Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region

• Need to adjust the boundaries of the remaining components
• Need to finalize an integrated conservation and management plan for the property
• Conservation activities needed at all serial components which are at risk of collapse or in a condition of serious deterioration

On 9 April 2019, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1568/documents/ and addresses recommendations made at the time of the inscription of the property in 2018 (Decision 42 COM 8B.21) as follows:

• The State Party advised that it does not consider the recommendation to adjust the boundaries of the Firuzabad and Bishapur components feasible, due to the distance between the sites and the presence of new settlements in that area. The State Party has undertaken to provide new regulations within the buffer zones of the two abovementioned components regarding restrictions on new developments and tourism activities;
• The Integrated Conservation and Management Plan (ICMP) for the property is being finalized, including strategies for risk preparedness and disaster response;
• Regarding the Committee’s recommendation to ensure that immediate conservation activities are prioritized, the State Party indicates that some investigations have been undertaken by Iranian Cultural Heritage Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO), including discussions with members of ICOMOS ISCARSAH (International Scientific Committee on the Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage) concerning the Qaleh Dokhtar dome in October 2018. Other works, including the immediate structural restoration of Sarbazkhane and the towers at the northern end of the fortification of the Royal Citadel, are listed in the report, but not described in detail;
• Regarding the need for geophysical surveys for the Ardashir Khurreh component, and in order to restrict agricultural practices in archaeologically sensitive areas, the State Party advises that an Iranian-French collaboration will initiate first tests in order to employ more suitable geophysics techniques in November 2019;
• The State Party is developing a new framework for documentation, survey, and analysis of structures and reliefs. The new monitoring system will be fully incorporated into the ICMP. Crack meters to improve monitoring were installed for the Royal Citadel;
• The State Party has provided information concerning a wide range of relevant management and conservation works, including: documentation and review of the state of conservation of several sites; restoration of decorative works (Arg-e Shai in Bishapur); various actions for reorganisation of parking facilities, water management, electrical infrastructure, and lighting; chemical removal of vegetation; various exhibitions, training and community engagement events; and river dredging in the vicinity of Tang-e Chogan. Several of these activities are described, while most are simply itemised in the report.

The State Party’s report shows that progress was made in relation to several of the World Heritage Committee’s recommendations at the time of inscription. In particular, the State Party’s indication that changes to the management plan are undergoing final revision is welcomed, including the provisions for risk preparedness, disaster management and improved documentation and monitoring arrangements. The Committee may therefore wish to request the State Party to submit the Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies prior to its adoption. Efforts to initiate the geophysical surveys of the city of Gur (Ardashir Khurreh) during 2019 are also noted, as are the various management and site conservation works that have been listed by the State Party.

While little time has passed since the inscription, progress in addressing and prioritising urgent conservation needs has nonetheless been relatively modest, given that a number of sites assessed as part of the ICOMOS Evaluation were in a poor state of conservation and at risk of further dilapidation or even collapse. A well-planned conservation approach that avoids extensive reconstructions is needed to ensure the long-term preservation of the property, and the Committee may wish to address this as a priority and incorporate it into the ICMP.

The State Party’s response concerning the recommendation to adjust the boundaries of the components of Firuzabad and of Bishapur is noted, although the reasons for the Committee’s recommendation remain valid. While the State Party’s ongoing work to amend the regulations that apply to the buffer zones, including restrictions on new constructions, limits to the expansions to existing villages, and requirements for tourism ventures, are a possibly useful interim step, these are yet to be adopted and implemented. It is therefore considered that the boundaries of the components remain too tight and that they should be expanded to include the landscape setting of the architectural and archaeological features. It is recommended that the World Heritage Committee reiterate its request that the State Party work towards a recognition of these issues by adjusting the boundaries of the components.

The list of additional conservation and site management activities is noted, with the understanding that, in due course, such activities will be fully integrated into a functioning conservation and management plan and subject to monitoring and regular review.

Finally, it is noted that the provisional Statement of Outstanding Universal Value has been reviewed and an agreed draft will be presented for adoption at the present session of the World Heritage Committee.