Site of Palmyra

Before the conflict:

• Temperature change (Serious weathering of many stone blocks due to capillary rising and variations in humidity and temperature)
• Housing (Urban growth of the neighbouring agglomeration)
• Ground transport infrastructure (International tarmac road crosses the site, heavy automobile and truck traffic inducing vibrations, pollution, and risk of accidents)
• Major linear utility (Pipeline crossing the southern necropolis)
• Localized utility (Brightly-coloured antenna on hill)
• Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure (Construction of a hotel close to the thermal springs)
• Management System/Management Plan (Lack of a management plan)

Since March 2011:

• War (Destruction due to the armed conflict since March 2011)
• Deliberate destruction of heritage (Perilous condition of the portico of the Temple of Bel and the Triumphal Arch)
• Illegal activities (illegal excavations)
• Financial resources (Lack of adequate funding for urgent conservation initiatives)

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

In progress

In progress

In progress

Total amount provided: USD 38,543 by the Flemish Government, USD 18,560 from the UNESCO Emergency Fund, USD 21,000 by the Government of the Netherlands

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/23/documents/, and include updated information on progress and challenges relating to some of the conservation issues at the property, as follows:

• Major challenges include the lack of international and financial support to implement the road map for the emergency consolidation, conservation and restoration of several archaeological monuments, the risk of further deterioration to damaged monuments due to weathering, the absence of a management structure at the site, and the fact that the population has not yet completely returned to the city of Palmyra;
• The results of the 2019 assessment of illegal pits (461 at the site) are recalled, with additional information referring to illegal excavations that have led to the discovery of several new burials that were found looted and vandalized;
• Following a first memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in March 2022, the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), the Syrian Trust for Development and the Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences signed an MoU for the second phase of the restoration of the Triumphal Arch in October 2022;
• Following the exchanges between the World Heritage Centre and the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM) regarding the creation of the international scientific task force, an international scientific committee has been formed under the responsibility of the DGAM, with a view to supporting the restoration of the property;
• Under the supervision of the DGAM, and with financial support from Russian institutions, a Syrian-Russian team began restoration work at the site of the Afqa spring, previously vandalized by extremist armed groups during the conflict. The spring is historically the reason of the prosperity and of the continuity of life in Palmyra, and its recovery would contribute to restoring the oasis and bringing back the population, including farmers, to the region;
• Rehabilitation work includes the restoration of the former museum of folk traditions and its transformation into a Visitor Center, and the restoration of the Hostel building in the sanctuary of the Temple of Bel, which will be used to accommodate experts and work teams;
• In order to encourage the return of the population, the Governorate of Homs, progressed in the rehabilitation of the city of Palmyra’s infrastructure and social, educational and health services, electricity networks, sanitation and drainage systems, roads and public spaces, etc. With support from the Red Crescent and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), two schools and 250 houses were restored. The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch funded the restoration of 50 residential buildings;
• On 28 October 2022, the DGAM submitted an International Assistance request to undertake a detailed survey of the Portico of Temple of Bel in order to define the technical requirements for its emergency consolidation;
• The preparation of a conservation management plan for the property is planned.

See General Decision 45 COM 7A.46 of this Document on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic.

It is recommended that the Committee reiterate its concerns about the high number of illicit excavations at the site, including the uncovered looted burials, as well as the risk of further damage to monuments, exacerbated by weathering and the lack of funding availability for emergency intervention and consolidation work.

The creation of an international scientific Task Force, with guidance provided by the World Heritage Centre, as well as the meetings that took place in July 2022, November 2022, and May 2023, to discuss the works undertaken to plan the restoration of the Triumphal Arch are welcome. This mechanism helps ensure that technical requirements meet international standards. A report was submitted in March 2023, providing information on the works carried out at the Triumphal Arch, demonstrating the quality of the methodology. The report provides a historical analysis of its construction and previous restorations, comprehensive archaeological studies focusing on its foundation and the archaeological fragments discovered during the excavations, which clarify the Arch’s structural stability. The report also presents a thorough analysis of material condition, 3D-modelling of the structure before and after its destruction as well as in relation to its hypothetical initial stage of construction, in addition to a reconstruction approach that would give priority to maintaining authenticity. The parts of the Arch that are at risk of collapse have been dismantled. In June 2023, the restoration project was submitted by the State Party for technical review by the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.

Plans to implement a first stage of consolidation of the portico of the Temple of Bel are also welcome, as is the proposed preparation of a conservation management plan for the property. These activities were among the main recommendations of the December 2019 UNESCO technical meeting on the recovery of the site.

The State Party is encouraged to continue transmitting to the World Heritage Centre, for examination by the Advisory Bodies, detailed information on any major project within the boundaries of the property or its buffer zone, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines. The interventions undertaken at the site of the Afqa spring, the Visitor Center, and the Hostel building, in addition to infrastructure works, are welcome, as they contribute to the revival of the site, including through the recovery of the oasis. These activities will encourage the return of inhabitants and allow for the accommodation of experts and work teams at the site, which will highly facilitate the implementation of restoration and recovery work.

Work on the elaboration of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) has been initiated remotely through collaboration between the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS, ICCROM and the DGAM. A preliminary technical meeting occurred in December 2021, with further meetings planned for 2023, and substantial follow up is proposed including preparation of documents, specification of the DSOCR and identification of a programme of related corrective measures, consistent with the process and intent of the Operational Guidelines. This process should enable the DSOCR to be presented at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee.

Given the challenges facing the property and the interest of the international community, it is highly desirable that the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission take place as soon as the situation allows, to enable a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property.