Lower Valley of the Omo
Factors affecting the property in 1996*
- Erosion and siltation/ deposition
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1996
Total amount approved : 2,000 USD
| 1996 | Review of Lalibela's restoration programmes, in situ ... (Approved) | 2,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1996**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1996
The prehistoric site of the Lower Valley of the Omo was the object of intensive research by international teams between 1967 and 1976. Scholars of paleontology and prehistory discovered human and animal fossils and stone tools and brought to light a prehistoric camping ground, amongst the oldest known to date. At present, erosion endangers the site by erasing the markers which had been planted during the last prospecting campaigns of 1974 and 1976 on the major sites, especially those that had revealed hominid fossils.
Due to the suspension of the missions since 1976, a survey should be carried out on the present state of the deposits to record the changes brought about by erosion, to seek out the markers still in place and position each locality by means of a GPS (Ground Positioning System), which would allow future researchers to find all the areas already identified and numbered by the previous paleontological missions.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1996
The Bureau may wish to adopt the following recommendation and request the Committee to take note:
"The Bureau encouraged the Centre for Research and Conservation of the Cultural Heritage (CRCCH) to undertake a survey and implement the above-mentioned proposals, and requested the Ethiopian authorities to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of the progress achieved."
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1996
20 EXT.BUR A.1.3
Annex 7-International Assistance requests approved by the Bureau-Ethiopia
CULTURAL HERITAGE
A.1 TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION
A.1.3 Lalibela; Fasil Ghebi; Lower Valley of the Awash; Tiya; Aksum and Valley of of the Omo (Ethiopia) (US$ 27,500 requested)
Considering the quality and the well-chosen small-scale activities which are already partly funded by the Centre for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (CRCCH) , and in order to backstop the remarkable achievements and commitments of CRCCH to conservation,
the Bureau approved an amount of US$ 27,500. Support from the World Heritage Fund will permit the funding of international experts to examine the studies and restoration programmes for Lalibela, to improve the presentation of Tiya and organize an in-situ training course in Gondar.
20 COM VII.D.64/65
SOC noted by Committee: Lower Valley of the Omo (Ethiopia)
VII.64 Lower Valley of the Omo (Ethiopia)
The Secretariat reported that erosion endangers the site by erasing the markers which had been planted during the last scientific missions of 1974 and 1976 on the major sites, especially those that had revealed hominid fossils.
Due to the suspension of the international missions since 1976, it was recommended that a survey should be carried out on the present state of the deposits to record the changes brought about by erosion, to seek out the markers still in place, and position each locality by means of a GPS (Global Positioning System) .
The Bureau took note of the report provided by the Secretariat and encouraged the Centre for Research and Conservation of the Cultural Heritage (CRCCH) to undertake a survey and implement the above-mentioned proposals, and requested the Ethiopian authorities to keep it informed of the progress achieved.
Ethiopia
* :
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.
