact that it was aware of the efforts of specialists and the Tunisian authorities for conserving this site, the Bureau was, however, concerned about the modifications which affected the environment of the site and requested the competent authorities to take urgent measures necessary to reestablish the harmony of the site and its surroundings, halt all new constructions in the immediate environs and demolish the shopping arcade constructed on one side of the amphitheatre. If it is not possible to demolish the arcade, then it would be desirable to conceal it with a hedge. Insofar as the organization of spectacles inside the amphitheatre does not imply irreversible developments, the Bureau considered that the recreational activities do not constitute a threat to the conservation of the site.
16 COM VIII
SOC: El Jem (Tunisia)
El Jem (Tunisia)
Regarding the site of El Jem (Tunisia), the Committee was informed of the measures taken at the highest level of Government, as the President of the Republic of Tunisia had transmitted through, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to the concerns of the Bureau, the decisions pertaining to a halt in the construction of any extension to the shopping arcade and to the ban on construction of any permanent structures within the amphitheatre. Concerning this point, the Delegate from Tunisia took the floor to thank the Committee for its interest in heritage at large and to the site of El Jem. From now on, new constructions are prohibited by order of the President within a radius of 100 meters around the amphitheatre. Furthermore, the Committee requested the Centre to write to the President of the Republic to thank him for his intervention for the safeguard of the national heritage.
No draft Decision
Tunisia
* :
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.
