Babylon

Factors identified at the time of inscription:

• Lack of a comprehensive conservation plan for the property, including a priority intervention scheme for the most urgent conservation measures needed
• Need to augment the management plan to include the comprehensive conservation plan
• Need to research the relationships between the Neo-Babylonian capital and its wider landscape as the basis for consideration of further extension of the buffer zone to address challenges in the setting
• Need to better communicate to visitors the revised boundary concept and the explicit exclusion of 20th century additions from the property

On 3 February 2020, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, an updated version of which was submitted on 28 January 2021. These reports are  available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/278/documents/ and cover the World Heritage properties of Hatra, Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat), Samarra Archaeological City, information about the cultural components of The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities (2021 report only), and Babylon. The reports address recommendations made at the time of the inscription of the property in 2019 (Decision 43 COM 8B.13) as follows:

• The development of conservation and rehabilitation work on the property before and since its inscription is outlined. The State Party has been working with the World Monuments Fund (WMF) on the property since 2008. Conservation works are underway and further funding has been allocated. Information is provided on conservation work at the Ishtar Temple and the Temple of Ninmah, which are being carried out under the supervision of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) and the WMF. Other work carried out includes surveys to measure and monitor groundwater levels, which identified two underground water reservoirs;
• The State Party advises that it is fully aware of the plans and facilities needed at its World Heritage properties, including Babylon, and that it intends to complete those plans to protect and sustain the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the properties;
• In relation to research, a brief outline of the history of archaeological research at the property is provided;
• With regard to the communication and presentation of the property to visitors, the State Party indicates that planning is taking place regarding the design of visitor paths and the establishment of infrastructure facilities, including a visitor centre.

The State Party’s report indicates an awareness of the key issues, and it is recommended that the Committee note the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. There has been limited progress in relation to the World Heritage Committee’s recommendations made at the time of inscription. It is clear that the State Party faces major challenges and is committed to maintaining the OUV of its World Heritage properties, including Babylon.

At the time of inscription, the World Heritage Committee emphasized that the state of conservation of the property was very concerning and constituted an ascertained danger in the absence of a coordinated, programmed conservation approach with urgent priority interventions. This was the context in which the Committee recommended the development and finalization of a comprehensive conservation plan. While there has been some recent conservation activity, led by the SBAH and with the participation of WMF, there is no indication of the development of a comprehensive conservation plan.

The ICOMOS evaluation notes that a Management Plan was approved in September 2018, which identifies and details risks, issues and conservation challenges. However, its policies and aims are abstract and it has no structured actions or clear methodologies. In its decision, the Committee stated that it is essential that the overall principles laid out in the Plan are transferred to concrete actions on the ground.

It is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to submit such a comprehensive conservation plan as part of an augmented Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies prior to its adoption.

The rationale set out in the ICOMOS evaluation for the recommendation of further research on the relationships between the Neo-Babylonian capital and its wider landscape was that, while the current 100m-wide buffer zone provides an added layer of protection to the archaeological city, because of its limited extent it cannot contribute to the protection of the visual setting of the city.

In this context, it is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to carry out this research as the basis for consideration of further extending the buffer zone to address actual and potential future challenges in the wider setting of the archaeological city.

As part of the nomination process, the State Party had submitted a new three-dimensional boundary concept in February 2019. A number of 20th century constructions in the property have been excluded, thereby becoming islands of buffer zone, while known or potential archaeological resources below these are included within the property. Retained within the property are the reconstructed walls on archaeological remains as well as 20th century artificial landscaping interventions. At the time of inscription, the Committee emphasized that the future management of these excluded 20th century constructions within the property would be critical to the preservation of the fragile condition of integrity. It is recommended that the Committee also reiterate its request to the State Party to communicate to visitors the three-dimensional boundary concept and the explicit exclusion of 20th century additions from the property.

9. General Decision on the World Heritage properties of Iraq

Current conservation issues

The conflict in Iraq between 2014 and 2017 led to a massive humanitarian crisis and resulted in significant damage to Iraq’s cultural heritage through deliberate destruction, illegal excavation and looting, as well as collateral damage. Three of Iraq's World Heritage properties have suffered as a result of this conflict, namely Samarra Archaeological City, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) and Hatra. In addition, the archaeological sites of Nimrud and the Ancient City of Nineveh, which are on Iraq’s Tentative List, have also been greatly damaged through acts of deliberate destruction. In the Old City of Mosul, included in the Tentative List since August 2018, significant sites, monuments and buildings were systematically targeted, including historical and religious heritage sites such as al-Nouri Mosque and its iconic al-Hadba Minaret.

On 3 February 2020 and 28 January 2021, the State Party submitted state of conservation reports, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/44com/documents/#state_of_conservation_reports. The reports provide an overview of the state of conservation of Samarra Archaeological City, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) and Hatra, and the damage inflicted as a result of the conflict, but no detailed assessment. The reports express the need for financial support to improve the state of conservation of World Heritage properties, and the wish of the State Party to work closely with the international community in this regard. The 2021 report mentions that the spread of COVID-19 has contributed to limiting conservation and management activities. The proposed construction of the Makhool Dam in Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat) has been re-activated and the State Party has requested support in preserving the property and the archaeological sites located in the dam’s basin.

The State Party reiterates its request for missions to be undertaken in order to conduct damage assessments and conservation works, and requests the support of the World Heritage Centre in the development of corrective measures for the eventual removal of the three properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Activities undertaken by UNESCO

• Since the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee (Baku, 2019), UNESCO has pursued its actions towards the recovery of Iraq’s cultural heritage, notably in Mosul;
• Within the framework of the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust project (USD 35,782), the World Heritage Centre has initiated the implementation of activities for strengthening capacities in state of conservation reporting on properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, and in the elaboration of the Desired state of conservation for removal of properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
• Following the launch of the Initiative “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” in February 2018, UNESCO has pursued its actions towards the rehabilitation and recovery of the Old City of Mosul:

• • • Safeguarding cultural heritage in the Old City of Mosul has been carried out through two major projects, “Reviving the Spirit of Mosul by rebuilding its historic landmarks namely the Al-Nouri Mosque and its Al-Hadba Minaret, as well as the Al-Tahera Church and Al-Saa’a Church” funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (USD 50.4 million for the 2018-2023 period), as well as a major project funded by the European Union (EU) (USD 38 million in two phases from 2019-2022) for “Reviving Mosul and Basra Old Cities” which aims to rehabilitate the historic urban centres of these two major cities while creating jobs and developing skills of the young people in the rehabilitation and urban infrastructure,
    • At the Al-Nouri Mosque Complex and the Al-Hadba Minaret, the first phase of the restoration project consisted of documentation, assessment, securing the site, removing the surrounding debris, collecting historical fragments and stabilizing the remaining structures, was completed in the spring of 2020,
    • In April 2020, the third Joint Steering Committee of the UAE funded project decided that Al-Hadba Minaret shall be rebuilt in the same location and with the same features. The decision concerning the inclination of the Minaret, whether to be built leaning or straight, will be made after the local community is consulted. The Steering Committee of the project also approved that geotechnical investigations on the foundation of the Minaret should be undertaken before any reconstruction proposals are put forward,
    • With regards to Al-Nouri Mosque Complex, it was decided that the reconstruction shall be done through an international architectural design competition, and in November 2020, UNESCO launched an international architectural competition, endorsed by the International Union of Architects (UIA). The jury met from 6 to 10 April and the winning design was announced on 15 April 2021,
    • With regards to the rehabilitation of the two churches, the rubble removal as well as securing the site is completed for Al-Tahera Church as well as Al-Saa’a Church; damage assessment and technical documentation for restoration and rehabilitation of these two churches are ongoing and planned to be finalised by the end of the summer 2021,
    • As for the EU-funded project “Reviving Mosul and Basra Old Cities”, following engagement with all levels of concerned national and local government entities and relevant stakeholders, 43 historical houses were de-mined and selected for rehabilitation. The rehabilitation of these houses and the surrounding infrastructure started in December 2020 and is expected to be completed by October 2021,
    • Heritage-sensitive removal of rubble and clearance of explosive hazards at the sites has also been completed for another 75 houses. The rehabilitation of these additional 75 houses will start in early June 2021. As part of a Heritage Trail between the Al-Nouri Mosque site and the Tigris Riverbank, an additional 118 houses are assessed and earmarked for rubble removal and de-mining. These houses will be rehabilitated if new funding becomes available,
    • Technical documentation for the two palatial houses (Ziada and Suleyman and Qara Saray) has been prepared,
    • As for Al-Aghawat Mosque in Mosul, the temporary stabilisation is finalised and the preparation of technical documentation is ongoing,
    • These projects related to the reconstruction of Mosul’s built heritage have been, and will be creating immediate employment in Mosul as a relief measure in response to the unemployment caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. By the end of these two major rehabilitation projects in Mosul over 2,800 jobs will have been created, with 800 jobs created to date. By the end of these projects 1,630 professionals will be trained in craftsmanship and areas related to the rehabilitation of cultural heritage, both through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and on-the-job training;
    • Under the same project, damage assessment of seven heritage houses in Basra is ongoing, in addition to the preparation of technical documentation for the rehabilitation of public infrastructure and beautification of Al-Ashar Canal;
    • Also, with support from the Government of Flanders, in 2019, a publication was prepared on damage assessment of cultural and religious heritage affected by violent extremism during 2014 (Governorates of Ninawa, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, Diyala and Anbar);
    • With regard to the support for the restoration and documentation of the thousands of manuscripts dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries, in 2018, UNESCO provided technical and financial assistance for the preservation of some of the most historically significant manuscripts and materials. The digitization and conservation equipment was subsequently delivered and installed at the Digital Centre of Eastern Manuscripts in Erbil;

Activities undertaken by the Advisory Bodies

• UNESCO has recently signed an agreement with ICCROM to build capacity of local Iraqi professionals and craftspeople through the UAE and EU funded projects.
• ICOMOS continues to support World Heritage in Iraq through the collection and dissemination of material and assisting the exchange of information

Analysis and Conclusions of the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM

The conflict situation in Iraq has directly affected its three properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger, and some of its Tentative List sites to varying degrees. The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage during the conflict period between 2014 and 2017 is of particular concern. Owing to the security situation in several parts of the country and the very limited resources, Iraq’s other World Heritage properties and Tentative List sites have been indirectly affected. In addition, the illegal excavation and looting of archeological sites have caused extensive loss and irreversible damage – although there have been several incidents of restitution of cultural property in recent years.

Since the liberation of substantial parts of the country in 2017, Iraq has been facing the challenges of recovery while addressing the unprecedented humanitarian crisis. This is particularly evident at the Old City of Mosul, where UNESCO is currently engaged within the framework of its flagship initiative “Revive the Spirit of Mosul”.

The lack of detailed damage assessments for the three World Heritage properties that are on the List of World Heritage in Danger remains a concern, despite the more recent reported documentation work for Hatra carried out by a team of experts in February 2020, through the support of the International Alliance for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), as well as the submission of an additional ‘Damage Assessment Report Status Study’, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/277/documents/. This report includes general information on the intended process for recovery and brief descriptions and photographs of damage to individual components, as well as high-level recommendations, including reiteration of the request for a mission. Detailed damage assessments are necessary to evaluate the situation and to plan for stabilization and conservation works, including repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction of important monuments, before interventions can take place. It is recommended that the Committee remind the State Party of its previous request in Decision 43 COM 7A.21, that remedial and repair works should be guided by a comprehensive conservation plan prepared in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies. It is also necessary to evaluate potential risks other than those specifically related to conflict, such as those concerning natural deterioration and potential flooding, and, to plan for the properties’ longer-term recovery and management. In this regard the re-activation of the proposed construction of the Makhool Dam is a major concern, giving rise to an additional potential danger to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat).

It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit detailed documentation on all damage incurred at World Heritage properties, and to undertake protection and urgent stabilization work only in cases where collapse or further damage is imminent, according to the principle of minimal intervention. The required information includes systematic photographic surveys, drawings, graphics and quantitative data and identification of potential risks. Elements found at the property, and resulting from conflict-related damage, should be retrieved and gathered in a safe location. Boundaries of properties should be protected from illegal excavations and looting.

Moreover, it is recommended that the Committee remind the State Party to advise, through the World Heritage Centre, about any future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the OUV of World Heritage properties, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse.

The Committee should also reiterate its appeal to States Parties to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property coming from Iraq and to contribute towards the safeguarding of its cultural heritage.