Arslantepe Mound

• Management: preparation of a conservation strategy and plan, extension of the management plan, strengthening of local management capacity, monitoring and risk and disaster management processes, clarification of extent of archaeological features and buffer zone delineation
• Reconsidering the design of the proposed new roof shelter

N/A

On 1 February 2024, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, an executive summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1622/documents/. Progress on a number of conservation issues raised by the Committee at the time of inscription of the property in 2021 (Decision 44 COM 8B.22) and its subsequent decision in 2023 (45 COM 7B.202) is presented in this report as follows:

• A detailed Conservation Protocol was prepared by the excavation team in December 2022 and submitted to the World Heritage Centre on 14 November 2023;
• Pending the preparation of a Risk Preparedness Plan, several related actions have been undertaken such as the protection of excavation profiles, the control of roof water drainage systems, the excavation of areas to the east of the palatial complex, the restoration, consolidation and monitoring of all monumental areas, and the restoration and reinforcement of the dig-house;
• The current Management Plan will be revised to include a full Conservation Plan, a Risk Preparedness Plan and a tourism management programme;
• While the new roof project is under review, some maintenance and repair work has been carried out on the current permanent protective roof and temporary protective roof covers;
• The northern slope of the mound (buffer zone) was surveyed to determine the exact extent of the archaeological remains by surface sampling and geoelectrical survey. The findings strengthen the possibility of the existence of a ‘lower settlement’. The geophysical survey started in 2022, continued in 2023 using electrical resistivity tomography, and archaeological and archaeometallurgical analysis were initiated;
• In excavated areas, all finds are covered with geotextiles and soil. A temporary roofing system protects the part of the palace complex discovered since 2011 and the Neo-Hittite fortification wall. The only unsheltered areas are those where excavations are underway;
• A Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) was submitted to the World Heritage Centre on 14 November 2023 for a visitor centre project planned 100 metres south of the property in the buffer zone. This project does not include any social facilities;
• Following the earthquakes on 7 and 23 February 2023, the damage to the palatial complex is limited and the most important and famous parts are in the same condition as before. A small part of the western wall of room A206 collapsed and requires conservation work, and a section of the wall along the palace corridor collapsed, exposing the original wall. The permanent protective roof successfully withstood the stress of the earthquakes, but revealed the need for minor repairs, and its movement had consequences for the water drainage system. The temporary roof was severely damaged without causing any damage to the archaeological fabric. Emergency interventions were carried out. Excavation profiles, the Neo-Hittite fortification wall and the excavation house were damaged and some parts have already been repaired;
• Restoration and conservation work began in August 2023 on the paintings and wall decorations, repairing and strengthening damaged walls and cleaning plastered walls. Restoration of the Neo-Hittite fortifications has begun and will continue throughout 2024.

Progress has been made on some of the recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription and in its Decision 45 COM 7B.202, in particular the submission of a revised project design for the extension and alteration of the new roof shelter and rainwater drainage project, the HIA of the proposed visitor centre, and the Conservation Protocol which addresses some of the Committee’s requests. However, some of the Committee’s recommendations have not yet been fully developed.

With regard to the Conservation Protocol, as it was prepared in December 2022, it does not address the Committee’s requests in 2023 (Decision 45 COM 7B.202). For example, it does not include “a cautious strategy for anticipated research and excavations, that determines protocols, priorities and procedures for all forms of conservation, excavation and maintenance interventions needed in the property”, nor does it identify priority actions, a description of the scale of the problems encountered and the manpower and skills required to address conservation needs on an annual basis. Based on the recommendations of the ICOMOS Technical Review, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to revise the Conservation Protocol into a Conservation Plan to address all the requirements of the Committee Decision 45 COM 7B.202 by undertaking a risk assessment and developing a Risk Preparedness Plan, preparing a cautious strategy for anticipated research and excavations, defining the location and extent of archaeological deposits on the property, particularly to the north and west, and assessing the state of conservation of previously archaeologically excavated areas that remain unsheltered.

The current Management Plan is in need of revision as its 5-year term (2019-2024) has expired and its revision has not yet been initiated. The Committee may wish to recommend to the State Party to initiate the revision process in a timely manner, with specific reference to the Conservation Plan and strategy, the Risk Preparedness Plan and the Visitor Management Plan.

The extensive technical information provided by the State Party on the new roof shelter is welcomed and reviewed. The roof will extend and almost double the size of the permanent roof structure, with associated electrical and rainwater drainage installations. Notwithstanding the undoubtedly careful and detailed design of the structure, the choice of the location of each of the 25 columns and their foundation pads, and the experience gained in 2011 with the installation of the current permanent shelter, the Committee may wish to recommend to the State Party that a technical archaeological impact assessment report be prepared on the proposed interventions, providing details on all aspects of construction operations, including the working circulation of personnel and materials, and detailing the nature and location of rainwater gutters, pipes and surface water drains on the mound and how these will be linked to the new drainage channel.

In relation to the Cultural HIA of the Welcoming Centre submitted to the World Heritage Centre and reviewed by ICOMOS, it is welcomed that the building has been carefully designed and will serve its purpose while having a minimal impact on the property. However, the report does not discuss the relationship of this new Centre to the Malatya Museum and the management of the increasing numbers of visitors. It is therefore recommended that the Committee requests the State Party to prepare a Visitor Management Plan with respect to visitor access, circulation and management at the property, and to clarify the exact number and type of facilities, and to revise the Cultural HIA accordingly or provide an additional one to address the additional aspects of future developments that may not be included at present.

The survey work to determine the exact extent of the archaeological remains has strengthened the possibility of a ‘lower settlement’ at Arslantepe and is welcomed. The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party continue to undertake survey work to further detail and analyse the extent of the archaeological findings, in particular to the north and west of the property, and to submit a report on the results of such investigations to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies.

The detailed information provided by the State Party on the impact and damage of the earthquake of February 2023 on the property, as well as details of the repair work undertaken, is welcomed. The Committee may wish to reiterate its invitation to the State Party to avail itself of the Convention’s assistance mechanisms to support further repair works to the property.