ICOMOS-UK International Cultural Heritage and Conservation News Service

Cultural Heritage of Libya lecture

icomos-uk — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:30:50 +0000

Many thanks to all who attended a packed lecture by Dr Hafed Walda on the Cultural Heritage of Libya on 15 December. He gave a visual tour of antiquities and sites that he had visited across Libya, and showed the range and importance of cultural heritage in the country. He also endorsed the work of Blue Shield in helping to protect heritage sites from deliberate damage or destruction during the recent conflict, and provided a largely encouraging view of the current state of Libya’s heritage.

We will be running a series of evening seminars on international heritage in February, March and April 2012, and will post further details here shortly.

CULTURAL HERITAGE OF LIBYA

icomos-uk — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:36:32 +0000

ICOMOS-UK Christmas Lecture and Wine Reception – 15 December 2011, 6.30 – 8.30 pm

The extraordinary wealth of Libya’s cultural heritage encompasses the Greek and Roman monuments of the Mediterranean coast between Tunisia and Algeria such as Cyrene, Leptis Magna, Sabratha, the desert and Gebel pre-desert tribal cultures of the huge expanses of southern Libya stretching down to the borders of Chad and Niger, towns on the salt route across the Sahara, such as Ghadames, and the spectacular pre-historic rock art sites of Tadrart Acacus.

: Arch of Tiberius, Leptis Magna

These irreplaceable elements of the world’s culture stretching back thousands of years face very real threats in the wake of the recent military action. The need to acknowledge the importance of these sites cannot be overestimated, and to prepare them for the challenges that a rapidly developing tourist industry could bring.

Dr Hafed Walda will profile the cultural heritage of Libya – its World Heritage sites and the many urban and desert sites that remain totally un-designated and un-protected - and offer his view on the needs now facing the country to raise awareness of this legacy and put in place structures to sustain their value.

Dr Hafed Walda. After gaining his bachelor’s degree in his native Libya, Hafed came to the Institute of Archaeology in London where he obtained his doctorate in Roman Art and Archaeology. At the British Museum he co-ordinated the setting up of the new Roman Gallery which has become a focal point for many visitors to the Museum. He used his experience in directing the excavation at Leptis Magna to advise the Libyan Department of Antiquities in the creation of the new museum. Currently Research Fellow at King’s College London, where as well as teaching courses in Roman Art, Roman Architecture and Introduction to Archaeology, he is involved in digitalisation projects within the School of Arts and Humanities. In September 2011 he was part of a Blue Shield delegation to Libya representing the Libyan Department of Antiquities and in October 2011 he represented Libya at an UNESCO Expert meeting in Paris.

For more information, and information on how to book please contact us by email on admin@icomos-uk.org or call 020 7566 0031

ICOMOS Evaluation Mission to Wearmouth and Jarrow

icomos-uk — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:38:01 +0000

An ICOMOS Evaluation mission by Professor Adriano Boschetti took place in September to the Twin Monastery of Wearmouth- Jarrow which was submitted by the UK Government in January as a nomination for World Heritage status. The Twin Anglo-Saxon monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow centres on St Peter’s Church in Wearmouth and St Paul’s Church in Jarrow, which was home to the Venerable Bede.

Professor Boschetti was considering the protection, conservation, management and presentation of the site. His report, together with Desk Reviews by other experts on the OUV of the nominated site will be considered by an internal ICOMOS Panel. The final ICOMOS evaluation report will be presented to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in June 2012 at St Petersburg, Russian Federation.