World Cultural Heritage

The Registry of Intramuros Cultural and Historical (RICH) Properties is a comprehensive database on heritage and noteworthy sites, monuments, and conforming new structures within the historic district of Intramuros, Manila. The Registry was specifically established with the purpose of aiding the Intramuros Administration, its Technical Committee on Architecture and its Planning and Management Division in matters related to planning and policy implementation, by serving as a comprehensive survey and reference material on the historical and cultural landscape of Intramuros.

Iraq is the cradle of modern civilization, the land of ancient Mesopotamia, and thus unparalleled in its wealth of heritage sites. For years, with its strong Antiquities Law and its professional State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, Iraq protected its antiquities successfully. But since the beginning of the 1990s, many archaeological sites have been
looted.
Following the Second Gulf War (2003) the Polish government has attempted to assist Iraq. Since November 2003 the Polish Ministry of Culture has been delegating archaeologists for purposes of documentation, intervention and protection of the archaeological monuments located in the central southern part of Iraq, the core land of ancient Babylonia and Sumer. In close cooperation with Iraqi archaeologists, twenty-four projects valued at US$680,000 have been implemented between January 2004 and April 2005, involving aerial and ground reconnaissance and salvage recording of the most threatened archaeological sites. The Polish team has also conducted education and awareness training of the Coalition forces detachments to promote respect for heritage.

The Iraqi cultural heritage has been seriously afflicted for many years. Under a strong-arm régime of Saddam Hussein monuments were used for political purposes (e.g. propaganda programmes of reconstruction carried out at Babylon or Niniveh). On the other hand mighty armed conflicts with neighbouring countries lasting incessantly for over 25 years also posed threats.
After the Second Gulf War (2003) the Polish government has made an attempt to assist Iraq with protection of archaeological heritage of central south part of the country. The paper deals with fundamental questions of the scope of an archaeologist’s work during an open armed conflict. What kind of strategies should be developed for protection of cultural heritage? How effective can be the activity of a specialist in protection of cultural heritage in such extreme conditions? How to settle the relations with local authorities responsible for monuments? Have the key objectives of the Hague Convention performed well or failed in Iraq?

THE SPECIFICITY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TASKS TO PROTECT THE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN ARMED CONFLICTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MISSION OF THE POLISH MILITARY CONTINGENT IN IRAQ (2003-2008)
The central-southern part of Iraq is a special and invaluable area of Mesopotamian heritage. The Multinational Division Central-South (MND CS) under Polish command operated in five central and southern governorates. It was partially prepared to protect archaeological and architectural treasures of ancient Babylonia and the northern part of Sumer. Since the beginning of the 1990s hundreds of archaeological site have been looted by well-organized and armed groups of robbers. This consistent and methodical plunder could not have been prevented by either the coalition troops entering Iraq or the local antiquity service.
Since October 2003 till 2008, eleven Polish archaeologists were acting within a frame of the Polish Military Contingent in Iraq. They were delegated by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage for documentation, intervention and protection of archeological monuments located within the MND CS area of responsibility.
An aerial and ground reconnaissance and salvage recording of the state of preservation archeological heritage encompassed dozens of sites. In November 2004 three archaeologists elaborated a wealthy documented report on that time condition of the central part of the Babylon archaeological site, including historical buildings and monuments. This part was of the site had been used by the military as Camp Alpha (2003-2004). Initial condition assessment of the cultural heritage status in Qadisiyyah governorate was carried out at the beginning of 2005.
The protective barbed wire fences were installed around the most important archeological sites (Tell Uhaimir - Tell Ingharra, Tell Nuffar, Tell es-Sadum). Watchtowers were set at Birs Nimrud. Protective fences were installed around the most important monuments at the Babylon site  together with a system of cameras.
The archaeologists co-operated and supported the regional branches of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in Babil, Najaf, Qadisiyyah and Wasit governorates (refurbishment of museums and offices; delivery of cars, computer equipment). Every cultural heritage project was consulted and agreed with Iraqi regional authorities responsible for monuments.
Recreated in 2004 the Facility Protection Service (FPS or “Archaeological Police”) was equipped with basic equipment including uniforms, bullet proof vests, helmets, radios, metal detector. Shooting training was also provided by the MND CS staff. The FPS stations were created (building at Tell Nuffar; containers at Birs Nimrud, Tell es-Sadum) or repaired (Babylon).
The archaeologists delivered to the MND CS detachments awareness training on legal issues on protection of cultural heritage and the history of Iraq. Prepared leaflets on Babylon’s monuments were distributed. Military presence at the heart of such priceless ancient settlements like Babylon and Kish influenced heavily their state of preservation.

Поради непрекъснато нарастващата необходимост от създаване на възможности за рекреационно използване на манастирските комплекси, един от основните принципи на днешната туристическа политика е да се осигуряват условия за отдих в тях или околностите им. Организирането на отдиха в манастирите винаги е съпътствано от редица териториално-устройствени, градоустройствени, архитектурни,  екологични и разбира се културологични проблеми. Именно това определя безспорната  актуалност на изследването в практико-приложен аспект.
          От друга страна слабо проучената пространствена организация на манастирските дворове и липсата на модел за описанието и оценката им,  определя актуалността на изследването в теоретичен аспект.
        Това налага разработването на модел за описание и оценка на манастирските дворове, който би подпомогнал тяхната реставрация, консервация и социализация в контекста на устойчивото развитие, характеризиращо се със своите три основни аспекта: екологичен, социален и икономически.
        В настоящият дисертационен труд са разработени и експериментално приложени върху три различни по характер примерни обекта, модел за оценка на рекреационния потенциал и матрица за формулиране на стратегии за стопанисване и развитие на българските манастирски комплекси, като тези инструменти, ще подпомогнат в значителна степен планирането на устройствени мероприятия, съобразно конкретиката на средата, и ще създадът необходимите условия за бъдещо устойчиво развитие на тези обекти.

The State Enterprise Atelier for Conservation of Cultural Property, known under the acronym PP PKZ (stands for Przedsiębiorstwo Państwowe Pracownie Konserwacji Zabytków), was founded according to the Ruling of the Polish Ministry of Culture and Art of 25 Aug 1950. Professor Jan Zachwatowicz, one of the pillars of Poland’s post-war conservation, was the moving spirit of the PP PKZ creation. As the company grew and consolidated, it gained a many-sided skill in every field of conservation, restoration, and preventive activities. The structure of this biggest Polish specialist company encompassed qualified professionals in 52 fields of conservation. The idea of an enterprise undertaking multidirectional conservation duties was a turning-point and a challenge on a world-wide scale. From the beginning the PP PKZ practised an interdisciplinary approach, combining scientific examinations and research with artistic conservation and implementation of new technologies.
Foreign activity of the company included complex conservation projects as well as conservation of works of art and artistic handcrafts. Since 1968 until the late 1990s, employees of the PP PKZ carried out several hundred heritage conservation projects in over 30 countries in Europe (Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Russia), Africa, Asia and North and Central America. Those projects were of various scales and involved both huge urban complexes, and smaller objects but of highly architectural or historical value. More than 20 tasks were implemented on sites that are now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The PP PKZ established 12 research-conservation missions abroad aimed at saving outstanding monuments of world culture heritage. The missions operated in European countries (Belarus, North Macedonia), in North Africa (Algeria, Egypt), Asia (Cambodia, Mongolia, Vietnam), even reaching to the Caribbean (Cuba). The main idea behind the mission work was cooperation in research, design and conservation work, training both the PP PKZ personnel in specific local conditions, and local specialists.
Strong and permanent ties linked the PP PKZ with the most important foreign organisations (i.a. UNESCO) and conservation centres (i.a. Getty’s Conservation Institute, English Heritage). It was an acknowledgement of its merits in the field of preservation of cultural heritage when the company was admitted as member of the ICOMOS (Paris) and the ICCROM (Rome). The high level of implementation and an ability to co-operate with partners confirm conquered prizes, e.g. Europa Nostra Prize and the Gold Medal at International Conservation Fairs denkmal ’96 in Lipsk.

The preparation of a map is an exercise in precision in symbolic depiction and representation. It is also about presenting information in a visual and accurate manner. This is a short paper on the decisions taken in order to create a Map of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire, as part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire Culture 2000 project (2005-8) and presented in a festschrift to Zsolt Visy (Hungary).

Iraqi archaeological heritage is a unique element of the world’s cultural heritage in urgent need of protection.  Since the 1980s it has been a subject of different forms of destruction: thefts, wars, looting of sites and years of neglect. The first sign of the beginning of the rebuilding of Iraq’s antiquities service was establishing the Force for the Protection of Sites (FPS) in 2004.
Tell Nuffar, covering the remains of the religious capital of ancient Sumer - Nibru and Babylon, the legendary capital of Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar II as well as Alexander the Great, are the most extensive archeological resources of central Iraqi governorates - Al-Qādisiyyah and Babil. Both sites will also be great tourism destinations in the future.
The armed conflict 2003-2005 left its impression differently on both archaeological sites. At Tell Nuffar, robbers marked their presence in a limited way. Babylon, despite the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954), severely experienced the presence of a military base built on the basis of infrastructure harmful to monuments from the time of Saddam Hussein. The “Camp Alpha” operated here for almost a year and a half.
Undoubtedly, the relics of both Babylon and Nibru / Nippur deserve to be on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Both Mesopotamian sites, belonging to the most extensive in Iraq, with high thickness of archaeological strata, have been only partially recognized so far. Currently in Babylon, the main emphasis should be placed on rescue research to document the present state of the entire archaeological site, as well as the implementation of urgent conservation work, primarily on architectural reconstructions. Following the inspection on the site Tell Nuffar requires restoration work of the ziggurat and documentation as well as a rescue examination of parts of the site destroyed by robbers.
Captions for figures
1. Cities of ancient Mesopotamia: ● - historical place names, ▲ - contemporary place names. Computer drawing: A. Okrutniak.
2. Site of Tell Fara, remains of the Sumerian city Shuruppak, badly looted by robbers. Photo: Mirosław Olbryś, February 2005.
3. Site of Tell Jokha, remains of the Sumerian city Umma, badly looted by robbers. Photo: Mirosław Olbryś, February 2005.
4. Site of Tell Nuffar, ancient Nibru/Nippur, remains of the shrine of Enlil with a ziggurat, or stepped tower surrounded by courtyard seen from a bird’s eye view. March 2005. Author’s archive.
5. Site of Tell Nuffar, monumental relics of a ziggurat, or stepped tower, seen from the north-west. Photo: Mirosław Olbryś, March 2005.
6. Site of Tell Nuffar, remains of the North Temple. Photo: Mirosław Olbryś, March 2005.
7. Site of Tell Nuffar, looting pits dug by robbers in the western part of the site. Photo: Mirosław Olbryś, March 2005.
8. Site of Babylon, the reconstructed „Babylonian House” in the foreground and to the right the reconstructed temple dedicated to the mother-goddess Ninmah. In the background is the former palace of Saddam Hussein. February 2004. Author’s archive.
9. Site of Babylon, the reconstructed Southern Palace seen from a bird’s eye view from the north-west. Photo: Mirosław Olbryś, April 2005.
10. Site of Babylon, a fragment of the ruined Northern Palace. Photo: Mirosław Olbryś, April 2005.
11. Site of Babylon, reconstructions of the Ishtar of Agade Temple, the Nabu-sha-hari Temple and four Neo-Babylonian houses. Photo: Mirosław Olbryś, April 2005.
Photos nos. 1 - 2, 4 - 6 and 8 - 9 come from The Archives of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.

"The Archaeological Revival of Babylon Project" was set up in 1978 with the aim of protection and rendering accessible the remains of the most celebrated and largest settlement in ancient Mesopotamia. General principles of conservator's procedure were adopted.
In 1987 the completion of the first stage of the project was declared. The excavations intended to make the city lay-out more readable. Especially of value there was unearthing a temple of Nabu at the corner of temenos. There were relatively not many interventions to protect and to strengthen a matter of monuments according to the principles of conservation in the meaning of the Charter of Venice. Most of work carrying out in Babylon it is in fact reconstruction based on original foundations. Materials similar to original ones (bricks, mortar) have been used; also cement has been employed in great quantity.
The objectives of the Project of 1978 have not been fulfilled after 16 years of implementation. Conservation of the whole complex was replaced by reconstruction of several monuments (e.g. the Southern Palace, the temple of Belet-Akkade) while the others were protected in a way that causes doubts (the temple of Nabu). The lay-out of the city was cleared thanks to the uncovering of some new buildings and removing the rubble from the ones known earlier. An especially important matter is a problem of combating with a salinity and a high level of water yet nowhere solved on such large scale.
This communiqué descends from my diploma dissertation "The Archaeological Revival of Babylon Project (1978-1994) - conservator's reflections" (The Postgraduate Course on Conservation  of Urban and Architectural Monuments at the Department of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology, 1995).

This chapter discusses whether and how World Heritage properties contribute to sustainable development. It starts with analysis of the text of the World Heritage Convention, in which the relationship between heritage and development is expressed in multiple and sometimes contradictory ways. This chapter identifies three perspectives: heritage conservation opposed to development, heritage conservation as sustainability, and heritage conservation as community development. The second section identifies when and how World Heritage began to be officially associated with sustainable development. The Budapest Declaration in 2002 was a milestone, as was the 2012 request from the World Heritage Committee to prepare a draft policy on the integration of sustainable development into the framework of the World Heritage Convention. Finally, case studies of the World Heritage sites of Luang Prabang (Laos) and Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City (United Kingdom) highlight the difficulties and issues associated with implementing sustainable development on the ground.

Relicts of Mesopotamian cities like Uruk, Nippur, Asshur or Babylon constitute a basis for understanding of civilisations of the Ancient Near East and formation of the cities.  Mesopotamia is a region which has traditionally attracted the attention of eminent archeologists (e.g. Robert Koldewey). The appreciation of the significance of this cultural heritage by the Iraqi authorities was expressed in the establishment of the State Organization of Antiquities and Heritage in 1958. The Organization initiated its own research and offered foreign scholarships for young Iraqi archaeologists. Cultural heritage became an important factor for constructing cohesive national consciousness. In the 1970s, this was manifested by the commencement of conservation programs for large urban archaeological sites such as Ashur and Babylon. Relicts of Babylon have especially signifi¬cance for national identification and for development of local and international tourism.
The article discusses the history of past excavations and describes the achieved results significant for the world history of town-planning and wider comprehended culture. "The Archaeological Revival of Babylon Project" was set up with the aim of pro¬tection and ren-dering accessible remains of the most celebrated and largest settlement in ancient Mesopotamia. General principles of conservator's procedure were adopted. The promising realization, commenced in 1978, of an unprecedented and ambitious project to be carried out under Dr. Muayed Sa’id Damerji was slowed down owing to the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88). The work itself had not been interrupted, but information about its progress remains scarce.
In 1987 the completion of the first stage of the Project was declared. The excavations intended to make the city lay-out more readable. Especially of value there was unearthing a temple of Nabu at the corner of temenos. There were relatively not many interven¬tions to protect and to strengthen a matter of monuments according to the principles of conser¬vation in the meaning of the Charter of Venice. Most of work carrying out in Babylon it is in fact reconstruction based on original founda¬tions. Materials similar to original ones (bricks, mortar) have been used; also cement has been employed in great quantity.
“The Archaeological Revival of Babylon Project” has turned out to be the largest field of activity of archaeologists and architectural conservators all over the World at the end of the XXth century. Until 1994 the objectives of the Project have not been fulfilled after 16 years of implemen¬tation. Practical interventions started without elaboration of technology planned preservation work. Conservation of the whole com¬plex was replaced by reconstruction of sev-eral monuments (the Southern Palace, the temple of Belet-Akkade) while the others were protected in a way that causes doubts (the temple of Nabu). The lay-out of the city was cleared thanks to the uncovering of some new buildings and removing the rubble from the ones known earlier. An especially important matter is a problem of com¬bating with sa¬linity and a high level of water yet nowhere solved on such large scale.
In the opinion of the author, centres of archaeology and archaeological conservation throughout the world should offer their knowledge and experience to the Iraqi scholars who face numerous problems connected with the local climate, size of the area, historical substance material and, in particular, the struggle against salinity, nowhere solved upon such a scale, as well as the hydrogeology of the region.
Monuments of Babylon have not been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List although this is not to say that the site in question is not a fundamental part of the human legacy. It also makes one wonder if the local archaeologists should solve the current conservation problems only themselves.

Textiles are valuable elements that make up Romania's cultural heritage, being unique through the production techniques, materials used and their significance for the Romanian population. Heritage textiles represent bridges between past and present , kept in collections from different types of buildings. Many of them are preserved and exposed in heritage buildings that are open for public viewing and do not benefit from internal microclimate monitoring systems. These things can have serious repercussions on the integrity and conservation status of these fragile materials. The chapter proposes to analyze the approaches used in different studies to evaluate the risks to which the historical textile collections from Romania are exposed, depending on the place and the way in which they are kept. All these approaches aim to determine the degree of conservation of the materials and their implications on the health of the people with whom they come into contact. Based on the methodology applied in the studies already published, examined in the first part of the chapter, in the second part, a case study was performed on a different sample of historical textiles from Romania. This comes to complete the sphere of knowledge in the field.