In summer 2016, the Temple of Bel, among other important archaeological monuments of the World Heritage Site of Palmyra, was intentionally destroyed.
An element of the structure of the Temple, the Portico, remained miraculously standing, testifying to the irremediable loss of this emblematic monument. Its state of conservation is deteriorating; rapid assessments show the destabilization of the structure and the fragile pilling of its constitutive stones, which has suffered from both the deflagration and destruction of the monument.
The emergency safeguarding of this structure, the thorough analysis of the available documentation, sound assessment of the damages and its consolidation, is an utmost priority.
The armed conflict in Syria started in March 2011 and has constantly escalated, leading to significant violence and degradation of humanitarian conditions.
Since the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2014, the destruction of Syria’s exceptional archaeological, urban and architectural heritage has reached a deplorably high level and has continued to seriously affect all six inscribed World Heritage properties, the twelve sites inscribed on the Tentative List, and a wide number of highly significant cultural heritage sites all over Syria. Besides the extensive collateral damage to the sites, the intentional destruction of cultural heritage in Syria reached an unprecedented degree and culminated in extensive destructions in Palmyra, and in particular of the Bel Temple.
In April 2016, a UNESCO Rapid Assessment Mission was dispatched to assess the damages and identify emergency measures at the site and at the museum. In December 2016, when Palmyra was occupied again by extremist armed groups, UNESCO organized a Technical Assistance Workshop with the staff of the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums to further examine the technical aspect of the emergency measures in Palmyra, in particular the consolidation of the Portico of the temple of Bel.
Since March 2017, the site of Palmyra is accessible again and allows for the implementation of emergency measures.
An estimated overall US$ 150,000 is needed for the implementation of this activity.
These funds will cover consultants’ fees, travel and accommodation expenses, international workshop, material and human resources for the implementation of consolidation work, communications, report production, guidance booklet presenting the project as a case study as well as translation in English/French, design and printing of the appropriate information material.
Outcomes
Beneficiaries
The project is in line with the strategy adopted by the UNESCO General Conference in November 2015, entitled “Reinforcement of UNESCO’s action for the protection of culture and the promotion of cultural pluralism in the event of armed conflict” on how to strengthen UNESCO’s response, including through specific suggestions for priority activities. It is complementary to the project Emergency Safeguarding of Syrian Cultural Heritage, funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Governments of Flanders and Austria.
The project contributes to the operational response proposed in the UNESCO Emergency Safeguarding Action Plan for Syria’s Cultural Heritage adopted at the High Level meeting that UNESCO organized on 29 August 2013 in order to halt the on-going loss of cultural heritage and prepare post-conflict priority actions.
The project implements the World Heritage Committee Decisions, in particular Decisions 41 COM 7A.21, 41 COM 7A.22 (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016), requesting the State Party to limit interventions at the site of Palmyra to minimal first-aid interventions and to undertake preventive measures through detailed studies and extensive field work in consultation with the international scientific community in order to define optimal approaches.
It is under the responsibility of the international community to mobilize to avoid further damage to this emblematic remain of the Temple of Bel, which potential collapse would add to despairing intentional destruction of the Temple.
A communication & visibility plan will be developed in consultation with the donor(s) and will include (but not limited to) the options below:
Visibility material |
Placement / Event |
Outreach |
Audience |
|
Article on the Homepage of WHC’s website |
Logo |
WHC website: whc.unesco.org |
Public
|
Statistics for 2016: 13,340,000 visits 9,735,000 unique visitors 41,650,000 pageviews |
Reports to the World Heritage Committee |
Logo |
World Heritage Committee session |
Public; WH Committee members, Observers, NGOs, site-managers, press |
Approx. 2.000 participants from 193 countries |
Article in the World Heritage Review |
Logo |
“World Heritage Review” Magazine and “World Heritage Information” |
Public |
Approx. 20,000 targeted subscribers |
Booklet presenting the project as a case study for future emergency activities |
Logo |
Paper publication (500 copies) Also online on WHC website: whc.unesco.org |
Public |
Targeted stakeholders (for the paper version) Web statistics for 2016: 13,340,000 visits 41,650,000 pageviews |
Youmna Tabet
Associate Project Officer
Arab States Unit
World Heritage Centre
y.tabet@unesco.org