Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region
Factors affecting the property in 2010*
- Flooding
- Housing
- Management systems/ management plan
- Wind
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) Deterioration as a result of exposure to difficult environmental conditions such as wind with sand and floods;
b) Urban encroachment;
c) Absence of a management plan with government commitment.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2010
Total amount approved : 68,900 USD
2005 | Elaboration of the Management Plan for Jebel Barkal and ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
2004 | Conservation of the mural paintings of Jebel Barkal and ... (Approved) | 38,900 USD |
Missions to the property until 2010**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2010
Upon a request from the World Heritage Centre, due to information received concerning threats affecting the property, the State Party submitted a detailed report on 21 March 2010 prepared by the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM), addressing the following issues:
a) Management plan
The report notes that at the time of inscription, the World Heritage Committee requested the State Party to finalise the Management plan and draw up a conservation programme with priorities, budget, appropriate staff and timelines. Such a plan was prepared with the assistance of UNESCO experts and officially endorsed in 2009 by the Sudanese authorities. However, it appears that the NCAM does not have the means to ensure the implementation of the Management plan.
b) Buffer zone
The report notes that the property has been mapped and the buffer zone established.
c) State of conservation
Gebel Barkal
(i) Mut Temple
The report notes that there is some damage, such as collapsed structures and stones, caused by natural factors and that some wall paintings are darkened by bat secretions and vandalism, whereas others are totally destroyed by water erosion. It also notes that some damage also occurred from old inadequate restorations which made use of cement. The report proposes some activities for the restoration of the paintings of the Temple, but it underlines that it requires assistance in determining the optimal actions for the collapsed structures of the Temple.
In 2005, the following activities related to the mural paintings of the Mut Temple at Gebel Barkal were undertaken under an International Assistance Request to the World Heritage Fund: (a) the detailed assessment and mapping of the state of conservation of the mural paintings; (b) the application of immediate and selected conservation actions to slow down the deterioration process; (c) the training of NCAM staff for the conservation of mural paintings; (d) the testing of conservation techniques and materials; and (e) the elaboration of a project proposal for the complete conservation of the Mut Temple, for potential donors.
(ii) The pyramids of Gebel Barkal
The State Party report notes that the damage incurred is mostly due to wind erosion, vandalism, fragile sandstone, inadequate previous excavations and restorations, and building techniques. The report notes that a preliminary study of the pyramids situated in the western part of Gebel Barkal is being carried out in order to envisage a restoration project.
Sanam
The report notes that Sanam suffers from wind erosion, and that it is protected by a fence.
El Kurru
The report notes that the mural paintings of the decorated tombs are in a relatively good state of conservation. It also mentions, however, that they are in need of cleaning and consolidation.
Zuma
The State Party report notes that the site is threatened by the passing of vehicles, people and animals.
Nuri
The State Party report indicates that Nuri is affected by the same deterioration factors as Gebel Barkal and that an agreement between NCAM, Dongola University and the University of Rome has been signed in order to establish a centre for the study and the restoration of the site. It is stressed that a great deal of research must be carried out, especially regarding the painted burial chambers and in particular after the construction of the Merowe Dam.
A UNESCO mission rapidly visited the property in November 2008 at the occasion of a mission to the site of Meroe, in the framework of the preparation of its Nomination file, a UNESCO mission rapidly visited the property in November 2008. The mission noted that it faces crucial management, conservation and protection issues. This is largely due to a lack of human and financial resources of the NCAM. Indeed, the mission clearly noted that the property was in great need of conservation and protection which ought to be coupled by the effective implementation of the Management plan. Urban encroachment from the nearby village is expanding and a major project for a tourism complex very close to the pyramids of Gebel Barkal would severely compromise the visual integrity of the property. The World Heritage Centre alerted the State Party about the risks of accepting such a project and, in a letter dated 20 January 2010, the State Party announced that the building activities had been discontinued and assured the World Heritage Centre that it would be informed of any further developments.
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are concerned by the various information received indicating the alarming state of conservation, protection and management of the property. They consider that assistance to the State Party should be provided in order to identify conservation priorities and develop a conservation plan, improve the management process and draw up a capacity building plan. In addition, the State Party should submit the mentioned buffer zone around the components of the property as a means of controlling adverse developments, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2010
34 COM 7B.63
Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (Sudan) (C 1073)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 27 COM 8C.31 adopted at its 27th session (UNESCO, 2007),
3. Recognizes the State Party's efforts to ensure the conservation and protection of the property;
4. Welcomes the decision to discontinue the building activities of the tourism complex near the pyramids of Gebel Barkal and urges the State Party to continue preventing such a project in the vicinity of the property;
5. Requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of any restoration or construction projects planned at the property prior to their implementation for examination by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre the revised and missing information related to the cartography of the property and the proposed buffer zone;
7. Encourages the State Party to submit an International Assistance Request aiming at improving the protection and conservation of the property;
8. Also urges the State Party to take all measures in order to implement the Management Plan;
9. Further requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM reactive monitoring mission to Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region to assess the state of conservation of the property and assist in drafting an action plan for its preservation;
10. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2011, a report on the implementation of the above recommendations for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011.
34 COM 8E
Adoption of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/8E,
2. Adopts the retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value, as presented in the Annex I of Documents WHC-10/34.COM/8E, WHC-10/34.COM/8E.Add and WHC-10/34.COM/8E.Add.2 for the following World Heritage properties:
- Algeria: Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad; M'Zab Valley; Djémila; Tipasa; Tassili n'Ajjer; Timgad; Kasbah of Algiers;
- Austria: Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg; Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn; Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape;
- Bulgaria: Boyana Church; Madara Rider; Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak; Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo; Rila Monastery; Ancient City of Nessebar; Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari;
- Côte d'Ivoire: Comoé National Park;
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: Okapi Wildlife Reserve;
- Denmark: Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church; Roskilde Cathedral;
- Ethiopia: SimienNational Park;
- Israel: Masada; Old City of Acre; White City of Tel-Aviv - the Modern Movement; Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev; Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba;
- Jordan: Petra; Quseir Amra; Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a);
- Lebanon: Anjar; Byblos; Baalbek; Tyre; Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz-el-Rab);
- Malawi: Lake Malawi National Park;
- Mauritania: Banc d'Arguin National Park; Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata;
- Morocco: Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou; Historic City of Meknes; Archaeological Site of Volubilis; Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador); Medina of Fez; Medina of Marrakesh; Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin); Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida);
- Niger: Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves; W National Park of Niger;
- Oman: Bahla Fort;
- Portugal: Laurisilva of Madeira;
- Senegal: Island of Gorée; Niokolo-Koba National Park;
- Seychelles: Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve;
- South Africa: Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs.
- Spain: Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville ;
- Sudan: Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region;
- Syrian Arab Republic: Ancient City of Bosra; Ancient City of Aleppo; Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din; City of Damascus; Site of Palmyra;
- Tunisia: Archaeological Site of Carthage; Amphitheatre of El Jem; Ichkeul National Park; Medina of Sousse; Kairouan; Medina of Tunis; Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis; Dougga / Thugga;
- Uganda: Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi;
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Saltaire; Dorset and East Devon Coast; Derwent Valley Mills; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Liverpool - Maritime Mercantile City; Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape.
- United Republic of Tanzania: Selous Game Reserve; Kilimanjaro National Park;
- Yemen: Historic Town of Zabid;
3. Decides that retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties in Danger will be reviewed in priority;
4. Further decides that, considering the high number of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value to be examined, the order in which they will be reviewed will follow the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting, namely:
- World Heritage properties in the Arab States;
- World Heritage properties in Africa;
- World Heritage properties in Asia and the Pacific;
- World Heritage properties in Latin America and the Caribbean;
- World Heritage properties in Europe and North America.
Draft Decision: 34 COM 7B.63
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/7B Add,
2. Recalling Decision 27 COM 8C.31 adopted at its 27th session (UNESCO, 2007),
3. Recognizes the State Party’s efforts to ensure the conservation and protection of the property;
4. Welcomes the decision to discontinue the building activities of the tourism complex near the pyramids of Gebel Barkal and urges the State Party to continue preventing such a project in the vicinity of the property;
5. Requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of any restoration or construction projects planned at the property prior to their implementation for examination by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies ;
6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre the revised and missing information related to the cartography of the property and the proposed buffer zone ;
7. Encourages the State Party to submit an International Assistance Request aiming at improving the protection and conservation of the property;
8. Also urges the State Party to take all measures in order to implement the Management Plan;
9. Further requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS / ICCROM reactive monitoring mission to Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region to assess the state of conservation of the property and assist in drafting an action plan for its preservation;
10. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2011, a report on the implementation of the above recommendations for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011.
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.