wmc 3194 catalog part 1a - world monuments fund

53

Upload: others

Post on 17-Nov-2021

1 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Temple of Khasekhemwyat Hierakonpolis

Valley of the Kings

White and Red Monasteries

Sultan Al-Muayyad Hospital

Larabanga Mosque

Thimlich OhingaCultural Landscape

Médine Fort

Benin City Earthworks

Bagamoyo Historic Town

Erbil Citadel

Nineveh and Nimrud Palaces

Bet She’arim

Petra

Enfeh

Citadel of Aleppo

Damascus Old City & Saddle Souk

Tarim

Whylly Plantation at Clifton Point

Vila de Paranapiacaba

Ruedas de Agua

National Art Schools

Piedras Negras

Falmouth Historic TownYaxchilán

San Juande Ulúa Fort

Inmaculada Concepción Chapel

San Lorenzo Castle & San Gerónimo Fort

Caral

Los Pinchudos

Historic Center of Cuzco

Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Cocharas

Oyon Valley Missionary Chapels

San Pedro de Morropé

San Esteban del Rey Missionat Acoma Pueblo

San Juan Capistrano Mission Church

Schindler Kings Road House & Studio

St. Ann & the Holy Trinity ChurchA. Conger Goodyear House

Banteay Chhmar Temple of Jayavarman VII

Great Wall of China, Beijing

Da Qin ChristianPagoda & Monastery

Shaxi Market Area

Ohel Rachel Synagogue

Anagundi Historic Settlement

Nako Temples

Maitreya Temples of Basgo

Dwarka Dheesh Mandir Temple

Osmania Women’s College

Lutyens Bungalow Zone

Omo Hada Royal Palace Complex

Tomo Port Town

George Town Historic Enclave

Kampung Cina River Frontage

Sri-Ksetra Stupas & Temples

Itum Baha Monastery

Teku Thapatali

Uch Monument Complex

Merv Archaeological Site

VoskopojëChurches

Pervomaisk Church

Mostar Historic Center

Vukovar City Center

Maritime Quarantine Larazeti

Terezin Fortress

St. Pierre Cathedral

Château de Chantilly

Bodbe Cathedral

Art Nouveau Buildings in the Republic of Georgia

Tbilisi Historic District

Carl-theodor Bridge

Palaikastro

Port of Trajan

Cinque Terre

Chains Bridge

Mnajdra Prehistoric Temples

Barbary-BosiaMonastery Complex

Wi´Slica

Karelian Petroglyphs

Church of Our Savior on the Marketplace & Rostov Veliky Historic Center

Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery

Oranienbaum State Museum

Archangelskoye State Museum

Assumption Church

Narcomfin Building

Viipuri Library

Temple of Augustus

AniKüçük Ayasofya Mosque

TepebasI District

Ancient Chersonesos

Church of Our Savior of Berestove

Brading Roman Villa

Selby Abbey

Sinclair & Girnigoe Castles

Stowe House

St. George’s Church

Greenock Sugar Warehouses

Prizren Historic DistrictDecani & Pec Monasteries

Subotica Synagogue

Historic Downtown Manhattan

2 A Critical Mission—The World Monuments WatchMarilyn Perry and Bonnie Burnham

6 Why Preservation Matters to UsKenneth Chenault, CEO, American Express Company

7 Donors to the Watch

8 2002 Selection Panel

9 Acknowledgements

10 Africa and The Middle East

24 The Americas

46 Asia

64 Europe

99 Index of Sites

ancient cultures

art, architecture and engineering

sacred spaces

urban and cultural landscapes

a c

rit

ica

l m

iss

ion

3

A Critical Mission—THE WORLD MONUMENTS WATCH

As this edition of the 100 Most Endangered Sites went to press, our world was forever changedwith the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. It isheartbreaking for all of us who work in the field of conservation to realize that weapons ofdestruction are not always aimed at battleships or military installations, but at the culturalicons that bind and inspire communities around the world. Our landmarks—the MostarBridge, the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, and the World Trade Center—have become theprized targets for terrorists because they are what defines the cultures, ideals, and achieve-ments of the people who created them, who use them, who live with them.

These recent acts of violence have made our cause all the more immediate. It is a call for us to look at structures that have survived in a new light, and to take measures to ensure thatthey, too, do not become casualties of war, neglect, or natural catastrophe. We must act onbehalf of those monuments and the communities that care for them. The sites in this bookare on uncertain ground; without intervention, they may perish.

This fourth edition of the 100 Most Endangered Sites brings 63 important cultural icons intothe international spotlight because they are facing urgent and significant threats. It alsorenews the alert for 37 previously listed sites that remain at risk. In an unprecedented move,we have added to the list a 101st site—the rich urban fabric of Historic Lower Manhattan,whose future is uncertain in the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster.

Watch Listing differs from landmark designation‚ a permanent recognition established bygovernments or regulatory agencies, in that sites selected for inclusion here change with eachtwo-year cycle. Ideally, we would hope to remove each site from the list within the two years ofits inscription by targeting its key problems and devising solutions. The Watch List serves notto convey an honorific designation, but to affect change‚ to save and ensure the preservationof significant but endangered sites by bringing viable solutions to light.

Since the inception of the Watch Program in 1996, and prior to the current listing, 247 sites—many of them world-renowned, others only recently discovered—have been included in theWatch List. Of these, many are now completely out of danger; others are off the list becausethey are making steady progress.

The success of the program depends on the unwavering commitment of the many nomina-tors, who are the first to bring Watch sites to our attention. Reporting from the front lines,they gather the data about the significance of a monument, its condition, and what it will taketo preserve it for future generations. In many countries, this is a daunting task as sites areoften located in areas where preservation must be balanced with more pressing humanneeds. But, as we have learned through the Watch, investing in the heritage of even the poor-est nations can have a dramatic affect on the lives of people whose cultural icons are at risk.

2

ground zero following the destruction of the world trade center on september 11, 2001.

glen

n bo

or

na

zia

n fo

r W

MF

sit

e n

um

be

r 1

01

5

SITE NO. 101

HISTORIC LOWER MANHATTAN

NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATESA.D. 1625–present

With more than 65 landmarks in six historicdistricts, the 3.9-square-kilometer area of Lower Manhattan is arguably the most important culturalsite in the United States. Since its establishment asthe Dutch Colony of Nieuw Amsterdam in 1625, NewYork has been a focus of American life. From its begin-nings as a farming settlement and fortification NewYork became the nation’s first capital and primaryport of embarkation, and, most recently, functioned as the nerve center of the American financial world.Together, the buildings of Lower Manhattan constitutean important document that chronicles the evolutionof American architecture, and, in many ways, theUnited States itself over a 375-year period. Such well-known buildings as Trinity Church, the WoolworthBuilding, and the World Trade Center, each set theprecedent of being the tallest building of its time.

These monuments and the urban fabric that bindsthem face an uncertain future in the wake of the wan-ton and devastating destruction of the World TradeCenter on September 11, 2001, an event that took thelives of thousands of people, many of them relatives,friends, and colleagues. Beyond the extraordinary toll

on human life, the terrorist assault left historic build-ings in the immediate vicinity of the World Trade Center and beyond vulnerable. Technical assistance isurgently needed to assess the architectural integrity of surviving structures, to remove ash and pulverizedbuilding material from both interior and exterior fin-ishes, and to document the historical urban fabric toaid in any redevelopment schemes for the WorldTrade Center area. Landmark-quality buildings that arenot officially listed as landmarks are particularly at riskin the reconstruction process. It is important that his-toric preservation have a voice in the public dialogueregarding the restoration of New York, a critical stepin the healing process as the city rebuilds its sense of place.

4

A twisted girder from one of thetwin towers, above, lies amid theash and pulverized building debrisin the graveyard of St. Paul’sChurch.

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our donors, who,over the first five years of the program, have contributed some $13 million to aid 126 sites in60 countries, funds that have leveraged more than three times that in matching grants.

The Watch Program is a mainstay of WMF and a major force in international preservation. Assuch, we have the responsibility to do more, especially for those sites that have appeared onour lists but have made no progress. We are committed to our cause and, with the continuedsupport of our donors and the technical expertise of our many architects, engineers, and con-servators, will work to see that no site in need is left to perish.

Marilyn Perry

Chairman

Bonnie Burnham

President

glen

n bo

or

na

zia

n fo

r W

MF

glen

n bo

or

na

zia

n fo

r W

MF

do

no

rs

to

th

e w

at

ch

7

Donors to the WatchDonors of $50,000 and Above to the World Monuments Watch to Date

american express company

anonymous

antiqua foundation

ms. eleanor briggs

the brown foundation

the east india hotels, ltd.

mr. and mrs. ahmet ertegun

flora family foundation

mrs. joyce z. greenberg

charles evans hughes memorial foundation

grand circle foundation

international music and art foundation

ms. betty wold johnson and mr. douglas f. bushnell

the j.m kaplan fund, inc.

samuel h. kress foundation

the honorable ronald s. lauder

ms. virginia manheimer

drs. lois and georges de menil

stavros s. niarchos foundation

mr. and mrs. peter norton

the ralph e. ogden foundation

the honorable and mrs. leon b. polsky

rebuild dubrovnik fund, inc.

the search charitable foundation ltd.

mr. and mrs. bernard selz

the starr foundation

travel + leisure

trust for mutual understanding

mr. robert w. wilson

yad hanadiv

6

Why Preservation Matters to UsSix years ago, the World Monuments Fund approached American Express with an idea thatbecame the World Monuments Watch. Although we had collaborated on various initiatives inthe past, taking on a project of this magnitude was a leap of faith for both of us. Would theworld preservation community respond with nominations to the list of the 100 Most Endan-gered Sites? Would the cause resonate with our own employees as well as the general public?Would others join American Express in supporting the cause? These were all great unknowns.

Needless to say, we have been immensely gratified by the response to the Watch. Nomina-tions have come in from around the world, and each list of 100, including this newest one,has brought home the extraordinary range of the world’s endangered heritage, from the mostfamous and familiar to the unexpected and remote.

American Express employees long ago embraced the Watch and made it their own, understand-ing instinctively that these historic sites have great meaning to people and motivate travel andare therefore linked to the well being of our businesses and our communities. For five years run-ning, our sister publication Travel + Leisure has offered an advertising supplement to raise fundsfrom industry colleagues for the Watch, and American Express has complemented those effortswith a benefit golf tournament at the annual American Society of Travel Agents Congress eachyear since 1998.

To date, American Express has made 103 grants for 88 Watch sites in 49 countries. We aregratified that these grants have leveraged millions of dollars more from other sources includ-ing our colleagues in the travel industry. Most encouraging of course has been the progressthat has been made to help save listed sites.

Based on this track record, last year we extended our commitment to the Watch through2005, for a total of $10 million over 10 years. The tragic events of the recent past remind us of the power that landmarks can have as symbols, and how important it is to protect them.American Express is proud to be associated with the World Monuments Watch, and weencourage others to join us in saving individual sites and in the Watch program as a whole.

Kenneth I. Chenault

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, American Express Company

ac

kn

ow

le

dg

em

en

ts

9

AcknowledgmentsThe World Monuments Fund would like to thank all of those organizations and individualswithout whom the Watch would not be possible.

We are grateful to our trustees and international affiliates who have supported the Watch Pro-gram since its inception, and to our donors, particularly our founding sponsor AmericanExpress for their committment to our collective heritage.

In addition to the expert panel charged with the task of selecting sites included on the 2002List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites, we would like to express our gratitude to the manyscholars who carefully reviewed and evaluated the nominations before they were presented tothe Watch Panel. We would like to thank especially Gustavo Araoz, US ICOMOS; Paul Bentel,Bentel & Bentel Architects AFA; Lester Borley, Europa Nostra; Mounir Bouchenaki, UNESCO;Kathleen Weil-Garris Brandt, New York University; William Brumfield, Tulane University;Ramón Bonfil Castro, ICOMOS, Mexico; William Chapman, University of Hawaii at Manoa;Rodney M. Cook, Jr., American Urban Design Foundation; Farouk el Baz, Boston University;Oleg Grabar, Princeton University; Pinna Indorf, National University of Singapore; Joe King,ICCROM; Carol Krinski, New York University; Christian Manhart, UNESCO; Gionata Rizzi;András Román, ICOMOS, Hungary; Kristin Romey, Archaeology Magazine; Mechtild Rössler,UNESCO, Paris; Mona Serageldin, Harvard University; Ann Webster Smith, US ICOMOS;Giora Solar, ICOMOS; Gavin Stamp; Sharon Sullivan, Australian & World Heritage Group;Christopher Tadgell; Robert “Chip” Vincent, American Research Center in Egypt; Friedrich-Wil-helm von Rauch; and Phyllis Madeline Wright, Ave Maria Institute.

We would also like to acknowledge the WMF interns—Laura Anderson, David Bender, Maevede la Soudière Gerety, Craig Rowe—and our translators at the Spanish Institute—Paula Santi-ago Bentley and Vanessa Galiegue.

We are deeply indebted to Anne-Sophie Roure, Watch Program Manager; Keith Porteous,Photo Archivist; Martha Flach, Manager of Public Affairs and New Media; and the rest of ourstaff who worked hard to coordinate these efforts.

100 Most Endangered Sites 2002

EDITOR | Angela M.H. Schuster ESSAYS | Colin Amery, Bonnie Burnham,Brian Curran, Roderick

McIntosh,Marilyn Perry, John Stubbs, Olivia Stinson, Lisa Zeiger CATALOG ENTRIES | Colin

Amery, Brian Curran, Henry Ng, Kristin Romey, Angela M.H. Schuster, Lisa Zeiger

SITE UPDATES | Norma Barbacci, Holly MacCammon, Kirsten Sechler, John Stubbs, Mark Weber

MAP PREPARATION | Lou Garbayo DESIGN | Two Twelve Associates

8

2002 Selection PanelHenry Cleere was Director of the Council for British Archaeology from 1974 to 1991. Since1992, he has been a consultant to ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments and Sites),for which he serves as the advisor on cultural heritage to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. He was the moving force behind the establishment of the International Committeeon Archaeological Heritage Management and in the drafting of the 1990 ICOMOS Charter ofArchaeological Heritage Management.

Hernán Crespo-Toral, Architect, is Adjunct to the Director General for Culture, Ecuador. In1995, he was the Director of the cultural division of UNESCO. He has contributed to thepreservation and rehabilitation of numerous archaeological and historic sites and historiccenters in Ecuador.

Roderick McIntosh has been a Professor of Archaeology at Rice University, Houston, Texassince 1980. His major interests are in African and Old World comparative prehistory, intellec-tual history of prehistoric archaeology, ethnicity and specialization, urbanism, geomorphologyand palaeoclimate.

Yukio Nishimura is Professor of Urban Conservation Planning in the Department of UrbanEngineering at the University of Tokyo. Nishimura is also an executive committee member ofICOMOS, a member of the Cultural Board of the Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan and achief honorary advisor for the Council for Cultural Affairs of Taiwan.

Eduard Sekler is Professor Emeritus of Architecture and the Osgood Hooker Professor of VisualArt Emeritus at Harvard University. He is also an UNESCO consultant, member of the advi-sory commission of the Austrian Historic Monuments Office and the senior technical advisor.

Irina Subotic is Professor of Art History at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad and at the Facultyof Architecture, Belgrade. Subotic was curator of the Museum of Modern Art in Belgrade from1965 to 1979 and of the National Museum from 1979 to 1995.

Herman Van Hooff has been Chief of Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean for theUNESCO World Heritage Center since 1993. He previously served as advisor on the rehabili-tation of housing and urban areas in Amsterdam and an architectural expert at the MunicipalOffice for the Conservation.

Tim Whalen, Director of the Getty Conservation Institute, first joined the Getty in 1983, asassistant director for administration at the Getty Center for the History of Art and the Human-ities, and as associate director of the Getty Building Program. In 1991, he became senior pro-gram officer in the Getty Grant Program. He serves on the board of the California PreservationFoundation and as an advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Anthony C. Wood has been Executive Director of the Ittleson Foundation since 1993. Prior towhich he was the Chief Program Officer at the J. M. Kaplan Fund. He is an Adjunct AssistantProfessor of Historic Preservation at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture.

Said Zulficar has been the General Secretary of Patrimoine Sans Frontières since 1998. Cre-ated in 1992, Patrimoine Sans Frontières is a non-governmental organization engaged in thesafeguarding of cultural heritage in war-stricken and natural disaster zones.

10

af

ric

a a

nd

th

e m

idd

le

ea

st

11

CRADLE OF HUMANITY & CIVILIZATIONCradle of all humankind, in both archaic and modern manifestations; well-spring and

first witness of most prehistoric advances in technology, agriculture, and in gover-

nance; mother of civilizations as important as those on the Nile. Yet, for all its cultur-

al achievement, Africa remains a source of despair for those dedicated to the preservation

of monuments to humankind’s cultural aspirations. There are too few

archaeologists and historians to undertake even the most basic site and monument

description and inventory, and many African nations are so poor that national budgets

are directed almost entirely to public health and infrastructure, needs seen as far more

pressing than heritage conservation. How can monuments be a priority in nations

where starvation is rampant, where 20 to 30 percent of the adult population is infect-

ed with HIV/AIDS, and where infants die by the thousands of malaria and a constellation

of diarrheas? Sadly, Africa has more than its fair share of kleptocracies and one-party

states, where corruption and greed overwhelm the efforts of those who wish to do right

by their county’s heritage. Much of the continent is open season for art and

antiquities traffickers, who plunder it, often with the tacit acquiescence or even active

connivance of officials. Yet, astonishingly, there is hope.

prior to the construction of the aswan high dam, the nile regularly flooded the giza plateau. today, thisworld-famous site along with others from cairo to luxor are at risk because of a rising water table.

lehn

ert &

lan

dr

oc

k, c

ou

rtesy m

ar

k leh

ner

af

ric

a a

nd

th

e m

idd

le

ea

st

13Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa now have a critical mass of home-grown

archaeologists and cultural heritage officials. One of the world’s poorest counties, Mali,

which has a wealth of prehistoric and historic remains surpassed only by Egypt, has

arguably the world’s most effective counter to illicit antiquities movement and a

national preservation strategy that inspires local populations to join in the conserva-

tion effort. What has been recognized in these countries is that the respect and preser-

vation of monuments of antiquity plays a vital role in the pride and self-esteem of their

citizens.

In the Middle East, birthplace of the ancient civilizations of the Fertile Crescent and

the great monotheistic religions that followed—Judiasm, Christianity, and Islam—

monuments are imbued with religious and cultural identity. Middle Eastern sites in-

cluded on this year’s Watch list include some of the oldest, continually inhabited cities

on Earth, among them Aleppo, Erbil, and Damascus, which harbor heritage in need

of stewardship spanning millennia. Yet, as this list attests, throughout the region,

preservation challenges are often political rather than technical as many of the nations

represented remain embroiled in conflict, their ancient stones languishing from neg-

lect or falling prey to age-old disputes.

The rise in Fundamentalism in many countries has ensured the survival of mosques and

midrasahs (schools). Even in peaceful nations, however, conflict often arises between

religious and commercial values when it comes to urban development. In many areas,

ancient structures have been “preserved” through inappropriate repair, which can be

far more damaging than war or exposure. Moreover, a resistance to tourism in many

Fundamentalist countries has meant that many important sites are seldom visited.

In short, the sites in Africa and the Middle East selected for the 2002 list of the 100

Most Endangered Sites reflect, in microcosm, the enormous problems, sometimes the

sense of hopelessness that these icons face, but also the innovative solutions that have

resulted in the global heritage preservation effort.

—RODERICK MCINTOSH, RICE UNIVERSITY

12

EDFU, KOM EL AHMAR, EGYPTca. 2686 B.C.

The Predynastic capital of Upper Egypt, Hierakonpolisgrew to prominence in the mid-fourth millennium B.C.and was venerated throughout the Dynastic period.Dominating the site is an imposing structure built of unfired mud-brick, measuring 67 by 57 meters.Built by Khasekhemwy, the last ruler of Dynasty II (ca. 2800–2675 B.C.) and one of Egypt’s greatestbuilders and innovators, it is the oldest, freestandingmonumental mud-brick structure in Egypt, if not theworld. Though it is known locally as the “Fort,” thestructure was constructed for ceremonial rather thanmilitary purposes, and, uniquely, it appears to havebeen used during the king’s lifetime for a major festival. The enclosure is the direct predecessor of the great pyramid complexes of the Old Kingdom;Khasekhemwy’s son was Djoser, the first to build oneat Saqqara.

The subject of archaeological investigation in the lastcentury, the enclosure, paradoxically, is threatened bythese very excavations. Structural integrity has beencompromised by trenches made in the foundationsof the fort’s walls; wind and sand erosion continue toenlarge these openings. Infrequent, yet torrentialrains, have created vertical gullies running downmany of the walls. Since its listing in 2000, the enclo-sure, along with the entire site of Hierakonpolis, hasbeen declared a protected antiquities zone by the gov-ernment of Egypt, and was accurately surveyed andphoto-documented for the first time. However, itsphysical condition has deteriorated significantly. Largeholes have been dug by those seeking buried treasure;walls have been pillaged by locals for clay to makebricks. Emergency repairs need to be made and a planneeds to be undertaken to conserve and safeguardthe site from further damage.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 1

TEMPLE OF KHASEKHEMWY AT HIERAKONPOLIS

saleh

lam

ei

SITE NO. 2

VALLEY OF THE KINGS

THEBES, LUXOR, EGYPT1543–1080 B.C.

Few discoveries have so captured the human imagi-nation as the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun’stomb. Found by British archaeologist Howard Carter,the tomb was packed with riches—gilded wooded fur-niture and more than 1,000 precious objects wroughtin alabaster, gold, and faience—to ensure the boyking’s comfort in the afterlife. Designated KV62, the3,300-year-old tomb is just one of more than 60 NewKingdom (1539–1075 B.C.) royal burials in the Valley ofthe Kings, which range from small, unfinished one-room units to multichambered burials adorned withpainted reliefs and inscribed texts, the largest of whichis KV5. Dedicated to the sons of Ramesses II, thetomb has more than 110 chambers and corridors.

Once ravaged by nature and looters, the Valley of theKings faces a new threat—uncontrolled tourism.Some 1.5 million people visit the Valley of the Kingsannually, inadvertently damaging the fragile remainsin the process. Since listing in 2000, new signage wasdesigned and installed to encourage tour guides togive their presentations outside the tombs. It is thefirst time standardized signage has been used in thevalley. A masterplan is in development to ensure thelong-term preservation and management of thetombs and to regulate tourist access. New hand railsand walkways need to be installed to keep visitorsfrom leaning on and touching fragile paintings and airexchange systems need to be placed in the tombs toregulate humidity.

Listed in 2000

ma

rk

weber

14

af

ric

a a

nd

th

e m

idd

le

ea

st

15

SITE NO. 6

THIMLICH OHINGA CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

g.h

.o. a

bun

gu

MIGORI, KENYA14TH CENTURY A.D.

A complex of six stone enclosures erected atop a hillin the early-fourteenth century A.D. is all that remainsof one of the first settlements in the Lake Victoriaregion of Kenya. Skillfully constructed without mortar,the walls, which are 1.2 to 4.2 meters high and 1 to 3meters thick, embrace a series of house pits and cattleenclosures. Thimlich Ohinga is a rare early example ofdefensive savanna architecture that led to a traditionthat remains unrivaled in East Africa.

Although the site has been designated a nationalmonument since 1981, until recently, Thimlich Ohingahad enjoyed little attention in term of conservationdue to its remoteness and a lack of awareness aboutits cultural importance. Since its first listing, however,the boundary of the cultural landscape has beensecurely established and demarcated. The NationalMuseums of Kenya, its governing agency, hasembarked on a local education program to heightenpublic awareness of the site’s importance and needfor preservation. Conservation work is proceeding andscheduled for completion by 2003, although furtherfunding for a preservation training program and con-struction of a conservation center is still needed.

Listed in 2000

CAIRO, EGYPTA.D. 1418–1420

Commissioned by the Mamluk Sultan Al MuayyadShaikh Ak Mahmudi (r. 1412–21), the Bimaristan, orSultan al Muayyad Hospital, was founded in 1418 asCairo’s main infirmary. Al Muayyad was a usurper ofthe Mamluk Sultan Faraj (r. 1399–1412), who, whileimprisoned by his predecessor, had vowed to replacewhat had been a gruesome prison with a place ofIslamic prayer, study, and charitable works. TheBimaristan Complex included a mosque, threeminarets, two mausoleums, and a madrasa (Islamiccollege of study). Sultan al Muayyad was extravagantto the point of expropriating elements of earlierIslamic charitable foundations when lavish materialswere unavailable. Among his “borrowings” were largemarble plaques from old houses in Alexandria andtowers from Bab Zuvayle, which were used as minaretbases. The two-story structure was divided into maleand female sectors, with a timber-roofed middle halland four iwans (vaulted open chambers) with pointedarches. A manuscript describes it as having 25 cham-bers plus four secluded rooms for special patients, aswell as a pharmacy, library, and small mosque. Nearthe entrance was a sabil (drinking fountain), a schoolfor orphans, and a third smaller mosque. The hospitalfell into disuse following the Sultan’s death.

Today, the hospital’s upper floor is missing—theresult of neglect—but the main facade stands as aruined monument to the wonderful proportions andornament of the Mamluk period. Structural stabiliza-tion, documentation, and stone conservation areneeded to preserve the building.

SITE NO. 4

SULTAN AL-MUAYYAD HOSPITAL

SOHAG, MIDDLE EGYPTA.D. 400–500

Two monastic churches, among the best-preserved inEgypt, stand at the edge of civilization near the villageof Sohag, amid what may be one of the richest surviv-ing Coptic archaeological sites. Once part of largermonastic complexes, the White and Red monasterychurches date from the earliest years of Christianmonasticism, which was born in the Egyptian desertin the waning years of the third century A.D. Thechurches exhibit a fusion of pharaonic, Roman civic,and Christian architectural styles. The larger of thetwo, the White Monastery church, is built of dressedwhite limestone and was once used by communitiesof monks and nuns under the leadership of the mid-fifth-century cleric St. Shenute, who was instrumentalin shaping early monasticism. The nearby RedMonastery church is a smaller copy of the the WhiteMonastery executed in red brick . Both sanctuariescontain exceptional figural paintings and sculpturedating from the fifth through fourteenth centuries.

Built in what had once been arid desert, themonastery churches are now at risk due to a rise in the water table in the wake of the construction of theAswan High Dam, and a resulting pressure fromthose wishing to cultivate newly fertile land.

SITE NO. 3

WHITE AND RED MONASTERIES

eliza

beth bo

lma

n

ma

yer w

olfg

an

g

LARABANGA, WESTERN GONJA, GHANAA.D. 1650

The oldest and most venerated mosque in Ghana,the Larabanga Mosque continues to serve as animportant pilgrimage site for the region’s Muslimcommunity. The earliest of eight such mosques inGhana, Larabanga is a masterpiece of Sudanesearchitecture, easily recognized by its horizontal tim-bers, which support pyramidal towers and buttresses.

Although the mosque has retained much of its archi-tectural integrity, inappropriate restoration undertakenin the 1970s has damaged its structural fabric. A layerof waterproof sand-cement was applied to the entirebuilding, trapping moisture within its raw earthenwalls, weakening them significantly. In addition,wooden support beams have become infested withtermites, attracted by the high humidity. In the pastthree decades, parts of the mosque have collapsed,some of which have been rebuilt. In September 2000,one of the minarets was felled by a rainstorm; it hasyet to be reconstructed. As the shape of the towersand buttresses are altered with each repair, measuresneed to be taken to reduce strain on the structure.The waterproof coating should be removed in favor ofa more traditional one of mud plaster, while rottingtimbers need to be replaced. A program to revive theknowledge of mud-plaster maintenance is desperatelyneeded.

SITE NO. 5

LARABANGA MOSQUE

thier

ry jo

ffro

y

16

af

ric

a a

nd

th

e m

idd

le

ea

st

17

MÉDINE, MALIA.D. 1855

An impressive complex covering more than a hectare,the Fort of Médine was among the first military instal-lations built by the French during their colonization ofthe vast region of West Africa between the Sénegaland Niger rivers, which would become French Sudan.Commissioned by Colonel Faidherbe, a French armyofficer, the complex, built of stone and banco (liquidmud) mortar, comprises a large, two-story building,powder magazine, prison, and an École des Otages(school for hostages) used to educate the children ofvanquished African chiefs, surrounded by an imposingbulwark. Outside the compound are several relatedstructures, including a watchtower, a railroad station,the ruins of several trading houses, and a militarycemetery.

Neglected out of contempt for their role in the colo-nization of West Africa, the Malian forts at Bamakoand Kita have crumbled; Médine, however, remainsstanding albeit in a weakened state. Moisture haspenetrated many of its walls, causing them to crackand leak, and many of the structures are overgrownwith vegetation. Although the fort was declared anational monument in 1992, little has been done interms of restoration or maintenance. The site’s nomi-nators seek to undertake a thorough site evaluationand develop a plan for restoration and long-term conservation, given its importance in the history ofmodern Mali, independent since 1960.

SITE NO. 7

MÉDINE FORT

c.o

. ma

ra

EDO STATE, NIGERIAA.D. 1280–1460

Part of the world’s largest ancient earthwork—acomplex system of moats and ramparts spread oversome 6,500 square kilometers—the Benin City Wallsconsist of a set of inner and outer interlocking ringsoriginally built to delineate the royal precinct of theOba, or king, from the surrounding area. Followingtheir construction, numerous other walls were erectedin the surrounding countryside to mark the agricul-tural boundaries around distinct settlements. Built toan original height of more than 18 meters, and alength of 1,200 kilometers, the earthworks attest thedevelopment of urbanization and rise of state soci-eties in subsaharan Africa, a process that began in theseventh century A.D. and culminated in the foundingof the Benin Kingdom of Bronze and Ivory in the four-teenth century.

The Benin City Walls were ravaged by the British in1897. Since then, portions of the walls have graduallyvanished in the wake of modernization—large seg-ments cannibalized for the construction of otherbuildings. However, significant stretches of the wallsremain, enclosing innumerable red earth shrines andvernacular elite architecture with red-fluted walls.Though the walls and moats have been protected bynational legislation since 1961, no conservation planexists. The earthworks need to be mapped andassessed, a public awareness campaign launched,and a plan for long-term management developed.

SITE NO. 8

BENIN CITY WALLS

j.e. bor

eine

SITE NO. 9

BAGAMOYO HISTORIC TOWN

felix nd

un

gu

ru

BAGAMOYO, TANZANIA18TH–19TH CENTURIES A.D.

At once beautiful and disturbing, Bagamoyo’s eigh-teenth- and nineteenth-century coral buildings, spe-cific to Swahili construction, served as a backdrop toEast Africa’s slave trade. Slaves from the interior ofAfrica were gathered at Bagamoyo port by native,Arab, and Portuguese traders for shipment on toZanzibar, which, in the 1700s, began providing slavelabor for local plantations, European colonies inAfrica, and a small number of American plantations.Omani sultans came to the area in the mid-seven-teenth century to fight at the side of Queen MacenaMwema against the Portuguese at Zanzibar andPemba. By 1668, they controlled the coast all the waydown to Mozambique. By 1840, Zanzibar had becomethe Sultan Seyyid Said bin Sultan’s court and the pop-ulation had swelled with immigrants from India andArabia. The Omani ruling class established date andclove plantations on Zanzibar and Pemba, which, byWorld War II, accounted for nearly four-fifths of theworld’s production.

Bagamoyo resembles other East coast towns—Lamu,Pale and Mombasa in Kenya—whose narrow streetsare lined with grand houses built by wealthy Arabs

and Indian merchants in the nineteenth century. Mas-sive, plain outer walls frame large, ornately carvedfront doors, behind which rooms are arranged alonggalleries overlooking an inner courtyard. Peculiar toBagamoyo, however, was the nineteenth-centuryarrival of Germans, who also left their imprint on thecity’s architectural style. This confluence makes theBagamoyo’s heritage absolutely unique.

Swahili buildings constructed from local coral stoneand sand mortar are very porous, and thus by theirvery nature damaged over time by the damp climateand twice yearly rains. Some properties have beenneglected by absentee owners, some of whom haveeven sold off roofing material. A public awarenesscampaign is needed to encourage the preservation of these historic buildings; a plan for their long-termconservation is long overdue.

18

af

ric

a a

nd

th

e m

idd

le

ea

st

19

NEAR MOSUL, IRAQ883–681 B.C.

More than 2,700 years ago, two Assyrian kings—Sennacherib (704–681 B.C.) and Assurnasirpal II(883–859 B.C.)—recorded their successful militarycampaigns on the walls of their palaces at the ancientsites of Nineveh (modern Mosul) and nearby Nimrud.Depicted in the reliefs are marauding troops in foreignlands, rendered in a style marked by lively action andattention paid to topographic and ethnographic detail.

Although Western museums mined the palacesfor sculptures in the mid-nineteenth-century, untilrecently, many had remained in situ, revealed duringrenewed excavations and left in place as on-site dis-plays. The current economic situation in Iraq, however,has resulted in the widespread looting of archaeologi-cal sites, including Nineveh and Nimrud, with sculp-tures from both sites appearing on the art market.The problem has been compounded by sanctionsimposed following the Gulf Crisis, which prohibitinternational preservation assistance to Iraq. It ishoped that increased international awareness will leadto the eventual exclusion of cultural heritage activitiesfrom the embargo, as well as the resumption of for-eign participation in these activities.

Reducing the market for sculptures through publica-tion of site inventories, and stabilizing, conserving,and protecting archaeological remains are criticalsteps in protecting these sites. It is hoped that anarchive containing some 600 photographs can be published and posted on the Internet to identifyand discourage further looting. Restrictions againstheritage assistance to Iraq have recently beenrelaxed, paving the way for a professional conserva-tion assessment of the sites.

SITE NO. 11

NINEVEH AND NIMRUD PALACES

sam

i salih

meh

di

KURDISH AUTONOMOUS REGION, IRAQ6TH MILLENNIUM B.C.–PRESENT

One of the longest continually inhabited cities in theworld, Erbil was settled more than 8,000 years ago.Its citadel, which rises some 25 meters above a sur-rounding city of 750,000 inhabitants, boasts a plen-tiful supply of groundwater, which sustained Erbil’spopulation through millennia of enemy sieges.Alexander the Great defeated the Persian king DariusIII on Erbil’s surrounding plains in 331 B.C., in oneof the most famous battles of antiquity. During theIslamic period, Erbil was home to important Muslimpoets, historians, and scholars, and later served as acultural and administrative center of the OttomanEmpire.

Today, Erbil, capital of Iraq’s northern Kurdistanregion, remains very much a living city, and an influxof refugees as a result of civil unrest in the region hasplaced new stress on the centuries-old buildings atopthe citadel, many of which lack proper drainage andsanitation. This rapid population growth is com-pounded by the lack of a central authority in northernIraq. The site’s listing in 2000 helped to draw localand international attention to its perilous state, but lit-tle has been done to minimize the most immediatedangers facing Erbil.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 10

ERBIL CITADEL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

s. ma

hd

i

KIRYAT TIV’ON, ISRAELA.D. 70–300

As a refuge for the Sandrehin, the religious-socialleadership of the Israelite nation, Bet She’arimbecame the preeminent Jewish cultural center follow-ing the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans inA.D. 70. It was here that the Mishna, or Jewish oral law,was codified. The town’s vast necropolis, carved outof soft limestone, is the burial site for some of themost important figures in Jewish history. Althoughonly a small portion of the necropolis has been exca-vated, it has been likened to a book written in stone,documenting two centuries of historical and culturalachievement—within its catacombs, mausoleums,and tombs are elaborate symbols and figures, as wellas an impressive quantity of incised and paintedHebrew, Aramaic, Tadmoric, and Greek inscriptions.

Erosion caused by water, parasitic vegetation, anddamage wrought by visitors have led to the totaldestruction of some architectural features and inscrip-tions. The most damaged areas of the necropolishave been closed to the public for several years; thosestill open to tourists lack regular maintenance. Trainingof conservators and a comprehensive managementplan must be established before the site can be safelyopened to future generations.

SITE NO. 12

BET SHE’ARIM ARCHEAOLOGICAL SITE

tsvika

tsuk

SITE NO. 13

PETRA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

WADI MOUSA, JORDANA.D. 100–229

A magnificent city hewn from rose-colored sandstonesome 2,000 years ago, this World Heritage Site is the best-known and most-visited attraction in theHashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Nabatean traderswho controlled the flow of aromatics and spices fromsouthern Arabia to the Mediterranean world drewfrom both cultures to develop a unique style reflectedin their elaborately carved architectural monuments.More than 800 major rock-cut facades—public andprivate buildings and tombs—have been documentedin an area of over 100 hectares. A sophisticated andextensive water catchment and distribution systemallowed the Nabateans to survive in their arid high-land metropolis, while simultaneously mitigating theworst effects of flash flooding that still imperil the sitetoday. Archaeological remains surrounding Petrastretch back to Neolithic times, and the indigenousBdul Bedouins who still inhabit parts of the site maybe descendants of Petra’s Nabatean residents.

A rehabilitation of Petra’s ancient water managementsystem began soon after its first listing to controlseasonal torrents that have washed through the wadifor more than 13 centuries, burying lower levels ofbuilding facades under several meters of rock andsoil, and endangering the lives of tourists. The devel-opment of a conservation strategy for the soft sand-stone carvings, many of which have been badly erodedby desert winds, has been initiated. Petra’s popularityas a tourist destination may prove to be its greatestperil. An estimated 500,000 tourists visited the site in2000, highlighting the need for additional site secu-rity and tourism management.

Listed in 1998 & 2000

bon

nie bu

rn

ha

m/w

mf

20

af

ric

a a

nd

th

e m

idd

le

ea

st

21

ALEPPO, SYRIA2000 B.C.–PRESENT

Atop a hill in the center of one of the oldest livingcities in the world, the citadel of Aleppo, a World Her-itage Site, was first occupied in the third millenniumB.C. Since then, it has been the site of successive forti-fications through the Seleucid, Roman, Byzantine,Arab, and Ottoman periods. Significant portions ofmany original structures remain, including Byzantinestorage halls, a twelfth-century mosque, and Egyptianbarracks from the nineteenth century. It is not onlyconsidered the finest remaining example of Arabmilitary architecture, but also the most extensivecombination of cultural, archaeological, and artisticelements in an architecturally prominent site. Over-looking the traditional houses and mosques ofAleppo’s 350-hectare historic quarter, the magnificentstone-walled citadel remains the most outstandingfeature of this city of 2 million people.

The citadel's immense inner spaces, extensive supplyrooms, and abundant water cisterns have provided asafe haven for Aleppians throughout history, yet the12- to 14-meter high walls and flanking towers havethemselves repeatedly fallen victim to earthquakesand rainwater erosion that compromise their foun-dations. A stone covering was lain over the slopesof the citadel in the sixteenth century to reduce ero-sion, but its removal in the nineteenth and twentiethcenturies, together with the breakdown of historicaldrainage systems that prevented water from seep-ing into the foundations, have put the citadel con-structions in renewed peril.

SITE NO. 15

CITADEL OF ALEPPO

NEAR TRIPOLI, LEBANONca. 2000–1299 B.C.

Remains from at least 3,000 years of human occupa-tion lie tangled among the myrtle and brambles ofthis 400-meter-long peninsula near Tripoli. WhileEnfeh has witnessed only minor excavation, Phoeni-cian and Roman walls, wine presses, mosaic floors,and two seventh-century-A.D. chapels lie bare beneaththe intense sun and wind.

Although previous listing encouraged theLebanese government to shift construction of aproposed port on the site to the southern part ofthe peninsula, removing the most immediate threatto Enfeh, preliminary work had already resulted insections of the Roman wall being cannibalized for asea wall; a medieval trench was used as a thor-oughfare for construction trucks. A new focus onpublic awareness hopes to deter illegal construc-tion and littering among the ruins. In addition toarresting the damage to the site, residents of thepeninsula have started to restore several eigh-teenth-and nineteenth-century houses in the smalltown of Enfeh to encourage the development ofeco-tourism in the area.

Listed in 1998 & 2000

SITE NO. 14

ENFEH ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

g. bu

stro

s

ihsa

n sh

eet

SITE NO. 17

TARIM

WADI HADRAMAUT, YEMENA.D. 1870–1930

The palaces of Tarim are among the most intricateand technologically sophisticated mud-brick structuresin the world. Their architectural style is an elaboratesynthesis of southeast Asian, Neo-Classical, Rococo,and Hadrami elements, reflecting the role of Tarim asa crossroads of trade between east and west. This his-toric city is also the theological and academic centerof the wadi and features the Al-Awqaf library, a collec-tion of 14,000 religious manuscripts. A 50-meter-high,unreinforced mud-brick minaret, the tallest on theArabian peninsula, characterizes the city.

Although the entire Yemeni territory of Wadi Hadra-maut was declared a World Heritage Site in 1982,preservationists have focused their attention primarilyon the nearby walled city of Shibam, leaving theTarimi palaces in various states of disrepair. The unifi-cation of Yemen in 1992 returned ownership of thepalaces from the government to private individuals,and, while the majority of the buildings remain in use,many lay neglected by absentee owners. An umbrellaorganization for the preservation and management ofthe palaces is planned, as well as the establishment of a Center for Mudbrick Architecture.

Listed in 2000

pam

ela jer

om

e

DAMASCUS, SYRIA900 B.C.–PRESENT

Mentioned several times in the Bible, Damascus isamong the oldest continually inhabited cities in theworld. The peoples and cultures whose influencemakes up the architectural fabric of the city is too long to list in its entirety—Aramean, Greek, Roman,Umayyad, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman, and French,among others. Damascus was where St. Paul under-went his famous conversion to Christianity and thetown is bisected east to west by a street that is calledthe Straight of the New Testament. An ancient wallsurrounds the whole city, whose other principal streetsfollow a Greek and Roman grid plan centered upon theUmayyad mosque, once the Roman Temple of Jupiter.The Old City is made up of courtyard houses, souks(marketplaces), hammams (baths) and winding alley-ways unspoiled by modern development.

The new patterns of living in the twentieth centuryand the advent of the automobile changed the habita-tion pattern of the Old City. Upper- and middle-classextended families moved to the suburbs. Their lovelyold houses and palaces were rented to lower-incometenants who could not afford their upkeep, turnedinto warehouses, or abandoned altogether. Althoughthe foundations and lower walls of these buildingswere made of stone, their upper walls are of mud-brick, which is vulnerable to weather. Many houseshave already collapsed after decades of neglect, and, ifdeterioration continues, the world will lose Damascus’original texture, just as it has already lost those ofCairo and Istanbul to modernization.

SITE NO. 16

DAMASCUS OLD CITY & SADDLE SOUK

ad

li qu

dsi

af

ric

a a

nd

th

e m

idd

le

ea

st

2322 Progress Report:PREVIOUSLY LISTED WATCH SITES IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

GIRAFFE ROCK ART SITEAGADEZ, NIGERThis site, the oldest site everincluded on the Watch list, dates tothe sixth millennium B.C. The spec-tacular life-size scene was sculptedinto a sloping rock outcropping inthe Sahara. Documented by rockart specialists in 1997, the recentpublicity of the site has broughtwith it risk of irreparable damageby increased numbers of unsuper-vised tourists. A WMF grant of$25,000 was awarded to carry outthe preliminary development of asite conservation strategy and long-term protection plan. It is hopedthat funds can be found to imple-ment the plan. WMF will continueto monitor the progress of thisproject.Listed in 2000

da

vid c

ou

lson

ho

ur

ig so

ur

ou

zia

n

MORTUARY TEMPLE OF AMENHOTEP IIILUXOR, EGYPTOn the west bank of the Nile, this site was once the largest and most richlyornamented of all Theban temples. Never fully excavated, the site is overgrownwith vegetation and threatened by seasonal floods and agricultural developmentin the area. A grant of $50,000 was awarded to carry out emergency conserva-tion, defoliation, and a site survey. The German archaeologists concerned withthe site have since undertaken an international campaign to raise further fund-ing to address the long-term conservation issues, including damage wroughtby flooding and groundwater to the fragile remains. Listed in 1998

TIPASAALGERIAEstablished by Phoenician merchantsin the sixth century b.c., Tipasa thrivedunder Roman rule in the first centurya.d. Sacked numerous times byBerbers and Vandals, it was aban-doned in the sixth century a.d. Its archaeological remains, whichinclude an amphitheater, forum,mosaics, and one of the most impor-tant paleochristian cemeteries inNorth Africa, continue to be at riskfrom windborne salts, vegetation,and illegal construction on theperimeter of the site.Listed in 2000

ABOMEY ROYAL PALACESABOMEY, BENINThe kingdom of Danxome ruled fromthe seventeenth to the early-twentiethcentury from the capital city ofAbomey—each king building a lavishpalace with bas-reliefs, murals, andsculpture on the royal grounds. Workhas been done to preserve the bas-reliefs by the Getty ConservationInstitute. And, ICCROM and CRATerre-EAG have undertaken a joint projectwith the Culture Ministry of Benin, tomaintain the fragile earthen palaces,increasing the capacity of the localmuseum and carrying out a specialtraining course in earthen architecture.Listed in 1996 & 1998

these efforts. The site has alsoreceived increased media attentionand financial and technical assistancefrom other sources.Listed in 1996

MEDIEVAL SIJILMASSASIJILMASSA, MOROCCOAlthough many of the physicalthreats to this mud-brick city havebeen rectified, including desertifica-tion, new contextual perils have aris-en, including the construction of abus station at the center of the site in1998, which greatly compromised itsaesthetic and historic integrity. It ishoped that public and private sectorinvolvement will stem furtherencroachment. Listed in 1996

MOZAMBIQUE ISLANDMOZAMBIQUEAn estimated 80 percent ofMozambique’s buildings are in direneed of major repair, however, fundsfor restoration are scarce in thisimpoverished nation. Watch listingwas instrumental in highlighting theisland’s preservation, economic, andsocial needs. UNESCO has continuedto take a leading role in moving thisproject forward.Listed in 1996

JAMES ISLANDNIUMI, GAMBIAFor more than 400 years, the islandand its associated fort functioned asa European trading hub from whichslaves were shipped to America.Blown up in 1778, the site was placedon the endangered list to draw atten-tion to the erosion of the groundunder the fort, as well as the remain-ing ruins of the fort walls. In 2000, aconservation training program waslaunched and the sea walls were rein-forced; work was carried out byCRATerre-EAG and funded in part by a $15,000 WMF grant. The worksuccessfully built on a conservationtraining program undertaken in 1997by UNESCO and CRATerre-EAG.Listed in 1998

DJENNÉ-DJENODJENNÉ, MALIThe urban fabric of the commercialcity of Djenné-Djeno, which flourishedfrom 250 B.C. and A.D. 500, has beeneroded due to the looting of pricelessterracotta figurines from the site.Since its listing, measures have beenundertaken by the Ministry of Cultureand Tourism of Mali to stem the pil-lage, construct a site museum, andaddress conservation needs such asthe re-vegetation of the area to con-trol wind-blown sand erosion. AWMF grant of $40,000 initiated

SULTAN QA’ITBAY COMPLEXCAIRO, EGYPTThis fifteenth-century complex of utilitarian buildings built by SultanQa’itbay beside the Al-Azhar mosqueincludes a sabil, or public fountain, a drinking trough for animals, and akuttab, or school for Islamic studies.Ornately decorated, the animaltrough was included on the 1996endangered list and restored in partby a grant from WMF. The sabil andkuttab also require significant conser-vation work and reintegration intothe life of the community. TheEgyptian government has pledged tocarry out the conservation work. WMFwill continue to monitor the develop-ment of this project. Listed in 1996 & 2000

MENTEWAB-QWESQWAM PALACEETHIOPIALocated near the Gondar, the capitalof Christian Ethiopia, this two-storyfortified palace, commissioned in themid-eighteenth century by QueenMentewab, had fallen into ruin. Sincelisting, a $70,000 grant has beenawarded from American Express foremergency repairs and structuralconsolidation.Listed in 1998 & 2000

GEBEL BARKALARCHAEOLOGICAL SITEKARIMA, SUDANThe ancient city of Napata wasfounded on this isolated sandstonebutte along the Nile. Associated withthe god Amun, Napata marked thesouthern limit of the Egyptian empirefrom ca. 1460 to 11oo B.C., subse-quently becoming the northern capi-tal of the Nubian Kingdom of Kush.Remains of some 13 temples are visi-ble along with many small royal pyra-mids. Funds are still desperatelyneeded to complete the constructionof a protective barrier around the siteto protect it from eroding Nile floodsand desert winds, and to regulatetourist traffic. Until the barrier iscompleted, the site will continue todeteriorate. Documentation has beensubmitted to UNESCO in hopes thatthe site and other Nubian monumentsmay be inscribed on the WorldHeritage List.Listed in 2000

KILWA KISIWANIPORTUGUESE FORTTANZANIABuilt by the Portuguese between thethirteenth and fifteenth centuries,this fort played a pivotal role in theircontrol of the East African coast. Indanger of being lost forever, its east-ern towers and walls have already collapsed into the Indian Ocean.However, to make any progress, atechnical assessment of the site mustbe undertaken.Listed in 1996

MASAKA CATHEDRALKITOVU VILLAGE, UGANDAThe diocesan cathedral of the firstCatholic African Bishop from sub-Saharan Africa, the cathedral sufferedfrom harsh weather conditions, earth-quakes, and poor construction. AWMF grant initiated emergency stabi-lization and conservation measures.The local craftsmen and church offi-cials have undertaken a heroic cam-paign to restore the building. To date,the roof has been repaired, the wallsstrengthened and services haveresumed in the cathedral.Listed in 1998

KHAMI RUINSBULAWAYO, ZIMBABWEKhami, the capital of the Torwa state,flourished as a trading post and mis-sionary stop from 1450. Listed tohighlight problems of vandalism, ani-mal and vegetative damage, andstructural instability, a WMF grant of$50,000 was awarded to formulatean action plan. Since its relisting,tremendous efforts have been madeby the National Museums andMonuments Commission to attractfinancial support and implement aplan to guide future work at the site.Additional land has been acquired tocreate a site buffer zone, and perma-nent staff has been hired to attend tothe site’s daily needs.Listed in 1996 & 2000

RAMLE WHITE MOSQUEISRAELIsrael’s oldest mosque outsideJerusalem, the ruins of the eighth-century Ramle are surrounded by asquare minaret, a network of subter-ranean vaults and cisterns, the tombof Nebi Salih (a pilgrimage site) anda Muslim cemetery. Listed to addressthe need for emergency conservationand preparation of a site manage-ment plan, a WMF grant was award-ed to survey the mosque ruins. Littlehas been done on the part of Israeliauthorities to care for the site.Further listing at this time wouldprobably have little impact. WMF willcontinue to monitor the progress ofthis site. Listed in 1998 & 2000

GEMEINDEHAUSISRAELDespite the efforts of a neighborhoodorganization to restore Gemeindehaus,built by a German Lutheran sect in1869, its designation as a historicsite, and WMF listing to encouragepreservation, no work has been doneto conserve the buildings, which havebeen abandoned for more than adecade. Further listing is likely tohave little impact on the future of thesite. Listed in 1996 & 1998

TEL DAN CANAANITE GATEISRAELConstructed in the second millenniumB.C. to defend the Canaanite city ofLaish, the arches spanning the gatewayare considered among the oldest mud-brick structures in the world.Deterioration of the gate began soonafter its excavation in 1979, reachinga critical state in the late-1990s due toexposure to the elements and lack ofconservation. A WMF grant of$40,000 was awarded for field testingof building materials and to under-take emergency stabilization. It ishoped the Israeli Antiquities Authoritywill continue to support conservationsince awareness was raised by listing.Listed in 2000

THE WHITE CITYISRAELSince its listing, dozens of buildingsin this city within the city of Tel Avivhave been restored to their appropri-ate modernist idiom. The municipali-ty created a computer archive for the1,000 buildings in the White City andcontinues to develop standards forpreservation of the structures. Listed in 1996

ANCIENT TYRELEBANONWar, civil unrest, uncontrolled urbandevelopment, neglect, and rampantlooting have taken their toll on thisisland city, established by thePhoenicians in the third millenniumB.C. and inhabited through the laterGreek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, andCrusader periods. Since listing, theKress Foundation provided a $25,000grant to develop a conservation mas-terplan, which was followed by finan-cial support from UNESCO and aFrench insurance company. Listed in 1996

SHIBAM HISTORIC CITYYEMEN UNESCO has moved forward withefforts to conserve the unique mud-brick architecture of Shibam. Its listing,as well as that of Tarim in the currentissue, is intended to heighten aware-ness of Yemen’s extraordinary archi-tectural heritage. Listed in 1998

24

th

e a

me

ric

as

25

LAND OF EMPIRE & INNOVATIONThe very term “the Americas” evokes such extremes of cultural difference that it is im-

possible to discuss its architecture in a unified discourse. On the one hand are the

many ancient, indigenous civilizations, such as those of the Maya, the Inka, the Aztec,

and the Native North American tribes—some of whose sophisticated constructions

predate the works of European conquest by thousands of years. On the other hand,

colonial works and their modern, original progeny in the New World reflect traditions

and intentions utterly incongruous to the conquered lands upon which they were im-

posed.

Most of the American sites selected by the World Monuments Fund constitute either

nodes of outright conquest, or examples of the gentler, but no less radical work of

foreign influence. Particularly in Latin America are sites originated by indigenous

peoples that were, beginning in the late-fifteenth century, appropriated by the Spanish

and later by the British, among other European powers, and overlaid with new build-

ings and intentions. Cuzco, the great Peruvian capital of the Inkas was founded by

them in the 1300s, only to be “refounded” by the Spanish in 1534 as capital city of the

the sixteenth-century church of santo domingo was built atop the andesite walls of the qowikancha, or inka suntemple, in cuzco, peru.

co

rbis

th

e a

me

ric

as

27first local Spanish government. A site symbolizing ongoing struggle between coloniz-

ers is that of Colón and Portobelo in Panama, where the ruined forts of San Gerónimo

and San Lorenzo stand as reminders of how Spanish control was challenged again

and again by the British beginning with Sir Francis Drake in 1596, and leading to no

fewer than three rebuildings of the forts before ending up as part of the former U.S.

Military Base at Fort Sherman.

Other sites—the Immaculada Concepcion Chapel in Michoacán, Mexico, and the

Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Cocharcas, Peru—represent Spain’s fierce desire to dom-

inate souls as well as lands. Still others—Pichidegua, Chile, with its Spanish water-

wheels dating back to 1600, and Santo André, Brazil, with the Victorian, British-built

railway hub of Vila de Paranapiacaba—record the impact of foreign forms of technol-

ogy. Recovering an authentic Prehispanic past among so much hybridization makes

the preservation of archaeological sites such as the Maya Metropolis Yaxchilan, Mexico

(A.D. 250–900) and the extraordinary Caral Sacred City, Peru (3000–2000 B.C.) an im-

perative supported by listing.

As the twentieth century recedes and we gain perspective upon it, it is interesting to see

how in the Americas certain modern architects—often, ironically, foreign-born—at-

tempted to derive constructional and spatial languages from pre-colonial roots. In

South America, the outstanding example of this quest is the National Art Schools in Cuba,

a collaboration between the Cuban architect Ricardo Porro and two Italians, Roberto

Gottardi and Vittorio Garatti, whose sensuously rounded buildings were a deliberate

reference to Swahili architecture and hence an acknowledgement of the contributions

to Cuban culture by citizens of African origin. In North America, Rudolf Schindler’s

King’s Road House in West Hollywood is routinely seen as an icon of Modernism,

California-style. However, unlike architects such as Le Corbusier and Mies van der

Rohe, or even his Austrian compatriot in California, Richard Neutra, Schindler was less

concerned with finding modern methods and expressions of construction than with

working with pure space as the ultimate substance and goal of architecture. Schindler

wrote that the “true” modern architect’s “...one concern is the creation of space forms—

dealing with a new medium as rich and unlimited in possibilities of expression as any

other media of art: color, sound, mass, etc.” One of Schindler’s great inspirations were

the terraced pueblo “apartment” housing of New Mexico, of which another WMF list-

ing, the Mission Church of the Acoma Pueblo, is a stunning example.

—LISA ZEIGER

26

SITE NO. 18

WHYLLY PLANTATION AT CLIFTON POINT

der

ek sm

ith

NEW PROVIDENCE, BAHAMASA.D. PRE-1492–1750

With unexplored twin Lucayan-Taíno aboriginal villagesites; an ocean bath carved from living rock, whereslaves were washed following transport through theMiddle Passage; and Loyalist plantation, where twogenerations of African slaves worked and died,Whylly Plantation is the only site in the Bahamas thathas cultural remains spanning a millennium ofBahamian history. Most of the standing architecturedates to the mid-eighteenth-century occupation ofthe site by slave traders Lewis Johnson andThomas Moss.

While the property is in relatively good condition, the threat of destabilization looms in the face of hurri-canes and severe winter storms. Moreover, as it issandwiched between a residential area and an indus-

trial park, the plantation’s three-kilometer stretch ofcoastline is slated for demolition and development,which would be a disaster as it is the last part of thewaterfront accessible to the public. The site has nosecurity. In 1998, the main house was vandalized, andin June 1999, bulldozers from the Ministry of Worksillegally destroyed part of the north wall of the church.Nominators, descendants of Whylly plantation slaves,are proposing to convert this cultural treasure into anational park, where the buildings and ruins will beprotected and preserved so that visitors and theBahamian public can learn about the island’s history.

th

e a

me

ric

as

2928

SITE NO. 20

RUEDAS DE AGUA

LARMAHUE, CHILEA.D. 1600–1799

More than two dozen waterwheels built by the Spanish at Larmahue are among the last such agricul-tural devices still in use in the Americas, and consti-tute the largest grouping of waterwheels still in useworldwide. The waterwheels, which operate along afour-kilometer stretch of irrigation canal of possiblePrehispanic origin, bear witness to the Spanish colo-nial contribution to agriculture in the region. A water-wheel similar in design to those at Larmahue hasbeen reconstructed near Cordobá, Spain, and evidenceof several waterwheels dating to the Middle Ages hasbeen documented near Toledo.

Waterwheels around the globe have disappeared,many replaced by mechanical devices or left crumblingfrom neglect. In 1988, there were 80 remaining inChile, of these only 25 survive, 20 of which remain inuse. Seventeen of the remaining waterwheels havebeen granted Historical Monument status, however, a plan for their preservation has yet to be developed.Their disappearance would entail the destruction of a unique cultural landscape.

jaim

e rettig

SITE NO. 21

NATIONAL ART SCHOOLSpa

olo

ga

spar

ini

SANTO ANDRÉ, BRAZILA.D. 1860–1890

Built by a British railroad company, the Vila deParanapiacaba near the city of São Paulo was con-structed to link the Brazilian seaport of Santos withcoffee-producing regions in the country’s interior. Thehistoric village, whose name means “a place to viewthe sea,” housed railroad workers and those whomanned the ingenious system of steam engines thatpowered its funicular, which enabled entire trainsladen with coffee to be transported across Brazil’sdensely forested mountain terrain. Wooden workers’houses, more appropriate for a British mining townthan a tropical settlement, were constructed; moreimportant civic structures were built in a Victorianstyle. Paranapiacaba flourished until automatedmachinery rendered the labor-intensive funicular sys-tem obsolete. The city was soon all but abandonedand decay set in.

Today, Brazil’s government is trying to preserve Vila de Paranapiacaba and its surrounding landscape toraise awareness of its natural, cultural, and industrialheritage, and promote an economic revival of theregion. A plan for sustainable redevelopment hasbeen prepared, based on converting the village into asuburb of São Paulo and promoting tourism. For it tobe realized, however, funds for its implementationmust be found.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 19

VILA DE PARANAPIACABA

a.l.h

. de c

astillo

HAVANA, CUBAA.D. 1961–1965

Cuba’s National Art Schools were the brainchild ofnone other than Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Builton the grounds of the exquisitely landscaped HavanaCountry Club, the Art Schools were to be interna-tionalist, offering full scholarships to both Cubansand Third World students while fostering a uniquelyCuban ethos that reflected the country’s blend ofAfrican and Hispanic artistic traditions. Castro choseCuban modernist Ricardo Porro to head the projectin collaboration with Italians Roberto Gottardi andVittorio Garatti. Three principals governed the con-struction—the landscape was to remain intact, theCatalan vault would be used to shape the structures,and they were to be built of brick and terracotta tilesince the material of choice, reinforced concrete, hadbeen embargoed by the United States. The result wasfive mushroom-like buildings with domed roofs—dedicated respectively to modern dance, plasticarts, dramatic arts, music, and ballet—linked withmeandering paths.

Only two of the five schools were ever completed.By 1965, Soviet-influenced members of Cuba’s central-ized Ministry of Building Works, who favored standard-ized forms to the sensuous nature of the buildings,abandoned the project. The buildings now stand innear ruin, suffering from neglect, vegetation encroach-ment, and vandalism. The last decade, however, hasbrought a renewed interest in the buildings, whichwere declared a Protected Area by Cuba’s NationalCouncil of Cultural Heritage, the first stage in beinginscribed a National Monument. Momentum is gath-ering for their restoration, completion, and reestab-lishment as important monuments in Cubanarchitectural history.

Listed in 2000

li xiao

tao

li xiao

tao

li xiao

tao

th

e a

me

ric

as

31

SITE NO. 24

YAXCHILÁN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE©

justin

ker

r30

PIEDRAS NEGRAS, GUATEMALA400 B.C.–A.D. 850

Set high above the Usumacinta River, the majesticMaya city of Piedras Negras rose to preemenince inthe Late Classic period (A.D. 600–900), at which timeit vied for control of the upper reaches of the river withits longtime rival Yaxchilán (see site 24), 40 kilometersto the south. In antiquity, the city was known as Yokib’(“the entrance”), possibly because of a 100-meter-wide sinkhole at the site. “Entrances” such as cavesand sinkholes were revered by the Maya as portals tothe spirit world.

Piedras Negras has two principal architecturalgroups, which include temple pyramids, ballcourts,and numerous carved reliefs and stelae that havebeen regarded as some of the finest works of art inthe New World. The site is of special importance toMaya epigraphers. It was here that in 1960, the greatRussian architect and linguist Tatiana Proskouriakoffsucceeded in determining the historical content of theinscriptions, long thought to be solely astronomical ormythological in nature.

The site is threatened by looting, erosion, exposure tothe elements, and exuberant vegetation, which havewrought havoc on the site, causing a dramatic loss ofdetail in carved inscriptions and iconographic scenesand buildings and walls to collapse. The site will be atrisk for flooding if the Mexican government proceedswith plans to build a series of hydroelectric dams onthe Usumacinta.

PARISH OF TRELAWNY, JAMAICAA.D. 1770s

Shortly after its establishment as a British colonialtown in the 1770s, Falmouth quickly became theparish capital and the principal port from which sugarand rum from Trelawny were shipped overseas. Duringthe nineteenth century, Falmouth rivaled Kingston inimportance as Jamaica’s primary commercial center,its numerous houses, shops, and public buildings,which are laid out on a grid plan, are consideredamong the best-surviving examples of Georgian ver-nacular architecture in the Caribbean.

Many of Falmouth’s early buildings have survivedwith few alterations. However, hurricanes and lack ofmaintenance have taken their toll. Hurricane Gilbertin 1988 caused considerable damage, much of whichhas not been repaired. Falmouth is strategicallylocated on Jamaica’s north coast, between MontegoBay and Ocho Rios, which receives some two millionvisitors each year, however, the town’s economy is tooweak to support community-based revitalization andneither government nor the private sector has showninterest in providing financial support, even thoughFalmouth was designated a National Monument bythe Jamaica National Heritage Trust in 1996.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 23

FALMOUTH HISTORIC TOWN

SITE NO. 22

PIEDRAS NEGRAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

no

rm

a ba

rba

cc

i/wm

f

nig

el d. lo

rd

CHIAPAS, MEXICOA.D. 359–850

With its imposing edifices, crowned with fretted roof-combs and walls, lintels, staircases, and stelae,adorned with finely carved reliefs, the ancient city ofYaxchilán is a masterpiece of Classic Maya architec-ture. Located on the west bank of the UsumacintaRiver, which separates Mexico and Guatemala, thecity was built between A.D. 400 and 850. However,most of the buildings we see today were commis-sioned by two eighth-century kings—Shield Jaguar IIand his son Bird Jaguar IV—whose wealth and powerwere derived largely from the control of riverine com-merce. Inscriptions at the site, which are among thelongest in the Maya world, record numerous militarycampaigns against Piedras Negras (see site 22), thecapture and torture of prisoners, and the subjugationof nearby sites, including Bonampak.

While Yaxchilán’s remoteness has made it a longtimetarget of looters, its most pressing threat is agricul-tural encroachment and tourism development, whichwill impact not only the structures themselves, buttheir rich natural environment. A comprehensive planfor holistic site management needs to be developedand conservation of the fragile structures, which arebeing destroyed by vegetation and weakened by ero-sion, needs to be undertaken.

Listed in 2000

li xiao

tao

th

e a

me

ric

as

3332

NURIO, MICHOACÁN, MEXICOA.D 1700

Located deep in the Pureepera sierra, InmaculadaConcepción Chapel was constructed as part of a hos-pital complex, one of several built by Vasco deQuiroga, the Spanish Renaissance humanist andbishop of Michoacán, whose ideas on regional evan-gelization and settlement were inspired by ThomasMore’s Utopia. The single-nave chapel, built on a rec-tangular plan, has a stone portal and an elaboratelydecorated, coffered wooden ceiling. Its interior deco-ration, which includes renderings of saints surround-ing the Virgin Mary, is considered among the best-surviving examples of the so-called Mexican PopularBaroque style. The balcony-choir is unique in Mexico.Although the carving is Mexican, it is Mudejar in style,exhibiting a combination of Moorish, Romanesque,and Gothic elements seen in Spanish architecture following the expulsion of the Moslems in the late fifteenth century.

Inmaculada Concepción is located in a poor, indige-nous community, its main road paved only three yearsago. Its interior elements, primarily of wood, have suffered from exposure. The structure has beenattacked by fungus and portions of its coffered ceilinghave fallen. Adopte una Obra de Arte, a nonprofitfoundation, recently took an interest in the chapel,spearheading a restoration with the aid of Mexico’sConsejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes and pri-vate sponsors. The community has been instrumentalin the restoration, providing manpower and food toconservators, but more funding is needed to com-plete the work.

SITE NO. 26

INMACULADA CONCEPCIÓN CHAPEL

alic

ia o

rteg

a

jon

ca

lam

e

VERACRUZ, MEXICOA.D. 1535–1786

For nearly 350 years, the Fort of San Juan de Ulúa atVeracruz served as the primary military strongholdfor the Spanish in the Americas. Built between 1535and 1786, on an island discovered by the adventurerJuan de Grijalva in 1518, the fort was in its day con-sidered the most secure and technologically advancedin the New World, serving as both a port of entry forChristian missionaries and a critical node in theSpanish West Indies coastal defense system. It alsofunctioned as a repository for riches imported fromEurope. Its capture by the Mexican revolutionarySainz de Barada in 1825 ended Spanish rule in theNew World.

Significant portions of the fort have survived intact,including bulwarks, towers, dungeons, a governor’spalace, parade grounds, and a cemetery, however,most of the complex suffers from deterioration ofthe structural fabric as a result of its sandy site in ahighly polluted harbor. Settling has caused cracksin its foundations, which have been further weak-ened by wake turbulence from passing tankers. Sincethe fort’s first listing, funds for some restoration havebeen secured. However, the scale of the project con-tinues to exceed available resources.

Listed in 1996 & 2000

SITE NO. 25

SAN JUAN DE ULÚA FORT

pro

yecto

integ

ra

l san

jua

n d

e ulú

a

jon

ca

lam

e

COLÓN & PORTOBELO, PANAMAA.D. 1596–1779

Built at a time when the British and Spanish vied forcontrol of existing Caribbean colonies and foundednew ones to protect their respective New Worldriches, San Lorenzo Castle and San Gerónimo Fortare among the many fortifications that once protectedthe east coast of Panama. Commissioned by Phillip IIin 1588 and begun in 1595 as a depot for the shipmentof gold and other precious minerals from the Ameri-cas to Spain, San Lorenzo sits atop a rocky promon-tory at the mouth of the Chagres River surrounded byrainforest. It was attacked by Francis Drake whileunder construction in 1596, and collapsed in 1631 dueto artillery fire and the fact that the construction wasnot well suited to tropical environments. In 1680, anew fort was built only to be destroyed by the Britishin 1740. The fort was rebuilt for the third time in 1761;Neo-Classical structures from this period are still visi-ble today. Located within the former U.S. Military Baseat Fort Sherman, San Lorenzo’s surviving structuresinclude a castle fortress, military lunette, and high bat-tery. The Fort of San Gerónimo, on the Bay of Porto-belo, consists of an Italian-style polygonal fort built ofcoral in 1758, to which was added low, French-stylebatteries. It has a Neo-Classical gate, a cistern, andthree gun-powder storage facilities, one of which stillexists.

San Gerónimo is the more intact of the two forts.However, what remains is threatened by inadequatedrainage and encroachment of housing constructionadjacent to and atop the fort walls. Since the depar-ture of the American military presence in the area,funds for preservation have been scarce. It is hopedthat the integrated study of these two forts within theirenvironments will serve as the basis for a sound development plan for tourism in the area.The structures are on the World Heritage List.

Listed in 1998 & 2000

SITE NO. 27

SAN LORENZO CASTLE & SAN GERÓNIMO FORT

li xiao

tao

li xiao

tao

th

e a

me

ric

as

3534

CUZCO, PERU13TH–17TH CENTURIES A.D.

When the Spanish invaded South America in the sixteenth century, the Inka ruled the largest empire inthe New World, one that stretched over more than4,000 kilometers, embracing most of modern Peru,Ecuador, and Bolivia, and extending into northernChile and Argentina. Administered from Cuzco, theempire was one of ethnic diversity and rich in naturalresources. The city fell to the Spanish conquistadorFrancisco Pizarro in 1533, bringing the Inka Empire toan end. By the mid-seventeenth century, the city hadbeen transformed, as stone from Inka monumentswas utilized in the construction of Spanish ones.Within a few years, a new city was born, a blend ofBaroque and Andean traditions, which by the eigh-teenth century, became the second largest in SouthAmerica. Cuzco’s main cathedral, the Church of LaCompañia, the Church of San Pedro, and the monas-teries of La Merced and Santo Domingo have beenhailed as the greatest monuments in the Americas oftheir age. Traces of Cuzco’s Precolumbian past, how-ever, are clearly visible in the many Inka walls that linethe streets throughout the city. The Church of SantoDomingo is built atop the fine masonry walls of theQorikancha, or Inka Sun Temple.

Today, the ancient city is facing modern realities andproblems as it grapples with the need to accommodateits expanding population while preserving its culturalheritage. The return of tourism in the aftermath of aguerrilla war waged by the Shining Path in the 1980shas brought increased investment capital, enablingthe city to restore many of its monuments. However,an improved economy has brought with it an influx ofnew residents, burdening an already strained housingstock. This has been compounded by a displacementof residents and destruction of historic buildings tomake way for hotels and restaurants catering to thetourists. Without proper planning, this situation willcontinue to deteriorate. Historic Cuzco is on theWorld Heritage List.

Listed in 1996 & 2000

CHINCHEROS, APURIMAC, PERUA.D. 1590–1623

The oldest church in South America dedicated to thecult of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Cocharcasis sited on a small plain on the eastern flank of theAndes, where the mountains descend into the PampasRiver Valley. Cocharcas means “swamp” in Quechua.The single-nave church, laid out on the plan of a Latincross, was built in a traditional Baroque style, withhigh stone walls and a facade comprised of threearchitectural masses—a portal flanked by two towers,topped with four-sided belfries. A Baroque altarpiecewith gold leaf and silver plating stands prominentlyabove the main altar; a sculpture of Our Lady ofCocharcas adorns its central niche. Large canvasespainted with sacred images still grace the sanctuary’sinterior walls.

Although much of the original building fabricremains, the church suffers from exposure to theelements and a lack of maintenance or inappropri-ate repairs. A technical report on the condition of thechurch has been issued and a plan for emergencyrepairs developed, however, funds for its implemen-tation are scarce given the current economic climatein Peru.

SITE NO. 33

SANTUARIO DE NUESTRA SEÑORA DE COCHARCAS

SITE NO. 30

HISTORIC CENTER OF CUZCO

j.m. g

om

ez-g

ar

cia

BARRANCA PROVINCE, PERU2600–2100 B.C.

Established at a time of dramatic cultural developmentin the Andes, the ancient site Caral, 182 kilometersnorth of Lima, has been hailed as the oldest city in theAmericas. Settled sometime around 2600 B.C., the siteincludes six stone platform mounds, the largest ofwhich measures 150 by 160 meters; two sunken cere-monial plazas; several zones with residential struc-tures; and an irrigation system. Among the mostastonishing finds to come from the site are a collec-tion of 32 flutes fashioned out of condor and pelicanwing bones. Discoveries such as Caral have promptedarchaeologists to revise their estimates of when,where, and how the change from Middle Preceramicsettlements to Late Preceramic cities came about. Therise of cities was accompanied by numerous techno-logical innovations, including the development ofmonumental architecture, the use of cloth woven on aheddle loom in place of simple twined and looped tex-tiles, and the tapping of rivers for irrigation, whichallowed for the cultivation of more than one cropannually.

In the 4,600 years since its construction, Caral hasbeen exposed to the elements, suffering from con-stant wind erosion. Today, the site faces the addedrisks of agricultural encroachment, looting, govern-mental failure to implement protection measures,and insufficient funds for proper conservation.

RIO ABISEO NATIONAL PARK, PERUca. A.D. 1200

Perched high on a cliff in the vast Rio Abiseo NationalPark stand eight ornate clay and stone chulpas, or bur-ial chambers, topped with wooden roofs and deco-rated with red, yellow, black and white paint.Well-preserved, painted wooden anthropomorphicsculptures hang from the eaves of the largest structure.Arranged on two levels, the chulpas may have beenbuilt by the Chachapoya, who thrived between thecloud forests blanketing the eastern flank of theAndean Cordillera and the lowland rainforests of theAmazon Basin, from A.D. 800 until their conquest bythe Inka in the 1470s. Their name is thought to be acorruption of the Quechua sacha puya, which means“cloud people,” after their preference for cliffside settle-ments and burial sites. Los Pinchudos is one of 36sites within the archaeological park, which also con-tains the remains of the settlement of Gran Pajatén.

The slow and progressive collapse of the chulpas isdue to seismic activity, which has destabilized severalof the structures. Their condition has been exacer-bated by exposure to the harsh tropical environmentand damage wrought by tourists. Emergency conser-vation measures were undertaken in 2000, however,conservation needs to be undertaken and a propermanagement plan developed. Rio Abiseo NationalPark is on the World Heritage List.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 29

LOS PINCHUDOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

SITE NO. 28

CARAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

ric

ar

do

m. g

am

ar

ra

r.s. so

lis

mo

nsig

no

r fer

nd

ez-pr

ad

a

li xiao

tao

li xiao

tao

th

e a

me

ric

as

3736

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA, USA18TH–19TH CENTURIES A.D.

Renowned as the “Jewel of the Missions,” San JuanCapistrano is the most famous of California’s 21Spanish missions established during the eighteenthand nineteenth centuries, and the only one built ofstone. Founded on November 1, 1776, by PadreJunípero Serra, the mission flourished and, within 20 years, its congregation had outgrown its humbleadobe chapel. In 1797, Isidoro Aguílar, a master stone-mason, was charged with building its replacement,transporting sandstone by oxcart from a quarry sixmiles away. Work progressed for nine years; the cur-rent sanctuary being dedicated on September 7, 1806.The plan of the church is that of a Latin cross, 51meters long and 25 meters wide. Eight low domesform its cathedral-like roof.

Tragically, a severe earthquake rocked the church onDecember 8, 1812, toppling its 23-meter-high bell-tower, which crashed through the nave, killing 40Juaneño Indian worshippers. Except for minor stabi-lization efforts by the Landmarks Club in 1890, themajestic ruins of the Great Stone Church remain ten-uously intact, having sustained two centuries of seis-mic activity and elemental devastation. Today, thisfragile and unique architectural treasure is home tothe famous “Capistrano swallows,” that migrate northfrom Argentina each year, however it is off-limits tothe 550,000 humans who visit the site each year.

SITE NO. 35

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANOMISSION CHURCH

ger

ald

miller

den

nis pla

ydo

n

ACOMA PUEBLO, NEW MEXICO, USAA.D. 1629–1643

Commissioned by King Charles II of Spain, the missionchurch of San Esteban del Rey is located in Acoma,known as the “Sky City” for its 1,000-foot-long stretchof triple-terraced houses built atop a 350-foot-highmesa. Continuously inhabited for 1,000 years, Acomais the oldest living community in the United States.

Built of stone and adobe, the east-facing church waserected under the direction of Fray Juan Ramírez ofOaxaca, Mexico. The walls, more than two metersthick, rise some ten meters. Two adobe towers embracethe facade. Its massive, slab-like front resembles anEgyptian temple, pierced only by the tall central door-way and square window above. To build the roof, theAcoma people transported long timber beams, eachweighing more than a ton, from sacred Mt. Taylor, 50 kilometers away, maneuvering them up the cliffwithout letting them once touch the ground, whichwould have been considered a sacrilege.

Because of the tremendous personal investment of so many people in constructing the church and main-taining it for generations, the Acoma feel the specialpresence of their ancestors within its walls. Despitelimited resources, tribal members have done signifi-cant preservation work over the years. However, SanEsteban is now endangered by roof deterioration and wall erosion. Ground-level erosion due to faultydrainage is evident along the perimeter walls. Thetime has come for a comprehensive preservation program.

SITE NO. 34

SAN ESTEBAN DEL REY MISSION AT ACOMA PUEBLO

MORROPÉ, PERUA.D. 1648

A rare example of rural Andean architecture, thechapel of San Pedro de Morropé was constructed atthe beginning of the Colonial period in an effort tobring Christianity to the indigenous Mochica, who forcenturies had been living in relative isolation amid thewindswept sands of Peru’s North Coast.

Built of Prehispanic materials—adobe, plaster-coatedtrunks of carob trees, reeds, and quincha, or mud-cov-ered wooden cane—San Pedro de Morropé is rectan-gular in plan with a single nave and a small, open-airapsidal chapel behind the main altar wall. The mainaltar itself is in the form of a stepped pyramid, remi-niscent of the 1,700-year-old Moche burial mound atSipán, a few kilometers to the west. The chapel is partof a larger religious complex, which includes a seven-teenth-century church and convent.

Exposure to the elements, including periodic torren-tial El Niño rains, has taken its toll on the building,eroding its plaster coating and weakening its adobewalls through rising damp, which has come as aresult of a higher water table. Increased humidity hasalso caused wooden elements to become coveredwith fungi. Some elements have been lost altogetherthrough water damage and lack of maintenance.Although the chapel was declared part of the coun-try’s National Cultural Heritage in 1980, funds for itsrestoration could not be set aside by the national gov-ernment until a comprehensive technical report hadbeen issued. A multiphase preservation plan hassince been formulated. It is hoped that listing willbring the plight of San Pedro de Morropé to light andprompt the government to take immediate action forits preservation.

SITE NO. 32

SAN PEDRO DE MORROPÉ

SITE NO. 31

OYÓN VALLEY MISSIONARY CHAPELS

LIMA, PERUA.D. 1500–1699

The vernacular richness of the 40 surviving DoctrinalChapels of the Oyón Valley is readily apparent in theirexuberant mural paintings, coffered wooden ceilings,and ornate polychromed altarpieces. Built of adobe inthe late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth centuries, aspart of a program to convert Peru’s indigenous peo-ple to Christianity, it is believed that each of thesechapels once had a freestanding bell tower, few ofwhich remain, and a large, open-air porch where thenatives were indoctrinated. However, each is uniquein both its plan and decoration. Although scatteredthroughout the Oyón Valley, the Doctrinal Chapelsshould be considered a singular complex due to theircollective historical and architectural value.

Earthquakes have severely damaged or weakenedmany of the structures, while water seepage fromcracks has caused murals to detach from the walls.Compounded with neglect and inappropriate repairs,using cement rather than adobe, these fine examplesof rural religious architecture are fading from the cultural landscape, having never been studied from an historical or artistic point of view. Nominatorshope to inventory and document these endangeredsanctuaries, and where possible, undertake emergencyrepairs and educate local communities about theirrich architectural legacy.

ma

ribel bea

s & pa

tric

ia n

ava

rr

o-g

ra

u

césa

r m

ag

uiñ

a g

óm

ez

th

e a

me

ric

as

3938

ca

ro

line z

alesk

i

OLD WESTBURY, NEW YORK, USAA.D. 1938

The A. Conger Goodyear House by Edward DurrellStone (1902–1975) is one of the most important mod-ern houses in the New York area from the erabetween the two world wars. It represents an unusu-ally felicitous and momentous relationship betweenpatron and architect, for Goodyear was a presidentand founder of the Museum of Modern Art, and hispersonal collection is at the nucleus of the museum’spresent-day holdings. Stone had worked with FrankLloyd Wright at Taliesin West, and had also met MiesVan der Rohe in 1927 at the occasion of the the open-ing of the Barcelona Pavilion. The A. Conger GoodyearHouse features a roof and glazing system similar tothat of the Pavilion, while the deep roof overhang androoms jutting from a large, central gallery space arean homage to Wright. At the south end, the diningroom is a sweeping circular glass pavilion. Of Stone’soeuvre, which included many key public buildings,most famously the Museum of Modern Art (1937),the A. Conger Goodyear House is arguably his mas-terpiece of domestic architecture. The large Art Mod-erne mural in the entry courtyard may well be by JoséMaria Sert, the Catalan painter of the murals at Rocke-feller Center’s RCA Building (1932).

The A. Conger Goodyear House’s current owner,head of a construction company who has erected ahousing development below the house’s hilltop site,has stated he intends to demolish the house unless abuyer offers an asking price of $1.6 million. The houseis in stable condition but no protective landmark ordi-nances exist in Old Westbury. The Society for thePreservation of Long Island Antiquities (SPLIA) hasjoined with the Preservation League of New York Stateto obtain New York State landmark status. The futureof the building remains perilous.

SITE NO. 38

A. CONGER GOODYEAR HOUSE

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, USAA.D. 1844–1847

St. Ann & The Holy Trinity is a sacred building evinc-ing the self-confidence of American aesthetics andebullience in the mid-nineteenth century. The exuber-antly ornamented, red sandstone Gothic Revivalbuilding was the crowning achievement of architectMinard Lafever’s career. Seven thousand square feetof stained glass by the artist William Jay Bolton depictthe “Jesse Tree” of Christ’s ancestry in an unusualhorizontal rather than the more typical vertical config-uration, as well as Old and New Testament themes.The organ loft window is on permanent exhibition inthe American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum ofArt. The soaring Neo-Gothic ceiling vaults and stuccowork are another feature for which the church isnoted.

For the first 100 years of its existence, the parish ofHoly Trinity was a progressive ecumenical and socialforce, its rector from 1900 to 1950 a leader in thenational labor and civil rights movements. In 1959, apolitical struggle led to the closing of the church. Tenyears of neglect and deterioration were to pass beforeit would open again for worship. In 1979, the NewYork Landmarks Conservancy sought to save thechurch, and in 1983, The St. Ann Center for Restora-tion and the Arts was established to guide thechurch’s restoration. In 2000, the center’s relation-ship to the church was terminated. In early 2001, aftertroubling reports from structural engineers, worshipwas again suspended and the sanctuary was closed.One of the treasures of American ecclesiastical archi-tecture stands at risk of being eliminated from wor-ship by the Episcopal Diocese that controls it.

SITE NO. 37

ST. ANN & THE HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

da

vid k

or

ma

n

SITE NO. 36

SCHINDLER KINGS ROAD HOUSE & STUDIO

ger

ald

zu

gm

an

n

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, USAA.D. 1921–22

Hailed as a masterpiece of early modern architec-ture, Rudolf Michael Schindler’s Kings Road Houseexhibits a radical rethinking of conventional living pat-terns, both structurally and socially, with its inventive“slab tilt” construction and integration of the gardenas living space, and its use as a salon for personali-ties from the worlds of progressive art, music, andpolitics. A Viennese immigrant, Schindler (1887–1953)and his American wife Pauline (1893–1977) countedamong their friends Frank Lloyd Wright, EdwardWeston, John Cage, and Buster Keaton. Galka Scheyerlived in the house in the 1930s, with her collection of paintings by the Blue Four—Klee, Kandinsky,Jawlensky, and Feiniger.

Structurally, the house is a combination of durableand ephemeral materials—concrete, redwood, insula-tion board, glass, and canvas. Maintenance requirescontinued vigilance, physically and financially. Therehas been a sporadic history of support from variousgovernmental sources—the City of West Hollywood,the California Department of Parks and Recreation,and the Republic of Austria—and, to a lesser extent,private donors. Friends of Schindler House (FOSH), anonprofit organization, acquired the property fromthe Schindler family in 1980. In 1994, FOSH enteredinto a cooperative agreement with the Republic ofAustria to establish the MAK Center for Art and Archi-tecture at the house. The ten-year contract has pro-vided funds for educational programming, staffing,and conservation, and has brought new life to thehouse in a manner that would have pleased theSchindlers themselves. While much has been accom-plished, much remains to be done.

th

e a

me

ric

as

4140 Progress Report:PREVIOUSLY LISTED WATCH SITES IN THE AMERICAS

zen

o c

ala

nto

ni

SUCHITOTO CITYEL SALVADORA unique example of a homogeneous, mid-sixteenth-century urban settlement char-acterized by one-story dwellings with red clay roof tiles, and linked by arcades andcourtyards. After the civil war ended in 1992, much of the original population of thecity had vanished. Refugees from northern regions and a new influx of wealthy citi-zens have now settled in the city. Since listing, a number of preservation initiativeshave been undertaken. The city’s core has been designated a national cultural her-itage site, an inventory of its historic structures has been undertaken, and a manage-ment plan has been developed, which includes a tourism component. Two years ago,a school, sponsored by the Spanish government, was established to revive traditionalcrafts and construction techniques.

Listed in 1998 & 2000

SAN IGNACIO MINIARGENTINAAmerican Express grants totaling$50,000 are supporting a compre-hensive conservation plan for thisseventeenth-century Spanish missioncomplex, as well as restoration of theportal. Progress has been slow, how-ever, in reopening the site to touristsas part of a program funded by theInter-American Development Bank.Listed in 1996 & 1998

USHUAIA PRISONARGENTINAThree of five wings of this prison,which were in operation until 1947,are stable again. The leaking roof wassealed, windows were replaced, anddamaged interiors were repaired.Plans are underway to turn this build-ing into a maritime museum for visi-tors to Ushuaia, which is located inthe southern reaches of Tierra delFuego. Listed in 1998

MORGAN LEWIS SUGAR MILLBARBADOSThe largest, surviving wind-drivensugarcane crushing mill in theCaribbean is an important artifact ofthe industry that fueled the economyof the region starting in the seven-teenth century. Listing called atten-tion to the accelerating deteriorationof the eighteenth-century mill and asa result, had an enormous effect onthe future of this important land-mark. As a result of listing and initialgrants totaling $50,000 from WMF,the Barbados National Trust was ableto raise all of the funds needed torepair the windmill and its mechani-cal equipment. The Morgan LewisSugar Mill has been one of the mostsuccessful projects of the WorldMonuments Watch program.Listed in 1996

EL PILAR MAYA RESERVEBELIZE & GUATEMALAThe large, ancient city of El Pilarstraddles the boarder between Belizeand Guatemala. Excavations haverevealed causeways and temples,public plazas and restricted acropolisthat stretch over 50 hectares. Theoverarching goals of the El Pilar pro-gram are to focus on the residentialcomponent of El Pilar’s domain andunderstand the daily life of the Maya.A contiguous reserve to protect boththe natural and cultural resources ofthe site has been proposed. Sincelisting in 1996, the governments ofBelize and Guatemala have agreed towork together on joint research andconservation of the site; and scien-tists and local communities haveforged alliances to assist with theconservation. At present, an integrat-ed, collaborative, and interdiscipli-nary team has been formed andsome funds are in place to continuethe research and conservation.Listed in 1996

RIO LAUCA PREHISTORICBURIAL TOWERSBOLIVIAThis site, which comprises 45 funer-ary towers adorned with abstractdesigns, has received an AmericanExpress grant of $25,000 to under-take emergency conservation and sta-bilization work, including the removalof destructive vegetation and consoli-dation of structures.Listed in 1998

ARANI & CALLAPACHURCHESBOLIVIAAlthough local residents and pilgrimsto these two adobe churches havefinanced some restoration work, bothsanctuaries, as well as many othersin the region, remain unstable.Despite listing, neither private norpublic support has been secured.WMF will continue to monitor the sit-uation in hopes that local interest inthe site will attract support.Listed in 1998

SERRA DE CAPIVARANATIONAL PARKBRAZILThreats—human and natural—to the25,000-year-old cave paintings withinthe rockshelters at this site have beenlargely eliminated. The Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank provided funds tobuild roads to the site; a UNESCO-sponsored technical mission hasbeen organized and an internationalteam of specialists is preparing con-servation measures to be implement-ed by local park staff. Listed in 1996

SANTO ANTONIO DOPARAGUAÇU CHURCH & CONVENTBRAZILEstablished by the Franciscans in the mid-seventeenth century, thecomplex became the prototype forPortuguese colonial monasteriesbuilt in the rich, sugar-producingregion. Abandoned in the early-twentieth century, the complex hasremained empty and its artistic patri-mony dispersed. It was placed on theendangered list in 2000 as a result of its vulnerable condition and thepromising plan by local officials toattract investment to reuse the com-plex as a revenue-generating resource.However, since listing, little haschanged. With the viability of the proposed action in question, the sitewas not included on the 2002 endan-gered list but will be monitored byWMF and possibly considered againin the future.Listed in 2000

GULF OF GEORGIA CANNERYCANADATypical of numerous canneries dot-ting the western Canadian coast atthe turn of the last century, now it isonly one of a few remaining of itskind. Closing as an active cannery in1979, the complex opened to thepublic as an interpretive center in

1994. Placed on the endangered listin 1998, as a result of severe dry rotand insect infestation that threatenedthe entire complex, it was estimatedto cost millions of dollars to repair.Canadian authorities quickly addressthe problems after listing and allocat-ed the necessary funds for the struc-tural repair. Today, the building housesa permanent exhibit space interpret-ing the fishing industry of the region.Listed in 1998

TULOR ALDEACHILEBeginning in the fifth century B.C., thePrehispanic Atacameña culture ofnorthern Chile built a dense series of dwellings grouped concentricallyaround a central one. Thesedwellings are a unique example of theearthen architecture of that period.Exposed to the elements and power-ful winds, the walls were crumblingat a rapid rate when the site wasincluded on the endangered list in1998. Since listing, state authoritiesworking with the indigenous commu-nity have hired and trained local tourguides and built a pedestrian walk-way, observation area, and protectivewall. A conservation plan is in placeto backfill the exposed and mostdeteriorated parts of the site.Listed in 1998

ORONGO ROCK ART SITEEASTER ISLAND, CHILEBeginning in the fifteenth century, thesite of Orongo was the yearly sceneof competitive athletic games.Virtually every rock surface displayscarved petroglyphs related to the so-called birdman cult. A World HeritageSite, Orongo was placed on the 1996and 2000 lists as a result of concernthat the large, petroglyph-coveredrocks are slowly sliding into the sea,and to address uncontrolled visitorfoot traffic and exposure to the ele-ments, which continue to destabilizethe site and deteriorate the carvings.Since listing, WMF has worked close-ly with the government of Chile todevelop and implement the first sci-entific project to monitor the move-ment of the cliff. WMF is also cur-rently supporting a project toimprove visitor circulation at Orongoto diminish damage to the structuresand carvings.Listed in 1996 & 2000

CHURCHES OF CHILOECHILEThe most important assemblage of wooden sanctuaries in LatinAmerica, the 70 churches of ChiloeIsland were in dire need of preserva-tion. Funds and labor from theEuropean Community, the AndesFoundation, the Spanish Agency forInternational Cooperation, EssoChile, and numerous local parishesand preservationists, along with theUniversity of Chile, are helping torestore and preserve these magnifi-cent structures. Listed in 1996

ALAMEDA RAILROADSTATIONCHILEA neighborhood redevelopmentscheme in Santiago threatened toshut down or compromise the archi-tectural integrity of Chile’s most mag-nificent railroad station. Listingprompted Chilean authorities torevise their development plans andpreserve this architectural wonder.Listed in 1998

ELEVATORS OF VALPARAISOCHILEAmerican Express had awarded$40,000 to undertake a study of waysto reverse the deterioration of the 24funiculars built between 1883 and1915, and facilitate pedestrian traffic.Since then, a $100,000 WMF WilsonChallenge Grant has been awarded tobegin conservation work based onthe results of the technical report. Listed in 2000

SANTA TERESA DE JESUSCLOISTERSCUBAThe cloister, built in 1707, functionedas a religious building until 1923,when it went into private ownershipand was converted into apartments.Typical of numerous significant colo-nial structures in Old Havana, todaythe building contains crowded livingspaces for 56 families. Residentshave made historically inappropriatealterations to improve their livingareas and much of the building is inurgent need of conservation and reg-ular maintenance. A conservationplan that is sensitive to the needs ofthe residents while also rescuing theimportant features of the building isdesperately needed. The CityHistorian of Havana has placedSanta Teresa, part of the WorldHeritage designation of Old Havana,on the city’s priority list for conserva-tion treatment. Listed in 2000

SANTA CLARA DE ASSISICONVENTCUBAThe third cloister of this importantconvent, part of the World Heritagedesignation of Old Havana, is in des-perate need of conservation. TheCentro Nacional de Conservaciónoccupies the other two cloisters,which have already been restored asconservation laboratories and class-rooms. The restoration and reuse ofthe third cloister would increase thecapacity of the conservation centerand be an integral part of restoringother buildings throughout the old

city. Some funds have been allocatedby the authorities but work has beenslow and further support is needed.Listed in 1996

SAN ISIDRO DE LOSDISTILADEROSCUBAOne of the most intact, survivingsugar plantations in the Valle de losIngenios near Trinidad. Sugar produc-tion ceased around 1890 and thefields were used to grow a variety ofcrops. The buildings remain in ruinsbut have been stabilized, but inade-quate funding and materials preventelimination of the primary threats tothe site, including rain water infiltra-tion and vegetation growth. Sincelisting in 2000, vandalism has beencompletely halted and the site nowhas a guard. A plan has been pre-pared to preserve and interpret thesite; only funding is needed. Listed in 2000

REINA CEMETERYCUBAListing raised awareness both inCuba and the United States of theplight of this nineteenth-centuryNeoclassical cemetery. As a result,municipal authorities have undertak-en some conservation, however, con-siderable funds and materials arerequired to complete the work. Listed in 1998

PUERTO PLATALIGHTHOUSEDOMINICAN REPUBLICThe lighthouse, built in 1879, symbol-ized the industrial progress of thecity. The cast-iron construction

employs classical-inspired motifs andis one of the last remaining of itskind in the Americas. General main-tenance on the lighthouse ceased in1979 and the structure was leftexposed to the elements, resulting inserious corrosion. In 2001, WMFawarded a grant of $65,000 for con-servation work on the structure.These funds should stabilize thedeterioration and almost completelyrestore the historic fabric. The gov-ernment has plans to build a visitor’scenter and interpret the importanceof the site.Listed in 2000

CHURCH OF THECAMPAñIAECUADOROne of the most significant Baroquestructures in South America, this sev-enteenth-century church in Quito wasseverely damaged by a fire in 1996.Funds have since been raised fromthe government, Pichicha Bank, andUNESCO to undertake emergencyrepairs. Listed in 1996

MORUKA-WAINI CULTURALLANDSCAPEGUYANAIncreasing development pressuresthreatened the 7,000-year-old shellmounds between the mouth of theOrinoco River and the Amazon.Listing created an awareness of thethreats and galvanized efforts todevelop eco-tourism and a conserva-tion plan for the area; implementa-tion of such a plan is still far in thefuture. Listed in 1996

th

e a

me

ric

as

4342

MODERN MURALPAINTINGSMEXICOA $30,000 American Express grant underwrote the restoration of a muralby José Clemente Orozco in Mexico City’s Church of Jesús Nazareno. Thisgrant prompted the state to supply funds for the restoration of the churchitself. A second grant of $40,000 was given by the California-basedFriends of Heritage Preservation for the restoration of the RobertoMontenegro mural Feast of the Holy Cross in the Antiguo Colegio Maximofor San Pedro e San Pablo in Mexico City. A WMF Wilson Challenge Grantof $20,000 has recently been awarded for continuation of the work.Listed in 1996

ADOBE CHURCHESUNITED STATESThe adobe churches and missions ofNew Mexico embody the way of lifeof the people and represent themost diverse assemblage of historicadobe buildings in the U.S. With theearliest structures dating from thetime of Spanish colonization, manyare still central cultural landmarks oftheir communities. The collection ofbuildings was placed on the endan-gered list in 1996 to call attention tothe accelerated physical deteriorationof the churches and the exceptionalefforts of Cornerstones CommunityPartnerships to assist communitiesin properly restoring their buildings.Over the years, 300 communitieshave received support and fundshave been raised for programs inyouth training, conservation work-shops, and publication of the AdobeArchitecture Conservation Handbook.This project has been a model forcommunity-based conservation inthe United States and around theworld.Listed in 1996

OLD IRON BRIDGEJAMAICADating from 1801, this cast-ironbridge is thought to be one of theoldest in the Americas. Prefabricatedin England and assembled on site,the bridge remains an important linkbetween Kingston and Spanish Town.Years of deferred maintenance andthe harsh climate have caused rust-ing and weakening of the structuralmembers. After listing in 1998, agrant of $50,000 was awarded byWMF to initiate restoration. Furtherfunding was expected from the gov-ernment. Today, restoration workcontinues.Listed in 1998

TEOTIHUACÁNARCHAEOLOGICAL SITEMEXICOPerhaps Mexico’s most impressivearchaeological site, with numerouspyramids, temples, plazas and resi-dential areas, Teotihuacán rose topreeminence at the beginning of thefirst millennium A.D., only to bedestroyed in the early eighth century.Since listing, American Express hasawarded the site $100,000 to under-take a pilot conservation project topreserve the extraordinary murals atthe site. Listed in 2000

MADERA CAVE DWELLINGSMEXICOThe Paquimé culture that built thisextensive network of cave dwellingswas part of the Indian cultures of thenorthwest of Mexico and the south-west of the United States, known asOasisamerican. They flourishedbetween the eleventh and twelfth cen-turies. Knowledge of the Paquiméculture has been extremely limited.Efforts have progressed slowly, led bya Mexican geologist, to discover,record and study these cave dwellingsites. The formal involvement ofINAH of Mexico still has to be forth-coming to ensure these valuable cul-tural sites will be a recognized part ofthe cultural patrimony, protectedunder the preservation laws andproperly conserved and maintained.Exploration and education continueslocally. WMF will continue to monitorthe situation.Listed in 1998 & 2000

VEGA DE LA PEÑAMEXICOA change in the course of the Bobosriver in 1995 destroyed the main pyra-mid at this Late-Postclassic (ca. A.D.1250–1540) site in Veracruz. AlthoughMexico’s federal government allocat-ed funds to control erosion of thesite, little work has been done sincelisting in 1998.Listed in 1998

CHURCH OF JESÚSNAZARENOMEXICOConstructed between 1740 and 1776,the Church of Jesús Nazareno inAtotonilco is famous for its muralsand richly decorated altars. Years ofneglect have resulted in severe deteri-oration of the church. Rainwater infil-tration, extremes of temperaturesand smoke from votive candles havethreatened the rich collection ofmurals. WMF has contributed signifi-cant funds along with several otherNGOs and the State Government ofGuanajuato to preserve the church.Restoration of the church to its for-mer glory is well underway. Listed in 1996

METROPOLITANCATHEDRALMEXICOA novel geotechnical process is beingimplemented to stabilize LatinAmerica’s largest cathedral, whichhas settled unevenly since its con-struction between 1573 and 1813. Thecathedral was erected atop theancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán,which had been built on an islandamid a great salt lake. Below ground,injections of special mortar to stabi-lize the structure has been undertak-en and an immense web of steel scaf-folding, erected within the cathedralto support it, has since beenremoved. Listed in 1998

YUCATECÁN INDIANCHAPELSMEXICOWith a $20,000 American Expressgrant, a model treatment programand an exhibition that illustratesproper preservation techniques forYucatán’s important adobe ecclesias-tical buildings has been instituted.

Work on the structures, of whichthere are more than 100, were builtbetween the sixteenth and eighteenthcenturies, and local communityinvolvement continues to increase.Listed in 1996

SAN JUAN BAUTISTACHURCH & CONVENTMEXICORestoration work has been completedon the cloister of this sixteenth-centurysite, funded in part by AmericanExpress, while several rooms areserving as a museum. In Tetela delVolcán, local workers are beingtrained to help restore the conventwith local and state funds, Significantconservation challenges remain.Listed in 1998

PALACIO DE BELLES ARTESMEXICOAmerican Express donated $100,000to study and restore the central domeof this magnificent Art Nouveau edi-fice, built between 1904 and 1934.Initial phase of work has been com-pleted. However, government fundsto complete the work have not beenforthcoming. WMF is monitoringongoing restoration efforts. Listed in 1998.

SANTA PRISCA PARISHCHURCHMEXICOCommissioned in 1751 by José de laBorda, who struck it rich in miningsilver, this elaborate Baroque churchin Taxco was threatened by cracks inits vaults and water damage to itscentral dome. Since listing, structuralissues have been addressed andrestoration of the structure is inprogress.Listed in 2000

CAROLINA HACIENDAMEXICOA plan has been developed to convertthis late-nineteenth-century FrenchNeoclassical hacienda into a commu-nity center and its surrounding land-scape into a public park. However,the project must have both publicand private support for it to moveforward.Listed in 1998

APURLECARCHAEOLOGICAL SITEPERUA vast Precolumbian settlement onthe north coast of Peru, inhabitedbetween ca. A.D. 700 and 1300,Apurlec has been intensively studiedand documented by BrüningMuseum in Lambayeque. Due to itsremoteness, however, the site wasthreatened by neglect, looting, andencroachment, being largely ignoredby government agencies responsiblefor the protection of sites. Since list-ing, the site has been included on theMinistry of Agriculture’s official landregistry, preventing commercialdevelopment. New legislation hasdeclared the site as part of thenational cultural patrimony. Thephysical condition of the site, howev-er, has worsened. WMF is continuingto monitor the situation. Listed in 1998

MACHU PICCHUPERUA massive public awareness cam-paign launched following listing in

2000 has removed the immediatethreat to this fourteenth-century Inkacity, perched high above the UrubambaRiver. Developers had planned tobuild a cable car connecting themountaintop site to the village ofAguas Calientes below. Such installa-tion would destroy the serene natureof the site and expose it to unprece-dented amounts of tourists.Listed in 2000

RANSOM ROOMPERUSince listing, the historic site wherethe Inka emperor Atahualpa was heldfor ransom by the Spanish conquista-dores, little has happened. However,plans are still in place for its restora-tion. Listed in 1998

LA QUINTA HEERENPERUThe revitalization of La Quinta, anarchitecturally distinct suburb ofLima—built by German businessmanand diplomat Oscar Heeren between1888 and 1930—has remained a local

issue, despite hopes that Watch list-ing would call attention to its plight.We believe that Lima has establisheda planning organization to developthe neighborhood, but we havereceived no further information on itsstatus.Listed in 1998

MURALS OF THE ALLAUCACHURCHPERUWatch listing highlighted the impor-tance of the 27 fading murals at thisrural colonial church, however, theabsence of any status report regard-ing their restoration suggests that nomeasures have been implemented. Listed in 1996

JODENSAVANNESURINAMEJodensavanne, settled by SephardicJews beginning in the mid-fifteenthcentury, developed into the NewWorld’s largest and only autonomousJewish agrarian community. The syna-gogue was the first of any architectur-al significance in the western hemi-

th

e a

me

ric

as

4544 sphere. Since inclusion on the 2000endangered list, much progress hasbeen made to protect and presentthe site. Local private funds and vol-unteer support have allowed for theconstruction of a jetty and visitor’scenter on site as well as providingsupport for daily maintenance of thesite. Funds are still needed for pro-tection against the long-term threatsand significant conservation meas-ures on the synagogue and cemeter-ies. WMF will continue to monitorthe progress at the site.Listed in 1996 & 2000

CHACO CANYONNATIONAL PARKUNITED STATESSince listing, architectural and photo-graphic documentation has been pre-pared and large-scale backfilling anddrainage projects have been under-taken at four locales. Routine mainte-nance and repair—repointing ofjoints and recapping of masonrywalls—has been ongoing and steady.Listed in 1996

MESA VERDE NATIONALPARKUNITED STATESThe Northern Anasazi culture beganconstructing these dwellings in natu-ral alcoves around 1200. Since MesaVerde became a national park in1906, the cliff dwellings have under-gone continuous excavation andattempts at preservation. At the timeof inclusion on the 1998 endangeredlist, it had become clear that theunique plain and decorative earthenplasters and mortars were deteriorat-ing at an alarming rate. The NationalPark Service team launched anaggressive conservation plan for thepark. Since that time, over $5 millionhas been raised for conservation ofthe buildings and fragile plasters,including $183,000 through WMF.Conservation work is now able tocontinue that addresses the primarycauses of the threats to thedwellings. Mesa Verde is a WorldHeritage Site.Listed in 1998

SOUTH PASS CULTURALLANDSCAPEUNITED STATESAlthough listing highlighted thethreat to this Pioneers’ route alongthe Oregon Trail, which was critical inopening up the American West,posed by the construction of apipeline, little information has beenreceived on its current status. Listed in 1998

HOLY RUSSIAN ASCENSIONCHURCHUNITED STATESThis Russian Orthodox church in theAleutian Islands contains a collectionof almost eight hundred liturgicalartifacts collected by the Aleut peo-ple, including 252 Orthodox iconsdating from the eighteenth to thetwentieth centuries. Years of storagein unheated warehouses and improp-er conservation techniques had dis-colored, cracked and otherwise seri-ously damaged the icons. When thesite was placed on the 1996 endan-gered list, the expertise did not existlocally to restore the icons. A grant of$40,000 was awarded through WMFand proper icon conservation wascarried out on 13 rare and valuablecalendar icons and six of the mostdeteriorated icons. The Aleutian-Pribilof Heritage Group continues toraise funds to support further iconrestoration and create a computerdatabase that contains informationon over 800 ecclesiastical objects. Listed in 1996

LAFAYETTE CEMETERYNO. 1UNITED STATESAmerican Express awarded a$20,000 to formulate a preservationplan for New Orleans’ first above-ground cemetery, established in 1833.Some of its greatest threats havebeen addressed, namely vegetationgrowth and tourism damage, andseveral tombs have been restored.Funds for continued work here and at other cemeteries in the city arebeing sought as incidents of lootingand vandalism continue to rise. Listed in 1996

BODIE STATE HISTORICPARKUNITED STATESBodie is the largest and most com-plete, unrestored ghost town remain-ing in the American West. Datingfrom the 1850s, the 114 buildings withthousands of artifacts, includinghorse-drawn vehicles, machinery, anddomestic instruments, remainexposed to the elements thoughpreservation efforts continue slowly.Soon after inclusion on the 1998endangered list, the most urgentthreat of encroachment was eliminat-ed when the Bureau of LandManagement purchased 500 acressurrounding the site that had beenslated for development by privateowners.Listed in 1998

FORT APACHEUNITED STATESEstablished in 1870, the fort quicklybecame the base of operations fromwhich the U.S. Calvary carried outattacks against Apaches who resistedthe federal government policies. In1922, the fort was decommissionedand transferred to the Bureau ofIndian Affairs. It was reopened as theTheodore Roosevelt Indian BoardingSchool, the mission of which was toeliminate the oral and cultural tradi-tions of the Apaches. Now under thestewardship of the White MountainApache Tribe, the buildings are in anear ruinous state. The tribe has pre-pared a master plan for adaptivereuse of the fort as a cultural andeducational center. After inclusion onthe list in 1998, WMF provided$80,000 for emergency stabilizationand a comprehensive conservationplan. Additional funds have now beenreceived from the federal governmentand the Fort Apache HeritageFoundation continues to solicit fundsand sustain momentum.Listed in 1998

SEVENTH REGIMENTARMORYUNITED STATESThe Seventh Regiment Armory, locat-ed on Manhattan’s Upper East Side,was built between 1877 to 1881. The

armory includes lavishly decoratedreception spaces, private offices andcompany rooms designed by LouisComfort Tiffany, Stanford White andthe Herter Brothers, as well as a53,000-square-foot drill shed. Despitecontinued use, the building suffersfrom decades of neglect and minimalmaintenance. At the time of inclusionon the endangered list in 2000, thestate agency responsible for the oper-ations of the building had neither thefunds nor the incentive to undertakea conservation project. In June 2000,significant steps were taken by theEmpire State DevelopmentCorporation to ensure the future of the armory. A call for proposals for the restoration and operation ofthe building was released and a non-profit organization, the SeventhRegiment Armory Conservancy, wasthe sole bidder. It is expected that the state will make its final decisionsoon and award the contract to theConservancy group. If that happens,funding and conservation workshould be forthcoming. WMF willcontinue to monitor the situation.Listed in 2000

ELLIS ISLAND NATIONALMONUMENTUNITED STATESEllis Island in New York Harbor wasthe principal immigration station inthe United States from 1892 to 1954.The U.S. National Park Service main-tains and operates the completelyrestored North End of the island aspart of the Statue of Liberty NationalMonument. The South End of theisland, containing 28 buildings,including the hospital and isolationwards, have stood abandoned andexposed to the elements for 40yyears. Placed on the 1996 endan-gered list to call attention to theirdeteriorating condition, a grant wasawarded and a pilot program for sta-bilization, weatherproofing and basicexterior restoration was carried out.As a result, additional funding wasreceived from federal and statesources to stabilize all the buildingson the island. Plans are in develop-ment for full restoration and reuse.Listed in 2000

LANCASTER COUNTYCULTURAL LANDSCAPEUNITED STATESOne of America’s greatest culturallandscapes, this area of southeasternPennsylvania is an embodiment ofthe seventeenth century vision of reli-gious tolerance. Today, the “PlainPeople”—Amish, Mennonite andother Anabaptist faith communities—continue their traditional ways oflife. However, this landscape of scenicfarmland is threatened by suburbansprawl. Local historic preservationand farmland conservation groupsalong with the National Trust forHistoric Preservation have becomeactive against the uncontrolled sub-urban development. Slow progress isbeing made as these groups engagegovernment officials, policymakersand citizens. A grant of $100,000was awarded by WMF in 2001 for aproject that will demonstrate the ben-efits of development in the traditionalurban areas of the county rather thanovertaking more farmland. WMF willcontinue to monitor the progress.Listed in 1998 & 2000

TREE STUDIOS & MEDINAHTEMPLEUNITED STATESThis one-square-block area ofChicago’s near-north side is a raresurvivor in a neighborhood overtakenby new, high-rise residential develop-ment and trendy theme restaurants.The block includes the Tree Studios,built in 1894 by Judge Lambert Treeto entice visiting artists to theWorld’s Columbian Exhibition to stayin Chicago, and the Medinah Temple,built in 1912 as the auditorium andheadquarters for the Shriners. Placedon the endangered list in 2000 inresponse to the possible sale of theproperty to developers who plannedto build a highrise tower on theblock. Listing brought extensive localpublicity and soon the ChicagoDepartment of Planning andDevelopment and the LandmarksCommission became active support-ers of a reuse plan that would savethe integrity of the buildings. TaxIncentive Financing was made avail-able by the city to attract a developer

who would reuse rather than destroythe buildings. At this time, a develop-er has purchased the property and isin the final stages of presenting aplan that will allow for economicrebirth of the block as well as preser-vation of the important features ofthe building and some of the artisticuses of the Tree Studios. WMF willcontinue to monitor the situation.Listed in 2000

GOLDEN GATE PARK CONSERVATORYUNITED STATESA grant of $100,000 from AmericanExpress was awarded for conserva-tion of this rare nineteenth-centuryconservatory after storm damage in1995. Some concern was raised whenit had been suggested that woodenelements be replaced with metalones, however, these fears have beenallayed by the San Francisco Parksand Recreation Department. Withnew support from the Save America’sTreasures Program, conservation iscontinuing.Listed in 1996

EASTERN STATE PENITEN-TIARYUNITED STATESThe Eastern State Penitentiary,opened in 1829, was once the mostfamous prison in the world. The revo-lutionary radial architectural planalong with the new philosophicalapproach of replacing corporal pun-ishment with isolation and laborbecame a model for nearly 300 pris-ons around the world. Closed since1971, a citizen’s group opened theprison again to tour groups. Thepreservation task is enormous butsignificant progress has been madesecuring funding from local, stateand national agencies and founda-tions. Work progresses slowly and anambitious fundraising campaign hasbeen launched. WMF will continue tomonitor the progress.Listed in 1996 & 2000

VDL RESEARCH HOUSEUNITED STATESBuilt in 1932 by Richard Neutra, thedesign sums up the Modernist archi-tect’s design ethos. This building is

one of the most important examplesof the “Neutra/California Modern”style. The California State PolytechnicUniversity took control of the site in1990 and funding has not been avail-able to provide regular maintenanceor carry out urgent conservation andstructural work. Placed on the endan-gered list in 2000, the buildingreceived extensive publicity in the LosAngeles press and skilled volunteershave come forward to carry outasbestos removal. The university hasalso allocated funding for roof repairand glass door replacement. In addi-tion, a Restoration Practicum coursewill focus on the restoration of thebuilding. The university has demon-strated its commitment to therestoration works but further fundingis needed to rescue the building fromfurther deterioration. WMF will con-tinue to monitor the progress.Listed in 2000

SAN FRANCISCO CHURCHVENEZUELAMisguided restoration efforts, whichinvolved removing the roof and leav-ing the sanctuary open for two years,threatened the survival of this late-nineteenth-century Neoclassicalchurch within the World Heritage Siteof Coro. An American Express grantof $50,000 for emergency repairswas awarded in 2000, but renewedflooding caused by heavy rains con-tinues to threaten the edifice. Listed in 1998

46

as

ia

47

on an early winter morning, a young man worships at a cluster of buddhist caityas atop swayambunath hill, themost revered newari site in the kathmandu valley, nepal. newari monuments such as teku thapatali and itum baharemain at risk.

kevin

bubr

iski

INTO AN ANCIENT LANDFrom the birth of Buddhism in India to the construction of the Great Wall of China, the

vast continent of Asia has been the setting for some of humankind’s greatest achieve-

ments in religion, philosophy, art, and architecture. The Asian sites included in the

World Monuments Watch 2002 list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites represent not only

the variety of cultural heritage from temporal, artistic, and functional points of view,

but illustrate the range of problems and challenges faced by monuments in Asia and

the cultures that surround them. Many of these sites are “living monuments,” sacred

spaces still in use by local populations. Others are “cultural landscapes”—river frontages,

market districts, or entire towns.

The tradition of bathing in the sacred Bagmati and Vishnumati rivers in Kathmandu,

Nepal, for example, continues to be an integral part of the Hindu ritual of purification.

Yet, with the pressures of population and development, the banks of this sacred river-

ine confluence are packed with shantytowns; the rivers themselves being tapped for

irrigation and used as open sewers amid the uncontrolled development of urban

BEIJING, CHINAA.D. 1338–1644

One of the world’s most famous monuments, theGreat Wall is the most recent of China’s many walls,built to protect the country from nomadic invasionsfrom the north. Constructed over three centuries dur-ing the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall was begun in 1368. By the time of its completion in 1644, itstretched over more than 6,300 kilometers. Nowhereon its route across northern China is the Great Wallmore majestic than at Beijing, where an extensive andcomplex system of ramparts crowns mountain ridges,plunging into verdant valleys below. Flanking the wall,a stunning natural backdrop served as the source ofits construction materials—the place where stonewas quarried and baked bricks sourced and manufac-tured. It is a cultural landscape enhanced by small,ancient villages of vernacular architecture.

While the Great Wall has long been a tourist destina-tion, recent initiatives to increase tourism and devel-opments to accommodate it have placed newpressures on the monument and its fragile surround-ing landscape. Advocacy and legislation to protect thearea from development are necessary to preserve oneof China’s, and the world’s, most impressive sites. Itwas built to protect China; now China must protect it.

SITE NO. 39

BANTEAY CHHMAR TEMPLE OF JAYAVARMAN VII

SITE NO. 40

GREAT WALL OF CHINACULTURAL LANDSCAPE, BEIJING

c.ja

cq

ues

willia

m lin

desa

y

THMAR PUOK, CAMBODIA12TH CENTURY A.D.

A complex of eight temples deep in the Cambodianjungle near the Thai border, the citadel of Banteay Chhmar was commissioned by the twelfth-centuryruler Jayavarman VII in honor of five heroes, includinghis son, who died defending the Khmer empire againstthe Champa kingdom. Built over nine square kilome-ters and surrounded by a moat, the site echoes thearchitectural layout of the better-known Khmer templecomplexes of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. The siteis renowned for its beautifully rendered bas-reliefs,which depict the war between the Khmer and Champakingdoms and the accession of the Khmer king.

In spite of its remoteness, Banteay Chhmar wascaught in the chaos of war and revolution, whichengulfed Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge in the1970s. Deep in the jungle and unattended, the tem-ples and walls were reclaimed by the tropical forest—trees and foliage growing atop temples and rainwaterpenetrating nearly every crack and crevice, causingstones to shift and whole buildings to collapse. Begin-ning in the 1970s and more recently in the 1990s, thesite has become the target of a massive looting opera-tion, having been stripped of more than 50 squaremeters of bas-reliefs and countless pieces of pricelessstatuary. Listed in 1998 and 2000, Banteay Chhmarwill remain at risk unless measures are undertaken toassist and finance its conservation and protection.

Listed in 1998 & 2000

as

ia

4948 Kathmandu. This situation is made all the more dire given the current political crisis

in this Himalayan nation.

Until recently, the ubiquity of historic buildings in urban areas of Asia was seen as rea-

son enough to replace them with new buildings. The sweeping away of entire historic

districts threatens sites such as the ancient market area in Shaxi, China, an entrepôt in

the tea trade route that stretched from Tibet to Southeast Asia; or the accommoda-

tion of modern development interests in George Town, Malaysia, which comprise the

largest grouping of pre-World-War-II buildings in Southeast Asia. These development

plans are evidence of an urban planning approach that, unfortunately, has been im-

plemented in many cities already. While the restoration of existing buildings in Europe

has been a norm since the nineteenth century, in Asia, ancient buildings and sites sim-

ply were razed once their conditions began to degrade. The notion of adaptive reuse,

restoration, and conservation remains novel in much of Asia, introduced only a few

decades ago.

Maintaining the inventories of sites is a never-ending challenge, and, despite the loss

of countless monuments in the twentieth century alone, there are still many of extreme

cultural importance that remain to be preserved. Nearly all Asian countries have well-

established ministries of culture, however, many lack the resources or infrastructure

to galvanize support for the protection of their precious sites, their governments often

struggling with more pressing issues. The tremendous value of Asia’s cultural heritage

and its peril has drawn the attention of international organizations in recent years, and

organizations like UNESCO and World Monuments Fund have committed to aid com-

munities and governments in conservation efforts.

The potential benefits surrounding architectural conservation and sustainable devel-

opment in places where the social and spiritual relationship of the people to the place

is embedded in hundreds and sometimes thousands of years of history and tradition,

however, are extraordinary. It is the resilient and intimate relationship societies in Asia

have with their cultural histories that has seduced and inspired the world for millennia.

It is that same inspiration which now must be manifested as an international effort to

conserve and protect.

—JOHN STUBBS & OLIVIA STINSON, THE WORLD MONUMENTS FUND

as

ia

5150

SHANNXI, CHINAA.D. 650–781

The earliest surviving church in China, the Da QinPagoda and Monastery were constructed at a timewhen Christianity was spreading to the east, intro-duced by the Nestorians in the early-seventh centuryA.D. Among the relics preserved within the pagoda area nativity scene executed in mud and plaster; a statuedepicting Jonah lying beneath the walls of Nineveh(see site No. 11), which represents a fusion of Chineseand Western artistic traditions; and Syriac graffitietched into the walls. The pagoda and monastery—only traces remain of the latter—were abandoned ca.845 as a result of persecution. In 1300, the pagodawas converted into a Buddhist temple. However, itwas severely damaged by an earthquake in 1556,which sealed many of its underground chambers andled to its final abandonment. As virtually nothing sur-vives of the ancient art and architecture of the Churchof the East, Da Qin Christian Pagoda is a rare siteindeed.

While the site has remained virtually untouchedsince its abandonment in the sixteenth century, its sig-nificance has only recently become known. Local seis-mic activity threatens the structural stability of thepagoda and flooding has weakened buried sectionsand damaged artworks. Exposure to the elements hasalso eroded some of the mud reliefs. The prospect oflooting and agricultural encroachment require sitesecurity. The pagoda’s exterior was restored in 1999,however, its stability is uncertain. In addition to con-servation and advocacy, nominators hope to realize aplan for site interpretation, including the creation of asite museum and study center.

SHAXI, YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINAA.D. 1300–1800

A one-time waystation on the Tea and Horse CaravanTrail that linked Tibet with Southeast Asia, the ShaxiMarket is the only surviving example of such an entre-pôt, complete with an intact theater, guest houses formerchants enroute to the Tibet high plateau, a templeprecinct, and protective gates. Founded by an earlyTibetan Buddhist sect, one of the temples in the com-plex is adorned with a mural painting of a MingDynasty (A.D. 1368–1644) image of a female Buddha,suggesting a matriarchal society in Shaxi, along with amultiethnic population.

Following the Cultural Revolution in China in 1949,trade between Tibet and Yunnan ceased and the mar-ket area fell into decline. Mountainous and inhabitedprimarily by the Bai, one of China’s largest ethnicminorities, the area has become increasingly poverty-stricken. Since the 1960s, the traditions of the Bai,including their Sino-Tibetan language and culture,have steadily faded. The future Tibet-Yunnan Railwaymay bring tourism and renewed interest in the area.However, the site needs to be protected and restored,and a plan for site interpretation and socio-economicreintegration, including the revival of the market area,needs to be developed.

SITE NO. 42

SHAXI MARKET AREA

SITE NO. 41

DA QIN CHRISTIAN PAGODA & MONASTERY

cir

ca

pho

to

jac

qu

es feiner

KARNATAKA, INDIAA.D. 900–1600

Founded in the tenth century, the fortified city of Ana-gundi on the northern bank of the mighty Tungab-hadra River has played an integral role in Indianhistory. Thought to be the mother city of the medievalHindu capital of Vijayanagara, just across the river,Anagundi served as an administrative center formuch of the Karnataka region, which included anumber of ancient cities mentioned in the 2,000-year-old Hindu epic, the Ramayana. Though Anagundifaded into the background during the Vijayanagaraperiod, it once again rose to preeminence in thesixteenth century, becoming a place of refuge forthe Hindu royal court after Vijayanagara fell to theMuslims in 1565. It retains many of the architecturalforms that were once common at Vijayanagara, butsubsequently destroyed. It has also become a place ofpilgrimage for Hindus, who believe it to be Kishkinda,birthplace of Lord Hanuman, the monkey god.

Today, the remains of imperial structures can beseen throughout the village, architectural elementswithin several shrines dating to the tenth century. Ana-gundi is a quiet village with elegant examples of ruralarchitecture set among its ancient ruins—its moderninhabitants continuing to use centuries-old stone irri-gation channels built by Hindu kings. Until recently,Anagundi remained relatively isolated, preservingmuch of its ancient form. However, increasing pres-sures in the area now threaten the city, including theconstruction of a bridge and railroad that would ruinits picturesque appearance. A management plan forits long-term preservation needs to be developed.

SITE NO. 43

OHEL RACHEL SYNAGOGUE

SHANGHAI, CHINAA.D. 1917–1920

For more than 13 centuries, China has been home toenclaves of Jews—merchants, traders, scholars, and,more recently, refugees from Central Europe who fledthe Holocaust. With its lax “no-visa” policy, the city ofShanghai alone attracted some 25,000. One-third ofits pre-1949-landmarked buildings were built by IraqiJews. The Ohel Rachel Synagogue is one of the fewremaining buildings attesting the Jewish presence inChina. It is also the only one of seven synagoguesoriginally built in Shanghai—five were destroyed andone has been converted into office space—thatremains largely intact, having served the Jewish com-munity until 1952.

The Chinese government confiscated Ohel Rachel in1952, subsequently removing its interior furniture anddecorations. During the Cultural Revolution, all win-dows, chandeliers, and ornaments were smashed.The building, however, managed to survive largelyintact, and in 1993, was declared a historic landmarkby the city of Shanghai, granting it some protection. Itserved as office space and a storage facility for theChinese Communist Party Youth League and Shang-hai Education Commission until 1998. Although thebuilding was cleaned and painted in preparation for avisit by then First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton andSecretary of State, Madeleine Albright in 1998, littlewas done in terms of actual repair. The building suf-fers from leaks and vegetation growth, which threatenits structural fabric. The growing Jewish Communityof Shanghai wishes to restore the building to its origi-nal 1920 form and to use it as a synagogue andmuseum to commemorate the longtime relationshipbetween the Jewish and Chinese people.

SITE NO. 44

ANAGUNDI HISTORIC SETTLEMENT

ad

am

gla

sser

om

pra

ka

sh a

gr

aw

al

as

ia

5352

NAKO, INDIAA.D. 1025

Located in an isolated region of the Western Himalaya,the village of Nako was an important center ofTibetan Buddhist learning until the disintegration ofthe Western Tibetan Kingdom ca A.D. 1100. Seventemples of various dates survive in the city, amongthem two with mural cycles and clay sculptures datingto the twelfth century. Built of wood and rammedearth, these temples are a rich source of art historicalinformation on early Buddhism in the region—thepaintings within them showing a large number oficonographic and technical innovations, including thefirst rendering of a fully developed mandala withgates, a fire circle, and attendant non-Buddhistdeities, and the use of high relief adorned in gold andsilver paint.

Located 3,600 meters above the Spiti River, Nako isone of most isolated places on Earth, being entirelycut off from civilization during the winter months. Asa result, its buildings have suffered from neglect. Thetwo oldest temples were badly damaged during a 1975earthquake, a tin roof now protects the paintings andsculpture in one; emergency repairs were carried outon the other in 1998. However, a plan for long-termconservation and preservation of the temples is inorder.

LEH, LADAKH, INDIAA.D. 1530–1699

High in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh stands the fortress of Basgo Gompa, built of mudbrick andrammed earth, during the sixteenth and seventeenthcenturies A.D. by the Tibetan king Grags-pa-’bum andhis successors. Within the fortress are three temples,erected in celebration of the Great Maitreya, the fifthBuddha who, it was believed, would lead all sentientbeings into liberation and eternal bliss.

Though much of the fortress has fallen into ruin, thethree temples survive intact, the largest containing a14-meter-high-gilded earthen statue of the MaitreyaBuddha, surrounded by murals depicting scenes fromhis life and portraits of the patrons who underwrotethe construction of the temple complex. The templescontinue to serve as places of worship for townspeo-ple and monks from the nearby Hemis Monastery.

A series of small donations have helped make emer-gency repairs, however, wind continues to erode themanmade hill upon which the fortress was built andwater leaking through the temple roofs is destabiliz-ing temple foundations. A conservation strategy andtechnical assistance are needed for preservation.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 46

MAITREYA TEMPLES OF BASGO

SITE NO. 45

NAKO TEMPLES

ch

ristia

n lu

cz

an

its

jam

spal lo

za

ng

HYDERABAD, INDIAA.D. 1803–1857

Built as the British Residency, Osmania Women’s Col-lege is one of the most important Anglo-Indian struc-tures still standing in India, both for its architecturalmerit and the critical role it played in the developmentof nineteenth-century Hyderabad. According to leg-end, a dashing British resident, James Kirkpatrick,married the beautiful, high-born Khairunnisa Begum.As their love transcended the boundaries of culture,race, and religion, it inspired enhanced relationsbetween Britain and the powerful Nizam, ruler ofHyderabad, who financed the building of the resi-dency. Following its construction on the north bank ofthe Musi River, much of the city’s population, whichhad lived primarily on the south bank, began movingnorth. Following the flood of 1808, the Nizam built anew palace near the residency, attracting bankers andtraders to the area. The Residency Bazaar, as it cameto be known, became the financial nerve of the city. In1930, the then-reigning Nizam gave the building toOsmania, the first women’s college in the state ofAndhra Pradesh. With 2,600 students, Osmaniastands as a symbol to the role of women and as apositive adaptation of a colonial legacy.

While Osmania Women’s College is one of the earli-est and finest classical revival buildings in India, a lackof adequate funds and conservation expertise haveleft it in a spiraling decline. Water damage has led torotting timber in the structural beams, resulting in thecollapse of a large hall. Constant heavy use of thebuilding combined with inappropriate repairs haveexacerbated structural problems. Funds are neededto reverse this downward spiral.

SITE NO. 47

DWARKA DHEESH MANDIR TEMPLE

AHMEDABAD, INDIAA.D. 1400–1700

Founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah, the city of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat is one of India’sforemost medieval cities, and, within it is one of thecountry’s oldest surviving haveli, or house-templecomplexes, Dwarka Dheesh Mandir. Composed oftwo ornate, wooden haveli temples and several ancil-lary buildings, Dwarka Dheesh Mandir was remod-eled by members of the Hindu Vaishnav sect thatpracticed a branch of philosophy known as PustiMarga, or Path of Grace, adherents of which believedin a constant, love-suffused worship of Sri Krishna.The temple reached its apogee between 1668 and1670, remaining in use until it was replaced by anadjacent structure in the mid-nineteenth century.

The oldest temple complex of its kind in India,Dwarka Dheesh Mandir is in a fragile state, its deli-cately carved wooden elements and overall buildingfabric ravaged by time, neglect, shoddy repairs, anddamage wrought by an earthquake on January 26,2001. A plan has been developed for restoring thestructure for use as a museum and research centerdevoted to the Pusti Marga and its rituals. Funds forits implementation, however, continue to be scarce.

SITE NO. 48

OSMANIA WOMEN’S COLLEGE

sar

bjit sing

h sa

ho

ta

abh

a n

ar

ain

lam

bah

as

ia

5554

DELHI, INDIAA.D. 1912–1931

In 1911, the British Government of India decided tomove the country’s administrative capital from Cal-cutta to Delhi, inaugurating New Delhi in 1931.Designed on a radial plan by Sir Edwin Lutyens, withseveral key buildings by Sir Robert Baker, New Delhi isnot a Western-style city transported to the Subconti-nent, but rather a synthesis of Indian and Europeancivic and architectural ideals, with gracious vistas,manicured gardens, watercourses, and tree-linedavenues. Nowhere is this more evident than in theLutyens Bungalow Zone, a 2,800-hectare area built tohouse government officials and their administrativeoffices. It gives New Delhi a distinctive and rare char-acter.

Though the Bungalow Zone comprises less than twopercent of present-day Delhi, an official lobby of politi-cians and builders is determined to demolish it,branding the zone’s buildings as sprawling, space-consuming, and beyond repair. Their intention is toreplace them with high-rise, high-occupancy residen-tial and commercial developments to augment thecapital’s housing needs. Advocates for the preserva-tion of the Bungalow Zone have offered to draw upalternative and adaptive proposals, noting that theuniqueness of New Delhi lay in the fact that it is a cityof gardens. They hope to galvanize public opinion topreserve a unique British legacy in India. Insensitiveredevelopment would sound the death knell to thismagnificent district, turning it into another urbannightmare.

NIAS, NORTH SUMATRA, INDONESIAA.D. 1715

Few traditional wooden dwellings survive in Indone-sia, let alone entire villages—a rare exception beingOmo Hada, a group of houses built in the early eigh-teenth century on the island of Nias off the west coastof Sumatra. Erected on stilts around a central plaza,the houses are notable for such distinctive architec-tural features as steeped pitched roofs and skylights.The main structure was built in 1715 by SozalawaBu’ulolo as a royal residence and meeting house,functions that it continues to fulfill today.

A complex arrangement of oblique and verticalposts—the latter of which are not bored into theground but erected atop stone foundations—makethe dwellings resistant to earthquakes. However, theyhave received little conservation treatment since theirconstruction, suffering from leaking roofs and insectinfestation. Although Omo Hada is located in a poorregion of the island, it is near what has becomeIndonesia’s prime surfing ground, spawning a dra-matic increase in tourism and resort building in thearea. The site will remain at risk until funding is foundto make necessary repairs and launch an awarenesscampaign to ensure its preservation as a rare exampleof Indonesian vernacular architecture.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 50

OMO HADA ROYAL PALACE COMPLEX

SITE NO. 49

LUTYENS BUNGALOW ZONE

co

ur

tesy patw

an

t sing

h

f. za

lch

u

li xiao

tao

SITE NO. 51

TOMO PORT TOWNh

idek

o m

atsu

i

FUKUYAMA, JAPANA.D. 1600–1800

For more than two centuries, Tomo was one of thebusiest ports along Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. Sited on a dramatic, yet slight stretch of land between themountains and the sea, the small trading hub stillretains much of its original character—townhouses,temples, and shrines line narrow lanes and paths,while port facilities, docks, and warehouses provide a window on the history of maritime transportationbetween the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries.

Until recently, Tomo had been able to preserve thehuman scale of its civic plan and architecture, unlikeso many traditional Japanese cities, which haveyielded to the needs of a modern world. Today, how-ever, the Edo-period (A.D. 1603–1867) port is threat-ened by the construction of a landfill and bridge thatwill radically alter its waterfront and increase trafficwithin the city. Although the historic center of Tomowas declared a historic district in 2000, the port

area was not included in the landmark designation.The site’s nominators seek the protection of thewaterfront and the development of Tomo in itsentirety as a tourist destination, it being one of thefew remaining traditional landscapes of the EdoPeriod.

as

ia

5756

PENANG STATE, MALAYSIAA.D. 1786–1940

Established as a British trading port in 1786, theMalaysian city of George Town boasts one of thelargest ensembles of pre-war buildings in SoutheastAsia. Numbering nearly 5,000, the structures—houses, shops, schools, churches, mosques, temples,and shrines—chronicle the architectural history of thetown and provide a vivid cultural portrait of its ethni-cally diverse population. The capital of Penang Island,George Town has maintained its original city plan but,like most historic urban centers, it is facing develop-ment pressures—new buildings scheduled to replaceold, conversions of houses into offices, and the ever-present threat of developers not hesitating to demol-ish architectural treasures.

Many of the city’s vernacular buildings had been pro-tected by default through the Rent Control Act of1966, which made the eviction of tenants difficult andprovided no incentive for landlords to alter, demolish,or reconstruct buildings. In January 2000, however,the act was repealed, allowing building owners toraise rents, in some cases tenfold. Thousands of ten-ants have moved out and hundreds of business haveclosed. While the local Municipal Council has beenwilling to consider historic preservation since the mid-1990s, it has been slow to put conservation laws, her-itage guidelines, and local planning in place. Nowvacant, many of the historic buildings, which havefallen into ruin through lack of tenant maintenance,are slated for demolition. Since the town’s inclusionon the 2000 list, the federal government has submit-ted George Town to UNESCO for inclusion as a WorldHeritage Site. The Penang state government has com-missioned a team to compile a dossier, prepare amanagement plan, and inventory historic buildings.Private sector and NGO efforts have provided fundsfor several restoration and conservation projects.However, monies are still needed for further restora-tion, preservation advocacy, and education programs.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 52

GEORGE TOWN HISTORIC ENCLAVE

kh

oo

salm

a

KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIAA.D. 1830–1939

Located on a stretch of coastline where the Tereng-ganu River empties into the South China Sea, a streetof traditional Chinese shop-houses are all thatremains of Kampung Cina, a once-thriving Chinesemerchant community, which took hold in the smallfishing port of Kuala Terengganu in the late-eighteenthcentury. Lining the thoroughfare are numerous build-ings ranging from simple, single-story structures ofelaborate edifices bearing decorative Art Deco plaster-work.

Once an important commercial center in China’strade with the West, the port prospered through athriving textile industry and trade in pepper and gold.However, it did not expand dramatically until the oiland gas industry began pumping money into develop-ment projects in the 1980s. Today, the waterfront islargely obscured by illegal jetties, which are chokedwith rubbish that is no longer washed away due to adecrease in water level. And, although the state of thehistoric buildings is largely sound, they have beenbadly maintained, with peeling plaster and shoddyrepair work. Considered detrimental to the city’stourism goals, it has been recommended that the Chi-nese shops, Malay villages of traditional timber con-struction just beyond, and the old palace of theTerengganu sultanate be demolished, and a roadlined with trinket shops be built in their place. Sincethe site’s previous listing, a proposal for upgradingshop structures has been prepared and revitalizationstudy is nearing completion.

Listed in 1998 & 2000

SITE NO. 53

KAMPUNG CINA RIVER FRONTAGE

bria

n q

uir

k

SITE NO. 55

ITUM BAHA MONASTERY

KATHMANDU, NEPALBEFORE A.D. 1241

Of the 83 extant Buddhist monasteries in Nepal,Itum Baha is one of only a few to have survived intact,having endured nearly 800 years of stylistic and urbanchange. Built around a central courtyard, the monas-tic complex retains its original two-story configuration,with intricately carved, wooden architectural details—windows, doors, and columns. Set within the quad-rangle are numerous votive figurines, including anextraordinary seventeenth-century caturmukhi caitya,a four-faced, six-armed deity. Portions of the complexare believed to date to as early as the Licchavi Period(A.D. 300–879).

The future of Itum Baha, however, is bleak as popula-tion growth, rising tourism, and the ways of the modern world have begun to erode the ways of thisancient city. These changes threaten not only theNewar Buddhist practices of Itum Baha, but the build-ing itself, considered one of the largest and most significant examples of thirteenth-century Nepalesearchitecture. Half of its timber roof structure is inruins; the remainder may collapse with the coming ofthe next monsoon. Fortunately, the plight of ItumBaha has not gone unnoticed. Buddhist Kathmandu,an international initiative, has been established tosafeguard the monastery, however, funds for emer-gency repairs, research, documentation, conservation,training, and advocacy remain scarce.

Listed in 2000

ro

hit k

um

ar

ra

njitk

ar

HMAWA, MYANMARA.D. 300–400

The 1,500-year-old stupas and temples of Sri-Ksetraare among the earliest Buddhist monuments in theworld. Built of brick, the stupas of Bawbawgyi andPhaya-mar and temples of Lemyet-nhar and Bebewere also among the first structures to employ avaulted arch system, which later became prevalent in Myanmar and throughout Southeast Asia.

Today, however, these ancient sacred structures arerapidly deteriorating due to heavy rains, which havecaused cracks in the walls and upper portions of themonuments and eroded and loosened bricks withinthe arches, causing several of them to collapse.Destabilization of building foundations due to risingground water has also caused several of the monu-ments to lean to one side. Site nominators are seek-ing technical assistance in the development of along-term conservation plan and funds for its imple-mentation.

SITE NO. 54

SRI-KSETRA STUPAS & TEMPLES

u. n

ain

g w

in

as

ia

5958

SITE NO. 57

UCH MONUMENT COMPLEX

ma

soo

d k

ha

n

BAHAWALPUR DISTRICT, PAKISTAN2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.–16TH CENTURY A.D.

Encrusted with sapphire blue, turquoise, and gleam-ing white tiles, the mausoleums of Uch were commis-sioned by the region’s nobility in the late-fifteenth andearly-sixteenth centuries, a period that saw the rise ofMughal power in the Indus Valley region. Built onoctagonal and square plans, according to local archi-tectural traditions, the tombs bear embellishments—polygonal niches, floral motifs, and sculpturalterracotta decorations—that are unique to the IndusValley and are precursors of the Mughal styles thatfollowed.

Thought to be one of several cities founded byAlexander the Great during his Asian campaign, Uchappears to have emerged as a river port at the con-fluence of the Indus and its five tributaries, function-ing as a waypoint in trade with the Arabian Sea. In thethirteenth century, it served as a defensive strong-hold to protect the Muslim kingdoms of centralIndia from invaders. It soon became a refuge forIslamic scholars and holy men fleeing the Mongolsto the north, eventually becoming a center for reli-gious learning and worship.

The tombs were severely damaged by flooding in theearly-nineteenth century, leading to gradual deteriora-tion of the structural fabric. Attempts to conserve thebuildings have further compromised them. Repairsusing cement have disfigured two of three mostprominent tombs. Efforts to engender local supportto conserve the monuments has been furtherthwarted by the economic realities of the region.

Listed in 1998–2000

KATHMANDU, NEPAL18TH–19TH CENTURIES A.D.

For centuries, the Teku Thapatali Monument Zone,located at the confluence of the Bagmati and Vishnu-mati rivers in the Kathmandu Valley, has played a critical role in the spiritual lives of both Hindus andBuddhists alike. The temples, shrines, sattals(resthouses), and ghats (stone steps) lining the riverbanks have served as a location for worship andfuneral rites. The sacred Bagmati River is accordedhealing powers.

Over the past three decades, however, Kathmanduhas undergone rapid and unrestricted development. Ajumble of houses, hotels, and commercial buildingscrowd neglected temples and the rivers have becomelittle more than open sewers. Recently, the govern-ment made repairs to some of the temples, but thesurrounding sattals, which define the sacred precinct,remain badly deteriorated. Without much neededemergency repairs to temples and shrines, and acomprehensive plan to curb development and dump-ing, the sacred precinct of Teku Thapatali is sure tovanish.

Listed in 1996 & 2000

SITE NO. 56

TEKU THAPATALI MONUMENT ZONE

kevin

bubr

iski

SITE NO. 58

MERV ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITEin

tern

atio

na

l mer

v pro

ject

BAIRAM ALI, TURKMENISTAN6TH CENTURY B.C.–15TH CENTURY A.D.

For more than 2,000 years, the ancient oasis of Mervin the vast Karakum Desert of Central Asia played avital role in Silk Road commerce. First mentioned byfifth-century Persian king Darias the Great, Merv wasstrategically located where the eastern empires ofIndia and China met those of the west—the Greek,Roman, Byzantine, Persian, and Ottoman. Over thecenturies, what had begun as little more than a cara-van encampment sometime in the second millen-nium B.C. would serve as the regional capital of asuccession of empires, the largest being that of theSeljuk Turks in the eleventh century, which solidifiedIslamic power in the area. Merv became the largestcity in the Islamic world, attracting numerous scholarsto its two libraries. Merv’s fortunes declined after itwas sacked by the Mongols in A.D. 1221. The site wasall but abandoned in wake of the opening of world-wide sea routes in the sixteenth century.

The city of Merv is actually a collection of cities builtside by side by waves of immigrants and conquerors.A number of religious and secular monuments stillstand, among them the twelfth-century Mausoleumof Sultan Sanjar, military fortifications, and numerousmud-brick structures that range from simpledwellings to palaces.

Although Merv is Turkmenistan’s principal culturalasset, the recently independent nation has only lim-ited funds to preserve its structures, which have beenweakened not only from the passage of time, butfrom a rising water table, the result of the building of the Karakum Canal in the 1950s. Merv is on theWorld Heritage List.

Listed in 2000

as

ia

6160 Progress Reports:PREVIOUSLY LISTED WATCH SITES IN ASIA

joh

n stu

bbs/wm

f

ANGKOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITECAMBODIAPerhaps Southeast Asia’s most famous site, Angkor was the one-time seat of the Khmer Empire, which dominated much of the region from the ninththrough thirteenth century A.D. The ruins, spread over more than 160 squarekilometers, consist of temples, walls, gates, causeways, reflecting pools, anda complex hydrolic controls system. Until recently, political turmoil had leftthe site in peril. Since 1992, however, the site has been the subject of intensestudy by an international effort spearheaded by WMF and other internationalteams. A management plan, developed by UNESCO, is being implementedand training of Cambodian personnel is proceeding. Although increasingtourism poses new threats, Angkor has improved its capacity to absorb thesevisitors. WMF’s work, initiated at Preah Khan, has expanded to other siteswithin Angkor, including Angkor Wat’s galleries. In 1999, WMF founded theCenter for Khmer Studies in Siam Reap. In January 2001, with the construc-tion of the research center complete, a program of research was initiated. Listed in 1996

HERAT OLD CITYAFGHANISTANThe threats to this one-time capital ofCentral Asia’s fifteenth-centuryTimurid Empire remain—increasinginflux of refugees, rampant looting,and civil unrest. Some funds forrestoration have been secured but, inlight of the current political situation,there is little hope for any immediateconservation efforts.Listed in 1998

NAMSELING MANORCHINAAmong the rarest and most revealingexamples of Tibetan vernacular archi-tecture, the fourteenth-centuryNamseling Manor, occupied until theCultural Revolution of 1959, wasthreatened by neglect. Heavy rainshad brought down an already dam-aged roof and large cracks had devel-oped as a result of seismic activity.Although an attempt to organize astabilization plan was undertaken, lit-tle has been done and the site’s nom-inator requested that the site beremoved from the Watch list. Its fateis unknown. Listed in 1996 & 1998

LIAO DYNASTY SITECHINARecently discovered Liao Dynastytombs (A.D. 916–1125) have provideda wealth of information on this criti-cal period in Chinese history, howev-er, this gravesite had been badlydamaged by flooding. Since listing,plans had been approved to buildseveral dikes to prevent further dam-age. However, WMF has received nei-ther a progress report nor a requestfor assistance to continue the inclu-sion of the list.Listed in 1996

SAN XING DUICHINASince listing of this fifth-to-third-mil-lennium Shang Dynasty city, a dikehas been built to protect the sitefrom flooding and a new museum isnow exhibiting a number of impor-tant finds excavated at the site. A$30,000 grant from AmericanExpress has funded site interpreta-tion, artifact conservation, and thepublication of an English languageguide to the site. Listed in 1996

DULAN COUNTY TIBETANROYAL TOMBSCHINAThis 1,200-year-old tomb group inReshui Township has proved to beone of the most important sources ofinformation on early Tibetan history.Although the tombs have been prop-erly excavated, yielding an impressivearray of Central Asian and Byzantinesilk textiles, the actual burial cham-bers have yet to be uncovered.Because of the richness of the findsexcavated to date, the site has attract-ed the attention of looters, who bla-tantly attempted to dynamite theentrance to the main tomb. Listinghighlighted the need for site securityand preservation of excavated arti-facts. Listed in 2000

TEMPLE OF AGRICULTURE(XIANNONGTAN)CHINAThe site of seasonal rituals to ensurea bountiful harvest, the fifteenth-cen-tury Temple of Agriculture in Beijinghad fallen into disrepair due to expo-sure to the elements and inappropri-ate use as factories. Since listing,grants totaling $225,000 fromAmerican Express, the FloraFoundation, and the Ted Tai Sen LinCharitable Foundation have fundedthe restoration of several buildingswithin the temple—the Divine KitchenComplex, its entrance gate, two wellpavilions, and two storage pavilions. Listed in 2000

XUANJIAN TOWERCHINAWith its balanced proportions, fantas-tically articulated eaves, “flying”rafters, colorfully painted supportbeams, and glazed roof tiles,Xuanjian Tower typifies traditionalTaoist architecture. Considerablealterations were made when thebuilding was converted into a shoefactory in the 1950s. Repaving of aroadway in front of the tower resultedin water damage, which has under-mined its foundation. When placedon the Watch list, the building hadneeded structural work and conserva-tion of wooden elements. A $50,000WMF grant was given in hopes thatadditional support could be raised torestore the tower to its former glory.WMF is monitoring the situation.Listed in 2000

PALPUNG MONASTERYCHINAFounded in 1725, this remotemonastery was reopened in 1982 asan active Buddhist university. Today,40 monks live and work in themonastery. The building contains sig-nificant decorative features and themain assembly hall is the largestDege-style Tibetan building in theworld. An earthquake in 1993 did seri-ous damage to the building andwater infiltration and improper main-tenance and conservation measureshave had further negative effects onthe building. The monks have beenworking to raise funds to supportpiecemeal conservation work on site,but until significant funding can beidentified to undertake serious struc-tural problems, the building remainsat risk. Listed 1998–2000

TAJ MAHALINDIAIn an attempt to address the range ofenvironmental and conservationissues confronting the mid-seven-teenth-century Taj Mahal and greaterAgra area, an international advisorycommitte of experts, the Taj MahalConservation Collaborative, has beenestablished to diagnose the problemsand lead the way in developing acomprehensive site managementplan for the monument and Mughal

Gardens. This public/private initiativewill also assist in the review of thelast decade's analyses of the localsources of polluting emissions andthe resulting adverse affect on theTaj's white marble and preciousinlaid stones. Listed in 1996

LEVUKA TOWNSHIPFIJI ISLANDSLevuka was the capital of Fiji for abrief three-year period beginning in1877, during which a tremendousbuilding boom occurred with the con-struction of churches, social and civicbuildings, humble bungalows, and avariety of Victorian, neo-Gothic, andfalse-fronted commercial buildings.After the capital was moved to themain island, Levuka and its buildingssuffered from benign neglect. Todaythe town is largely intact. Watch list-ing in 1998 resulted in more atten-tion from the national government,specifically with the formation of agovernment agency dedicated to cul-tural heritage. Funds are still scarcebut long-range plans are promising. Listed in 1998

CHAMPANERINDIAMedieval Champaner was an impor-tant stop on the military and traderoutes linking Malwa and Gujurat. Aseventh-century fortress atopPavagadh Hill dominates the city,while secular, religious, and civicstructures reflect various Hindu,Muslim, and Jain regimes. The sitewas threatened with encroachmentand proposed highway construction.Listing brought local publicity andprompted the government of Gujuratto develop a plan for the city, whichmay include rerouting the highway. A$25,000 WMF grant is supportingdevelopment of a cultural resourceinformation system.Listed in 2000

AHMEDABADINDIABeautiful, traditional wooden struc-tures, well-defined residential neigh-borhoods, and a thriving commercialcore mask threats to the architecturalheritage of Ahmedabad. Though thetraditional buildings survived theJanuary 2001 earthquake, demon-strating superior seismic-resistanceover new concrete ones, uncontrolleddevelopment, urban flight, and cor-rupt government agencies are under-mining their conservation. Funding isneeded to save the wooden buildingsand launch a campaign to educatethe public about the benefits ofpreservation over new construction.Listed in 1998

ST. ANNE CHURCHINDIAAlthough this late-seventeenth-centu-ry church in Goa, built in the IndianBaroque style of the Portuguese colo-nial period, continues to have anactive congregation, it has beenthreatened by severe structural prob-lems. A major crack runs the lengthof the building and water seeps inthrough broken roof tiles, damagingplaster walls and woodwork, and thestaircase of the bell tower is too weakto use. Since listing, some progresshas been made in developing a con-servation plan. However, WMF is stillwaiting for a revised scope of workfrom the Archaeological Survey ofIndia before initiating stabililzation ofthe bell tower and repair of the crackin the nave vault. Listed in 1996

METROPOLITAN BUILDINGINDIAThe neoclassical design of this for-mer department store in Calcutta typ-ifies architecture under the BritishRaj. Although the Calcutta MunicipalCorporation successfully negotiatedan agreement with the owner to reha-bilitate rather than demolish thebuilding, which was underutilizedafter 1947 and is now abandoned, thebuilding is deteriorating rapidly. Itwas hoped that listing would high-light the potential for a creative reuseof the structure. Little progress hasbeen made since listing and thenominator has not demonstrated anability to leverage local support andcarry the issue further. WMF will con-tinue to monitor the progress andreconsider this site for relisting.Listed in 2000

BOROBUDURINDONESIAWhen plans were announced to addnew tourist attractions—a sound-and-light show and abundant shop-ping opportunities—to the ninth-cen-tury-A.D. Buddhist complex atBorobudur, preservationists fearedthat the religious and aestheticaspects of the site would be compro-mised. Recent reports suggest thatthe site has fared well since listing,although a better tourism manage-ment plan is in order. Listed in 1996

GOMPAS OFUPPER MUSTANGNEPALRestoration continues on the twofifeenth-century earthen gompas, ortemple monasteries, of Thubchenand Jamba in the HimalayanKingdom of Mustang. They are con-sidered among the best survivingexamples of Tibetan monastic archi-tecture. Listed in 1996

TAMBA WARIINDUS RIVER DELTAPAKISTANThe remains of the mosque of TambaWari was one of the earliest and bestexamples of a synthesis of Islamicand Hindu art. At the time of listingin 1996, the mosque stood on a saltyflood plain and frequent floodingundermined the foundation’s stabilityand caused deterioration of thestones. The French ArchaeologicalMission in Sindh and various localorganizations proposed to carefullydocument each stone of Tamba Wari and relocate its remains.Unfortunately, only six months afterlisting, the Indus River swept thestructure away entirely.Listed in 1996

VAT SISAKETLAOSSince the first listing of this nine-teenth-century Buddhist monastery,which exhibits a blend of Siameseand Laotian architectural styles alongwith elements found in Europeanbuildings, emergency repairs havebeen carried out and an overall site

survey has been undertaken with a$15,000 grant from WMF. The VatSisaket Appeal Fund has been estab-lished in Laos to secure additionalfunds to ensure the preservation ofthis eclectic structure.Listed in 1996 & 1998

BOGD KHAANPALACE MUSEUMMONGOLIAEvery Bogd Khaan, or head of stateand religious leader, had his owntemple-palace. At one time, Mongoliahad 700 such temples, but followingthe brutal Stalinist purges in 1937,only four remained. This ten-buildingcomplex is threatened by rainwaterpenetration, wood rot, and lack offunds to maintain it. Some statemonies and revenues from an on-sitemuseum have allowed small conser-vation projects to move forward, butsubstantial funds are needed for con-servation. The site has gained inter-national support through listing andconservation treatment is set tobegin.Listed 1996 & 2000

ANGONO PETROGLYPHSPHILIPPINESThe oldest known artworks in thePhilippines, the petroglyphs comprise127 carvings on a volcanic tuff. In1996, the site was deteriorating rap-idly as a result of exposure to the elements, vandalism, uncontrolledtourism, and the proposed develop-ment of a golf course around the site.A WMF grant of $40,000 enabled arock-art specialist to visit the site andestablish a training program for con-servators. A management plan was

as

ia

6362

TANAH LOT TEMPLEINDONESIAHindu sea gods are honored at this picturesque, yet imperiled, fifteenth-centurytemple. While the structure is revered by local people, it has suffered from ero-sion caused by seawater, which buffets the site continually. It is this very erosionthat has created the island upon which the temple sits out of a peninsula onceconnected to the mainland. A $50,000 grant from American Express has beensecured to send a technical team to assess the preservation needs of the site,carry out some conservation, including the repair of temple fences, and devise a plan for long-term preservation of the siteListed in 2000

prepared and the petroglyphs wereincorporated into the design of thenew golf course. Today, the site isopen to visitors with a viewing plat-form and on-site museum, regularmaintenance continues, and thethreats have been eliminated.Listed in 1996

RICE TERRACESPHILIPPINESThe Ifugao people settled in thisregion of the Philippines millenniaago, carving multilevel terraces in themountainous terrain for rice cultiva-tion. Though the terrace continue tobe used, rice cultivation is losing itsimportance in daily life. The site hasbeen threatened by a collapse of theirrigation system and a lack of com-munity awareness. Since listing,UNESCO has funded public aware-ness programs and provided techni-cal assistance. The Department ofAgriculture has underwritten therehabilitation of the irrigation systemand repair of eroded rice paddies.The Banaue Rice Terraces Task Forcehas embarked on a six-year master-plan for the terraces.Listed in 2000

KABAYAN MUMMY CAVESPHILIPPINESThe Ibaloi tribe of the Kabayan hinter-land mummified their dead, placingthem in wooden coffins in mountain-side caves. These sacred sitesremained hidden until logging beganin the region. This newly discoveredsite was immediately designated as aNational Cultural Treasure but van-dalism and unmanaged visitationbrought new dangers to the sites.The National Museum was in need ofsupport to carry out detailed surveyand documentation of the caves,develop a site management plan, andtrain local staff in proper conserva-tion techniques. A WMF grant of$35,000 underwrote site mapping,while conservation supported by theNational Museum continues.Listed in 1998

zen

o c

ala

nto

ni

JAISALMER FORTINDIABuilt atop a hill in Rajasthan, of the same golden limestone on which itstands, the twelfth-century A.D. fortress of Jaisalmer is known colloquiallyas Sonar Kila, or the Golden Fort. Though the walled city had endured foralmost 1,000 years, it has been brought to the brink of destruction in thespan of only a few decades due to wind and water erosion, the latter theresult of monsoon rains and the introduction of running water into a citywithout proper drainage. Since its first listing in 1996, WMF has undertak-en three technical missions to the Fort, the most recent of which resultedin the development of a conservation plan and proposed pilot project toaddress specific structural issues and begin the restoration of the Fort’smedieval drainage system. WMF has also sponsored the restoration of theQueen’s Palace. This fall, a new Heritage Interpretation Center will openwithin the fort, funded in part by a WMF Wilson Challenge Grant of$65,000. WMF is planning a long-term involvement with the restoration ofthis architectural gem.Listed in 1996, 1998, & 2000

a $25,000 grant was awardedthrough WMF to support the conser-vation effort. Currently, the NationalHistorical Institute continues to ana-lyze, document, and carry out con-servation work on the basilica.Listed in 1998

AYUTTAYA & OTHERFLOODED SITES ON THECHAO PRAYA RIVERTHAILANDThe annual floods that innundatesites at Ayuttaya, the capital of Siam(Thailand) from A.D. 1350 to 1767, arecaused primarily by poor land man-agement—land filling and deforesta-tion. A $50,000 grant from AmericanExpress underwrote the restorationof one of the damaged temples.WMF is awaiting word from thenominator regarding future preserva-ton efforts. Listed in 1996

MY SON TEMPLE DISTRICTVIETNAMSome 70 temples were constructedbetween the fourth and twelfth centu-ry at My Son, the first royal seat ofSoutheast Asia’s Champa kingdom.Though the temples remained undis-turbed following the site’s abandon-ment in the thirteenth century, theywere damaged during a US bombingraid in 1969. The site’s first listingprompted some progress in clearingMy Son of vegetation, however, untilrecently, little was done to conservestructures and combat floodingcaused by the destruction of a localdam. A recent grant from AmericanExpress has been awarded to addressthese issues.Listed in 1996 & 2000

MINH MANG TOMBVIETNAMUpon the death of Minh Mang, sec-ond ruler of Vietnam’s NguyenDynasty, more than 40 brick and tilestructures were erected at this site inthe mountains southwest of Hue.Although the buildings managed tosurvive the heavy bombing of Hue,they were plagued by a host of con-servation issues. With a $50,000grant from American Express, workhas been completed in the Minh LauPavilion, which included the surveyand documentation of the site andstabilization and restoration of theroof. Funds have also been securedfor the restoration of the StelePavilion. Listed in 1996 & 2000

SAN SEBASTIAN CHURCHPHILIPPINESThe only steel church in Asia, theBasilica of San Sebastián was com-missioned in 1886 to replace a 1621church, which had been destroyed by fires and earthquakes. A Belgiancompany fabricated the parts inBrussels and shipped them toManila, where they were assembled.However, the tropical climate was not kind to the steel structure. Rust,air pollution and lack of conservationexpertise continue to threaten thechurch. As a result of listing in 1998,

eu

ro

pe

6564

the city of rostov veliky on the shores of lake nero has played an important role in russianhistory for more than 1,000 years.

joh

n stu

bbs/wm

fCROSSROADS OF CULTUREIt has taken nearly 60 years for Europe to emerge from both the devastation of the

Second World War and the partitioning of East and West during the Soviet era. For

an international organization like the World Monuments Fund, its current condition

presents a particular challenge; as the whole region struggles to embrace its diversity

and relearn a common currency of culture, civilization, democracy, and trade.

The disparity between the growing power and wealth of the European Union and

the continued poverty and instability of former Soviet republics in the Baltic, the

Balkans, and the East has created new threats to heritage even in countries renowned

for their care and protection of cultural patrimony. For years, it was confidently

believed that nations such as France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom had

established impenetrable heritage safety nets. Yet, as the current list of the 100 Most

Endangered Sites attests, many major sites in Western Europe are at risk. Cultural land-

scapes such as the historic terraces of the Cinque Terre in Italy, the Palaikastro

archaeological site in Crete, and the eighteenth-century architectural landscapes

of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have become endangered as

eu

ro

pe

67governments and private enterprises engage in the reinterpretation of laws that have

long protected and regulated the use of such lands. Even World Heritage Sites such

as the Mnajdra Prehistoric Temple Complex in Malta remain endangered and subject

to vandalism due to a lack of proper management and funds for greater site security.

Among the nations of the European Union, many member states have modified their

budgetary priorities, and cultural heritage, long a beneficiary of national funding, is

slowly being made to pay its own way through tourist revenues and other schemes.

Encouraging unregulated tourism can also be a double-edged sword as a massive in-

flux of tourists to any single site can cause damage that negates any economic gain.

Seventy years of revolution, war, and communism in the former Soviet Union lead to the

destruction or inappropriate reuse and alteration of thousands of buildings, primari-

ly churches and other religious structures and aristocratic estates. The churches of the

historic center of Rostov Veliky and the wooden Church of the Assumption in the north-

ern Russian state of Karelia were fortunate to survive intact, however, today they are

endangered because there are few funds from the state or the church to maintain them.

Recent conflicts in the Balkans have left a particularly tragic legacy of destruction, evi-

dent in the urban fabric of Vukovar in Croatia and Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina. These

towns can only be recovered through political, educational, and religious reconcilia-

tion. What is hoped is that the restoration of a shared heritage will be a catalyst in the

wider healing process. In Albania and in the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo, the resur-

gence of nationalism and religion after half a century of imposed atheism brought with

it elements of the historic struggle between Islam and Christianity; this has had an in-

evitable effect upon the heritage of that region.

The World Monuments Watch list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites challenges the gov-

ernments of the European Union and the post-communist world to balance economic

development with a renewed commitment to protect the shared architectural and cul-

tural heritage of a newly united Europe.

—COLIN AMERY & BRIAN CURRAN, WORLD MONUMENTS FUND IN BRITAIN

66

VOSKOPOJË, ALBANIAA.D. 1630–1780

At least five seventeenth- and eighteenth-centurychurches still stand in Voskopojë, reminders of a timewhen the town was one of the most important citiesin the Balkans. Twenty-six churches were builtbetween 1630 and 1780—all but a few destroyed bywar and devastating earthquakes. Today, a small,impoverished village, its ancient paved streets andtwo bridges are included in the listing. The fivechurches, four of which are basilicas with domes ofBalkan post-Byzantine style, are named, respectively,for the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, SaintAthanas, and Saint Nicholas, the prophet Elijah, andthe Dormition of Notre Dame.

The interiors of all five churches are covered by fres-coes, 4,000 square meters in all. These treasures thathave suffered due to dampness, a result of water infil-tration through walls and roofs. The Ministry of Cul-ture and the Albaninan Orthodox Church would liketo promote appropriate tourism in the area as ameans of gaining financial support to ensure theirrestoration and long-term preservation. To accommo-date tourism, the churches must be restored.

PERVOMAISK, BELARUS16th a.d.

The sixteenth-century Pervomaisk Church was builtas a Calvinist Protestant Church, becoming, in 1648, aCatholic church and family tomb owned by the Radzi-will Zawisha family. It remained so until 1920, when itwas plundered, then neglected in the wake of theOctober Revolution of 1917.

Stylistically, Pervomaisk Church is a harmoniousblend of late Renaissance and early Neoclassicalarchitecture. Built of brick faced with white lime mor-tar, the lime stucco is badly worn and the underlyingbrick construction is failing at critical points of support,such as cornices, vaulting, and tower domes. Thegranite-tiled floor is in a 50 percent state of collapse.From 1938 to 1968, the building was used to house a thermoelectric power station with vibrations con-tributing to structural damage. Since 1974, it has beenin the hands of a local agricultural college, which doesnot have the resources necessary to preserve it. Itsnominators would like to restore the building andconvert it into a museum.

SITE NO. 60

PERVOMAISK CHURCH

SITE NO. 59

VOSKOPOJË CHURCHES

ka

lam

ata

victo

r sed

ykh

eu

ro

pe

69

MOSTAR, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINAA.D. 1468–present

Prized for its rich palate of architectural styles, rangingfrom Venetian to Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian, thepicturesque city of Mostar had until recently beendescribed as a picture-perfect town with a sixteenth-century bridge, known as the Stari Most, straddlingthe aquamarine Neretva River. The bridge, built duringthe reign of Suleyman the Magnificent at the height ofthe Ottoman Empire, transformed the once quiet towninto a thriving crossroads. Mostar was long admiredfor its religious tolerance, which is evident in the city’sdiverse range of sacred structures—Catholic andOrthodox churches and mosques.

In the early 1980s, Mostar won the prestigious AgaKhan Award for Architecture for the quality of itspreservation work. Less than a decade later, however,it was reduced to ruin in a brutal assault by Croatianand Yugoslav armies. Immediately, Mostar becamethe focus of refugee preservationists and studentswho, in 1993, began planning for its reconstruction. In 1997, with support from WMF and the Aga KhanTrust for Culture, a conservation team embarked on a joint program to restore the pre-existing city fabric,establish a master plan for long-term reconstruction,and develop a list of sites to be saved through foreignassistance. The World Bank, UNESCO, and the Istan-bul-based IRCICA foundation subsequently joined thiseffort, focusing on the reconstruction of the bridge.With resolve and support from around the world, theprocess will culminate with the completion of thebridge restoration in 2004.

Listed in 2000

VUKOVAR, CROATIAmid-18th century

The city of Vukovar—in previous incarnations a Paleolithic settlement, a medieval fortress, and a royalseat—rose from the devastation of an eighteenth-century Turkish occupation to become one of thelargest and most significant cities in Croatia.

The city’s Baroque core, which contained some of themost outstanding symbols of Croatian cultural identity,faced its biggest threat in 1991, when the occupyingYugoslav National Army launched a half-million mis-siles into the city. Cultural and historical monuments,including eighteenth-century Baroque buildings suchas the Eltz castle, the Church of St. Nicholas, and theFranciscan Friary and church, were singled out for sys-tematic destruction during the three-month siege andsubsequent six-year occupation of the city. Of 118 his-torical monuments, 21 were completely destroyed, 48were partially destroyed, and 25 have serious structuraldamage. With financial support from the Ministry ofDevelopment and Reconstruction and fellow Croatians,ten buildings in the Vukovar area have already beenstabilized, and an additional 14 are in progress,although clearing the area of mines has slowed con-servation work. Additional assistance is needed totrain local artisans and conservation experts.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 62

VUKOVAR CITY CENTER

SITE NO. 61

MOSTAR HISTORIC CENTER

68

jon

ca

lam

e/wm

f

kr

esimir

lend

ic

DUBROVNIK, CROATIAA.D. 1627–1648

Considered the most humane and efficient facility ofits kind at the time of its construction, Dubrovnik’slazaret was built in the seventeenth century to quar-antine the ill and prevent plagues from entering thecity via maritime trade. Between the fourteenth andsixteenth centuries, Dubrovnik, a key hub in the tradebetween the Ottoman Empire and the West, haderected lazarets on six surrounding islands—Bobara,Supetar, St. Andrea, Mijet, Lokrum, and Dance—none of which have survived. Indeed, the Dubrovnikseaside lazaret is one of the last and best-preserved inEurope since such buildings were generally demol-ished once a plague had run its course. An integratedcomplex built on two levels, the lazaret has a groundfloor divided into five identical units, each separatedinto three parts, and an upper level comprised of sin-gle-roomed buildings.

The lazaret continued to fulfill its original function asa quarantine unit until the beginning of the nineteenthcentury. Since then, however, it has suffered from alack of maintenance and damage wrought by earth-quakes and recent civil unrest. A community of arti-sans is seeking to transform the derelict buildingcomplex into an arts center, complete with an artists-in-residence program, art supply store and bookshop,and internet cafe.

TEREZIN, CZECH REPUBLIC18TH CENTURY A.D.

An enormous baroque fortress built by HapsburgEmperor Josef II between 1780 and 1790, Terezincomprises a town of some 400 hectares enclosed by a bastion-type fortification favored by the FrenchSchool of Mezieres. A main fortress is complementedby a small fortress, and by upper and lower entrench-ments built of brick. The eastern part of the town isbuilt on oak tree pillars and grating with stone filling.Named in honor of Empress Maria Teresa, Terezinhas the unfortunate distinction of being one of themost unusual planned ghettos and deportation centersfor Jews sent on to concentration and exterminationcamps in World War II. An estimated 190,000 Jewswere processed through Terezin between 1941 and1945; another 35,000 died while being detained.

The reasons for preserving Terezin are twofold. It is aunique example of Baroque architecture and it standsas a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust in Cen-tral Europe. The Czech Ministry of Culture is envision-ing a third incarnation for the fortress, that of an artscenter administered by the Mecca Foundation, whichsponsors exhibitions, plays, and workshops. Small-scale conservation efforts undertaken during the pasttwo decades have addressed localized areas of thevast Terezin complex, including the facade of thefortress church and the small fortress, site of the for-mer ghetto. However, rising humidity and increasedfungi and insect infestation have resulted in the accel-erated deterioration of the complex. To preserve thehistorical narrative of Terezin, a comprehensive con-servation plan must be developed for the TerezinFortress through a cooperative effort on behalf of allof the stakeholders—the Czech State Archives, theArchive of the Czech Association for Military History,the Archive of the Jewish Community in Prague, andthe Jewish Museum of the Ghetto.

SITE NO. 64

TEREZIN FORTRESS

SITE NO. 63

MARITIME QUARANTINE–LAZARETI

a. o

palic

ma

rtin

dvo

ra

k

eu

ro

pe

71

SITE NO. 65

ST. PIERRE CATHEDRAL

co

rbis

70

QEDELI, SIGNAKHI REGION, REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA9TH–17TH CENTURIES A.D.

Enclosed in Bodbe Cathedral is the grave of St. Nino,a most remarkable female figure in the early history of Christianity. According to Georgian, Armenian, and Greek authors, in the early fourth century, Nino, a Cappadocian woman, was brought as a slave toGeorgia, where she soon gained fame for healing people in the name of Jesus Christ, including theGeorgian queen. The king asked Nino to teach himthe Christian religion, and, directed by Nino, a churchwas built, winning many converts and resulting in theEmperor Constantine sending clergy to Georgia.Bodbe Cathedral is therefore sacred to all Christendomas well as to the diocese formed in the fifth century,which is still active today. The present cathedral wasbuilt ca. 850, on the original site of St. Nino’s church,which has not survived. Bodbe Cathedral is a three-nave basilica with a truncated long axis, typical ofGeorgian churches, therefore fewer supporting piers.The cathedral is constructed wholly of brick, uncom-mon in ninth-century Georgia. The interior is adornedwith nineteenth-century murals and fragments ofpaintings dating from the twelfth to seventeenth centuries.

Despite wars, earthquakes, and alterations, BodbeCathedral has survived. However, a coating of cementapplied in a 1980s conservation effort has led to con-densation and damp, affecting the murals. Also, aseventeenth-century wall running around three sidesof the church threatens the building’s stability andspoils its actual proportions. Proper conservation ofthis still functioning church will require research intoall periods of the site.

SITE NO. 67

BODBE CATHEDRAL

sha

lva lez

ha

vaSITE NO. 66

CHÂTEAU DE CHANTILLY

CHANTILLY, FRANCE16TH CENTURY A.D.

Rising from the confluence of the Seine and Oise isthe Renaissance castle of Chantilly, built ca. 1560 bythe architect Jean Bullant, for Anne de Montmorency,a ranking officer of the court of François I. With 7,800hectares, Chantilly is one of France’s largest estates,of which 110 hectares were laid out by André le Notre(1613–1700), landscape architect of Versailles. At theend of the eighteenth century, the estate came intothe hands of the Condé family, cousins of Louis XVand Louis XVI. During the revolution, all of its worksof art transferred to the Louvre and it was used as aprison; in 1799, its main wing was destroyed. In themid-nineteenth century, a new wing was designed byHonoré Daumet for Chantilly’s final royal owner, theDuc d’Aumale, who in 1886, donated the estate to theInstitut de France. The Musée Condé in the castle issecond only to the Louvre in its wealth of Old Masterpaintings. Its vast collection of manuscripts includesthe fifteenth-century Très Riches Heures du Duc deBerry. Unlike other Ancien Régime estates, Chantillywas never divided, retaining its farms, ponds, forest,and magnificent horse stables decorated with statu-ary. In the artistic value and completeness of its hold-ings, it is equalled only by certain estates in Englandand Central Europe.

A private, self-contained estate, Chantilly lacks thesubstantial government support afforded to other his-toric properties in France and has slowly declined. Thehydraulic system, designed to irrigate the huge gardenand provide water for the entire city, has failed, result-ing in a rising water table that threatens every buildingin the estate. The château’s oldest wing, containingthe Gallerie des Actions de Monsieur le Prince, wasseriously damaged in a storm in 1997. Private, non-governmental partners and the regional governmentsee a potential for Chantilly to become sustainablethrough an upgrading of its facilities and major capitalinvestment.

co

rbis

BEAUVAIS, FRANCEA.D. 1225–1660 (never finished)

With its five-aisled choir and transept soaring to aheight of 46.5 meters, St. Pierre Cathedral is anextreme expression of Gothic enterprise. Commis-sioned by Bishop Milon de Nanteuil, the cathedralwas built over some four centuries, but not withoutincident. The choir was completed by 1272, but in1284, part of the central vault collapsed, necessitatingextensive consolidation, which continued until themid-fourteenth century. The choir remained without anave or transept until work resumed in 1499 underthe direction of Martin Chambiges. Completed by themid-sixteenth century, the transept was crowned by anambitious central spire that allowed the Gothic cathe-dral to rival its counterpart, St. Peter’s in Rome. Disas-ter struck once again, however, when the tower and itssupporting vaults at the crossing collapsed on Ascen-sion Day 1573. Repairs to transept vaults were rapidlycompleted, but by 1600, work on the nave was aban-doned. The unfinished portion of the cathedral wasclosed off with the provisional west wall that one seestoday.

Although St. Pierre survived the heavy incendiarybombing that destroyed much of Beauvais duringWorld War II, the structure is as dangerous as it is glorious, being at risk from flaws in its original design,compounded by differential settlement of the founda-tion and stresses placed upon its flying buttressesfrom gale force winds. The winds cause the buttressesto oscillate and the already weakened roof timbers toshift. Between the 1950s and 1980s, several criticaliron ties were removed from the choir buttresses in a damaging experiment. A temporary tie-and-bracesystem was installed in the 1990s as an emergencymeasure when another collapse seemed imminent.Although St. Pierre Cathedral has been intensivelystudied, there continues to be a lack of consensus onhow to proceed and keep this Gothic wonder standing.

Listed in 2000

jon

spau

ll/co

rbis

eu

ro

pe

73

TBILISI, REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA6th century A.D.–present

An ancient and beautiful city embraced by the hills of the Caucasus, Tbilisi is composed of two mainparts, a medieval core known as “Old Tbilisi,” andareas built in the nineteenth century that make up“Modern Tbilisi.” Old Tbilisi contains the Betlemigroup, a collection of buildings selected for a pilotproject, which exhibits features found throughout therest of the historic city—a rocky setting with pictur-esque views, narrow winding streets and street-stairs,horizontal and vertical tower-like dwellings, flat roofsand architectural ornament of stained glass, andwooden openwork balconies. Sacred buildings includetwo Orthodox churches, a bell tower, and an atheshga(fire temple) that has been converted into a mosque.Street stairs lead to such monuments as the sixth-to-seventeenth-century Upper Betlemi church, theBotanical Gardens, and the Sololaki Ridge with itssweeping view of the Great Caucasus.

The capital of a united and independent Republic ofGeorgia since 1991, Tbilisi, like so many former Sovietcities, is working to reestablish its own identity. TheBetlemi area exemplifies the plight of historic struc-tures throughout Georgia—deliberate destruction inthe name of modernization. Previous listing resultedin an aggressive action plan now being implemented.A pilot project in the Betlemi group entails data collec-tion, a sociological survey, analysis of the urban fabricand individual buildings of cultural value, preliminaryengineering, geological surveys and photographicdocumentation. As a result of the listing, the localgroup “Save Old Tbilisi” has successfully stirred inter-est among international heritage groups, but addi-tional financial support and local awareness-raisingefforts are needed.

Listed in 1998 & 2000

SITE NO. 69

TBILISI HISTORIC DISTRICT

72

CITIES OF TBILISI, BATUMI, KUTAISI,POTI, & DUSHETI, REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA19th–20th centuries A.D.

Georgia is renowned for its ancient monuments buta more recent layer of history is reflected in its towns’marvellous array of Art Nouveau buildings—houses,schools, workshops, cinemas, theaters, shops, banks,and hospitals—all done in the international style ofthe turn of the nineteenth century. These buildings,embellished with mosaic and stained glass, embodythe paradox of Art Nouveau: its ahistorical, interna-tional character on the one hand and the ease withwhich it became a medium for a fresh visual languagein which to express regional handicraft traditions. In Georgia, Western European-style Art Nouveaufaçades often conceal back courtyards with traditionalGeorgian timber balconies carved with Art Nouveaumotifs.

During the Soviet period, Art Nouveau was ignoredas a style of bourgeois culture. Neglect, along with airand water polllution, has caused decorative plaster-work and mosaics to fall away. After the Revolution of1917, these privately owned buildings were turned toincompatible collective uses, often destroying theirinterior decorative schemes. Unfortunately, local inter-est in these magnificent buildngs is as nonexistentunder new private investment and speculation as itwas under the Soviet regime. The Georgian Art Nou-veau Preservation Pressure Group is a dedicated localgroup fighting mass indifference, and hopes to pro-vide the advocacy needed to stimulate investment inconservation.

SITE NO. 68

ART NOUVEAU BUILDINGS IN THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

PALAIKASTRO, CRETE, GREECE3000 B.C.–A.D. 200

Located on the eastern shore of Crete, Palaikastro isthe only Minoan city to have survived intact—its har-bor, outlying settlements, sanctuaries, and quarriespreserved under sediments accumulating over morethan 2,000 years. It was here, the ancient authors tellus, that Diktaian Zeus (the youthful Cretan equivalentof the classical Greek god Dionysos) was born andhere where the young god founded his holy city. It wasalso here that Jason and the Argonauts confrontedTalos, the man of bronze, a generation before the Tro-jan War. The earliest written records documenting theworship of Diktaian Zeus at Palaikastro come fromthe Mycenaean Greek archives at Knossos and date tothe close of the Cretan Bronze Age (ca. 1300 B.C.),however, sacred art and architecture dating from allperiods has been found, suggesting that the site washallowed throughout its occupation history. Amongthe most beautiful artifacts attesting the worship ofDiktaian Zeus is a unique gold and ivory statuette ofthe god made ca. 1500 B.C.

While the ravages of later periods and recent tourismdevelopment have obscured similar sites elsewhere inCrete, so far they have spared Palaikastro, which coverssome 30 hectares. Today, however, a private developerhas been granted permission to build a large touristcomplex at Cape Plako, an area which includes theMinoan quarries and outlying sites. An access road toreach the resort area is planned through the ancientcity. In addition to development pressures, Palaikastro’sharbor and coastal buildings are also threatened by arise in sea level due to local tectonic activity.

SITE NO. 71

PALAIKASTRO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

j. alexa

nd

er m

ac

gillivr

ay

HEIDELBERG, GERMANYA.D. 1786

A key architectural feature of Heidelberg, the pictur-esque Carl-Theodor Bridge attracts four milliontourists each year. Commissioned by Prince Carl-Theodor in 1786, the bridge was built entirely of redsandstone—the only bridge on the river of this color.It was the ninth bridge to be built on this stretch ofthe Neckar River; the previous eight, built of wood,had perished in floods, fire, or winter storms. Its two-year construction period yielded a mock-medievalbridge gate, two towers, and two statues, one ofPrince Carl-Theodor, the other of Minerva, the classicalRoman goddess of science.

In March 1945, two pillars and three arches wereblown up by German forces; they were restored twoyears later. Today, an autobahn runs below the bridge.A major threat to this much-loved monument is thatwater constantly penetrates its inadequately sealedstone construction. New concrete-supported sealingand stone reconditioning are of the utmost urgency.

SITE NO. 70

CARL-THEODOR BRIDGE

sch

assa

ch

nesta

n ta

tar

ash

vili

eu

ro

pe

75

LIGURIA, ITALY13TH CENTURY A.D.

At first glance, Cinque Terre, an awe-inspiring land-scape sited on a rugged stretch of Ligurian coast,would hardly seem suited for agricultural pursuits.During the thirteenth century, however, the steepwooded hills above five Mediterranean villages—Monterosso, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Corniglia, andManarola—were carved with terraces buttressed withmagnificent stone walls that provided a landscapeideal for cultivation.

Though Cinque Terre has long been renowned for thequality of its wines, only part of the landscape is nowunder cultivation, due to its near abandonment by thewinemaking industry. Local winemakers have found itdifficult to farm the ancient terraces at a cost that couldcompete in a market dominated by the wine producedin commercial vineyards of the European Union.

This manmade landscape is now on the World Her-itage List, in part because of its rich array of flora andfauna. However, the stone walls supporting its ter-races are collapsing due to lack of maintainance. Amaster plan for Cinque Terre, now a national park, hasbeen proposed, which integrates protection and con-servation of the landscape and its continued use forcultivation. Survival of the landscape is dependentupon its economic viability.

Listed in 2000

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 73

CINQUE TERRE

fra

nc

o bo

na

nin

i

74

FIUMICINO, ITALY1ST–4TH CENTURIES A.D.

The largest and one of the best-preserved Romanports in the Mediterranean, the Port of Trajan actuallycomprises two harbor facilities near the Tiber River—one built by Claudius in the first century A.D., theother, hexagonal in shape, by Trajan in the secondcentury—linked together by a second-century ImperialPalace. The town of Portus grew up around the har-bors, and, by the reign of Constantine in the mid-fourth century, was enclosed by a city wall. Portusremained the principal port for ships bound for Romefrom throughout the Mediterranean and an importanttrading hub until its abandonment in the ninth cen-tury due a change in coastline that rendered it inac-cessible. The port is now more than three kilometersfrom the Mediterranean. Rescue excavations under-taken prior to construction of the Leonardo Da VinciAirport (1958–1965) revealed the remains of five shipsin the Claudian port.

Most of the port’s ancient structures are in ruinouscondition, due in part to nineteenth-century “excava-tions,” by treasure-seekers. The loss of marble facingsand displaced mounds of earth within the ImperialPalace have caused decay and collapse of much of itsmasonry core. Subsequent deep penetration of thebuilding fabric by vegetation has led to mold prolifera-tion on plaster facades, further destabilizing remainingstanding architecture. From 1970–1980, the site wasused as a zoo-safari amusement park. In the mid-1980s, the area became state property and a programof restoration began, funds for which have remainedscarce. The Soprintendenza Archeologica di Ostiahopes to convert the site into an archaeological park.

SITE NO. 72

PORT OF TRAJAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

patr

izia

au

gu

st verd

uc

hi

MNAJDRA, MALTAca. 3500 B.C.

Predating Egypt’s pyramids by more than a thousandyears, the Neolithic limestone temples of this Mediter-ranean island captured the imagination of medievalvisitors and the attention of modern archaeologists,who have identified them as the oldest free-standingstructures in the world.

Exposure to millennia of fluctuating environmentalconditions and marine salts has thinned the porouslimestone megaliths at this World Heritage Site, weak-ening the structural integrity of the buildings and hasoccasionally led to collapse. Vibrations from nearbyquarrying activities—at the same site from which thetemple stones were extracted—and human activityhave only exacerbated the situation. The temple com-plex recently became the target of vandals and it hasbeen marred by the construction of stone bird-trappers’blinds in and amongst the ruins. Documentation andanalysis of present site conditions, including seismicand climactic monitoring, is critical for developing acomprehensive conservation plan for Mnajdra.

Listed in 1998 & 2000

SITE NO. 75

MNAJDRA PREHISTORIC TEMPLES

ma

lta m

useu

ms d

epar

tmen

t

BAGNI LUCCA, ITALY19th century

Suspended over the Lima River between Fornoli andChifenti, the Chains Bridge of Bagni di Lucca wasdesigned by Lorenzo Nottolini (1787–1851), royalarchitect to the Duke of Lucca. The bridge, which wasbegun in 1839 and completed in 1860 by Bettino Rica-soli for the Duke of Tuscany, serves as a footbridge tothe thermal baths near the town of Lucca.

The bridge’s wooden slabs and chains, destroyed in World War II, were rebuilt in 1953 and thereafterpassed through several restorations. However, theyhad been adversely affected by modern constructionand equipment in the immediate area. The sand-stone, which faced the bridge’s entire masonry, hadalso fractured and eroded from climatic freezing andthawing. Since its listing in 2000, a plan for therestoration of this suspension bridge has been devel-oped and initial funds for its implementation havebeen secured. However, until major structural repairsare made, the bridge remains at risk of collapse.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 74

CHAINS BRIDGE

v. reg

oli

eu

ro

pe

77

WISLICA, POLAND10th–12th centuries A.D.

Now a neglected outpost near Cracow, Wislica wasonce a thriving religious and political center ofmedieval Poland with remains dating back to thetenth century. A church built by members of the rulingPiast dynasty in the second half of the twelfth centuryfeatured a magnificently decorated gypsum floor pre-served by the later Romanesque and Gothic churchesbuilt atop it. In 1959–1960, excavators rediscoveredthe gypsum flooring three meters below the 650-year-old Gothic church, marveling at its portrait of Piastdukes—the earliest-known—surrounded by a Latininscription and rich floral and zoomorphic designs. It is the only medieval gypsum floor preserved in itsoriginal size and context, and an underground exhibi-tion hall was built to showcase it in situ in 1963.

While the gypsum flooring and its surroundingarchaeological context were the subject of painstakingconservation efforts in the mid-1980s, the lack ofmaintenance of the Gothic church that still standsabove the site has lead to considerable water and saltdamage, and the exhibition hall has been closed tovisitors since 1987. Damage to the flooring by vandalsin 1998 has lead to soiling and subsequent microor-ganism infestation. Although residents of the impov-erished town are enthusiastic about the potential forcultural tourism in Wi´slica, financial support is nec-essary to implement a detailed conservation plan thatwill enable them to showcase their heritage once again.

SITE NO. 77

WISLICA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

p. ga

sior

76

BUTUCENI, JUDET ORHEI, MOLDOVA17TH CENTURY A.D.

Incorporating portions of four earlier Christian andpre-Christian sanctuaries, the elaborately decoratedsurfaces of the Bosie Church and accompanyingmonks’ cells were carved from a cave complex abovethe Raut River between 1665 and 1675. The names ofthe church founders, as well as those of craftsmenwho carved it from the rock, remain inscribed on themain entrance to the church, which is set deep intothe limestone and marl cliffs only meters above theriver. The Barbary-Bosia complex is part of the formerSoviet republic’s larger Orheiul Vechi National Histor-ical Preserve, which contains archaeological and archi-tectural remains from the Paleolithic to Late Medievalperiods. The monastery is one of the last buildingprojects completed before the abandonment of thesurrounding settlement in the eighteenth century.

The underground springs that created the cavesfrom which the monastery complex was hewn con-tinue to erode its carved stone surfaces. Silt washinginto the grottoes also abrades the decorated rock, andwill eventually block the monastery’s entrances if it isnot periodically removed. Additional factors damaginginterior and exterior surfaces include the yearly freeze-thaw cycle, as well as a significant acid rain situationat the site created by large-scale smelting and refiningoperations and concrete production in nearby indus-trial zones. Over a third of the complex’s features arein serious condition and require immediate conserva-tion, but the difficult economic conditions in Moldovafollowing the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and theaccompanying departure of skilled conservators fromthe country, have prevented a comprehensive conserva-tion and management plan from being implemented.

SITE NO. 76

BARBARY-BOSIA MONASTERY COMPLEX

stefan

ru

su

ROSTOV VELIKY, RUSSIA9th century–early 20th century

Located on the shores of Lake Nero, some 200 kilo-meters northeast of Moscow, Rostov Veliky is one ofRussia’s oldest cities, whose thriving town life wasdescribed in the Annals of Past Times of A.D. 862. Thecity played a critical role in Russian history, being thesite of siege and revolt against the Mongols in thethirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and the birth-place of some of the most influential leaders and clerics of the early Russian state. Within the survivingearthen ramparts and seventeenth-century townwalls, the medieval city offers a spectacular array ofvernacular wooden houses and domed ecclesiasticalstructures, among them the Archbishop’s Palace,now known as the Rostov Kremlin, and the adjacentChurch of Our Savior on the Marketplace. Builtbetween 1685 and 1690, the church is crowned by fiveblue domes decorated with gold stars and toppedwith gold crosses. Murals painted between 1762 and1764 adorn the building’s interior.

The historic city has continued to serve as the com-mercial and residential core of modern Rostov Veliky.However, a rising water table has begun to underminemany of the wooden and stone structures, leading totheir abandonment. Moisture has eaten away paintedsurfaces, ornamentation, and entire foundations. Ifthe ancient city is to be revitalized as a place for livingand working, a plan must be developed to addressthe water table problems, repair damaged properties,and restore the vitality of the historic core as the heartof Rostov Veliky.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 79

CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR ON THE MARKETPLACE &ROSTOV VELIKY HISTORIC CENTER

joh

n stu

bbs/wm

f

BELOMORSKY & PUDOZHSKY, RUSSIAca. 4000–3500 B.C.

Considered among the most complex and expressiveexamples of rock art in northern Europe, the petro-glyphs of the Karelian Republic include elaboratescenes of warfare, religious ritual, seafaring, and evenskiing, carved into the red granite of the White Seacoast, and enigmatic and fantastic figures incised inrock on the shores of Lake Onega, 325 kilometers tothe south. More than 70 ancient settlements havebeen identified in association with the White Sea carv-ings. Collectively, they constitute the largest Neolithicsite in the region. While comparable petroglyph sitesare known in Norway and Sweden, the Karelian petro-glyphs are the only major rock art sites associatedwith the Ugro-Finnic peoples.

In the nineteenth century, local monks, offended bythe “obscenity” of the Lake Onega figures, alteredthem by “adding” strategically placed religious sym-bols. Human activity remains the biggest threat to thepetroglyphs, which have been defaced with graffiti andscorched by campfires since the sites were reopenedto the general public in 1992–1993. Changes in seawa-ter chemistry, resulting from new hydroelectric powerstations in the area, have contributed to the erosion of the White Sea carvings, while lichen growth hasresulted in considerable damage to sites around LakeOnega. A lack of understanding of the importance ofrock art among local residents, compounded with alack of resources and training on behalf of the officialsoverseeing the sites, puts the Karelian petroglyphs atserious risk.

SITE NO. 78

KARELIAN PETROGLYPHS

n.v. lo

ban

ova

& i. g

eor

gevsk

y

eu

ro

pe

79

LOMONOSOV, RUSSIAA.D. 1711–1727

Overlooking the Gulf of Finland is the imperial estateof Oranienbaum. It began with the Great MenshikovPalace (1711–27), built for Prince Alexander Menshikov,the particular favourite of Peter the Great. The architectfor the main palace was Giovanni Mario Fontana,who was commissioned to design both the city andthe country palaces for Menshikov in a Baroque styleto rival the palaces of the Czar. It was during the reignof Catherine the Great that many more buildings wereadded to the estate. The most important of these washer private retreat, known as the Chinese Palace,designed by the architect Antonio Rinaldi, whoworked at Oranienbaum between 1762 and 1774. Themid-eighteenth-century interiors of the Chinese Palaceconstitute one of the world’s most authentic Rococoensembles, complete with all the furnishings, parquetfloors, and unique bead wall hangings.

Oranienbaum is the only suburban imperial estatenot to have been touched by the Nazis in World WarII. The result is that, while now neglected, it retains anextraordinary, almost tangible atmosphere of the eigh-teenth century.To preserve this, it is necessary to do agreat deal of major work behind the scenes. Risingdamp is causing damage to the fragile parquet floorsand mural painted walls. A recent survey has shownthat a new drainage system is necessary to preventfurther seepage of water from the nearby lake. Theroof is in need of repair and outmoded services haveto be upgraded to provide safety from fire and floodas well as improved interior climate controls.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 81

ORANIENBAUM STATE MUSEUM

sovfo

to/ita

r-ta

ss

78

ISTRA, RUSSIAA.D. 1658–1684

Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery is a ten-square-kilometer complex designed to reproduce, inRussian architectural idiom, the topography, edifices,and place names of the Holy Land. Built between 1658and 1698, it is not only an extraordinary example ofRussian ecclesiastical style, but an important sourceof study for the actual Holy Savior’s Tomb in Jerusalem,built from the twelfth to the seventeenth century, butdamaged by fire in 1808. Two main buildings, theCathedral of the Tomb of the Holy Savior and theCathedral of the Resurrection, form the nucleus of thecomplex, along with the hermitage of Patriarch Nikon,unique for its combination of ecclesiastical and resi-dential functions. Within the cathedrals, tile icon sup-ports, casings, and inscriptions constitute the greatestpolychrome ceramic work in Russian history, power-fully influencing the making of tiles throughout seven-teenth-century Russia.

In the mid-eighteenth century, Resurrection Cathedralwas partially remodeled and decorated with Baroquemoldings, and in the early nineteenth century a neo-classical side-chapel of Mary Magdalene was added.Bombing by Nazi occupying forces in 1941 destroyedthe cathedral's central pylons and great domes. Spo-radic restoration has followed in the decades sincebut came to a halt in the 1990s because of reorganiza-tion of the government. Uncontrolled tourism andvandalism compound the perilous condition of thecomplex.

SITE NO. 80

RESURRECTION NEW JERUSALEM MONASTERY

sovfo

to/ita

r-ta

ss

KONDOPOGA, KARELIA, RUSSIAA.D. 1744

The Church of the Assumption at Kondopoga, themost intact historic building in all of northern Russia,is a protected monument of both the Republic ofKarelia and the Russian Federation. With its tall, slenderproportions, it is a particularly elegant example ofRussian wooden architecture. It is the very last Russianchurch, from the Finnish border to Siberia, to containan unaltered “sky,” a painted ceiling constructedabove the main sanctuary just below the high-tentedroof. The “sky,” like an iconostase or icon support, isused for mounting icons. Before, during, and after theRevolution of 1917, such “skies” were destroyed, soldoff to collectors, or even burned as firewood. Somemade their way into museums. Kondopoga’s is theonly one still in place.

Kondopoga was abandoned as a parish church inthe Revolution, and then became a museum in the1940s. In 1992, it was restored to use as an Orthodoxparish church. Its small congregation cannot affordthe conservation costs needed to save this rare treas-ure. To conserve the sky, it must be removed andtransported to laboratories in Petrozavfodsk and the deteriorated roof elements must be repaired orreplaced.

SITE NO. 83

ASSUMPTION CHURCH

tatia

na

vac

hr

emeeva

MOSCOW, RUSSIA9th century–early-20th century

On a high, scenic bank of the Moskva River sits thegrand eighteenth-century Archangelskoye, the onlyroyal estate to have survived with an abundance oforiginal structures and an important art collection,which includes works by van Dyke, Tiepolo, Boucher,and Robert. During the reign of Catherine the Great,French architects designed a palace and formal garden;the latter is graced with sculpture from the eighteenththrough twentieth centuries. In 1810, a new owner,prince Nikolai Youssoupoff, remodeled the palace todisplay his art works and to house his 16,000-volumelibrary. The estate also includes a seventeenth-centurychurch, a 1910 family mausoleum, and a private the-ater, the last such in Russia, with a curtain and foursets by the renowned nineteenth-century designer,Pietro Gonzaga.

From the 1917 Revolution to the early 1980s,Archangelskoye was used as a museum and theater.The palace’s parquet floors, plasterwork, beams,colonnades, and belvedere were partially restored overthe twentieth century. The palace and theater werethen unfortunately closed, the collections warehousedin a wing, and both buildings severely damaged bytotal neglect under Russia’s severe climatic conditions.The theater’s external staircase has rotted away, block-ing entry, and exterior plasterwork everywhere has suffered. Vandalism is a growing problem and the col-lections are inadequately secured. A full restorationplan has been developed that would return the estateto its appearance ca. 1825. The goal is to get the formermuseum and theater up and running as tourist attrac-tions to spur Archangelskoye’s eventual economicself-sufficiency.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 82

ARCHANGELSKOYE STATE MUSEUM

joh

n stu

bbs/wm

f

eu

ro

pe

8180

VYBORG, RUSSIAA.D. 1927–1935

Finnish architect Alvar Aalto (A.D. 1890–1976) left hisimprint on the Modernist Movement, harmonizing itsspare forms with the natural and social conditions ofnorthern Europe. He introduced a humanistic attitudeand pronounced regionalism. The Viipuri Library wasbuilt with an inner rectangular space, like a classicalcella with pared-down, massive undecorated facades.The ceiling of the lending and reading hall is a config-uration of gradually stepped planes pierced by sky-lights, and the conference room is covered by acurved, textured wooden ceiling. The whole buildingprefigures Aalto’s mature aesthetic, enunciated in his1938 aphorism, “Nature, not the machine, is the mostimportant model for architecture.”

Located in Vyborg on the Karelian Isthmus, whichFinland lost to the Soviet Union during World War II,the library remains in use and is intact, if dilapidated.Conservation is a joint effort of Finnish and RussianRestoration Committees. Listing by the WMF in 2000has helped promote this unique cooperation as wellas contributing to actual repair work.

Listed in 2000

SITE NO. 85

VIIPURI LIBRARY

t. mu

ston

en

SITE NO. 84

NARCOMFIN BUILDING

vlad

imir

pok

ac

ha

lov

MOSCOW, RUSSIA1928–1930 A.D.

Behind the Narcomfin apartment building’s austerebands of double-height windows unfolds a six-storyblueprint for communal living as ingenious as it ishumane. Built between 1928 and 1930 by architectsand engineers led by Moisei Ginzburg, a member ofthe post-Revolutionary Union of Contemporary Archi-tects, the apartments range from small dwellings—a living room with kitchen and bath “cabins” and asplit-level bedroom above, two capacious three-over-two plans that include imposing, double-heightrooms. The building, erected to house employees ofthe Ministry of Finance, consists not only of privateliving quarters, but of communal facilities—an openterrace on the second floor and solarium and gardenon the building’s flat roof. A four-story annex housed afitness center, kitchen, public restaurant, library, recre-ation room and day nursery. Close by, a two-storybuilding provides laundry and repair services. Thesefacilities made the building a successful “house-com-mune,” unique in Russia and in the whole world,intended to divide household chores among theinhabitants while preserving privacy. Bauhaus-inspired color schemes and built-in furniture remainas evidence of the architects’ utopian vision.

Today, the basic fabric of this reinforced concretestructure is deteriorating. Collapsed walls render anumber of units uninhabitable while malfunction ofheating, water, and drainage systems have causedleaks that have led to dampness, fungi, and walldecomposition—all severe threats to this monumentof Revolutionary Rationalism, a doctrine eclipsed inarchitectural history by the more flamboyant abstrac-tion of the Constructivist movement.

OCARLI KÖYÜ, KARS, TURKEYA.D. 300–1300

From its humble beginnings as an Armenian settle-ment in northeastern Anatolia, Ani developed into animportant cultural and mercantile center on the SilkRoad, maintaining its stature for a millennium beforebeing conquered by the Mongols and subsequentlyabandoned in the fourteenth century. Successive wavesof Armenian, Muslim, Byzantine, and Bagratid admin-istrations created Ani’s remarkably rich architecturallegacy, the remains of which still stand, albeit precari-ously, on this arid, earthquake-prone high plateau.Among its most important structures are severalproto-Gothic churches whose ribbed vaulting and col-umn pier clusters predate their appearance in Europeby more than a century. Minimal archaeological work atthe site has also revealed an elaborate water pipelinesystem and evidence of a sophisticated postal service.

Seismic activity remains the greatest threat to Ani.However, centuries of harsh weather, wind and sanderosion, and recent looting activity continue to slowlyweaken the remaining structures. The sight of recentlycollapsed 1,000-year-old buildings is commonplace. A 1996 grant from the Samuel H. Kress Foundationenabled an international multidisciplinary team todocument current site conditions and prioritizeactions necessary for its preservation. Fueled by adesire to increase tourism, local authorities haveundertaken substandard restoration efforts on citywalls and buildings, which threaten these ancientstructures.

Listed in 1996, 1998, & 2000

SITE NO. 87

ANI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

joh

n stu

bbs/wm

f

ANKARA, TURKEYca. 25–20 B.C.

Upon the death of Augustus in A.D. 14, the Res gestaeDivi Augusti, or glorification of his deeds, composedby the emperor during his life, was engraved on twobronze pillars at the entrance to his mausoleum inRome. While the original has been missing for cen-turies, a bilingual copy of the Res gestae remainsinscribed on the decaying marble walls of a once-magnificent temple erected around 25 B.C. in GalatianAncyra (modern Ankara) to honor Augustus and thegoddess Roma. A Latin version occupies the interiorwalls of the pronaos, in two sections, each 2.7 metershigh and 4 meters wide. A Greek translation isinscribed in 19 columns on an exterior wall of thecella, covering an area 1.25 meters high and 19 meterswide. The total carved area of the temple measuresover 45 meters.

Today, only the temple’s pronaos and walls of thecella and opistodomos remain in situ, slowly butrelentlessly crumbling away under the pressures ofpollution, earthquakes, and climate change in thisbusy capital city. Earlier attempts at restoring the temple, which foundered from a lack of funding, leftbehind only a metal scaffolding that continues tosheathe the monument and hide the inscription fromview. The University of Trieste, Italy, and the TurkishMinistry of Culture have signed a protocol to collabo-rate on the restoration and conservation of the site.

SITE NO. 86

TEMPLE OF AUGUSTUS

pau

la bo

tteri

eu

ro

pe

83

GAZIANTEP, TURKEYA.D. 1854

Fine examples of mid-nineteenth-century Armenianarchitecture may seem an incongruous feature of thisonce-wealthy trading center in southeastern Turkey,but are only one of many elements in a well-preservedexample of cultural and religious integration in thelate Ottoman Empire. The missionary hospital andschool, constructed at the request of Tepebası’smerchants, still stand alongside a collection of syna-gogues, mosques, and Roman Catholic, Protestant,and Orthodox churches in the historical district ofGaziantep. At the center of the district is Sira Han, the largest and grandest of the city’s hanis, or travellodges, featuring kitchens, animal stalls, and guestrooms that welcomed both wealthy merchants andrefugees. During World War I, Tepebası was a destina-tion for Armenian refugees, whose craftsmanship is still visible in intricate ironwork, carved stone archesand columns, basalt ornamentation, and colorfullytiled courtyard fountains.

Following the exodus of many cultural groups fromGaziantep during the First World War and Turkey’sWar of Independence, once-bustling Tepebası fell intodecline. Today, however, increased population growth,the result of the nearby Ataturk and Birecik dam proj-ects, threatens the future of the historical district,which is plagued by inadequate preservation planningand poor zoning enforcement. Two busy highwaysborder it, and commercial buildings under constructionin the district threaten its historical setting. The gue-strooms of Sira Han, whose second story wasdestroyed by fire in 1994, lie empty. Tepebası’s advo-cates realize that successful preservation and revital-ization of the historic district is contingent uponreintegrating its buildings into the community. In thisvein, the restoration of Sira Han as a world-classmuseum to house ancient mosaics rescued duringdam construction is proposed as a catalyst for urbanrevival.

SITE NO. 89

TEPEBASI DISTRICT

tho

ma

s litke

82

ISTANBUL, TURKEYA.D. 527–536

As a Roman emperor, Justinian (r. A.D. 527–565) hasbeen judged a failure; as a builder, he has been hailedas second to Trajan and the equal of Constantine, hav-ing constructed or restored buildings throughout theBalkans, Palestine, North Africa, Italy, and Sinai. It wasJustinian who commissioned two brilliant mathemati-cians, Anthemius of Tralles in Asia Minor andIsadorus of Miletus, to build the well-known HagiaSophia (“Church of Holy Wisdom”), erected between532 and 537. Sited near Istanbul’s southern city wallon the shores of the Sea of Marmara, the Küçük Ayasofya Mosque (“Little Hagia Sophia”) was com-missioned by the emperor as the Church of SaintsSergius and Bacchus upon his accession in A.D. 527. It remains the oldest surviving Byzantine monumentin Istanbul.

In both plan and elevation, the interior design of thesanctuary presents a subtle alternation of curvelinearand rectilinear forms, organized around a domedoctagonal core. It was built using an ancient masonrytechnique of slanted bricks combined with later struc-tural forms of Roman Imperial decoration such as thegored dome and complex corner vault. Carved ele-ments are executed in both late classical and specifi-cally Byzantine styles. Following its conversion to amosque in 1504, a half century after the Ottomanscame to power in Istanbul, the interior decoration ofthe sanctuary was modified and a Turkish portal wasadded on the west. In 1870–1871, the city’s main railline was laid between the mosque and the adjacentsea wall.

Due to numerous internal and external alterationsand natural disasters that have occurred since its construction, Küçük Ayasofya has developed severecracks, especially in its dome and vaults. The Ministryof Cultural Affairs has restricted all new constructionin the area of the mosque until it has been stabilized,however, as the cracks worsen, they threaten thestructural integrity of this monument.

SITE NO. 88

KÜÇÜK AYASOFYA (“LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA”) MOSQUE

e. gö

n a

ru

n o

zsen

SITE NO. 90

ANCIENT CHERSONESOS

joseph

ca

rter

SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE5th century B.C. –15th century A.D.

Dubbed the “Ukrainian Pompeii,” Chersonesos, onthe north coast of the Black Sea, offers some of theworld’s best-preserved archaeological remains, whichdate from its establishment as a Greek colony in thefifth century B.C. to the destruction of its Byzantine cityby the Mongols some 19 centuries later. Occupyingmore than 500 hectares on the Heraklean Peninsula,the site features outstanding monuments of Greekrural life, including 140 country estates, and the only-known Greek theater on the Black Sea, as well as Hel-lenistic and Roman remains. Chersonesos is one ofvery few sites in the world where life in the ancientcountryside, the chora, can be reconstructed. TheByzantine city—houses, public buildings, churches,and cemeteries—survives largely intact, including theUvarov Basilica, where Volodymyr, prince of theKievan Rus, is said to have been baptized in 988,bringing Christianity to the eastern Slavic world.

During the twentieth century, Chersonesos waslargely off-limits to outside investigation, as it laywithin the military zone of Sevastopol. In 1996, theNational Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, consistingof the ancient city, chora, and site museum, wasestablished by the Ukrainian government, but it currently operates on an annual budget of only a fewthousand dollars. Expansion of the now-open Sev-astopol city and unregulated encroachment of vaca-tion homes have combined with the considerable rateof coastal erosion to whittle away at the site. Largenumbers of unsupervised visitors scramble and sun-bathe among the ruins, and conservation and restora-tion efforts suffer from a near-total lack of funding.While international financial assistance to the pre-serve is increasing, the greatest immediate threat isposed by the Russian Orthodox Church, which isasserting ownership claims on the site in an attemptto create a pilgrimage center for Slavic Christianity atthe expense of Chersonesos’ “pagan” monuments.

Listed in 1996 & 1998

eu

ro

pe

8584

KIEV, UKRAINE12th Century

Listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, theChurch of Our Savior was built within a monasterycomplex in Berestove Village, the one-time seat ofKiev’s royal family. The sanctuary was modified overtime, the most radical revisions undertaken in 1752,when it became a five-domed edifice. The narthex isthe only part of the church that remains unmodi-fied—within it, a fresco cycle dating to the time of its construction.

Today, rising damp and leaking roofs are damagingbrick, mortar, and interior finishes. There are numerouscracks in the walls and across the vaults in the easternapse and the narthex—most likely caused by rottedwood pilings in the foundation—which threaten theintegrity of the overall structure. For the church to sur-vive, its structural problems must be addressed and aplan for long-term conservation implemented.

ISLE OF WIGHT, ENGLAND,UNITED KINGDOM1st–4th centuries A.D.

Brading Roman Villa maintains a distinguished posi-tion among the ten such sites on public exhibit in theBritish Isles. A “courtyard villa,” Brading owes its opu-lence to its position on the English Channel. Formerlyserved by a great natural harbor, the villa’s artifacts tellthe history of a seafaring family of the first throughfourth centuries who had access to the wealth andartistic and philosophical ideas that were circulatingacross Europe and the Near East in the early centuriesA.D. Among its most outstanding features are itsmosaics, which depict a variety of classical represen-tations unparalleled in the Romano-British world. Forcomparable works in terms of artistic and intellectualmerit, one must look to Cologne, Naples, Rome, orAntioch.

Brading Roman Villa has been on view to the publicfor more than a century and has what can only bedescribed as an archaic and inadequate protectivecovering. Two disastrous floods in 1990 and 1994caused extensive damage to the mosaics. The monu-ment is now in the hands of a charitable trust chargedwith undertaking emergency conservation of themosaics and devising appropriate protection forthem. Without proper housing to protect the villafrom flood and animal infestation, and to minimizevisitor impact, and without conservation measures toremove groundwater intrusion, to control the move-ment of soluble salts, and combat microorganisms,the villa will remain at risk.

SITE NO. 92

BRADING ROMAN VILLA

SITE NO. 91

CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR OF BERESTOVE

stephen

kelley

stan

ley h. g

reen

en

NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM11TH CENTURY A.D.

Founded three years after the Norman Conquest,and rebuilt early in the twelfth century, Selby Abbeyhas survived in near-perfect condition, despite amajor fire in 1906. Architecturally, it is a key documentillustrating the transition from Romanesque to a fullydeveloped Gothic style. The fine decorative stoneworkof the choir dates from the fourteenth century andincludes a canopied group of seats for clergy. Thethree-story Romanesque nave is supported by drumcolumns and incised arches, reminiscent of DurhamCathedral. The painted and stained glass East Windowillustrates the Tree of Jesse and is held in place by thebest example of curvilinear tracery in Britain.

Recently, a pinnacle from the Central Tower fell intothe transept, drawing attention to the general deterio-ration of the abbey’s stonework. Although emergencyrepairs were made on the other pinnacles, additionalproblems with the exterior stonework were identified.Inside, salt efflorescence is eating away the carving.The Benedictine Monastery at Selby, a thriving settle-ment in the Middle Ages, was dissolved in 1539, how-ever the church itself survived to become one of thelargest parish churches in England. Its size has madeit a financial liability for 500 years. Proper mainte-nance is impossible without outside help. The timehas come for a comprehensive plan to ensure its via-bility as a parish church open for worship and for cul-tural exhibitions.

CAITHNESS, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM15th–17th century

Girnigoe Castle (1470) and Sinclair Castle (1606)were together used as one dwelling for the Earls ofCaithness, northern Scotland’s most powerful family.The ruined stone and slate castles still tower highabove the North Sea, which surrounds them on threesides, and seem almost to grow out of the peninsula’sjagged cliffs. They have been uninhabited since 1690,when they were partially destroyed by cannon, thennot rebuilt. They subsequently passed out of the Sin-clair family, which bought back the castles in the1950s and donated them to a trust set up for theirpreservation in 1999.

Three hundred years of neglect have led to thealmost total ruination of Sinclair Castle and the immi-nent collapse into the sea of the remainder of theTower House of Girnigoe. Wind and salt spray havebadly eroded the sandstone surrounding the doorsand windows, and walls are held together by a fewkeystones, which may fail at any time. Architects andengineers have prepared a formal conservation strat-egy agreed upon by Historic Scotland, but advocacyand funds are needed to save these sublime relics.

SITE NO. 94

SINCLAIR & GIRNIGOE CASTLES

SITE NO. 93

SELBY ABBEY

keith

juk

es

ma

lco

lm, ea

rl c

aith

ness

eu

ro

pe

8786

STOWE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND,UNITED KINGDOMA.D. 1664–1840

The palatial seat of the Temple and Grenville families,who shaped British politics throughout much of theeighteenth century, Stowe House is one of the mostimportant estates in the United Kingdom, havingbeen expanded and modified over two centuries bysome of Britain’s most famous architects, amongthem Sir John Vanbrugh, James Gibbs, William Kent,Robert Adam, Thomas Pitt, and Sir John Soane. Thehouse as it stands today is one of the earliest neoclas-sical palaces—a great Marble Saloon at its center,anticipating by a decade the complexity of spacialplanning for which Soane would become famous. The house continues to serve as the monumentalfocal point of the gardens, designed in large part byLancelot “Capability” Brown between 1741 and 1750.The gardens contain some 30 other structures rang-ing from neoclassical sculptural works to Asian- andGothic-inspired temples.

Unfortunately, the house has received little attentionsince the 1860s, as major restoration work was beyondthe means of its owners, including the Stowe School,which owned the property between 1923 and 2000. In1998, the property was included on the English Her-itage Register of Buildings at Risk. Stowe House isnow in the hands of the Stowe House PreservationTrust, a nonprofit organization that has embarked ona six-phase program to restore the house.

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOMA.D. 1731

St. George’s, Bloomsbury is the last of eight churchesdesigned by the architect Nicholas Hawksmoor, a pro-tegé of the great Christopher Wren. Externally, thechurch gives a powerful sense of mass with its plainsurfaces devoid of neoclassical detail. Inside, the inte-rior spaces are overarched by vaults and windowedclerestories. St. George’s was built at a time when theChurch of England sought to be truly “primitive,”returning in liturgy and architecture to what it believedto be the practices of earliest Christianity. Wren andHawksmoor, who shared a passion for reconstructingancient buildings on paper, delighted in speculatingupon the nature of the first Christian churches, likeningthem to such edifices of antiquity as the Hagia Sophiain Istanbul, the Temple at Jerusalem, and the Mau-soleum at Halicarnassus. The church’s celebratedspire, considered to be Hawksmoor’s most unusualand whimsical, owes its silhouette to the architect’sresearch on Halicarnassus. Depicted in Hogarth’swell-known engraving Gin Lane, St. George’s was thesetting for Charles Dickens’ A Bloomsbury Christening.Novelist Anthony Trollope was also baptized in itsfont. St. George’s continues to play its part in thecommunity life of the neighborhood.

The last major repairs were undertaken a century ago.Now the original decorative plaster ceiling is pullingaway from its support, and the stone exterior is badlyweathered. Refurbishment of the roof, windows, rail-ings, floors, and furnishings, and an overhaul of theelectrical and heating systems are necessary for thesurvival of this parish church.

SITE NO. 96

ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH

SITE NO. 95

STOWE HOUSE

joh

n c

red

elan

d

rever

end

m. d

ur

ra

n

GREENOCK, RENFREWSHIRE, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM19th century A.D.

From the eighteenth through early-twentieth cen-turies, warehouses in Great Britain were oftendesigned by architects of note—usually as part of anoverall dock plan—a far cry from the perfunctory pre-fabricated nonentities turned out today. The extensivedocks of seaport cities—London, Glasgow, Newcastle,and Liverpool—offered architects the chance to buildwhat were, in effect, secular monuments to industry,and, with the necessity of security from theft and fire,spurred them to innovations in construction. TheGreenock Sugar Warehouses, on the Clyde River nearGlasgow, are exemplary, being part of the the JamesWatt Dock (1879–1886), designed by Walter R. Kinip-ple. Their red-brick fabric contrasts vividly with yellow-brick ornamentation at windows, corners, pilasters,and gables, a nod from the architect at the art critic,John Ruskin’s celebration of medieval Italian poly-chrome. The vast cast-iron windows—rectangular,arched, or circular—with small mullioned panesanticipate the uses of glazing in such Modernist iconsas Bauhaus architect Walter Gropius’ Fagus Factory,or Pierre Chareau’s Maison de Verre. The eight-storywarehouses, which were built for the second-largestsugar company in the world, are a rare, early exampleof structural cast iron externally expressed.

The James Watt Dock is the most complete nine-teenth-century wet dock in Scotland; its titan cantilevercrane of 1907, the oldest in existence. Today, however,the dockowner is seeking to demolish the buildings,which, because of their ruinous state, are considereda blight on the waterfront. The roofs have deterioratedand water penetration has rendered the wooden floordangerous.

KOSOVO, YUGOSLAVIAA.D. 1360–1881

The most important historic town in Kosovo, Prizren,was the regional seat of the Ottoman Empire in theBalkans from 1360, when Sultan Murad I extended theempire into Europe, until the late-nineteenth century.Orthodox Christianity and Islam coexisted under theOttomans. Built on an Ottoman town plan, Prizren’sarchitecture reflects both religions with Orthodoxmonuments dating from the thirteenth century andOttoman ones from the sixteenth century onwards,including the seventeenth-century Sinan PashaMosque and numerous hammams (Turkish baths).In 1881, as Ottoman power in the Balkans waned,Prizren became the capital of a league that looselyunited Albania and southern Kosovo. Several impor-tant buildings survive from this innovative period.

While Kosovo was integrated into the Kingdom ofYugoslavia, and later into modern Yugoslavia, Prizrennever regained its preeminence, and, as a result,remained largely unaffected by official building pro-grams. It was also spared during the War of 1999.However, as government conservation policy hasfocused largely on Orthodox monuments over thepast several decades, a lack of maintainance ofIslamic sites have placed these structures at risk.Many of bondruk construction, built of mud-brick andwood, suffer from water leakage, humidity, and mold.Brick and stone Orthodox buildings, on the otherhand, have been damaged by cement “restorations”undertaken in the 1970s.

SITE NO. 98

PRIZREN HISTORIC DISTRIC

SITE NO. 97

GREENOCK SUGAR WAREHOUSES

jam

es wa

tt do

ck

asso

cia

tion

gjejla

nd

ho

xha

eu

ro

pe

8988

SITE NO. 99

DECANI & PEC MONASTERIES

sam

gr

uber

sam

gr

uber

SUBOTICA, YUGOSLAVIAA.D. 1902

Hailed as one of the best surviving examples ofSecessionist, or Jugendstil, architecture, which saw a brief flowering before World War II, the SuboticaSynagogue has served as a focal point for northeasternYugoslavia’s Jewish community for nearly a century.Designed by Marcel Komor and Deszo Jakab ofBudapest, the building, topped by a glazed tile roofand quincunx of zinc-clad domes, was one of the firstto employ concrete and steel construction, which didnot become commonplace until later in the twentiethcentury. Eight steel columns arranged in a circle sup-port the vast central dome. Interior walls, columns,and balcony panels are decorated with murals, wood-carvings, and gypsum elements, inspired by Hungarianfolklore and Secessionist-style floral motifs. Given thedestruction wrought by both world wars, the synagoguerepresents one of the few remaining examples of thisarchitectural style.

Prior to its first Watch listing in 1996, the buildingwas partially restored. However, its setting amid frac-tured Yugoslavia placed it in a fragile and preciousposition, resulting in a suspension of conservationwork. The end of the Milosovic era has raised hopesthat the restoration will resume. However, a completebuilding assessment is mandatory for any furtherwork to be undertaken.

Listed in 1996 & 2000

SITE NO. 100

SUBOTICA SYNAGOGUE

KOSOVO & METOHIJA, YUGOSLAVIA13th-14th centuries

Seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church during theMiddle Ages, the Pec Monastery comprises fourchurches built from the early-thirteenth through themid-fourteenth century, the largest being that of HolyApostles. The monastery’s well-preserved frescoes are among the finest of the Medieval period. Seismicactivity and rainwater runoff from the hills above thePec Monastery have severely weakened the complex’swalls and living quarters, while heavy traffic from anadjacent commercial thoroughfare also threatens themedieval buildings.

Commissioned by the Serbian king Stefan Decanski,the Decani Monastery possesses the richest collectionof Orthodox imperial art from the late-Middle Agesand harbors the largest Serbian chuch of the medievalperiod. Dedicated to Christ Pantrocrator, it was builtby the king as his mausoleum. Although the exterioris Romanesque in form, within its interior is animpressive collection of Byzantine frescoes. Risingdamp has affected the 3,000 square meters of frescoesat Decani, while microbial and chemical decomposi-tion have affected its marble surfaces and statuary.

Intermittent conservation efforts at the Pec andDecani began after World War II, continuing until1998. However, both of these sites suffered as a resultof NATO bombing during the 1998–1999 war inKosovo. Yugoslavia’s continued economic and politi-cal crisis now pose the greatest threats to the sites.While a general restoration plan has been developedfor Pec, which houses an active convent, DecaniMonastery has remained inaccessible to Serbianauthorities, and the extent of war damage has yet to be determined.

eu

ro

pe

9190 Progress Reports:PREVIOUSLY LISTED WATCH SITES IN EUROPE

zen

o c

ala

nto

ni

TEMPLE OF HERCULESITALYFor nearly 2,200 years the Temple of Hercules, also known as the Temple ofVesta, has stood near the Tiber River in Rome. At the time the building wasplaced on the endangered list, the foundation had seriously eroded, thecolumns leaned out of plumb, and the iron clamps inserted in the 1810 wererusting causing crumbling of the marble. The slightest earthquake threatenedto topple the structure. WMF grants funded the restoration of the temple’sinterior cella and its fifteenth-century fresco, the podium and pavement of thecolonnade. The columns and roof were restored with government funds intime for the Jubilee celebration.Listed in 1996

KUKS FOREST SCULPTURESCZECH REPUBLICIn the forest surrounding the early-eighteenth-century estate of Count Sporck,sculpted figures emerge from the natural rock outcroppings. The work ofMattias Bernard Braun, the most important Bohemian sculptor of the HighBaroque period, the carvings were placed on the endangered list because theywere suffering from water erosion and organic growth. Emergency protectionand long-term conservation planning was needed. Grant funds of $70,000were made available through WMF and are currently supporting technicalstudies of the water infiltration problems and emergency drainage systems.Work progresses and WMF will continue to monitor conservation work.Listed in 2000

BUTRINTARCHAEOLOGICAL SITEALBANIAAs early as the eighth-century B.C.,Butrint was an important point alongregional trade routes. The settlementwas a stop for successive waves ofRomans, Goths, Byzantines, Venetians,and Turks. Placed on the 1996, 1998and 2000 endangered lists, WMFhoped to call attention to persistentthreats of looting, encroachment fromcoastal development, and lack of amanagement plan. Since listing, thephysical condition of the site hasgreatly improved. Resources havebeen allocated to maintain vegetationclearing, reduce the risks of flooding,and carry out a complete survey ofthe site. The boundary of the ButrintNational Park has been expanded tocreate a buffer zone to control devel-opment and a management plan is in the final stages of preparation.Although threats still remain andthere is concern over the lack ofuntrained conservation staff, the sitehas benefited from internationalattention. WMF will continue to mon-itor the progress at Butrint. On theWorld Heritage List.Listed in 1996, 1998, & 2000

BELVEDERE GARDENSAUSTRIAA WMF Wilson Challenge Grant of$500,000 resulted in a $1.8 millioncommitment from the Austrian gov-ernment to restore this early-eigh-teenth-century French Baroque garden,along with its sculptures and infra-structure. These efforts were prompt-ed by an initial $20,000 Kress Grantto hire an onsite preservationist. Thefinal phase of repair on the gardenramps will be completed in Fall 2001;the entire restoration is scheduled forcompletion by 2005.Listed in 1996

WORTEL COLONY ESTATEBELGIUMBuilt in 1822 as a social experimentto give destitute families a smallhouse, an arable plot of land, twocows, a sheep, tools, and clothing,the estate failed in 1843 when it wasrealized the occupants were from bigtowns and had little knowledge offarming. By the late-nineteenth-century,the estate became a shelter for thehomeless. With changes in vagrancylaws, the estate lost its source ofcheap labor. Placed on the endangeredlist in 1998 to raise public awarenessand encourage authorities to find acompatible reuse, a major publicitycampaign was launched by localpreservationists. As a result, the sitewill remain intact with 40 acres setaside for use as a jail and the remain-ing estate will become a public park.Listed in 1998

TOUR & TAXIS TRANSPORT HUBBELGIUMA model transportation hub of theearly-twentieth century, Brussels’ rail-road, customs, and maritime interestsconverged at Tour and Taxis. Inspiredby the Flemish Renaissance vernacularstyle, the architecture exploited theproperties of cast iron, reinforcedconcrete, steel, and glass. With thecreation of the European Community,the complex became obsolete and fellinto disuse. Tour and Taxis was listedas a result of concerns that the citygovernment was prepared to approveredevelopment plans that would dis-mantle and destroy the integrity ofthe buildings. After six years of advo-cating for appropriate action, and thetireless efforts of local preservation-ists, the threat of complete loss ofthe buildings seems to be over. Anew developer has come forwardwith plans to sensitively reuse thebuildings while maintaining theirunique architectural features.Listed in 1996, 1998, & 2000

PREVIOUS RADIO ANDTELEVISION BUILDINGBELGIUMThe Radio and Television Building,constructed in 1935, is a renownedlandmark of the 20th century with itstelescoping tower and bands of glasswindows. Containing interior spacesdesigned for highly specialized func-tions, the building with recording studios and a 400-seat auditoriumbecame obsolete in 1995. Faced withexpensive asbestos removal and con-servation work, the owners decidedto sell the property. Placed on the1998 list because of the threat ofdemolition, WMF hoped to supportthe local preservation movement toraise public awareness about theplight of the building. Extensive pub-licity followed listing and happily, thebuilding was saved when a new buyercame forward with intentions ofrestoring and appropriately reusingthe building. Listed in 1998

VILLAGE OF POCTELJBOSNIA & HERZEGOVINAAs many towns and cities in this areaof the world, Pocitelj was influencedby successive waves of conquerors—Hungarians, Turks, and Austrians. Its characteristic buildings are in theOttoman style. The city experienced a rebirth as a tourist destination andartist colony in the 1960s. However,during the conflicts of the 1990s,Pocitelj suffered tremendous physicaldamage and the entire populationabandoned the town. Placed on the1996 and 1998 endangered lists,grant funds were awarded to supporta study and strategic plan for therebirth of the town. National authori-ties adopted the plan and Poˇcitelj isnow a pilot project for refugee returnand rebuilding by the federal govern-ment. Hopes are growing that thispicturesque hilltop town will onceagain flourish.Listed in 1996 & 1998

MADARA HORSEMANBULGARIAPreservation of this 1,200-year-oldBulgarian icon continues to present a technical challenge. Though thehorseman was carved as an open-airmonument, preservationists believethat the only way to arrest its erosionis to put a roof over it with aretractable screen. Since listing, con-servation alternatives have beeninvestigated and responsible partiesare attempting to reach a consensus.Funds for any course of action, how-ever, are still lacking. Listed in 1996 & 1998

IVANOVO ROCK CHAPELSBULGARIAPart of a medieval monastic complexof churches, chapels, and monks cells,the Ivanovo Rock Chapels were hewnin the cliffs flanking the RousenskiRom River during the thirteenth andfourteenth centuries. Since their con-struction, constant seismic activity,groundwater penetration, condensa-tion from high humidity, and morerecent air pollution from a nearbyindustrial complex have acceleratedthe deterioration of painted surfacesas well as the structures themselves.Since listing, $28,000 from theHeadly Trust and a $40,000 WMFWilson Challenge Grant have beensecured to fund the development of a research and conservation plan bythe National Institute of CulturalMonuments in Bulgaria and begin itsimplementation. Listed in 2000

SPLIT HISTORIC CENTERCROATIAFor more than four centuries, thepalace of Diocletian (r. A.D. 284–305)was the only standing structure atSplit, until refugees fleeing the fallencity of Salona, the capital of RomanDalmatia, turned it into a town in theseventh century. The city, whichboasts 13 centuries of continuedoccupation, was heavily damaged byan earthquake in 1979. Conservationefforts continue in the ancient city,funded in part by a World Bankpreservation loan.Listed in 1996

DUCAL PALACECROATIAThe Ducal Palace—begun perhaps as early as A.D. 1200 and elaboratedthrough the nineteenth century—wasone of the few historic structures inZadar to have survived the ravages ofWorld War II, during which two-thirdsof the town was leveled. However,much of the palace was damagedduring the heavy shelling of 1991 and1992. Listing highlighted the building’splight and restoration of the façade isnow underway. Listed in 1998

FRANCISCAN MONASTERYLIBRARYCROATIASince listing, funds in excess of$190,000 have been secured fromAmerican Express and the RebuildDubrovnik Fund to restore thislibrary, which had been in continualuse since 1313. Luckily, its collectionof more than 70,000 books and man-uscripts covering all areas of scientific

study and musical scores had beenmoved off-site before the siege of the city in 1991–1992. Initiation of asecond phase of restoration, whichincludes work on the structure andwall finishes and the installation ofclimate control and security systems,is set to begin in Fall 2001.Listed in 1998

OLD CITY HARBORCROATIAPart of the fifteenth-century fortifica-tions that protected the city ofDubrovnik, the harbor sustained sub-stantial damage during the siege ofthecity in the early 1990s, damagethat has been exacerbated by seismicactivity. Two state agencies are nowoverseeing repairs.Listed in 1996

LOPUD FRANCISCANMONASTERYCROATIAThis still-functioning island churchon the southern Dalmatian coast ispart of a monastic complex estab-lished in the early-fifteenth century,the majority of which lies in ruin as a result of earthquakes, fire, neglect,and political unrest. Since listing, a$25,000 Kress Grant has been award-ed to fund a conference on ideas foran adaptive reuse of the site.Listed in 1996

VILLAGE OF TVRDACROATIAIn the 1990s, Yugoslav forces damagedmore than 90% of the eighteenth-cen-tury Baroque buildings in this uniquefortified city. Reconstruction plans arebeing developed and restoration will

be undertaken as funds becomeavailable.Listed in 1996

HEAVENLY FATHER CHAPELCZECH REPUBLICIn an effort to convert this fourteenth-century Gothic building into a historymuseum for the city of Kutná Hora,municipal authorities have spent$25,000 for studies and a planningsurvey. Restoration work is proceed-ing as funds permit. Listed in 1998

CESKY KRUMLOV GARDENCZECH REPUBLICThe Cesky Krumlov estate, builtbetween 1550 and 1575, consists ofthe castle—one of Central Europe’smost important architectural monu-ments—and the cascading garden.The style of the garden is eclecticwith French-style plantings, Italianaterococo and neoclassical terraces.After decades of neglect, the gardenswere placed on the 1996 endangeredlist due to structural problems and awater distribution system in need oftotal rebuilding. As a result of listing,a grant of $50,000 was awarded toassist with the reconstruction of thefountain. The government allocatedfurther funds and now the garden isrestored and draws numeroustourists every year. The HistoricCentre of Cesky Krumlov is on theWorld Heritage List.Listed in 1996

KLADRUBY BENEDICTINEMONASTERYCZECH REPUBLICThe magnificent early-eighteenth-century cloister church of theAssumption of the Virgin Mary withinthe Kladruby Monastery is only oneof the many large and importantBaroque structures that the Czechgovernment lists as endangered, having suffered from neglect sincethe cessation of monastic functionsin 1785. Since listing, funding fromthe Czech state, the Commission ofEuropean Communities, and othersources has underwritten the restora-tion of the roof and rafters of thechurch. An elaborate plan for therestoration of the rest of the monasteryhas been developed, but a lack offunds prevents its implementation. Listed in 1996

zen

o c

ala

nto

ni

eu

ro

pe

9392 NEBÍLOVY MANSIONCZECH REPUBLICRehabilitation of this early-eighteenth-century Baroque mansion was com-pleted in 1998, with financial supportfrom regional conservation authori-ties. The front garden and interiorcourtyard have been reopened to thepublic. Listed in 1998

LEDNICE PARKSTRUCTURES—LEDNICE &VALTICE VILLAGESCZECH REPUBLICSince 1993, WMF has been involvedin conserving Europe’s largest man-made landscape—Lednice-ValticePark with its two castles and atten-dant follies—which was deterioratingbecause of neglect and vandalism.Watch listing generated a $50,000American Express grant and fundsfrom public and private Czechsources, along with a WMF WilsonChallenge grant. The Czech govern-ment has set aside $2 million forrestoration efforts. WMF continuesits involvement with the restoration,scheduled for completion in 2002.Listed in 1998

CHATEAU AQUEDUCTFRANCEThe eleventh-century aqueduct systemfound on this estate consists of anaqueduct, cistern, irrigation system,and four rare hydraulic water mills.The system was central to chateaulife and functioned in tact throughthe 1960s. The chateau and the aque-duct were placed on the endangeredlist in 1996 to draw attention to seri-ous structural problems that werecompromising the integrity of theaqueduct. As a result of listing, theaqueduct system was designated anational historic monument inFrance. Public and private funds werethen made available to repair the col-lapsed walls and address water infil-tration problems. The site was saved.Listed in 1996

IKORTA CHURCH OF THE ARCHANGELREPUBLIC OF GEORGIAThis twelfth-century Ikorta Church ofthe Archangel was the most highlyornamented ecclesiastical structure

in the region. The church and itsartistically significant murals werealways a revered structure in Georgia.The church suffered greatly during a1991 earthquake. The central domecollapsed and facing masonrydetached. Placed on the endangeredlist in 2000, the church had beensupported under temporary scaffold-ing for years that, ironically, had beencausing further damage to the struc-ture. Soon after listing, funds werefound to replace the deterioratingmetal scaffolding with more appro-priate wooden scaffolding, preparethe detailed conservation plan, andbegin structural work on the mainbody of the church. In early 2001, a$60,000 grant was made throughWMF to support further structuralstabilization and conservation work.Listed in 2000

PITARETI MONASTICCOMPLEXREPUBLIC OF GEORGIAThe Pitareti Church of the Holy Virginis a foremost example of Georgiandomed ecclesiastical architecture atthe height of the reign of King Georgein the twelfth century. A preeminentmonastery through the early-eigh-teenth century, the building fell intodisrepair after it was closed in 1731.Earthquakes, neglect, and unevensettling of the foundations hadbrought the condition of the buildingto a critical point when it was includedon the list in 1996. A WMF grant of$20,000 was awarded, (the firstinternational funding for a culturalheritage preservation project made inGeorgia) to support emergency stabi-lization and reintroduce traditionalconservation methods. Watch listingand the grant funds brought significantattention and support to this project.Conservation continues locally.Listed in 1996

THOMASKIRCHEGERMANYSince its founding in 1212,Thomaskirche has been the site ofsome of Germany’s most importantcultural and historical events. TheUniversity of Leipzig was foundedhere in 1409, the St. Thomas Schoolwas established in 1553, and JohannSebastian Bach served as choir mas-

ter from 1723–1750. Placed on theendangered list to raise awareness ofthe deteriorated state of the building,an ambitious fundraising campaignwas launched by the church in prepa-ration for the 125th anniversary ofBach’s death. Significant funds hadalready been contributed but an addi-tional $5.8 million was needed to com-plete the important conservation work.Significant funding was provided byWMF; other funds have been securedto finish the restoration project.Listed in 2000

GARTENREICH DESSAU-WÖRLITZGERMANYInspired by the Enlightenment andromantic English gardens of the late-eighteenth century, this cultural land-scape includes palaces, statuary ofmythological figures, follies, andbridges. The garden was placed onthe endangered list to call attentionto problems of urban encroachment,years of neglected maintenance, anduncontrolled tourism. Significantincreases in visitation were expectedto this World Heritage Site and therewere fears that it would seriouslycompromise the integrity of the his-toric and cultural landscape. Sincelisting, conservation work on individualbuildings has been undertaken, plan-ning for restoration of the historicinfrastructure of the garden has beendeveloped, and a conservation planfor the garden finalized. A $50,000WMF grant has just been awarded tosupport conservation of one of thepark follies. Listed in 2000

FESTSPIELHAUS HELLERAUGERMANYThe Festspielhaus Hellerau is one ofthe birthplaces of modernism and apredecessor to the Bauhaus. Thebuilding housed a Rhythmic DanceSchool and introduced new conceptsof unifying the arts—architecture,music, dance, and theater. DuringW.W.II, it became a police barracks.Under Communism, the Soviet Armyoccupied the building, which rapidlydeteriorated due to neglect anddeferred maintenance. Listing wasintended to draw much needed inter-national attention to the plight of the

structure. After listing, the resourceswere found to begin the conservationwork which is almost complete atthis time. Plans include identifying anew private owner to again reopenthe building as a theater and artscenter.Listed in 1996

KAHAL SHALOMSYNAGOGUEGREECEMany Sephardic Jews fleeing theSpanish Inquisition settled on theisland of Rhodes. In 1577, they built a synagogue that remains one of theoldest in Europe. The once-thrivingcommunity of 1,673 Jews was reducedto only 151 after World War II, andtoday numbers only 32. The synagoguewas placed on the endangered listdue to the rapid erosion of the porousstone of which it is constructed andthe damaging effects of water infiltra-tion. A conservation plan had beenprepared but funding was needed toundertake the works. WMF awardeda grant of $35,000 in 2000 to addressthe urgent roof problems and to sup-port a review of the conservation planby a conservation architect. Additionalfunds have been raised. WMF willcontinue to monitor the progress andperhaps further assist the buildingthrough the Jewish Heritage Programin the future.Listed in 2000

ETZ HAYIM SYNAGOGUEGREECEThis synagogue is the only survivingJewish monument on the island ofCrete. Jews played a vital role in theCretan community, particularly duringthe Ottoman period. By 1941, only376 Jews remained in the community.Germany deported them in 1944 andthey died after their ship was bombedand sunk by the Allies. At the timeEtz Hayim was placed on the endan-gered list, the condition of the build-ing was critical. A full building surveyand preservation plan was needed inaddition to the funds to carry outrepair and conservation. Watch listingsuccessfully galvanized support forthe project and the completely restoredsynagogue was reopened as a muse-um on October 10, 1999.Listed in 1996

ROYAL GARDEN PAVILIONSHUNGARYLying along the Danube River, theRoyal Garden Pavilions were con-structed after the unification of Buda, Obuda, and Pest as one city—Budapest. At the time of inclusion onthe list, the gardens were in a state ofdecay. Vandalism, automobile pollu-tion, and traffic vibration were erodingthe architectural elements, sculptureand mosaics. A WMF grant of$50,000 was made available for aninternational on-site planning confer-ence. Soon after the governmentcommitted the funding to stabilize,conserve, and reuse the pavilions—a World Heritage Site. Listed in 1996

SPA CENTRE HISTORICENSEMBLEHUNGARYIn an effort to find new uses for thenineteenth-century buildings ofHungary’s oldest and most importanttraditional spa, the municipality ofBalatonfüred has prepared a redevel-opment plan for the ensemble, pur-chasing some of the buildings. Listingattracted considerable press attentionand investors are now being soughtto restore the reuse of the buildings. Listed in 1996

CLONMACNOISE NEW GRAVEYARDIRELANDClonmacnoise is a complex of sixth-century ruins—churches, towers, acastle, three high crosses, and hun-dreds of Early Christian cross slabs.In the 1950s, the grounds adjacent tothe monastery walls served as agraveyard. At the time of listing, aplanned expansion of the graveyardthreatened newly discovered ancientremains. Watch listing focused atten-tion on the urgency of the situation.The National Monuments Serviceand the Offaly County Council provid-ed funds for further archaeologicalinvestigation and a ground-penetrat-ing radar survey. The site was thenmade a National Monument protect-ing it from encroachment and thethreat posed by the new burials wasstopped.Listed in 1996

ST. BRENDAN’S CATHEDRALIRELANDSt. Brendan established his monasteryand center of learning at Clonfert inCounty Galway in the sixth century.The present Hiberno-Romanesque-style cathedral dates from 1165. Thebuilding is distinguished for its portaland sandstone doorway, acknowl-edged to be the finest in Ireland.Weathering has eroded much detailand the south transept is in ruins.Inappropriate conservation measureshave caused further damage. At thetime of listing, a conservation surveyand planning was desperately neededto determine the extent of damageand prioritize the work. After listing,the Irish Heritage Council commis-sioned a detailed conservation plan.Funds, including a WMF grant of$111, 850, have been raised. Workshould begin soon on a structuralsurvey of the belltower and a properdrainage system to divert water awayfrom the foundations of the building.WMF will continue to monitor theprogress of the conservation work.Listed in 2000

ETRUSCAN-FRESCOEDTOMBS OF TARQUINIAITALYSince listing highlighted the plight ofthe 200 rock-cut Etruscan tombs dat-ing from the seventh through secondcentury B.C., the Soprintendenza hascompleted the restoration of thetomb of Tifone, the largest and mostimportant of the tomb group. Of the50 accessible tombs, 20 are ownedby the state, nine of which can be vis-ited by the public. These were suffer-ing from uncontrolled tourism andlack of protection of the murals andproper light and signage. TheNational Center for Research hasbeen developing proper restorationprocedures, with particular attentionbeing paid to protective glass barri-ers, climate control, and adequatelighting. Private funds are still neededto underwrite much of the conserva-tion effort.Listed in 1996

POMPEIIITALYOne of the world’s most famoussites, the Roman seaside town ofPompeii, which was destroyed by theeruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79, hasbeen one of the most intensivelyexcavated and visited. It has alsobeen one of the most threatened byinadequate maintenance and conser-vation, and lack of tourism manage-ment. Since listing, joint fundingfrom American Express and the KressFoundation has supported the devel-opment and completion of surveyand digitized map for the archaeologi-cal site, Piano per Pompei, document-ing the range of conditions for build-ings and exposed archaeological fea-tures such as wall paintings and floormosaics within the site. The KressPompeii Conservation Project hasresulted in a more detailed survey,analysis, and conservation plan for aspecific city block, Insula V, 2, andone building within the block, theHouse of the Silver WeddingAnniversary, by a multidisciplinaryproject team. Restoration and conser-vation methodologies identified andtested at the House and the sur-rounding block can be extended fortreatments elsewhere in Pompeii. Apublication outlining the methodolo-gies and treatments recommendedfor the House and Insula is currentlyin production. Listed in 2000

DOMUS AUREAITALYRediscovered ca. 1480, the DomusAurea, Nero’s Golden Palace, was themajor source of information aboutRoman painting and decoration forRenaissance artists. Although muchwas lost, the rooms occupied by theemperor (r. A.D. 54–68) remain largelyintact. At the time of listing, salt crys-tallization, calcium deposits, pollutantcrusts, and biological growth obscuredthe decorations and threatened thesurvival of the structure. The office of the regional superintendent forarchaeological sites launched a majorcampaign to rescue the site and, inJune 1999, 32 of the 150 rooms wereopened to the public. There are plansto continue excavations and conser-vation.Listed in 199

NEOPITAGORICA BASILICAITALYThe remarkable stucco reliefs in thisfirst-century A.D. subterranean basili-ca in Rome were suffering from con-densation, bacterial growth, andvibrations from a nearby railroad line.Since listing, an environmental purifi-cation system was installed, and somelimited conservation of decoratedsurfaces, funded by the Italian state,has taken place. Although progresshas been slow, the site continues toimprove.Listed in 1996 & 1998

RUINS ON THE RIVERCENTAITALYHad local authorities carried outplans to widen a portion of the riverin this town near Savona, a significantportion of this first-century A.D. Romancity would have been destroyed. Acourt order halted the project whileWatch listing prompted concernedparties to investigate alternativemethods for flood control. Listed in 1996

ARCH OF TRAJANITALYSince listing, major progress hasbeen made in restoring this magnifi-cent commemorative monument ofTrajan (r. A.D. 98–117). Listing helpedbring together city and port authorities,who have drafted a plan for urbanrenewal for the port of Ancona, at theheart of which stands the arch.Listed in 1998

SANTA MARIA IN STELLEITALYA Kress grant of $20,000 supportedan architectural and photographicsurvey of this second-century A.D.grotto, analysis of the frescoes andthe environmental causes of theirdeterioration, and the formulation ofconservation and maintenance guide-lines. Plans to open the site to thepublic are underway; conservationefforts continue.Listed in 1996

eu

ro

pe

9594

zen

o c

ala

nto

ni

MT. NEMRUT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITETURKEYBetween 80 and 72 B.C., Antiochos I, who ruled the Roman state of Commagene, erected a funerary site to himself and the gods heconsidered relatives—Apollo, Zeus, Herakles among them—com-missioning nine-meter-high figures of himself and the gods, seat-ed in a row atop a 50-meter-high mountain of crushed rock.Though many of the statues have been toppled by earthquakes,exposure to the elements on the summit of Mt. Nemrut, which is2,150 meters high, has taken its toll. Since listing, an AmericanExpress grant of $50,000 has been awarded. WMF and theInternational Nemrut Foundation recently convened a workshopwith local Turkish authorities during which plans for a one-yearpilot project for the conservation of the sculptures were approved.It is hoped that one of the fallen statues can be reerected.Listed in 2000

GROTTOS OF SAN MICHELEITALYSeven chapels in an extensive naturalcavern comprise these large andcomplex decorated grottos. Thechapels are of rustic construction,with the largest one decorated with a fresco cycle from the eighth andninth centuries. At the time of listing,high humidity has caused ongoingdeterioration of the frescoes, the con-struction materials of the chapelsrequire extensive maintenance, andthe site was vulnerable to vandalismand theft. Since that time, a WMFgrant of $12,000 launched therestoration process. Further fundsfrom the local municipality financedthe necessary emergency mainte-nance, conservation, and a regionalconference to raise awareness andgarner further financial support.Listed in 1996

SAN GIACOMO MAGGIOREPORTICOITALYAir pollution, leaking roofs, and vandalism had caused thisRenaissance portico in Bologna toreach an advanced state of deteriora-tion. Watch listing prompted the for-mation of a coalition of local civicgroups, government agencies, andprivate sector sponsors to carry outthe restoration of this monument.Listed in 1996

BARTOLOMEO COLLEONIMONUMENTITALYCorrosive pollutants were eroding thesurface of this late-fifteenth-centurymonumental bronze sculpture inVenice. An initial $15,000 was raisedby Associazione Comitato ItalianoWMF to complete a preliminary con-servation study to determine theextent of the damage and recommendmeasures for restoration. Since then,a detailed examination of the statuehas been carried out and a projectplan developed, funded in large partby a $125,000 WMF WilsonChallenge Grant, $250,000 from the Superintendent of Fine Arts inVenice, and a $65,000 Kress Grant. Listed in 1996

PALAZZO DORIA PAMPHILIITALYPreliminary consolidation of threerooms containing important frescoesin this mid-seventeenth-centurypalazzo in Valmontone has beencompleted and the threat of plastercollapse has been brought under con-trol. Additional restoration is pro-ceeding under the aegis of the localsopritendenza.Listed in 1998

STS. AMBROGIO & CARLOAT CORSOITALYThe seventeenth-century Baroquechurch, one of the most prominentlandmarks on Rome’s skyline, wasincluded on the Watch list because of increasing damage to its dome,decorative interiors, and crypt due towater leakage from failed lead sealsin the cupolas. Significant restorationof the church was undertaken inpreparation for the Jubilee with manyof the structural problems resolved.Listed in 1996

BOTANICAL GARDEN OFPADUA UNIVERSITYITALYFollowing Watch listing, this mid-sixteenth-century botanical garden,the oldest in the world, was includedon the World Heritage List. Changesin the watertable and construction inthe area had threatened the plantings,which had survived for centuries.Private American funding supportedthe installation of a drainage and irri-gation system as well as a pumpingand desalination plant for the garden.Listed in 1998

TERRA DEL SOLE PRISONCELLSITALYPhotographic documentation of thegraffiti in the nine cells of this mid-fifteenth-century prison has beencompleted. Isolated structural prob-lems have been addressed and deco-rative sculptural elements on thefacade have been restored. A CD-ROMdocumenting the history of the prisonhas been issued, while a campaign to continue emergency conservationcontinues. A full restoration of theprison and its presentation as amuseum is envisioned.Listed in 1996

SANTI QUATTRO CORONATICLOISTERITALYThe cloister, the work of the Cosmatimaster Paulus, dates to the firstdecade of the thirteenth century A.D.The cloister is now suffering fromserious humidity from undergroundwater, natural aging, and air pollution.An ambitious fundraising campaignwas launched by the Archdiocese ofLos Angeles—Santi Quattro is the titular church of the CardinalArchbishop of Los Angeles. Since list-ing, a detailed conservation plan hasbeen prepared by experts in Rome.WMF has allocated $655,000 towardthe multimillion dollar restorationproject. Work is scheduled to beginby the end of 2001, but the successof the project relies on efforts to raisesignificant funding to address thewater and pollution problems. Listed in 2000

RUPESTRIAN CHURCHESOF PUGLIA & MATERAITALYThe region of Puglia and the town ofMatera consist of rock-cut dwellingsand churches. Forced evacuation ofthe rupestrian structures due tounsanitary living conditions in the1950s left the architecture to deterio-rate and fall victim to vandalism andtheft. Earlier concerns of living condi-tions are being addressed and resi-dents are moving back. Matera’s SanPietro Barisano church is one ofmore than 500 in the region. Thechurch was prioritized for conservationwork and a WMF grant of $100,000was applied to the restoration of thefrescoes, stone sculptures, and manycarved wooden elements on the mainaltar. Further funding for San Pietrowas received from the Italian govern-ment’s Jubilee financing. It is hopedthis project will encourage furtherfunding and technical assistance forother rupestrian churches in theregion.Listed in 1998

LIMONAIA OF THE BOBOLIGARDENS & VILLA MEDICIITALYThe Medici family’s collection of pot-ted citrus plants, established in thesixteenth century, survived the centuries

because the plants were housed in thelimonaia structures at the BoboliGardens in Florence and the VillaMedici at Castello. About 1,000plants are now divided between thegardens. The limonaia were rapidlydeteriorating and endangering thesurvival of the rare collection whenplaced on the Watch list. Since listing,a WMF grant of $50,000 was awardedto the Limonaia at Villa Medici andan emergency heating system con-sisting of four gas-burning, forced-airfurnaces was installed. These furnacesguarantee that the minimal tempera-ture of 6˚C is maintained. A newgrant of $420,000 has been allocatedto assist with the restoration of theLimonaia of the Boboli Gardens.Listed in 1996—Villa MediciListed in 1998—Boboli Gardens

ABAVA VALLEY CULTURALLANDSCAPELATVIAThe Abava Valley, a region developedduring the Middle Ages along theroute to Germany, remained immuneto the modern development duringSoviet times. The villages, the vine-yards of Sabile, the country estates ofPedvale, eighteenth- and nineteenth-century churches and dwellings, andsignificant nature reserves wereintact. With independence in 1991,however, has come decentralizationand privatization of property, andwithout a conservation area estab-lished and a legal framework fordevelopment, the landscape is threat-ened by possible insensitive develop-ment. Since Watch listing, the gov-ernment declared the area a SpeciallyProtected Cultural Territory, a plan forfuture development has been prepared,and the Foundation “Abava Valley”continues to raise awareness throughcultural events and the Open-Air ArtMuseum at Pedvale.Listed in 1996 & 1998

VILNIUS TOWN WALLLITHUANIAThe defense wall, built from 1503 to1522, encircled a settlement of 85hectares. The wall, with 10 gates andmade of brick and stone, embodiedthe Gothic and Renaissance featuresof the period. By the early-nineteenth-century, the wall had lost its defensive

purpose and parts were demolished.Threatened by exposure to the ele-ments and lack of conservation andmaintenance measures, the remainingparts of the wall are rapidly deterio-rating. Since listing, modest repairshave been carried out by governmentexperts at this World Heritage Site,however, significant funding has notbeen available to address the majorconservation challenges. Concern stillexists for the future of this structure.Listed in 1998

VÅGÅ OLD CHURCHNORWAYAt the time of listing, the twelfth-cen-tury wooden church remained vulner-able to arson attacks, which haddestroyed 20 other ancient churches.A $15,000 Kress grant underwrotethe installation of a surveillance sys-tem; the municipality has sinceequipped the church with smokedetectors. Funds from Norwegiancorporations have been secured toinstall similar systems in the remain-ing wooden sanctuaries.Listed in 1996

KORSGATA (OLD STREET)NORWAYAn organization that provides housingfor students now owns the nineteenth-century wooden houses that line thisstreet in Trondheim. Fortunately, thenew owner plans on upgrading theentire neighborhood, restoring oldbuildings and filling vacant lots withnew structures. While demolition nolonger poses a threat, restorationguidelines are still needed to directthe conservation effort.Listed in 1998

DEBNO PARISH CHURCHPOLANDThe traditional wooden churches ofsouthern Poland represent a uniquelegacy of art and architecture andremain an important part of the spiri-tual and social life of their communi-ties. The church of the ArchangelMichael in Debno is one of the fiveoldest churches in the Podhaleregion and dates back to the fifteenthcentury. The dark and austere exteriorhides an interior of medieval wallpaintings—rich in color and crafts-manship. The building, although inrelatively good condition, was threat-ened by a rapid change in the watertable of the area, brought on by theconstruction of a large reservoir. Withthe effects of the water table unknownat the time of listing, a $30,000 WMFgrant supported a program of moni-toring for the interior microclimate.The research concluded that the neg-ative impacts of the water table werenegligible. The remaining funds wereused to carry out a conservation proj-ect on the polychromed interiors withthe assistance of Norwegian conser-vators. The project was a model forthe conservation of other woodenchurches in the region.Listed in 1996 & 1998

OUR LADY’S ASSUMPTIONBASILICAPOLANDDominating the skyline of Krakow,and standing at the corner of themidtown Market Place, the churchreceives hundreds of visitors a day.

These visits, along with the massiveindustrial, air and water pollution inthe city, and years of neglect of thechurch’s infrastructure had resultedin a serious conservation problemwhen the site was included on theendangered list. Restoration effortsbegan in 1987 but soon stalled forlack of funds. A WMF grant of$25,000 supported the restoration of the western portal. As a result oflisting, the government and privatesector have responded by contribut-ing further funds for conservationwork. The historic center of Krakow is on the World Heritage List.Listed in 1996

VISTULAMOUTH FORTRESSPOLANDThe fortress of Vistulamouth, con-structed between 1482 and 1800, pro-tected the port of Gdansk until 1919,when it and several of the smallerforts along the Vistula River wereabandoned. It was severely damagedin 1945, and partially rebuilt, however,waves generated by passing ships inthe active port have weakened itsfoundation. A $24,000 WMF WilsonChallenge Grant and $19,500 fromthe Headley Trust have been awardedto fund a pilot conservation projecton the Artillery Bastion of thefortress. Listed in 1996, 1998, & 2000

PRÓZNA STREETPOLANDWith funds from American Express,the Lipper Foundation, and theHonorable Ronald S. Lauder, the four

remaining buildings on this historicstreet in the Warsaw Ghetto haveprogressed their restoration. Sincelisting, the WMF project team hascompleted Phase I, a “SignificantDetails Inventory” that identifed theimportant remaining exterior andinterior architectural details of therare surviving Jewish Ghetto apart-ment buildings. The results of thissurvey are now being used by aninternational design team that is currently developing reuse plans for a hotel that will include a kosherrestaurant and research center forpre-WWII-era Jewish life in Warsaw.Restoration work is scheduled tobegin in 2002.Listed in 1996

CÔA VALLEY PETROGLYPHSPORTUGALAn archaeological survey in prepara-tion for the construction of a dam onthe Côa River revealed this importantPaleolithic rock art along several kilo-meters on both sides of the valley. Asa result of the find, the dam projectwas cancelled and efforts began toconserve the rock art in a nationalpark. At the time of listing the great-est threats to the art were erosiondue to exposure to the environmentand vandalism. Since listing, thePortuguese government declared thearea a national archaeological parkand a tourism management plan—inresponse to threats of vandalism—was instituted. The area has beendeclared a World Heritage Site.Listed in 1996

eu

ro

pe

9796 BÁNFFY CASTLEROMANIAOne of the country’s most importantRenaissance-style castles, the estatewas added to by each succeedinggeneration of the Bánffy family. Thecastle currently has late-Renaissance-style flourishes and other stylistic ele-ments, including an English Romanticgarden, stables and a sculpture-filledcourtyard. At the end of World War II,retreating German soldiers set fire tothe house. Subject to further neglectand deterioration during Communism,today the only hope for the buildingis a proposed reuse as a restoration-training center or cultural facility.Since listing, the Romanian andHungarian governments have provid-ed financial assistance to supporthistorical research and photographicsurvey, an archaeological assessmentof the kitchen block, and implemen-tation of emergency consolidationworks. On-site security has resultedin a reduction in theft and vandalism.An action plan for the completerestoration of the complex has beendeveloped and restoration work con-tinues. It is hoped that the momentuminitiated by inclusion on the Watchlist will continue and further fundingwill be found. Listed in 2000

ROMANO CATHOLICCHURCHROMANIAStill in use by the local HungarianCatholic community, the building issignificant for its thirteenth-centuryGothic mural paintings and a woodenceiling with 104 panels featuringRenaissance floral and heraldicmotifs. At the time of listing, crackshad developed in the two-meter-thickwalls and water seepage threatenedthe murals. Frequent earthquakescontinued to undermine the structureand an inadequate gutter systemallowed moisture to penetrate theinterior. Since listing, the roof of thestructure was repaired and clad withnew tiles, the painted ceiling wasrestored, and a new drainage systeminstalled. A $5,000 grant from WMFsupported a fresco conservator tovisit the site and evaluate the muralsand propose treatment. Followingthis, the church received an additional

zen

o c

ala

nto

ni

ST. FRANCIS AND GORTON CHURCH & MONASTERYUNITED KINGDOMThe St. Francis Church and Gorton Monastery was built at the height ofthe Industrial Revolution when Manchester’s population was growing dramatically. The neo-Gothic/High Victorian church was the focal point forthe Catholic community and a landmark in the city. However, a decliningpopulation forced the church to close in 1989. The building had remainedvacant and exposed to rapid deterioration and vandalism until ownershiprights were transferred to a non-profit preservation trust and temporaryweatherproofing has been installed soon after listing. The Monastery of St.Francis and Gorton Trust through heroic efforts and inspired businessplanning have prepared a reuse scheme that combines the investment ofa hotel development chain, a long-term agreement with a local universityand several other economic generating ideas for the buildings. WMF hassupported the project with over $490,000 in grant funding and recentlyan application to the Heritage Lottery has successfully received $4,773,000for the project. This project will most likely prove to be one of the mostsuccessful projects on the endangered list and a model for other massivebuildings looking for viable reuses.—Listed in 1998 & 2000

$10,000 from WMF and the KressFoundation for restoration of an exte-rior mural.Listed in 1996 & 1998

BRANCUSI’SENDLESS COLUMNROMANIAListing of this monumental sculpturein Târgu-Jiu generated some $3 millionin grants from WMF and AmericanExpress and a $2.2 million loan fromthe World Bank for its restoration,which was completed in the Winterof 2000. WMF continues its involve-ment in the interpretation of the workand the planned restoration of theGate of the Kiss and the Table ofSilence, which, with the column, makeup the tripartate ensemble erectedbetween 1937 and 1938 to commemo-rate the Romanian fallen youth ofWorld War I.Listed in 1996 & 1998

PAANJÄRVI VILLAGERUSSIAIn the fourteenth-century-Paanajärvivillage grew up as a trading postbetween the Viking communities toits north and the Byzantine Empire to its south. Miraculously, the village’sarchitectural and oral folk traditionshave survived until today. Since the1960s, the village has been threatenedby plans to construct a dam acrossthe Viena Kemi River that wouldflood the town. To date, the damproject has been delayed due to lackof funding. The Finnish governmentand cultural groups have joinedforces with the residents of the townto raise international awareness andimplement restoration work in thetown. With funds provided by theFinnish government and WMF, sevenyoung men from the town weretrained in a one-month restorationcourse taught by older master crafts-men. Publicity efforts have raised theprofile of this village and Finnishtourists are now visiting in recordnumbers. However, even though theconstruction has been stalled, thethreat is not completely gone. WMFwill continue to monitor the threatsto the village.Listed in 1996, 1998, & 2000

IRKOUTSKRUSSIAThe village of Irkoutsk grew into animportant town because of its loca-tion along the trade routes betweenthe Orient and the Occident, and in1686, it became the capital of OrientalSiberia. The city’s rich architecturalheritage includes the world’s largestcollection of eighteenth-century mul-ticolored, two-story wooden houseswith galleries and carved cornices. Of the 1,500 houses thatsurvive, one-third are in precariouscondition. Since listing, restorationson two houses have been carried outas a prototype for a city-wide program.However, the real threats to thebuildings continue as the land theysit on becomes increasingly prizedfor redevelopment and current prop-

erty laws limit private ownership—which could be the key to the restora-tion of this historic Siberian city.Listed in 1998 & 2000

KIZHI POGOSTRUSSIAThe only remaining mulitdomedwooden churches built during thereign of Peter the Great. The Churchof the Transfiguration is consideredthe finest wooden church in all ofRussia. Placed on the list to drawattention to the deteriorated conditionof these structures and the need forspecialized conservation measures torestore the buildings, and the valuablecollection of artifacts and icons. WMFgrants totaling $84,720 were awardedto set up a laboratory to restore iconsand the iconostasis, to install a firesuppression system, and to monitor

humidity levels in the churches. Atthe same time, an international con-ference was held to review restorationplans by the Ministry of Culture. Theinternational and Russian conservatorsagreed the best treatment plan was torestore the building in-situ. Work isset to begin on the most urgent con-servation concerns—the woodenstructure of the churches. WMF continues to monitor the situation.Listed in 1996

CATHERINE PALACEAGATE PAVILIONRUSSIAA desire to “re-create the splendor ofancient Rome” was the inspiration ofthis neoclassical pavilion, designedfor Catherine II by Charles Cameron,and built between 1780 and 1787.Although much of the structure waspillaged during World War II, many of the embellishments had survived.Recent water damage, however, hasdamaged paintings and stucco work,and nearly ruined floors. A $9,000Kress Grant has been awarded towardthe preservation of interior finishes. Listed in 1998

YELAGIN FLAG PAVILIONRUSSIAOne of a number of structures in apark ensemble erected between 1780and 1826 on a Romanov family islandretreat in St. Petersburg. Neglectedunder Soviet rule, the structures,including the Flag Pavilion, had falleninto disrepair. A WMF WilsonChallenge Grant of $100,000 hasbeen awarded, along with $7,000Kress Grant, for foundation and roofrepair. Historic St. Petersburg is onthe World Heritage List.Listed in 1998

ALEXANDER PALACERUSSIACatherine the Great commissionedthis neoclassical palace in the lateeighteenth century for her grandson,later Czar Alexander I. It was subse-quently remodeled by Nicholas II. Itwas here that the royal family waskept under house arrest until theirexecution at Ekaterinburg on July 17,1918. In recent years, the palace wasused by a Russian naval division,which has since evacuated the buildingso that it may be restored and con-

verted into a museum. WMF, whichalong with American Express, under-wrote repairs to the roof will continueto play an integral role in the palace’srestoration and conversion. Listed in 1996 & 1998

RUSSAKOV CLUBRUSSIABuilt in 1929 by architect KonstantinMelnikov, the theater is one of thefinest examples of late Constructivistarchitecture. The theater was built forworkers who labored in nearby facto-ries and was a perfect architecturalexpression of the ideals of the earlyCommunist revolution in the SovietUnion. After years of neglect, thebuilding’s structural stability is inquestion. Since listing, the govern-ment has completely restored theroof, preventing further water dam-age to the interior. A WMF grant of$50,000 was awarded to supportwindow repair and structural evalua-tion. To date, the majority of thesefunds remain unspent and furthernegotiations with the city governmentare needed to agree on a propermethod of conservation. WMF willcontinue to be involved in therestoration of the theater.Listed in 1998 & 2000

BASIL THE GREAT CHURCHSLOVAKIAFollowers of the Eastern Christian riteerected a series of wooden churchesin the Carpathian region of northeastSlovakia. The Church of Basil theGreat is of log-cabin constructionand capped by a multitiered, shingleroof and reflects both European andByzantine influences. With a dwin-dling congregation and few funds formaintenance, and a lack of skilledcarpenters to carry out repairs, thebuilding was beginning to deteriorateat a rapid rate when it was placed onthe endangered list. Mold, moss,lichen and insects were destroyingthe wooden structure and icons andunstable ground was compromisingthe foundations. Since listing, WMFhas contributed approximately$95,000 for conservation and stabi-lization measures. The communityand the Ministry of Culture are pre-pared to establish a maintenancefund to ensure the future of thechurch.Listed in 2000

HELL HOUSESLOVAKIAOne of the most evocative structuresin the historic center of BanskáStiavnica is the Hell House, whichserved for centuries as a postal center,inn, stagecoach stop, and pub. Today,the building is one of the best exam-ples of Gothic architecture in Slovakia.Unoccupied and not maintained foryears, the building is in a terriblestate of deterioration. A new roof isdesperately needed, structural prob-lems abound, and the building hasbeen vandalized. At the time of list-ing, the property was in the hands ofa private bank that had foreclosed onthe previous owner. Since listing, thetitle of the property has been turnedover to a nonprofit association withplans to restore the building and uti-lize it as a postal museum, commer-cial pub, gift shop, and hotel. It isanticipated that these activities willgenerate enough income to maintainthe building. However, significantfunds are need for the restoration.Hopes are high that the restorationwill be successful and act as a cata-lyst for an overall renaissance forBanská Stiavnica. Banská Stiavnica is on the World Heritage ListListed in 1998

MOORISH HOUSES OFGRANADASPAINIn 1238, Muhammad Ibn al-Ahmarestablished the Nasrid Kingdom inGranada, initiating a glorious periodthat would last for two centuries. In1492, Ferdinand and Isabella con-quered the city, and during the first60 years of their rule, the Moriscopopulation maintained its culture and way of life. The Moorish housesof Granada in the Albayzín neighbor-hood date from this period. Today,only about 15 exceptional examplesremain. At the time of listing, all were in desperate need of conserva-tion. WMF awarded two grants total-ing $100,000. The first supported afeasibility study of ten of the survivinghouses; the second focused on apilot restoration project at 7 Calle San Buenaventura. Other houseshave been restored by private owners—many reused as hotels. Inclusion on the Watch list assisted in raising

the awareness of the condition and importance of these building.Restoration efforts continue. TheAlhambra and the historic district of the Albayzín are on the WorldHeritage List.Listed in 1996

WINDMILLS OF MALLORCABALEARIC ISLANDS, SPAINAt one time, 894 flour windmills dot-ted the landscape of the BalearicIsland of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza,and Formentera. They were the signa-ture elements of the islands. Today,some 200 have been lost and hun-dreds more are in a ruinous state.Threatened by exposure to the ele-ments and lack of maintenance, atthe time of listing, the local govern-ment, Insular Council of Mallorca,and the Association of Friends of theMills of Mallorca had restored 31mills. However, restoration of morewas uncertain since many are in pri-vate ownership. Convincing privateowners to restore their mills was dif-ficult and funding was needed to sup-port the efforts. WMF awarded$50,000 to assist with a highly visiblerestoration of a mill in the city ofMallorca. Progress is being made toconvince owners to restore ratherthan demolish or reconstruct theirwindmills. WMF will continue tomonitor the situation.Listed in 1998

ÇATALHÖYÜKTURKEYThis Neolithic settlement in centralTurkey is one of the largest and mostcomprehensive known in the world.The site’s primary significance isderived from its wall murals andsculptures. Discovered by archaeolo-gists in the 1960s, after only fiveyears of work, the expedition wasabandoned and the ruins left exposed.Not until 1993 was remedial conser-vation work undertaken on-site. Opentrenches had allowed walls to collapseand associated art to disintegrate. Inthe late 1990s, a new threat arose; itwas feared that the water table underthe site had dropped dramaticallydue to agricultural irrigation in theregion. Since listing, the TurkishWater Authority dug a trench around

ind

ex

9998 the site and a major decision wasmade to maintain the current waterlevel. In addition, conservation hascontinued of the mud-brick houses,laboratory facilities have been con-structed, and a site managementplan is being developed. Work pro-gresses slowly, but significant finan-cial and technical support has beendedicated to the project.Listed in 1996 & 2000

PATARATURKEYThough this ancient city on the southcoast of Turkey has remained largelyunexcavated, monuments unearthedby archaeologists have begun to decaydue to exposure to wind-blown sandand groundwater infiltration. Thisdamage has been compounded byseismic activity and tourism. Pataraitself had been spared development,however, a number of hotels havebeen built on its periphery and plansfor its protection have yet to be estab-lished. Since Watch listing, WMF’sInternational Council has raised$30,000 toward a site assessment.Plans to stabilize the Corenthian tem-ple’s fractured marble doorway lintelhave been completed; their imple-mentation will begin in Fall 2001. Listed in 1998

HAGIA SOPHIATURKEYHagia Sophia, erected in A.D. 532 byEmperor Justinian, is a milestone inthe history of domed buildings and isone of the most eminent ecclesiasti-cal buildings in the world. Built as aByzantine cathedral, the Ottomanslater converted it to a mosque, andtoday it is a museum. Despite itsworldwide renown, the building suf-fers from water penetration whichdamages valuable mosaics and fres-coes, lack of tourism control, anduncertain structural conditions. WMFawarded two grants totaling $200,000for conservation work on the building.The first grant supported expert roofrepairs. The second grant funded therestoration of the mosaics in the cen-tral dome. Other international organi-zations are providing funding andtechnical expertise and the Turkishauthorities have pledged $1 millionfor restoration work. The HistoricAreas of Istanbul are on the WorldHeritage List.Listed in 1996 & 1998

ZEYREK MOSQUETURKEYDuring the twelfth century, theByzantine Empress Irene andEmperor John II Komenos construct-ed this monastic complex to serve asthe dynastic mausoleum. Used byemperors up until the fifteenth centu-ry, in 1453, the Ottoman convertedthe building to a madrasa, or schoolfor Islamic learning, and subsequentlyto a mosque. Still used for Muslimworship, the building is in a poorimmigrant neighborhood with a com-munity that has little cultural or his-torical attachment to the building.The building is threatened by lack ofmaintenance, water penetration, andvandalism. Until recently, bureaucraticchallenges have slowed progress of

the restoration project. However, sincelisting, approval has been given tocontinue the restoration of the roofwith a grant of $20,000 from WMF.Further funding is needed to restorethe windows and consolidate theinterior surfaces. Work is moving for-ward and Watch listing has helpedraise awareness of the plight of thisimportant building. WMF will contin-ue to monitor the progress.Listed in 2000

KAMYANETS PODILSKY CASTLE BRIDGEUKRAINEThe castle bridge, linking the town ofKamyanets Podilsky with its fortress,still services traffic as it has for cen-turies. When the bridge was first con-structed, it was an engineering mar-vel consisting of six stone pillarsjoined with wooden trusses. Thetrusses were replaced with stonearches in medieval times and by theseventeenth century, the bridge wasencased in walls. Many changes tothe bridge since that time, includingthe 1942 addition of a three-meter-thick superstructure, have resulted instructural problems. At the time oflisting, emergency stabilization wasdesperately needed. Since listing, aplan for restoration has been preparedand emergency work has started.Work is expected to continue, as fundsare available.Listed in 2000

ZHOVKVA SYNAGOGUEUKRAINEThis impressive synagogue is consid-ered a superb example of monumental

Eastern European Jewish architecture.Both the town of Zhovkva and thesynagogue retained much of theirRenaissance appearance until WorldWar II, when bombing leveled consid-erable portions of the city. The buildingis in need of extensive conservationwork, including roof reconstruction,foundation repair and improved sitedrainage. At the time of listing, thetown authorities and Jewish organiza-tions had expressed the desire torestore the building and create amuseum of Galician-Jewish historyand culture. Emergency stabilizationto halt further deterioration wasurgently needed and a WMF grant of $25,000 was awarded. As stabiliza-tion progresses, local authorities willcarry out further fundraising. WMFwill continue to monitor the restora-tion progress. Listed in 2000

ABBEY FARMSTEADUNITED KINGDOMWhen Faversham Abbey was estab-lished as a royal foundation in 1147,Abbey Farm was built as its grange.Four buildings remain, including twobarns, a farmhouse, and stables. Thecomplex is a rare and completeexample of medieval monastic life.The buildings were in use until 1987,and after were left to deteriorate andfall victim to vandalism. At the timeof listing, a British conservation trustwas hoping to conduct a feasibilitystudy, consider new uses for thestructure, and ultimately acquire thebuilding to carry out conservationmeasures before it could be sold toan insensitive developer. Listingbrought considerable media attentionto the issue and attracted a buyersympathetic to the plight of thebarns. The property was purchasedand now proper conservation isensured.Listed in 2000

HADLOW TOWERUNITED KINGDOMThe Hadlow Tower is nationally sig-nificant as one of the most dramaticexamples of a Gothic Revival folly inthe country. The tower is a visiblelandmark for the region and is a cen-tral component to the local village.The tower, converted to a residence,remains private property today. Theowner has carried out little mainte-nance work and the structure is dete-riorating rapidly. The Borough Council

has been forced to remove significantarchitectural features from the upperportions of the building, includingthe lantern and pinnacle, to avoidfalling debris. The building needs tobe passed to a preservation trust,probably by means of a CompulsoryPurchase Order; in addition, a busi-ness plan will have to be devised andfunding found to perform the restora-tion. After restoration, the LandmarkTrust has plans to convert the buildingto a hotel and use the revenues forbuilding maintenance.Listed in 1998

MUSSENDEN TEMPLEUNITED KINGDOMAt the height of the neoclassical peri-od, buildings and monuments wereerected throughout the UnitedKingdom that were meant to createimpressive vistas. Mussenden Templeis an excellent expression of thatdesire. The elegant rotunda percheson a basalt cliff 50 meters above thesea. At the time of listing, the cliffhad eroded three meters and imme-diate action was needed to save thetemple. With the help of a $20,000grant from WMF and other state andprivate funding, Mussenden Templehas been saved. The cliff face hasbeen stabilized, using 23 rockanchors. Listed in 1998

THE ST. VINCENT STREETCHURCHUNITED KINGDOMThe St. Vincent Street Church is oneof the most important nineteenth-century monuments in Scotland.Designed by Alexander “Greek”Thomson, this church is a greatGlasgow landmark. Despite its impor-tance, it has long been neglected. Atthe time of listing, the exteriorstonework was deteriorating rapidlyand stabilization was urgently needed.The Alexander Thomson Society wasformed to take over the church, reha-bilitate it, and provide for its futuremaintenance. The World MonumentsFund in Britain has become a majoradvocate and supporter of this project.WMF has contributed approximately$450,000 for restoration efforts.Other funds have been forthcomingfrom sources in the UK. Restorationwork continues on the building andthe local community remains activelyinvolved.Listed in 1998

Index of Sites by Type

ANCIENT CULTURES

TEMPLE OF KHASEKHEMWY AT HIERAKONPOLIS

VALLEY OF THE KINGS

ERBIL CITADEL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

NINEVEH AND NIMRUD PALACES

BET SHE’ARIM ARCHEAOLOGICAL SITE

PETRA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

ENFEH ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

CITADEL OF ALEPPO

PIEDRAS NEGRAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

YAXCHILÁN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE

CARAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

LOS PINCHUDOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

UCH MONUMENT COMPLEX

MERV ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

PALAIKASTRO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

PORT OF TRAJAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

MNAJDRA PREHISTORIC TEMPLES

WISLICA ARCHEAOLOGICAL SITE

KARELIAN PETROGLYPHS

TEMPLE OF AUGUSTUS

ANI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

ANCIENT CHERSONESOS

BRADING ROMAN VILLA

ART, ARCHITECTURE ANDENGINEERING

SULTAN AL-MUAYYAD HOSPITAL

MÉDINE FORT

TARIM

VILA DE PARANAPIACABA

RUEDAS DE AGUA

NATIONAL ART SCHOOLS

SAN JUAN DE ULÚA FORT

SAN LORENZO CASTLE & SAN GERÓNIMOFORT

SCHINDLER KINGS ROAD HOUSE & STUDIO

A. CONGER GOODYEAR HOUSE

OSMANIA WOMEN’S COLLEGE

MARITIME QUARANTINE LAZARETI

TEREZIN FORTRESS

CHÂTEAU DE CHANTILLY

ART NOUVEAU BUILDINGS IN THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

CARL-THEODOR BRIDGE

CHAINS BRIDGE

ORANIENBAUM STATE MUSEUM

ARCHANGELSKOYE STATE MUSEUM

NARCOMFIN BUILDING

VIIPURI LIBRARY

SINCLAIR & GIRNIGOE CASTLES

STOWE HOUSE

GREENOCK SUGAR WAREHOUSES

SACRED SPACES

WHITE AND RED MONASTERIES

LARABANGA MOSQUE

INMACULADA CONCEPCIÓN CHAPEL

OYÓN VALLEY MISSIONARY CHAPELS

SAN PEDRO DE MORROPÉ

SANTUARIO DE NUESTRA SEÑORA DECOCHARCAS

SAN ESTEBAN DEL REY MISSION AT ACOMAPUEBLO

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO MISSION CHURCH

ST. ANN & THE HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

DA QIN CHRISTIAN PAGODA & MONASTERY

OHEL RACHEL SYNAGOGUE

NAKO TEMPLES

MAITREYA TEMPLES OF BASGO

DWARKA DHEESH MANDIR TEMPLE

SRI-KSETRA STUPAS & TEMPLES

ITUM BAHA MONASTERY

VOSKOPOJË CHURCHES

PERVOMAISK CHURCH

ST. PIERRE CATHEDRAL

BODBE CATHEDRAL

BARBARY-BOSIA MONASTERYCOMPLEX

RESURRECTION NEW JERUSALEMMONASTERY

ASSUMPTION CHURCHKÜÇÜK AYASOFYA (“LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA”)MOSQUE

CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR OF BERESTOVE

SELBY ABBEY

ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH

DECANI & PEC MONASTERIES

SUBOTICA SYNAGOGUE

URBAN AND CULTURALLANDSCAPES

THIMLICH OHINGA CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

BENIN CITY EARTHWORKS

BAGAMOYO HISTORIC TOWN

DAMASCUS OLD CITY & SADDLE SOUK

WHYLLY PLANTATION AT CLIFTON POINT

FALMOUTH HISTORIC TOWN

BANTEAY CHHMAR TEMPLE OF JAYAVARMAN VII

HISTORIC CENTER OF CUZCO

GREAT WALL OF CHINA CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, BEIJING

SHAXI MARKET AREA

ANAGUNDI HISTORIC SETTLEMENT

LUTYENS BUNGALOW ZONE

OMO HADA ROYAL PALACE COMPLEX

TOMO PORT TOWN

GEORGE TOWN HISTORIC ENCLAVE

KAMPUNG CINA RIVER FRONTAGE

TEKU THAPATALI MONUMENT ZONE

MOSTAR HISTORIC CENTER

VUKOVAR CITY CENTER

TBILISI HISTORIC DISTRICT

CINQUE TERRE

CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR ON THE MARKETPLACE & ROSTOV VELIKY HISTORIC CENTER

TEPEBASI DISTRICT

PRIZREN HISTORIC DISTRIC

HISTORIC LOWER MANHATTAN

Index of Sites by Region AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

1. TEMPLE OF KHASEKHEMWY AT HIERAKONPOLIS

2. VALLEY OF THE KINGS

3. WHITE AND RED MONASTERIES

4. SULTAN AL-MUAYYAD HOSPITAL

5. LARABANGA MOSQUE

6. THIMLICH OHINGA CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

7. MÉDINE FORT

8. BENIN CITY EARTHWORKS

9. BAGAMOYO HISTORIC TOWN

10. ERBIL CITADEL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

11. NINEVEH AND NIMRUD PALACES

12. BET SHE’ARIM ARCHEAOLOGICAL SITE

13. PETRA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

14. ENFEH ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

15. CITADEL OF ALEPPO

16. DAMASCUS OLD CITY & SADDLE SOUK

17. TARIM

THE AMERICAS

18. WHYLLY PLANTATION AT CLIFTONPOINT

19. VILA DE PARANAPIACABA

20. RUEDAS DE AGUA

21. NATIONAL ART SCHOOLS

22. PIEDRAS NEGRAS ARCHAEO-LOGICAL SITE

23. FALMOUTH HISTORIC TOWN

24. YAXCHILÁN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE

25. SAN JUAN DE ULÚA FORT

26. INMACULADA CONCEPCIÓN CHAPEL

27. SAN LORENZO CASTLE & SAN GERÓNIMO FORT

28. CARAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

29. LOS PINCHUDOS ARCHAEO-LOGICAL SITE

30. HISTORIC CENTER OF CUZCO

31. SANTUARIO DE NUESTRA SEÑORA DE COCHARAS

33. SAN PEDRO DE MORROPÉ

32. OYON VALLEY MISSIONARY CHAPELS

34. SAN ESTEBAN DEL REY MISSION AT ACOMA PUEBLO

35. SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO MISSION CHURCH

36. SCHINDLER KINGS ROAD HOUSE & STUDIO

37. ST. ANN & THE HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

38. A. CONGER GOODYEAR HOUSE

ASIA

39. BANTEAY CHHMAR TEMPLE OF JAYAVARMAN VII

40. GREAT WALL OF CHINA CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, BEIJING

41. DA QIN CHRISTIAN PAGODA & MONASTERY

42. SHAXI MARKET AREA

43. OHEL RACHEL SYNAGOGUE

44. ANAGUNDI HISTORIC SETTLEMENT

45. NAKO TEMPLES

46. MAITREYA TEMPLES OF BASGO

47. DWARKA DHEESH MANDIR TEMPLE

48. OSMANIA WOMEN’S COLLEGE

49. LUTYENS BUNGALOW ZONE

50. OMO HADA ROYAL PALACE COMPLEX

51. TOMO PORT TOWN

52. GEORGE TOWN HISTORIC ENCLAVE

53. KAMPUNG CINA RIVER FRONTAGE

54. SRI-KSETRA STUPAS & TEMPLES

55. ITUM BAHA MONASTERY

56. TEKU THAPATALI MONUMENT ZONE

57. UCH MONUMENT COMPLEX

58. MERV ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

EUROPE

59. VOSKOPOJË CHURCHES

60. PERVOMAISK CHURCH

61. MOSTAR HISTORIC CENTER

62. VUKOVAR CITY CENTER

63. MARITIME QUARANTINE LARAZETI

64. TEREZIN FORTRESS

65. ST. PIERRE CATHEDRAL

66. CHÂTEAU DE CHANTILLY

67. BODBE CATHEDRAL

68. ART NOUVEAU BUILDINGS IN THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

69. TBILISI HISTORIC DISTRICT

70. CARL-THEODOR BRIDGE

71. PALAIKASTRO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

72. PORT OF TRAJAN ARCHAEO-LOGICAL PARK

73. CINQUE TERRE

74. CHAINS BRIDGE

75. MNAJDRA PREHISTORIC TEMPLES

76. BARBARY-BOSIA MONASTERY COMPLEX

77. WISLICA ARCHEAOLOGICAL SITE

78. KARELIAN PETROGLYPHS

79. CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR ON THE MARKETPLACE & ROSTOV VELIKY HISTORIC CENTER

80. RESURRECTION NEW JERUSALEMMONASTERY

81. ORANIENBAUM STATE MUSEUM

82. ARCHANGELSKOYE STATE MUSEUM

83. ASSUMPTION CHURCH

84. NARCOMFIN BUILDING

85. VIIPURI LIBRARY

86. TEMPLE OF AUGUSTUS

87. ANI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

88. KÜÇÜK AYASOFYA (“LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA”) MOSQUE

89. TEPEBASI DISTRICT

90. ANCIENT CHERSONESOS

91. CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR OF BERESTOVE

92. BRADING ROMAN VILLA

93. SELBY ABBEY

94. SINCLAIR & GIRNIGOE CASTLES

95. STOWE HOUSE

96. ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH

97. GREENOCK SUGAR WAREHOUSES

98. PRIZREN HISTORIC DISTRIC

99. DECANI & PEC MONASTERIES

100. SUBOTICA SYNAGOGUE

101*.HISTORIC LOWER MANHATTAN

97