elwanazi identification and preservation of the iraqi heritage areas presentation

8/8/2019 Elwanazi Identification and Preservation of the Iraqi Heritage Areas Presentation

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S. Elwazani-US/ICOMOS 2004 Symposium 1

IDENTIFICATION AND PRESERVATION OFTHE IRAQI CULTURAL HERITAGE:THE INTERNATIONAL HAND

Salim A Elwazani, PhD, RAArchitecture & EDS Program

Bowling Green State University

US/ICOMOS 7th International Symposium25-27 March 2004, Natchitoches, Louisiana


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March 2004 S. Elwazani-US/ICOMOS 2004 Symposium 2

TOPICS

1. Introduction

2. Status of Iraqs Cultural Heritage

3. Needs and Aims

4. Principles and Strategies

5. The International Hand

6. Closing Remarks


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INTROUCTION


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Study Objectivesa. Scrutinize nature of

heritage areas

b. Discern needs and aimsfor heritage areaidentification andpreservation

c. Envision principles andstrategies for heritagearea identification andpreservation

d. Explore internationalcollaborative capacity

Study Background Faces of Iraqi

heritage

Opulence of heritage

Vulnerability

Need to identifyandpreserve

International hand


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IdentificationPurposes Binary distinction Classification Referenced Reasons

To acquire knowledge To promote peoples

interest To permit informedchanges to resources

To ensure conservationis sensitive

DistinctionIdentif ication purposesand preservationpurposes

Identification Function Shades of meaning

Interrelationship ofelements Information sufficient

Information treated

Treatment gives results Results direct action

Recording &documentation: information

collection operation modes


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STATUS OF IRAQS

CULTURAL HERITAGE


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Mesopotamia.wherehuman beings first: Built cities

Organized complex states

Formulated elaboratereligious beliefs

Invented writing Developed sophisticated

visual and l iteraryexpression

Articulated measures formaintaining law and justice

MeasuringImportanceinGrand Terms: Millennia of years

Inventiveness ofsuccessive cultures

Abundance of tangibleand intangible resources


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Heritage resources

are defined bythe geographic domains ofthe successive, andoftentimes, contemporary

imperial cultures, and, withinsuch domains, by the landsphysical and climaticfeatures

Reputed Empires Sumerian (c. 3000 B.C.), Akkadian ( c. 2340), Assyrian (c. 1370 B.C.), Babylonian (c.1750 B.C.)

Several otherpowersoriginating in landssurrounding Mesopotamia: Amorites (c. 1900 B.C.) Kassites (c. 1750 B.C.)

Elamites (c. 1950 B.C.) Hitt ites (c. 1595 BC) Arameans (c. 1000 B.C.) Chaldeans (c. 629 B.C.) Medes (c. 612 BC) Persians (c. 539 B.C.) Greek Seleucids (c. 310 B.C) Parthians (c. 250 B.C.) Sassanids (A.D. 226)

Muslim Arabs (A.D. 637)


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A Classification of

Resources (Fethi)1. ArchaeologicalMonuments andSites

2. Historic Urban Cores3. Buildings and

Monuments

4. Villages andLandscapes

Trauma by Military

Activities March 2003 conflict, theworse

World reaction to cultural

resource damage Confl ict pattern versus

reaction pattern


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Sumer

Akkad

Babylonia

Assyria

Map of the Archeological Sites in Iraq

(Source, the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago)


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Hanging Gardens, Babylon(Source, John and Peggy Sanders; via the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago)


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Ekur, the Ziggurat of Enlil at Nippur

Sacred City of Supreme God of Summer & Akkad(Source, the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago)


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Two Assyrian OfficialsKhorsabad, Palace, Court VIII, Neo-Assyrian Period, Reign of Sargon II,

721-705 B.C.

The Human-Headed Winged Bul lFrom the palace of King Sargon II at Khorsabad,721-705 B.C.

(Source, the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago)


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Hatra: Fortified City Under the Parthian Empire and Capitalof the First Arab Kingdom

Hellenistic and Roman architecture blend with Eastern decorative features

(Source, John and Peggy Sanders; via the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago)


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The Mosque of al-MutawakkilSamarra. 836 & 849-52

(Source: SamarraArcheological Survey,

University of Paris I)


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NEEDS AND AIMS


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Identification activities.in light of overall protection issues and preservation plans

Relevant aimsderive from the state of the society , recalling past eventsand embracing future vision

Infringement on societal stabilityshapes the direction of heritage protection plans

Aim categories Humanistic Developmental Alleviative/preventive


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Humanistic Aim Revolves around

Iraqs societal well being andhealthy international recognitionof the worlds heritage

Some Merits Educational Opportunit ies National pride

Ethnic and religious cohesion Fair Chance

to access, grasp, and draw inspiration from heritage?

International character of heritage extendsopportunity For Iraq to contr ibute to the World heritage For international community to discharge its responsibilities


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Developmental Aim

Addresses waysto position heritage as a viable sector of the countrys economic

life Ways

Reuse

Tourism Preservation construction industry

Status now!

Effect of oil reservesThe heritage economic capacity may not be overlooked in favorof the gravity of the countrys proven oil reserves


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Alleviative/Preventive Aim

Necessary in conjunction with

Humanistic Aim Developmental Aim

Continuum of Loss.taken to unprecedented heights in case of Iraq

Needed Measures to prevent the ongoing abuse of resources Measures to protect in emergent or unpredictable situations


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PRINCIPLES & STRATEGIES


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Principle 1

Encompass the historic eras anddominions of the country

To yield as a seamless of an historical story as possible


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Principle 3

Acknowledge the relative historic,

cultural, and inventive significance of theresources and their geographic

distributionTo yield priorities for their protection


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Principle 5

Value the developmental economic

potential of heritage resourcesTo help place preservation as a util itarian strategy in the

economic life of the country


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Principle 6

Value the physical and visual

countenance of historical resources

To help support the aesthetic integrity of cultural areas,cities, and landscapes


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Principle 7

Recognize the international dimension of

Iraqs heritage resources

To help strengthen the organic relationship of the Worldheritage and protect the Iraqi resources of this nature


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Principle 8

Recognize the continuing perils to

heritage resourcesTo establish measures for alleviating these perils and forpredicting and preventing future damage


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Protection Strategies

Principles enter into making ofstrategies

Two basic strategies: Humanist ic strategy, emphasizing social and educational aspects Developmental strategy, emphasizing uti litarian and economic

aspects

Identification function differin (examples): Type of resource

Parameters of documentation


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Which Strategy?

Asserting a strategy is a prerogative of the Iraqipeople with the international hand in the background

Some observations on the appropriateness of thestrategies

1. Social life of the country seems to favor the humanistic direction

2. Adopting a strategy does not mean ignoring its counterpart

3. Choice for a strategy can shift

4. Choice of either strategy assumes mitigating and preventivemeasures


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THE INTERNATIONAL HAND


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Sources of assistance and collaboration World organizationsUNESCO, ICOMOS Regional organizationsCouncil of Europe

Country cultural programs Philanthropic and non-profit organizations Consulting firms

Scale & form of collaboration Scale at different levels Forms

Information Expertise Funding


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Principles for successful collaborativerelationship:

1. Collaboration complements domestic capability

2. Collaboration in building the Iraqi heritage apparatus isa priority

3. Collaboration is a long-range policy aiming atdeveloping a winning collaborative culture

4. Diverse collaborations are encouraged


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CLOSING REMARKS


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1. The interest in thecultural areas of Iraqarises out of an absurddisparity

2. Preservation aims andpreservation principles,give rise to two

protection strategies:humanistic anddevelopmental

3. Identification functionchanges withpreservation plans

4. The role of internationalcollaboration can besignificant

5. Iraq and international

community can enhancethe success ofcollaboration by

observing somecollaborative principles


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elwanazi identification and preservation of the iraqi heritage areas presentation

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