Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe

Factors identified at the time of inscription of the property:

• Land conversion (Development and agriculture pressure)
• Mining (mining project/ associated infrastructure and increased traffic)
• Impacts of tourism/visitor/recreation
• Local conditions affecting physical fabric (Flooding, desertification and windblown sand erosion)
• Management systems / conservation plan

Total amount: USD 19,798 from the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund for the assessment of the impact of floods on cultural heritage in Sudan, in 2020; 25,000 EUR from the French Government for mitigation measures at both cultural World Heritage properties in Sudan; USD 67,510 by the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund for Urgent Safeguarding Measures for Sudanese Cultural Heritage.

On 6 November 2023, the World Heritage Centre informed the State Party that the property would be the subject of a report on its state of conservation to be presented at the 46th session of the Committee, in order to better assess the overall state of conservation in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. On 27 February 2024, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1336/documents/, and presents the following:

• The National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM) has almost halted all activities;
• The last site visits to Naqa and Musawwarat es Sufra took place in July 2023. Further information has been provided by site guards: these two sites are surrounded by landmines, and at some point had the presence of armed forces. Robbery at the archaeological mission’s house in Naqa, and evacuation of tourism police at both sites prior to combats in the area are also reported;
• In Meroe, massive displacement of population escaping from war zones, resulted in uncontrolled site visitation, posing a threat to monuments (graffiti, falling stones, etc.), and increased housing construction within the buffer zone. The earthen dyke built to protect the Royal City from flooding has degraded due to animal crossing and looting of raw material;
• All scientific missions, mainly funded by the Qatar Sudan Archaeological Project (QSAP), have been suspended. Unfinished conservation projects or recent excavations are putting the structures at risk;
• Direct impacts from severe weather conditions, such as windblown sand combined with heavy rain, have been observed through sand accumulation, surface erosion, evidence of humidity and salt deposits on stone surfaces along with an increase of vegetation on open-air sites;
• Proposals for future conservation measures are made. In Meroe, they include the removal of accumulated sand, urgent conservation works, rehabilitation of the Hinkel House as a site museum to respond to the increase in visitor numbers, backfilling of Amun Temple, fencing, reduction of the buffer zone as well as planning land use and community awareness. In Naqa, they include relocation of all artefacts stored in the mission’s house and increasing the number of site guards.

This information has also been shared during the regular meetings organised by UNESCO for the State Party and its partners to monitor the situation in Sudan during the conflict.

The ongoing instability in Sudan, which has impacted communities and all sectors of society, is of great concern, and has affected the management capabilities at the property. Several statements were issued by UNESCO, ICOMOS and ICCROM calling for the safeguarding of cultural heritage. It is recommended that the Committee call on all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from any action that could cause damage to the property.

The crisis has posed new challenges in the implementation of the recommendations of the 2019 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Advisory mission, and the UNESCO mission for the Assessment of Impact of 2020 floods on World Heritage and Archaeological Sites in Sudan. The efforts and commitment of the State Party, despite these new challenges are acknowledged.

The 2019 Advisory mission recommended the adjustment of the administrative and management structures of the property; control of development pressure; the implementation of tourism management; revision of the Royal Bath Shelter detailed documents; the backfilling of Amun Temple; the preparation of a conservation manual; the relocation of the site museum at the facility area (Meroe) and the reconsideration of the road infrastructure inside the property (Musawwarat es Sufra).

The 2020 UNESCO mission recommended the establishment of disaster risk management in line with a national flood risk management network and based on inter-institutional cooperation; the re-establishment of historical drainage systems and the evaluation of their effectiveness; and the setting up of structures to prevent damages from floods where necessary.

Sand dunes and flooding have been identified among the main decay factors. Sand dunes result from an annual cumulative process and could be held back by green belts. In 2022, within a project funded by France, NCAM removed sand at several pyramids and initiated the cultivation of a green belt. Further support to sustain the mitigation measures is needed.

The State Party has reported on proceeding with the rehabilitation of Hinkel House in Meroe as a site museum. In line with the 2019 mission recommendation regarding this project, it would be important to consider relocating the site museum project within the new entrance facility building, which would be beneficial to the commercial facilities as well as for the visitor experience. All suggestions of backfilling are welcome in the absence of maintenance, after documentation and in conformity with international standards. Workshops centred on awareness and communication are also welcome. Pressure in claiming land for settlement or farming is increasing and is creating a direct threat. In the absence of governance and sufficient protection measures, there are threats of illegal activities. Even so, this critical situation does not justify a buffer zone reduction. Adapting protective measures in full coordination with all stakeholders, should be implemented. Any proposal for boundary modification should be justified in terms of ensuring the full protection of the property and its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

In the framework of the project “Urgent Safeguarding Measures for Sudanese Cultural Heritage” funded by the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, capacity building on Crisis Response, Damage and Risk Assessment and Mitigation, and First Aid for Sudan's Heritage has been provided (two workshops), in addition to support to the monitoring of cultural heritage in Sudan.

It is recommended that the Committee continue to call upon the international community and all scientific missions involved in the property to support urgent protection and management measures through financial and technical assistance, to be implemented once security conditions permit. This may also include providing all necessary support and adequate documentation to NCAM.

The property is facing several threats and new challenges, and hence it is recommended to closely monitor the situation and to request an updated state of conservation report by 1 February 2025 for examination at the 47th session of the Committee, considering that the urgent conservation needs of this property require a broad mobilization to preserve its OUV, including the possible inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger.