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Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam

Afghanistan
Factors affecting the property in 2010*
  • Civil unrest
  • Deliberate destruction of heritage
  • Illegal activities
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:

    Inclination of the Minaret

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Political instability
  • Inclination of the Minaret
  • Lack of management plan
  • Illicit excavations and looting
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Lack of legal protection
  • Lack of an effective monuments protection agency
  • Lack of adequate protection and conservation personnel
  • Lack of a comprehensive management plan
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

a) Increased capacity of the staff of the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture in charge of the preservation of the property ensured;

b) Precisely identified World Heritage property and clearly marked boundaries and buffer zones;

c) Long-term stability and conservation of the Minaret of Jam ensured;

d) Site security ensured;

e) A comprehensive management system including a long-term conservation policy developed and implemented.

Corrective Measures for the property

a) Development of adequate capacity of the staff of the Ministry of Information and Culture by developing and implementing an adequate training programme in conservation and management;

b) Precise identification of the World Heritage property and clearly marked boundaries and buffer zones by:

(i) Undertaking topographic and archaeological surface surveys and re- defining the property and buffer zones, as well as identifying zones affected by illicit excavations;

(ii) Marking of the property as "World Heritage protected area";

(iii) Officially revising the boundaries of the World Heritage property according to the results of the relevant surveys in order to complement the already identified Outstanding Universal Value;

c) Long-term consolidation and conservation of the Minaret and the archaeological remains by:

(i) Completing the documentation and recording of the Minaret and the archaeological remains;

(ii) Undertaking soil investigation in the vicinity of the monument in order to obtain information on the cause of the inclination of the Minaret and to define the long-term consolidation measures;

(iii) Regular and systematic monitoring of the Minaret's inclination;

(iv) Establishing a full inventory of decoration including digitalization and reference system for all eight sides of the base of the Minaret;

(v) Implementing emergency restoration of the surface decoration of the Minaret.

d) Ensuring site security by:

(i) Exerting strict control of illicit excavations and protecting the site against looting, notably through hiring of an adequate number of trained site guards;

(ii) Implementing measures for enforcing the 2004 Preservation Law for Cultural and Historical Monuments.

e) Development and implementation of a management system by undertaking appropriate training for the staff of the Ministry of Information and Culture in charge of the property.

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
A minimum of four years has been agreedin 2007, i.e. by 2011.
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2010

Total amount provided to the property: USD 845,000 provided by the Government of Italy and USD 138,000 by the Government of Switzerland. 

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2010
Requests approved: 1 (from 2002-2002)
Total amount approved : 20,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2010**

Although there has been no reactive monitoring mission as such, several UNESCO expert missions were sent every year from 2002 to 2006 in order to implement the operational project for the property. However, since 2007 no UNESCO expert mission has been carried out to the property, due to the deteriorated situation and UN Security restrictions.  

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2010

By 26 April 2010, the State Party had not submitted a progress report on the implementation of the corrective measures, nor a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value including the conditions of integrity and authenticity, as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session (Decision 33 COM 7A.20).

No World Heritage Centre mission could be dispatched to the property during 2009 to further the UNESCO/Italy FIT Project for emergency consolidation of the monuments in Herat and Jam. The World Heritage Centre also understands that no in-situ conservation work was undertaken during 2009. This was due to the deteriorating security situation.

Nevertheless, some information on the state of conservation of the property has been provided to the World Heritage Centre by the UNESCO Kabul Office, and by Afghan Ministry of Culture officials, during the Expert Working Group meeting on Bamiyan, held on 25 and 26 March 2010 in Munich, Germany.

With regard to some corrective measures previously identified by the World Heritage Committee, the following progress has been noted:

a) Identification of the property’s boundaries and buffer zone

Due to security restrictions, no international expert could visit the property. For this reason, the World Heritage Centre identified a local NGO, the Afghan Land Consulting Organization (ALCO) based in Kabul, which would be able to carry out activities in Jam. Accompanied by two Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC) officials, ALCO will undertake a mission to the site in order to carry out a topographic and archaeological survey. Financed through a UNESCO/Swiss Funds-in-Trust arrangement, this mission aims to clearly determine the boundaries of the property, and create full 3-dimensional documentation of the Minaret.

b) Long term consolidation and conservation of the Minaret, site security and increased capacity of the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture staff

According to the UNESCO Kabul Office, the Ministry of Culture and Information of Afghanistan has provided guards to protect the site from looting.

Discussions in Munich with the Deputy Minister of Culture and senior Afghan officials led to the elaboration of a revised work-plan under the UNESCO/Italy Funds-in-Trust arrangement. Following approval of this revised plan by the Italian government on 16 April 2010, the World Heritage Centre is planning to carry out the following activities during 2010:

i) geophysical investigation of the Minaret foundations;

ii) completion of the river defence wall by constructing a diaphragm under the retaining wall along the two rivers in order to prevent erosion and underwater currents from undermining the Minaret;

iii) Some conservation work on the Minaret, including replacement of internal wooden elements;

iv) Training MoIC site guards and staff to reinforce on-site security;

v) Training of Afghan MoIC experts/officials on the use of measuring equipment so that they can independently carry out future inclination monitoring on the Minaret. 

The World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies note the measures taken by the State Party to provide site guards to prevent looting, in addition to the continued technical and financial support, and commitment of the international community, to achieve the desired state of conservation of Jam. They regret that no state of conservation report, nor Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, has been submitted; the absence of a proper site management system; and the lack of capacity within the Ministry of Culture and Information of Afghanistan. The World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies consider that the completion of a topographic and archaeological survey is essential to properly plan for, and implement, an effective conservation strategy for the property. This should not be limited to the Minaret. The survey should also include the important ancient settlement, the precise extent and remains of which has yet to be defined. The implementation of the proposed activities, together with planned training initiatives in the ongoing project programme for Bamiyan, will contribute considerably to building staff capacity in the Ministry of Culture and Information. The World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies will provide assistance to the State Party in the preparation of the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value within the framework of the upcoming Periodic Reporting for the Asia Pacific region.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2010
34 COM 7A.22
Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan) (C 211 rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decisions 32 COM 7A.20 and 33 COM 7A.20 adopted at its 32nd (Quebec City, 2008), and 33rd (Seville, 2009) sessions respectively,

3. Regrets that the State Party has not submitted a state of conservation report, as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009);

4. Notes the State Party's efforts to safeguard the property in extremely difficult circumstances by placing guards at the site, in addition to the commitment of the international community towards reaching the Desired State of Conservation for the property;

5. Reiterates its request to the State Party to continue its efforts towards the implementation of the corrective measures adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);

6. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, including the conditions of integrity and authenticity, for examination by the World Heritage Committee;

7. Calls upon the international community, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre, to continue its technical and financial support with the aim of implementing the agreed corrective measures and, particularly, the priorities identified in the recommendations of the June 2008 Expert Group Rome meeting including national capacity building;

8. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2011, a progress report on the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011;

9. Decides to retain the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

34 COM 8C.2
Establishment of the World Heritage List in Danger (Retained Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Following the examination of the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-10/34.COM/7A, WHC-10/34.COM/7A.Add and WHC-10/34.COM/7A.Add.2),

2. Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 34 COM 7A.22)
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 34 COM 7A.23)
  • Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 34 COM 7A.13)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 34 COM 7A.1)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 34 COM 7A.29)
  • Colombia, Los Katios National Park (Decision 34 COM 7A.14)
  • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 34 COM 7A.2)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 34 COM 7A.3)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Virunga National Park (Decision 34 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 34 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Garamba National Park (Decision 34 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Salonga National Park (Decision 34 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 34 COM 7A.8)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 34 COM 7A.17)
  • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 34 COM 7A.9)
  • Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 34 COM 7A.27)
  • India, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Decision 34 COM 7A.12)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 34 COM 7A.18)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 34 COM 7A.19)
  • Islamic Republic of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Decision 34 COM 7A.24)
  • Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 34 COM 7A.20)
  • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 34 COM 7A.10)
  • Pakistan, Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Decision 34 COM 7A.25)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 34 COM 7A.30)
  • Philippines, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Decision 34 COM 7A.26)
  • Senegal, Niokolo Koba National Park (Decision 34 COM 7A.11)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 34 COM 7A.28)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (Decision 34 COM 7A.16)
  • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 34 COM 7A.31)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 34 COM 7A.21)
Draft Decision: 34 COM 7A.22

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decisions 32 COM 7A.20 and 33 COM 7A.20 adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008), and 33rd session (Seville, 2009) respectively,

3. Regrets that the State Party has not submitted a state of conservation report, as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session;

4. Notes the State Party’s efforts to safeguard the property in extremely difficult circumstances by placing guards at the site, in addition to the commitment of the international community towards reaching the Desired state of conservation for the property;

5. Reiterates its request to the State Party to continue its efforts towards the implementation of the corrective measures adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);

6. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, including the conditions of integrity and authenticity, for examination by the World Heritage Committee;

7. Calls upon the international community, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre, to continue its technical and financial support with the aim of implementing the agreed corrective measures and, particularly, the priorities identified in the recommendations of the June 2008 Expert Group Rome meeting, including national capacity building;

8. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2011, a progress report on the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011;

9. Decides to retain the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Report year: 2010
Afghanistan
Date of Inscription: 2002
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)
Danger List (dates): 2002-present
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 34COM (2010)
Exports

* : 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.


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