Overview

Click here to view the Iraq Cultural Heritage Project Bruchure (2.5mb PDF)

Based on preliminary Master Conservation Plans (MCPs) developed for Iraq’s primary archaeological and heritage sites during the GHF Iraq Heritage Congress held June 15-22nd, 2004 in Petra Jordan, Global Heritage Fund and the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities have signed a four-year partnership to complete Master Conservation Plans for Iraq’s most important and endangered archaeological and heritage sites. Based on approved priorities established in the Master Conservation Plans, GHF and the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities will implement emergency conservation for the first sites identified for intervention- Ctesiphon, Samarra, Ashur, Hatra and Ur.

This five-stage Iraq Heritage Conservation Program will provide critical expertise, training, technology and applications, structured Master Conservation Planning and immediate intervention to save many of Iraq’s most important and endangered archaeological and world heritage sites.

Right: Artillery damage to the sacred Sumerian ziggurat at Ur from the Iraq War. Left: Collapsing Royal Tombs at Ur due to poor drainage and lack of site conservation over the previous twenty years.

Global Heritage Fund and the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities have signed a multi-year partnership to work together in master conservation planning and capacity-building for site inspectors, regional directors and their staff. Based on the completion and approvals of the highest-priority site management plans, GHF will provide expertise and funding for critical model site conservation developing a world-class conservation toolkit of applications and technology for conservation of major archaeological sites with high potential for tourism in Iraq.

The Iraq Heritage Conservation Program will be supported by a dedicated Board of Directors and Technical Expert Committee with the technical support of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, led by Dr. McGuire Gibson and Dr. Mark Altaweel, leading experts in Iraq archaeology. This program will also benefit from the expertise and guidance of GHF’s distinguished Advisory Board. Global Heritage Fund seeks to raise funds in 2006-2007 for critical planning, conservation training, and emergency site intervention.

Above: The ancient city of Hatra, Iraq’s only UNESCO World Heritage site over the past thirty years has seen little conservation funding, structured planning or restoration science in the past decades, leaving the site to deteriorate from nature and neglect. Considered to the first capital of the independent “Kingdom of the Arabs”, Hatra has potential to be one of Iraq’s premier tourism destinations.

The Opportunity – Saving Mankind’s Cradles of Civilization
While taking immediate action is needed to save the most endangered archaeological sites in Iraq, long-term cultural tourism promises to be the second largest industry in Iraq after the oil industry. Iraq has the potential to be the #2 cultural tourism destination in the Middle East and Africa after Egypt within the next ten years.

By helping to jump-start conservation and cultural tourism in Iraq, GHF will provide an important economic impetus for the nation and its people, especially within the communities and regions around Iraq’s most famous heritage sites, as well as accelerating human relations and educational exchange between Iraq and other countries and peoples.

The Master Conservation Planning undertaken at the Iraq Heritage Congress and by the GHF Iraq Heritage Conservation Program places particular importance of existing and potential tourism infrastructure (airports, rail, roads, hotels, towns and nature sites), as well as other heritage sites in close proximity to ‘anchor’ sites selected by the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities, and integration and support for communities involved in protection and sustainable development of Iraq’s most important sites.

Above: Main Temple of Iraq’s only designated World Heritage Site- Hatra.

Leveraging Iraq’s Rich Heritage and Economy
Unlike many other countries where Global Heritage Fund works in planning, training, advocacy and conservation, Iraq possesses strong financial resources and a long prestigious history for archaeological conservation and research. While lacking expertise and modern site management planning tools, Global Heritage Fund believes that a four-year program of rigorous planning, training, technology and model site conservation can rapidly bring the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities to international levels of excellence on par with English Heritage and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Above: Iraq Heritage Congress held in Petra Archaeology Park in Jordan provided a week-long workshop to development Master Conservation Plans for five of Iraq’s most endangered archaeological and world heritage sites.

Iraq Heritage Congress June 15-22nd, 2004 - Beginning a Structured Framework and Process for Iraq Heritage Conservation

On June 12-22nd, 2004, Global Heritage Fund (GHF) and The World Bank co-sponsored the Iraq Heritage Congress at Petra Archaeological Park in Jordan to begin a structured multi-year process of master conservation planning for high-priority endangered sites in Iraq. This five-stage program will provide critical acceleration of technical expertise, site management planning and conservation science for the immediate intervention to save many of Iraq’s most important and endangered archaeological and world heritage sites.

The Iraq Heritage Congress proved to be a timely and critical gathering of thirty leading archaeological regional and site directors, inspectors, architects, engineers, conservators and site museum leaders from throughout Iraq. The delegates from Iraq completed five master conservation plan outlines out of the sixteen potential world heritage sites identified as high priorities for conservation and development by the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities.

Based on the master conservation planning, prioritization and recommendations for Iraq Heritage sites developed during the Congress, Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Ministry of Culture now have a lasting framework for the development of professional site management planning and conservation of major archaeological and heritage sites in Iraq.

Global Heritage Fund’s goal over the coming two years is to work closely with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and the Ministries of Culture and Tourism to complete world-class Site Management Plans for the highest priority world heritage sites and nominations, and provide co-funding for archaeological site conservation based on the priorities established in the planning process.
As well, GHF will work in partnership with other conservation

Iraq Heritage Conservation Program Primary Archaeological and World Heritage Sites

Iraq Heritage Conservation Program 2006-2008 Planning

GHF- Iraq Heritage Conservation Program
The multi-year partnership Iraq Heritage Conservation Program will be supported by the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago for technical expertise, satellite mapping and remote sensing, training and capacity-building and integrate a five-component program of site mapping, master conservation planning, technology network and applications, model site conservation, and expertise and training with the following five objectives:

1. Iraq Heritage Site Mapping
Using systems and experts from the CAMEL Laboratory of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago led by Drs. McGuire Gibson and Mark Altaweel, detailed site maps will be developed based on high-definition satellite imagery, existing historical surveys and on-site mapping by the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities. A number of sites will also have non-intrusive geomagnetic surveys undertaken where needed for identifying underground structures and archaeological details.

3. Iraq Heritage Network - Technology and Applications
High-Speed Satellite Network connecting five (5) Site Inspector Offices, Satellite Imagery (12 Primary Sites) and 5 ESRI GIS and Autodesk CAD software licenses.

4. Emergency Site Conservation
High-priority monument conservation. GHF will support a three-year intensive conservation program at archaeological sites based on the priorities identified through the MCP process. Major restoration funding is expected to be from the Iraqi government and other international funders, with GHF funding being used only for critical problem-solving and developing world-class conservation science and models of excellence for conservation at each site.

5. Training and Capacity-Building
Organization of follow-on Iraq Heritage Congresses in Iraq in 2006 for 30-40 Site Inspectors, Regional Directors, Planners, Archaeologists, Architects and Engineers. Training in site mapping, master conservation planning, technology network and applications, model site conservation, conservation science, and international standards in conservation and archaeological excavation.

The Iraq Heritage Conservation Program will have a five-person board of directors which will manage all funding to the projects, review progress and quality assessment, audit financials with the support of professional accountants, and approve new funding for each quarter over the fiscal year. Disbursements from the Iraq Heritage Conservation Program can only be made with the agreed consent of all five participating board directors.

Global Heritage Fund will provide matching funding to the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities for all conservation, planning and training activities directly to project leaders, consultants and contractors, as well as application and equipment suppliers. All funding will be made directly to universities, non-governmental organizations and approved contractors. No funding can be made to government agencies under the Iraq Heritage Conservation Program. No board member will receive a salary or other compensation.