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State of Conservation Joya de Cerén ... 2003

Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site

El Salvador
Factors affecting the property in 2003*
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Need for a Management Plan
  • Heavy rains and storms causing serious flooding in 1998 (issue resolved)
  • Earthquakes in 2001 (issue resolved)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2003
Requests approved: 8 (from 1992-2002)
Total amount approved : 160,000 USD
2002 Emergency measures and clean-up activities at Joya de ... (Approved)   50,000 USD
2000 "Image and Communication" for the archaeological site ... (Approved)   5,000 USD
1998 Urgent works at the archaeological site of Joya de ... (Approved)   35,000 USD
1996 Additional amount for an international seminar on the ... (Approved)   10,000 USD
1996 Urgent evaluation of the damages caused by the excess ... (Approved)   20,000 USD
1995 C, Séminaire Joya de Ceren (Approved)  
1994 Workshop to define an integral development plan for ... (Approved)   25,000 USD
1992 Mission to prepare the nomination file of Joya de Ceren (Approved)   15,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2003**
1999 Report on the ICOMOS Expert Mission to Central America following the passage of Hurricane Mitch
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003

The Secretariat has received the Management Plan for the site. Concultura has been working since 1997 on that Management Plan, according to guidelines and criteria elaborated at the international seminar organized by the Secretariat in 1997. Since 1999, and in the framework of the Mundo Maya initiative, the Getty Conservation Institute assisted in the process of the elaboration of the site’s Management Plan, as it can be a reference for complex archaeological sites in the region. The site was covered by the ashes of the Volcano Caldera in 600 A.C. and was discovered in 1979. The conservation conditions of the archaeological site are exceptional and they provide a rare insight into the daily life of the Central American agricultural communities of that period.

The Management Plan is a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral tool for the development of archaeological research and applied conservation. Over the last two years, the site registered samples from ceramics, earthen structures and organic materials giving parameters to identify the potential damage factors as well as providing indicators to evaluate environmental impacts. Paleo-botanic, paleo-magnetic and geophysical, geological analyses are being carried out. The results have been most successful. The Management Plan aims at developing a national policy for professional archaeological heritage management, and should guarantee the transfer of know-how to other archaeological sites in the country as well as the continuity of the process at local and national level. It covers a wide range of activities from the technical and very sophisticated analyses for conservation to community participation programmes. 

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003
27 COM 7B.91
Joya de Ceren Archaeological Site (El Salvador)

The World Heritage Committee [55],

1. Takes note of the finalization of the management plan;

2. Congratulates the State Party for its concerted efforts in completing the Plan;

3. and Expresses its appreciation to the Getty Conservation Institute for its important contribution in this field;

4. Recognizes, because of the vulnerable nature of the property, the need to reinforce the property as a research laboratory in archaeology and conservation, that can also be useful for the sub-region;

5. Invites the State Party to reinforce the on-site staff and to set up a coordination committee with the relevant national authorities for the plan's implementation;

6. Invites the State Party to request International Assistance in order to improve the conditions of the water canalizations and avoid further structural damage.

[55]  Decision adopted without discussion.

Read more

Draft Decision: 27 COM 7 (b) 91

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Takes note of the finalization of the Management Plan,

2. Congratulates the State Party for its concerted efforts in completing the Plan, and thanks the Getty Conservation Institute for its important contribution in this field,

3. Recognizes, because of the vulnerable nature of the site, the need to reinforce the site as a research laboratory in archaeology and conservation, which can also be useful for the sub-region,

4. Invites the State Party to reinforce the on-site staff and to set up a coordination committee with the relevant national authorities for the plan’s implementation,

5. Invites the State Party to request International Assistance in order to improve the conditions of the water canalizations and avoid further structural damage. 

Previous 2001
Report year: 2003
El Salvador
Date of Inscription: 1993
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(iv)
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC.03/27.COM/7B
arrow_circle_right 27COM (2003)
Exports
Previous 2001

* : 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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