Tehran (CHN Foreign Desk) -- As the cultural heritage sites represent unique and irreplaceable properties of great value to mankind legacy, in 1972 recognizing the importance and need to safeguard these sites from verities of hazards, the United Nation Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held a World Heritage Convention. The Convention identified that the threat of destruction of cultural heritage sites included not only the traditional causes of weathering and aging decay, but also changing social and economic conditions around the world.

 

Natural disasters of greatest potential threat to cultural heritage sites are earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, serious fires and changes in water level. Above all in the case of assessing potential danger to a cultural heritage site, one should consider that some threats, such as demographic growth are not imminent in nature but can only be anticipated.

 

The impact of natural and man-made disasters on cultural heritage sites around the world has been extensive. The following examples summarize and illustrate the diversity of adverse impacts of these events on cultural heritage:

 

A powerful earthquake struck southeast of Iran on December 26, 2003, killing over 43000 people, injuring 20000 and leaving 60000 homeless and destroyed much of the city of Bam. The USGS National Earthquake Information Center reported a magnitude of 6.6 for the quake, which was located southwest of the city. About 60 percent of the buildings in Bam were destroyed and the 2000-year-old citadel made of mud brick which was in fact the largest clay structure in the world was severely damaged by the quake as it was almost reduced t rubbles.

 

Yet it is not just the nature that brings disasters to the cultural heritage sites; humans are sometimes responsible for much of the damages caused. Impacts of armed conflict between Israel and Lebanon on world heritage sites of both countries are apparent. The site of Byblos, one of the most ancient Phoenician cities has been affected by an oil slick following the destruction of fuel reservoirs. The sites of Baalbek and Tyre, whose surroundings have been targeted by bombs, are most at risk. In Baalbek, bombs have fallen only 300 meters form the site renowned for its six Roman columns and the tallest in the world. The city of Tyre, where world heritage listed Phoenician and Roman ruins and collections of artifacts are located, has suffered multiple air strikes. Bombs have also damaged the natural heritage in the protected Forest of Cedars in the Al Shouf Biosphere Reserve. 

 

Concerted scientific and engineering efforts must be made to assess the present state of cultural heritage sites, their vulnerability to natural or man-made hazards and the feasibility of reducing future damages or destruction.

 

Developing an interdisciplinary methodology to identify and evaluate risks to the sites from both natural and man-made hazards, diffusing the existing knowledge on present and potential hazards, and recommending the necessary measures that should be taken in each case are the steps which must be taken for preserving cultural heritage from the impacts of natural or man-made disasters.

 

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Sources:

 http://www.drgeorgepc.com/

http://www.farsinet.com/bam/

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=52271