Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

Before the conflict:

• Legal framework (Protection Policy does not adequately integrate cultural landscapes)
• Financial resources
• Human resources
• Housing (Development or infrastructure projects)
• Management System/Management Plan (Management Plan still incomplete and lack of an Action Plan)

Since March 2011:

• War (Destruction and damage due to the armed conflict)
• Illegal activities (Use of ancient stones as building material, illegal constructions and excavations, use of the sites by internally displaced people)
• Military training (Use of the sites by armed groups)
• Deliberate destruction of heritage
• Quarrying
• Land conversion

Destruction as well as ascertained and potential threats consequent to the armed conflict in Syria started in March 2011

Not yet drafted

Not yet identified

Total amount provided to the six Syrian World Heritage properties: 200,000 euros by the Italian Government; for built, movable and intangible heritage: 2.46 million euros by the European Union, USD 170,000 by the Flemish Government, 63,000 euros by the Austrian Government, USD 200,000 by the German Government; for cultural heritage under conflict: USD 200,000 by the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage in Bahrain.

On 3 January 2022 and 24 January 2023, the State Party submitted state of conservation reports for the six Syrian World Heritage properties, which are available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1348/documents/, and do not include updated information about the property and its state of conservation.

The State Party reports that the site is still mostly inaccessible owing to the ongoing presence of armed groups, and consequently, no further information could be provided.

In February 2023, reports were received from third parties about damage inflicted to the property as a result of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck south-eastern Türkiye near the Syrian border, and the subsequent aftershocks. The reports include information and photos about collapsed walls and/or ceilings, as well as cracks in walls at the archaeological parks of Jebel Zawiye, Jebel al-A’la, Jebel Barisha, Jebel Wastani and Jebel Sem’an, where, in particular, the collapse of an arch of the western basilica at Qal’at Sem’an is reported.

46.    General Decision on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic

Current conservation issues

The armed conflict in Syria started in March 2011 and escalated leading to significant violence and degradation of humanitarian conditions. It has inflicted damage on the six inscribed properties as well as on the 12 sites inscribed on the Tentative List. Sites have been damaged by shelling, fires, extensive illegal excavations, military use, construction violations, in addition to intentional destruction and inappropriate use of properties by internally displaced populations. Some sites remain at risk, as the result of the conflict, from both direct impact such as physical damage, but also from indirect implications such as loss of protection, exacerbated weathering or illegal constructions.

On 3 January 2022 and 24 January 2023, the State Party submitted state of conservation reports, available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/45COM/documents/. These reports collate available information from the branches of the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) up to 31 December 2022. In some areas, access is extremely limited, with consequent constraints on available information. In particular, the site of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria remains inaccessible owing to ongoing presence of armed groups, which prevents full understanding of the extent of damage at this property.

The State Party reported on actions carried out by the DGAM, despite the difficult working conditions, particularly with limited funding to support these efforts for the preservation of cultural heritage. At most of the properties, damage has been assessed and emergency conservation and urgent risk mitigation actions have been undertaken whenever possible. The DGAM has initiated high quality restoration work at a number of properties, although some concerns have been expressed about use of appropriate authentic replacement materials (such as ‘like for like’ stone in monument repair).

Recalling its intention to update its Tentative List in coordination with the World Heritage Centre, the State Party has provided updated information on the conservation of sites inscribed on the Tentative List as follows:

• For ‘Arwad Island’, DGAM received no new information about the potential tourism project previously reported ;
• In ‘Maaloula’, restoration works on residential buildings have been undertaken by inhabitants;
• At the ‘Noreas of Hama’, boundaries are being updated in order to enhance protection;
• At ‘Tartus: the Crusaders Citadel-City’, and ‘Ugrarit (Tell Shamra)’, maintenance works are being undertaken;
• At ‘Ebla’, ‘Mari (Tell Hariri) and Dura Europos’; no work has been undertaken;
• No new information is available for ‘Qasr al-Hayr ach-Charqi, a desert Castle’ and ‘Raqqa-Rafiqa: the Abassid City’;
• No information is provided for ‘Apamea (Afamia)’.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck south-eastern Türkiye, near the Syrian border on 6 February 2023, and the subsequent aftershocks, inflicted devastating damages on Syria’s already fragile cultural heritage. Damaged properties include the Ancient City of Aleppo, Crac des Chevaliers and Qalat Salah El-Din, and the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria. Damage was also reported at some sites on the Tentative List, including at Raqqa Rafiqa: the Abbsid. City and at Norias of Hama. Possible damage was reported at Arwad Island and Tartus: the Crusaders’ Citadel-City.  

Activities undertaken by UNESCO

• Since the extended 44th session of the Committee (Fuzhou/Online, 2021), UNESCO has pursued its actions to assist sustained efforts to safeguard cultural heritage of Syria;
• The joint publication with UNITAR “Ten Years of Conflict: the State of Conservation of cultural heritage in Syria” is being finalized.;
• The projects supported by the World Heritage Fund for Qal’at Salah El-Din (March 2020-April 2021) and for the Crac des Chevaliers (March 2019-December 2021) are completed;
• Assistance from the World Heritage Fund for sites in danger has supported a project (July 2021-December 2022) on damage assessment, emergency measures and the enhancement of the buffer zones of the Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din, and preparatory studies in view of the restoration of the Kalybe monument in the Ancient City of Bosra (November 2021-December 2022);
• Requests for assistance from the World Heritage Fund have been approved in 2023 for Site of Palmyra, Ancient City of Aleppo and Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din;
• Following the positive results of the work undertaken for the elaboration of the Desired State of Conservation for the Removal of the Ancient City of Damascus from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), a number of meetings took place remotely between the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and the DGAM for the elaboration of the DSOCR for The Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (meetings on 8 June and 20 December 2021) and for the Site of Palmyra (13 December 2021);
• Following the devastating earthquake of 6 February 2023, a UNESCO Rapid Assessment mission was carried out from 25 to 27 February 2023 to Ancient City of Aleppo. In addition, UNESCO led the Culture section of the Syria Earthquake Recovery Needs Assessment (SERNA).

Activities undertaken by the Advisory Bodies

• Since the extended 44th session of the Committee (Fuzhou/Online, 2021), ICOMOS has continued to work with the State Party and the World Heritage Centre to address the longstanding inclusion on the List of World Heritage in Danger of six World Heritage properties. Following the successful initial work to prepare a DSOCR for the Ancient City of Damascus, attention has been turned to Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din and Site of Palmyra, through meetings, preparation of outline documents and review of information provided by the State Party.
• ICOMOS continues to provide technical review of major works within the Ancient City of Aleppo, the Ancient City of Damascus and at Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din, that have been referred in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
• A provisional ICOMOS National Committee in Syria was accredited at the beginning of 2022. The expected outcomes of this initiative include fostering professional relations among local heritage experts, and with international experts;
• The ICOMOS Working Group on the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Syria and Iraq continues to monitor conservation challenges and An active participation in international meetings has led to the production of new publications and web recordings. New directions include the impact of community participation, sustainability or climate change;
• ICOMOS participated in the workshop “Restoring Syrian Heritage and Reviving Communities”, organised by the Syria Trust for Development during Expo 2020 Dubai in March 2022, which resulted in the adoption of a declaration and recommendations. This was an opportunity to meet national and foreign stakeholders, as well as to better assess present needs. Recommendations were also provided in the framework of UNESCO MONDIACULT 2022 meetings on Arab Countries;
• The 6 February 2023 earthquake in Syria and Türkiye, and its subsequent aftershocks, represent a new challenge. ICOMOS issued statements and organised online Zoom expert meetings. The new ICOMOS Syria committee visited Aleppo with the UNESCO Rapid Assessment mission’s team and issued a report with recommendations. The Working Group on Syria and Iraq is trying to raise funds for equipment and urban interventions in historical cities.

It is concerning that the property continues to be inaccessible, which prevents full detailed on-site assessment of the damage and overall state of conservation of the property.

It remains essential that these assessments are undertaken in detail as soon as the security situation allows, and the measures needed for ensuring the conservation and protection of the property are identified, which would, in due course, allow for the elaboration of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and identification of an associated set of corrective measures.

46.    General Decision on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic

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

The armed conflict in Syria has affected the six World Heritage properties and has substantially limited capacities to sustain and protect their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), some of which remain threatened by ascertained and potential dangers. The earthquake of February 2023 has exacerbated the situation of some of the properties and poses an additional challenge to recovery efforts.

Illegal excavations across archaeological sites and tells in Syria have caused extensive and irreversible damage to those sites, a number of which are on Syria’s Tentative List. They are also a major source for the illicit trafficking of cultural property, providing looted artifacts to be sold in regional and international black markets.

It is recommended that the Committee commend the DGAM, heritage professionals in Syria and local communities who have made sustained efforts in monitoring and protecting cultural heritage, implementing first aid measures for its safeguarding and proceeding with restoration work for its recovery, despite the constraints. The State Party and the international community should be encouraged to include recovery actions of cultural heritage properties within the overall humanitarian, security and peace building response, and support recovery plans that promote community participation, sustainability and inclusion. In order to plan on the longer term, it is also recommended that the State Party is reminded of the importance of affording priority to overall planning for recovery through Master Plans and Management Plans, to be developed in line with the 2011 UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, and in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies will continue to support the identification of the necessary corrective measures and the development of DSOCRs, and have been successfully pursuing more flexible approaches and online engagement that have demonstrated that the preparation of DSOCRs can be progressed, despite the current circumstances and inability to schedule Reactive Monitoring missions at this time.

It is recommended that the Committee further encourage the State Party to plan for the future of the World Heritage properties according to international conservation charters and standards, in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, also taking into consideration the 2018 Warsaw Recommendation on Recovery and Reconstruction. It is also appropriate to remind the State Party of its obligation to transmit to the World Heritage Centre, for examination by the Advisory Bodies, detailed information on future projects, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, and that this obligation includes major restoration works.

It is recommended that the Committee also call for international and national heritage professionals to continue to unite for the safeguarding of Syria’s cultural heritage; and to further support its safeguarding through earmarked funds and contributions to the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund.

Taking into consideration that some of the cultural heritage sites remain under threat, it is recommended that the Committee repeat its previous call for all parties associated with the conflict in Syria to refrain from any action that could further damage the heritage of the country, in particular all World Heritage properties and sites included on the Tentative List, and to fulfil their obligations under international law, especially the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347 of March 2017, in part by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage and preventing any damage that may result from targeting World Heritage properties, and support recovery plans that are based on community participation, sustainability and inclusion.

It is also recommended that the Committee reiterate its suggestion that the State Party consider ratifying the Second Protocol (1999) of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

It is further recommended that the Committee also call upon all parties associated with the conflict in Syria and the international community, in particular the countries neighboring Syria, to ensure effective measures for the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural objects, in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2199.