World Heritage Scanned Nomination File Name: 761rev.pdf UNESCO Region: AFRICA __________________________________________________________________________________________________ SITE NAME: James Island and Related Sites DATE OF INSCRIPTION: 5th July 2003 STATE PARTY: GAMBIA CRITERIA: C (iii)(vi) DECISION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE: Excerpt from the Report of the 27th Session of the World Heritage Committee Criterion iii: James Island and Related Sites on the River Gambia provide an exceptional testimony to the different facets of the African-European encounter, from the 15th to 20th centuries. The River Gambia formed the first trade route into the interior of Africa and became an early corridor for the slave trade. Criterion vi: James Island and Related Sites, the villages and the batteries, were directly and tangibly associated with the beginning and the conclusion of the slave trade, retaining its memory related to the African Diaspora BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS James Island and Related Sites present a testimony to the main periods and facets of the encounter between Africa and Europe along the River Gambia, a continuum stretching from pre-colonial and pre-slavery times to independence. The site is particularly significant for its relation to the beginning of the slave trade and its abolition. It also documents early access to the interior of Africa. 1.b State, Province or Region: Lower Niumi and Upper Niumi districts and Banjul Municipality 1.d Exact location: N13 18 58.2 W16 21 25.9 Multiple Locations SERIAL ID N° NAME COORDINATES 761-001 James Island , N13 18 58.2 W16 21 25.9 761-002 Six-Gun Battery , N13 27 08.4 W16 34 18.4 761-003 Fort Bullen , N13 29 07.6 W16 32 56.0 761-004 Ruins of San Domingo , N13 20 11.0 W16 22 46.1 761-005 Remains of Portuguese Chapel , N13 19 57.8 W16 23 14.2 761-006 CFAO Building , N13 19 59.5 W16 23 05.9 761-007 Maurel Frères Building , NOMINATION OF PROPERTIES FOR INCLUSION ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST James Island and Related Sites THE GAMBIA September 2001 CONTENTS 1. Identification of the Property a. Country (and State Party if different) .................................................................................................... 4 b. State, Province or Region ....................................................................................................................... 4 c. Name of Property ...................................................................................................................................... 4 d. Exact location on map and indication of geographical co-ordinates to the nearest second ........ 4 e. Maps and/or plans showing boundary of area proposed for inscription and of any buffer zone 5 f. Area of property proposed for inscription (ha.) and proposed buffer zone (ha.) if any. ............... 10 2. Justification for Inscription a. Statement of significance ........................................................................................................................ 10 b. Possible comparative analysis (including state of conservation of similar properties) ................ 11 c. Authenticity/Integrity ............................................................................................................................. 13 d. Criteria under which inscription is proposed (and justification for inscription under these criteria) 14 3. Description a. Description of Property ........................................................................................................................... 14 b. History and Development ....................................................................................................................... 20 c. Form and date of most recent records of property .............................................................................. 22 d. Present state of conservation ................................................................................................................ 22 e. Policies and programmes related to the presentation and promotion of the property. ................. 23 4. Management a. Ownership ................................................................................................................................................. 24 b. Legal status ............................................................................................................................................... 24 c. Protective measures and means of implementing them ...................................................................... 24 d. Agency/agencies with management authority .................................................................................... 24 e. Level at which management is exercised .............................................................................................. 25 f. Agreed plans related to property .......................................................................................................... 25 g. Sources and levels of finance ................................................................................................................ 26 h. Sources of expertise and training in conservation and management techniques .......................... 26 i. Visitor facilities and statistics .................................................................................................................. 27 j. Property management plan and statement of objectives (copy to be annexed) .............................. 27 k. Staffing levels (professional, technical, maintenance). ...................................................................... 28 5. Factors Affecting the Property a. Development Pressures (e.g., encroachment, adaptation, agriculture, mining) .............................. 29 b. Environmental Pressures (e.g., pollution, climate change) ................................................................ 29 c. Natural disasters and preparedness (earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.) ............................................. 29 d. Visitor/tourism pressures ........................................................................................................................ 29 e. Number of inhabitants within property, buffer zone ........................................................................... 29 f. Other ........................................................................................................................................................... 29 6. Monitoring a. Key indicators for measuring state of conservation ........................................................................... 30 b. Administrative arrangements for monitoring property ...................................................................... 30 c. Results of previous reporting exercises ................................................................................................ 30 2 7. Documentation a. Photographs, slides and, where available, film/video.......................................................................... 31 b. Copies of property management plans and extracts of other plans relevant to the property....... 31 c. Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................. 31 d. Address where inventory, records and archives are held ................................................................ 32 8. Signature on behalf of the State Party ................................................................................................ 32 9. Selection of slides .................................................................................................................................... 33 10. Authorisation ......................................................................................................................................... 35 Appendix 1 Legal Notice No. 20 of 1995 (extracts)........................................................................................................ 36 Appendix 2 National Council for Arts and Culture Act of 1989 (extracts)................................................................. 39 3 1. Identification of the Property a. Country (and State Party if Different) The Gambia b. State, Province or Region James Island, Albreda, Juffureh, and San Domingo, are located in the Lower Niumi District, North Bank Division. Fort Bullen is located in the Upper Niumi District, North Bank Division. The Six-gun Battery is part of Banjul Municipality. c. Name of Property James Island and Related Sites d. Exact Location on Map and Indication of Geographical Co-ordinates to the Nearest Second James Island and Related Sites are located at the mouth of the river Gambia that has its source in the Fouta Jallon, the mountains of Northern Guinea. The river Gambia is navigable for a long distance (250 miles upstream for ocean going vessels), and therefore, was (and still is) a major gateway for the exploration and exploitation of the resources of the inland. The following sites are considered for inscription. - James Island is located 30 km away from the mouth of the River Gambia at 13”19’North, 16”21’West. - The ruin of the first Portuguese settlement at San Domingo is located on the north bank of the river close to James Island. The ruins of the French and Portuguese settlements at Albreda are located 1 km west of San Domingo, and the Mandingo village of Juffureh is next to Albreda on its northern side. All of these sites are at 13”20’North, 16”23’West. - Fort Bullen is located in