The World Monuments Watch is a flagship advocacy program of the New York -based private non-profit organization World Monuments Fund (WMF) that is dedicated to preserving the historic, artistic, and architectural heritage around the world.[ 1]
Selection process
Every two years, it publishes a select list known as the Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites that is in urgent need of preservation funding and protection. The sites are nominated by governments, conservation professionals, site caretakers, non-government organizations (NGOs), concerned individuals, and others working in the field.[ 2] An independent panel of international experts then select 100 candidates from these entries to be part of the Watch List, based on the significance of the sites, the urgency of the threat, and the viability of both advocacy and conservation solutions.[ 1] [ 3] For the succeeding two-year period until a new Watch List is published, these 100 sites can avail grants and funds from the WMF, as well as from other foundations, private donors, and corporations by capitalizing on the publicity and attention gained from the inclusion on the Watch List.[ 1]
2006 Watch List
The 2006 World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites was launched on June 21, 2005, by WMF President Bonnie Burnham.[ 1] [ 4] [ 5] It marked the first time that an entire country was placed on the Watch List. Iraq , long considered as the "cradle of human civilization " and within whose borders lie an estimated 10,000 archaeological sites , has been left vulnerable to widespread looting , vandalism , and other acts of violence in the wake of the 2003 military invasion .[ 1]
The World Monuments Watch provides a valuable barometer of the state of heritage preservation worldwide… The biennial Watch list tells us not only which sites are in peril, but also what kinds of threats—natural disaster, war, pollution, neglect, or other issues—are endangering the world's heritage.
—
Bonnie Burnham, WMF president, launch of 2006 Watch List[ 1]
On October 6, 2005, nearly four months after the publication of the 2006 Watch List and more than a month after the significant devastation brought about by Hurricane Katrina on America's Gulf Coast , the WMF, together with partners American Express Foundation and National Trust for Historic Preservation , decided to place the Gulf Coast and New Orleans as the 101st endangered site on the 2006 Watch List.[ 6] [ 7]
List by country/territory
The mudbrick structures of the Iranian city of Bam were severely damaged by an earthquake in 2003. It was subsequently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004,[ 8] and on the WMF Watch List in 2006.
Rome's Temple of Portunus is one of the best preserved early Roman temples in the world.[ 1]
The Great Ziggurat of Ur is one of the many archaeological sites in Iraq that has been left vulnerable to looting and vandalism since the invasion and occupation began in 2003.[ 5]
Mauritania's Chinguetti Mosque is home to a unique collection of important Islamic manuscripts. It is situated in Chinguetti, considered as the "seventh city" of Islam .[ 1]
Seismic instability and the depletion of its aquifer has endangered the very foundation of Mexico City.[ 5]
Moscow's Narkomfin Building is a nationally listed monument in Russia and continues to inspire architects around the world.[ 5]
The Turkish archaeological site of Aphrodisias features some of the best-preserved examples of Greco-Roman architecture in the eastern Mediterranean.[ 1]
Pennsylvania's Cyclorama Building was included on the Watch List since the structure was slated for demolition by the authorities.[ 5] The building was demolished in March 2013.[ 9] [ 10]
Number[A]
Country/Territory
Site[B]
Location[C]
Period[C]
1
Afghanistan
Haji Piyada Mosque
Balkh
9th century
2
Antarctica
Sir Ernest Shackleton 's Expedition Hut
Cape Royds , Ross Island
1908
3
Australia
Dampier Rock Art Complex
Dampier , Burrup Peninsula
10,000 BC–present
4
Bangladesh
Sonargaon-Panam City
Sonargaon
15th–19th centuries
5
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mehmed-Pasha Sokolovic Bridge
Višegrad
1571–1577
6
Brazil
Convent of San Francisco and Historic Olinda
Olinda, Pernambuco
1535–1827
7
Cameroon
Bafut Palace
Bafut
1907–1910
8
Cape Verde
Tarrafal Concentration Camp
Tarrafal
1930s
9
Chile
Tulor Village
Antofagasta
500 BC–AD 300
10
Chile
Cerros Pintados
Tarapacá
500–1450
11
China
Cockcrow Post Town
Cockrow Post, Huailai
1420
12
China
Lu Mansion
Dong Yang
15th–19th centuries
13
China
Qikou Town
Shanxi Province
18th–19th centuries
14
China
Stone Towers of Southwest China
Various Locations
ca. 1000–1500
15
China
Tianshui Traditional Houses
Tianshui, Qincheng, Gansu
1644–1929
16
China
Tuanshan Historical Village
Yunnan Province
15th–19th centuries
17
Croatia
Novi Dvori Castle
Zaprešić
Mid–19th century
18
Croatia
Saint Blaise Church
Dubrovnik
1707–1717
19
Cuba
Finca Vigia (Hemingway 's House)
San Francisco de Paula
1886
20
Egypt
Sabil Ruqayya Dudu
Cairo
1761
21
Egypt
Tarabay al-Sharify
Cairo
16th century
22
Egypt
West Bank
Luxor
1540–1075 BC
23
El Salvador
San Miguel Arcangel and Santa Cruz de Roma
Panchimalco & Huizucar
1730–1740
24
Eritrea
Asmara Historic City Center
Asmara
1916–1941
25
Eritrea
Kidane-Mehret Church
Senafe
12th century
26
Eritrea
Massawa Historic Town
Massawa
16th–19th centuries
27
Finland
Helsinki-Malmi Airport
Helsinki
1930–1938
28
Georgia
Jvari Monastery
Mtshekta
ca. 600
29
Greece
Helike Archaeological Site
Achaia
BC 2500–500
30
Guatemala
Naranjo
El Petén
600–900
31
India
Dalhousie Square
Kolkata
1600–1699; 1900
32
India
Dhangkar Gompa
Himachal Pradesh
15th–16th centuries
33
India
Guru Lhakhang and Sumda Chung Temples
Sumda Chung
11th–14th centuries
34
India
Watson's Hotel
Mumbai
1867–1871
35
Indonesia
Omo Hada
Nias Island
1715
36
Iran
Bam
Bam
10th–18th centuries
37
Iraq
Iraq Cultural Heritage Sites
Country-wide
Prehistoric–present
38
Ireland
Wonderful Barn
Kildare
1743
39
Italy
Academy of Hadrian's Villa
Tivoli
2nd century
40
Italy
Cimitero Acattolico
Rome
1776 first burial
41
Italy
Civita di Bagnoregio
Bagnoregio
12th–15th centuries
42
Italy
Murgia dei Trulli
Murgia dei Trulli
ca. 800
43
Italy
Portici Royal Palace
Naples
1740–19th century
44
Italy
Santa Maria in Stelle Hypogeum
Verona
3rd–5th centuries
45
Italy
Temple of Portunus
Rome
Late 2nd–1st centuries BC
46
Kenya
Mtwapa Heritage Site
Kilifi , Mtwapa
1100–1199
47
Laos
Chom Phet Cultural Landscape
Luang Prabang
19th century
48
Latvia
Riga Cathedral
Riga
13th–19th centuries
49
Lebanon
Chehabi Citadel
Hasbaya
12th century
50
Lebanon
International Fairground at Tripoli
Tripoli
1963
51
Macedonia
Treskavec Monastery and Church
Treskavec
12th–15th centuries
52
Mauritania
Chinguetti Mosque
Chinguetti
13th century
53
Mexico
Chalcatzingo
Morelos
800 BC
54
Mexico
Mexico City Historic Center
Mexico City
15th–20th centuries
55
Mexico
Pimería Alta Missions
Sonora
1700–1799
56
Mexico
San Juan Bautista Cuauhtinchan
Puebla
1528–1544
57
Mexico
San Nicolás Obispo
Morelia , Michoacán
16th–18th centuries
58
Nepal
Patan Royal Palace Complex
Patan
17th–19th centuries
59
Nigeria
Benin City Earthworks
Edo State
1240–1460
60
Norway
Sandviken Bay
Bergen
18th–19th centuries
61
Pakistan
Mian Nasir Mohammed Graveyard
Dadu District
18th century
62
Pakistan
Thatta Monuments
Thatta
14th–18th centuries
63
Palestinian Territories
Tell Balatah (Shechem or Ancient Nablus)
Nablus , West Bank
BC 1699–AD 1600
64
Panama
Panama Canal Area
Panama City , Chagres River
1882–1914
65
Peru
Cajamarquilla
Lima
500–1200
66
Peru
Presbítero Maestro Cemetery
Lima
1805–1808
67
Peru
Quinta Heeren
Lima
1888–1930
68
Peru
Revash Funerary Complex
Santo Tomás
10th century
69
Peru
Túcume Archaeological Site
Lambayeque
9th–15th centuries
70
Poland
Jerusalem Hospital of the Teutonic Order
Malborka
14th century; 17th century
71
Poland
Mausoleum of Karol Scheibler
Łódź
1885–1888
72
Portugal
Teatro Capitólio
Lisbon
1925–1931
73
Romania
Oradea Fortress
Oradea
17th–18th centuries
74
Russia
Melnikov 's House Studio
Moscow
1929
75
Russia
Narkomfin Building
Moscow
1928–1930
76
Russia
Semenovskoe-Otrada
Moscow Region
1774–1850s
77
Samoa
Pulemelei Mound
Palauli , Letolo Plantation
ca. 1000–1500
78
Serbia and Montenegro
Prizren Historic Center
Prizren
1200–present
79
Serbia and Montenegro
Subotica Synagogue
Subotica
1902
80
Sierra Leone
Old Fourah Bay College Building
Freetown
Mid–19th century
81
Slovakia
Lednické-Rovne Historical Park
Lednické-Rovne
18th century
82
South Africa
Richtersveld Cultural Landscape
Northern Cape Province
Prehistoric–present
83
Spain
Segovia Aqueduct
Segovia
1st century
84
Sudan
Suakin
Suakin Island
17th–18th centuries
85
Syria
Amrit Archaeological Site
Amrit
300–230 BC
86
Syria
Shayzar Castle
Shaizar
12th century
87
Syria
Tell Mozan (Ancient Urkesh)
Tell Mozan
ca. 2200–1500 BC
88
Turkey
Aphrodisias
Aphrodisias
150 BC–AD 1200
89
Turkey
Little Hagia Sophia
Istanbul
527–536
90
United Kingdom
Saint Mary's Stow Church
Stow, Lincolnshire
975 AD; 11th–15th centuries
91
United Kingdom
St. Vincent Street Church
Glasgow , Scotland
1857/59–1904
92
United States of America
2 Columbus Circle
New York City
1964
93
United States of America
Bluegrass Cultural Landscape of Kentucky
Central Kentucky
Late 18th–Early 19th centuries
94
United States of America
Cyclorama Center
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
1958–1961
95
United States of America
Dutch Reformed Church
Newburgh, New York
1830
96
United States of America
Ellis Island Baggage and Dormitory Building
New York, New York
1908–1913
97
United States of America
Ennis Brown House
Los Angeles, California
1924
98
United States of America
Hanging Flume
Montrose County, Colorado
1887–1890
99
United States of America
Mount Lebanon Shaker Village
New Lebanon, New York
1860
100
Venezuela
La Guaira Historic City
Vargas
1589
101[D]
United States of America
Gulf Coast and New Orleans
Mississippi and Louisiana
18th–20th centuries
Statistics by country/territory
The following countries/territories have multiple sites entered on the 2006 Watch List, listed by the number of sites:
Number of sites
Country/Territory
9
United States of America[E]
7
Italy
6
China
5
Mexico and Peru
4
India
3
Egypt, Eritrea, Russia and Syria
2
Chile, Croatia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Poland, Serbia & Montenegro, Turkey and United Kingdom
Notes
^ A. No official reference numbers have been designated for the sites on the Watch List.
^ B. Names and spellings used for the sites were based on the official 2006 Watch List as published .
^ C. The references to the sites' locations and periods of construction were based on the official 2006 Watch List as published .
^ D. On October 6, 2005, the WMF added the historic and cultural assets of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans to the 2006 Watch List as its 101st site, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina significantly damaging and destroying numerous historic structures across the region.
^ E. Tally includes the Gulf Coast and New Orleans site.
References
^ a b c d e f g h i Holly Evarts (21 June 2005). "World Monuments Fund Announces 2006 World Monuments Watch List Of 100 Most Endangered Sites" (PDF) . World Monuments Fund. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2009 .
^ Holly Evarts (6 June 2007). "World Monuments Fund Announces 2008 World Monuments Watch List Of 100 Most Endangered Sites" (PDF) . World Monuments Fund. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009 .
^ Holly Evarts (June 2005). "2006 Watch List Fact Sheet" (PDF) . World Monuments Fund. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2009 .
^ "World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites" (PDF) . World Monuments Fund. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2009 .
^ a b c d e Holly Evarts (June 2005). "2006 Watch List Highlights" (PDF) . World Monuments Fund. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2009 .
^ Holly Evarts (2 August 2006). "In Katrina's Wake: Restoring a Sense of Place, WMF Gallery" (PDF) . World Monuments Fund. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2009 .
^ "World Monuments Fund and National Trust for Historic Preservation with Support from American Express Team Up to Help Preserve Gulf Coast's Historic Landmarks Devastated by Hurricane Katrina" (PDF) . World Monuments Fund. 12 November 2005. Retrieved 4 September 2009 .
^ "Bam and its Cultural Landscape" . World Heritage Center. Retrieved 4 September 2009 .
^ Worden, Amy (March 12, 2013). "Gettysburg's Cyclorama building is no more" . Philadelphia Inquirer .
^ Stansbury, Amy (9 March 2013). "The death of the Gettysburg Cyclorama building" . The Evening Sun . Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013 .
External links