Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Mâdain Sâlih)
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AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MÂDAIN SÂLIH) NOMINATION DOCUMENT FOR THE INSCRIPTION ON THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MÂDAIN SÂLIH) NOMINATION DOCUMENT FOR THE INSCRIPTION ON THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST JANUARY 2007 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Table of Contents CONTENTS PRESENTATION p. 8 1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY p. 9 1. a Country (and State Party of Different) p. 10 1. b State, Province or Region p. 11 1. c Name of Property p. 12 1. d Geographical Coordinates to the Nearest Second p. 12 1. e Maps and Plans, Showing the Boundaries of the Nominated Property and BufFer Zone p. 12 1. f Area of the Nominated Property (ha) and Proposed Buffer Zone (ha) p. 17 2. DESCRIPTION p. 18 2. a Description of Property p. 19 2. b History and Development p. 33 3. JUSTIFICATION FOR INSCRIPTION p. 38 3. a Criteria under which Inscription is Proposed (and justification for inscription under these criteria) p. 39 3. b Proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value p. 40 3. c Comparative Analysis (including state of conservation of similar properties) p. 42 3. d Integrity and/or Authenticity p. 47 Cover page: Madâin Sâlih, Qasr al-Farîd and the site landscape, G. Ferrandis for MSAP, 2003; KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 3 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Table of Contents 4. STATE OF CONSERVATION AND FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROPERTY p. 50 4. a Present State of Conservation p. 51 4. b Factors Affecting the Property p. 54 (i) Development Pressures (e.g. encroachment, adaptation, agriculture, mining) (ii) Environmental Pressures (e.g. pollution, climate change, desertification) (iii) Natural Disasters and Risk Preparedness (earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.) (iv) Visitor/Tourism Pressures (v) Number of Inhabitants within the Property and the Buffer Zone 5. PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY p. 63 5. a Ownership p. 64 5. b Protective Designation p. 65 5. c Means of Implementing Protective Measures p. 66 5. d Existing Plans Related to Municipality and Region in which the Proposed Property is Located (e.g. regional or local plan, conservation plan, tourism development plan) p. 69 5. e Property Management Plan or other Management System p. 71 5. f Sources and Levels of Finance p. 77 5. g Sources of Expertise and Training in Conservation and Management Techniques p. 78 5. h Visitor Facilities and Statistics p. 81 Ph.2: Tomb B7, detail of the door, original drawing from 5. i Policies and Programmes Related to the Presentation and Promotion of Jaussen & Savignac, 1914, vol.I, Fig.165. the Property p. 85 5. j Staffing Levels (professional, technical, maintenance) p. 89 6. MONITORING p. 90 6. a Key Indicators for Measuring State of Conservation p. 91 KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 4 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Table of Contents 6. b Administrative Arrangements for Monitoring Property p. 94 6. c Results of Previous Reporting Exercises p. 94 7. DOCUMENTATION p. 96 7. a Photographs, Slides, Image Inventory and Authorization Table and other Audiovisual Materials p. 96 Ph.3: Camels in Madâin Sâlih, Madâin Sâlih 7. b Texts Relating to Protective Designation, Copies of Property Management Archaelogical Project, 2005. Plans or Documented Management Systems and Extracts of other Plans Relevant to the Property p. 99 7. c Form and Date of Most Recent Records or Inventory of Property p. 99 7. d Address where Inventory, Records and Archives are held p. 100 7. e Bibliography p. 101 8. CONTACT INFORMATION OF RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES p. 105 8. a Preparer p. 105 8. b Official Local Institution/Agency p. 105 8. c Other Local Institutions p. 106 8. d Official Web address p. 106 9. SIGNATURE ON BEHALF OF THE STATE PARTY p. 107 LIST OF IMAGES p. 108 Photos p. 108 Plates p. 112 KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 5 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Presentation Nomination File prepared by: Supreme Commission for Tourism His Highness Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz al-Saud Secretary General Supreme Commission for Tourism Prof. Dr. Ali al-Ghabban, Supreme Commission for Tourism Secretary-General Consultant for Culture & Heritage KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 6 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Presentation Research Team Directed by Prof. Dr. Ali al-Ghabban, Supreme Commission for Tourism Secretary-General Consultant for Culture & Heritage Team Dr. Hussein Abu al-Hassan, SCT, Riyadh Dr. Abdallah al-Saud, Director of the National Museum, Riyadh Dr. Majid Khan, Department of Antiquities and Museums, Riyadh Dr. Laila Nehmé, CNRS, Paris Mr. Naif al-Anazi, Director of al-`Ulâ Museum Eng. Bandar al-Malaq, SCT, Riyadh Mr. Hommoud al-Anasi, SCT, Riyadh Mr. Abdallah al-Zeidan, SCT, Riyadh Mr. Naif al-Qannour, SCT/Antiquities, Riyadh Coordination and text Photographic Credits Dr. Simone Ricca, consultant SCT Mohammed Babelli Guy Ferrandis IGN (Paris) Mâdain Sâlih Archaeological Mission Simone Ricca Supreme Commission for Tourism Graphic Design François Cristofoli KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 7 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Presentation KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 8 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) | CHAPTER ONE | IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY 9 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Identification of the Property Previous page - Ph.4: A view of Qasr al-Bint from the south, from Babelli, 2006, p.74. 1.a Country KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA Pl.1: Map of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, SCT, 2006. KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 10 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Identification of the Property 1.b State, Province or Region MEDINA AL-MUNAWARAH PROVINCE Medina Province lies in the northwest region of Saudi Arabia, between approximately 22.50 degrees and 27.30 degrees North latitude and 37.00 degrees and 42.00 degrees West longitude. Occupying about 7% of the area of the Kingdom, Medina province has a coastline of approximately 200 km on the Red Sea and is bordered by Tabuk Province on Pl. 2: Administrative division of Saudi Arabia, SCT, 2006 the north, Hail, Qassim and Riyadh provinces on the east and Mecca province on the south. Medina City lies in the approximate centre of the province. Medina province is administratively divided into seven areas comprised of six districts and the Imara and includes 84 administrative centres. KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 11 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Identification of the Property 1.c Name of Property The property nominated for inscription on the List of World Heritage Sites will be known as: Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih) 1.d Geographical Coordinates to the Nearest Second 26° 47’ 01” North - 37° 57’ 18” East (Center of al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih), at IGN 132) Ph.5: Flying over Madâin Sâlih, SCT, 2006. 1.e Maps and Plans Showing the Boundaries of the National Property and Buffer Zone In the following pages are presented five maps presenting and precisely locating al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih). Two original maps, scale 1/250.000 and 1/50.000, are joined to the file. (i) Pl. 3: Topographic Plan of al-’Ulâ Region, scale 1: 250.000, Series 1501NM, Sheet NG37-6 al- ’Ulâ, General Directorate of Military Survey, Ministry of Defence and Aviation, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2002 (aerial pictures of 1988). (map in the following page) KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 12 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Identification of the Property KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 13 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Identification of the Property Pl. 4: Topographic Plan of Madâin Sâlih, scale 1:50.000, Sheet 3726-11, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Aerial Survey Department, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 1977 (aerial pictures of 1970). Pl. 5: Geo-Referenced Satellite Picture of the Area Showing the Limits of the Core Zone and of the Buffer Zone, satellite colour image, elaboration SCT, 2006. (map in the following page) KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 14 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Identification of the Property KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 15 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Identification of the Property (ii) and (iii) Pl. 6: Location of al-Hijr within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SCT, 2006. (right) Pl. 7: Al-Hijr Archaeological Site and its Major Necropoles, elaboration SCT, 2006. KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 16 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Identification of the Property 1.f Area of Nominated Property (ha.) and Proposed Buffer Zone (ha.) AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) The area of the nominated property is of 1621.2 hectares. The limits of the Core Zone are identified by the following 3 points: North limit: 26° 48’ 52” N – 37° 55’ 51” E East limit: 26° 47’ 23” N – 37° 58’ 17” E South limit: 26° 46’ 09” N – 37° 56’ 12” E The area of the proposed buffer zone for the site is of 1659.34 hectares. The limits of the Buffer Zone are identified by the following 3 points: North limit: 26° 49’ 00” N – 37° 55’ 31” E Ph.6: Qasr al-Bint necropolis, aerial view, SCT, 2006. East limit: 26° 46’ 52” N – 38° 00’ 01” E South limit: 26° 45’ 59” N – 37° 57’ 43” E KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 17 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) | CHAPTER TWO | DESCRIPTION 18 AL-HIJR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (MADÂIN SÂLIH) Description 2.a Description of Property GEOLOGY, CLIMATE AND FLORA Madâin Sâlih lies in a large plain, on the piedmont of the Jabal al-‘Uwayrid, a large basaltic plateau which stands southeast of the Hijâz mountains. The region of which it is part presents ancient Palaeozoic sandstones dating from the end of Cambrian, beginning of Ordovician periods (510 to 475 million years ago). These sandstones have suffered from the tectonic constraints affecting the region since the Palaezoic and particularly from the rifting (the opening the Red Sea), which started 30 million years ago.