Erbil Citadel

Threats identified at the time of inscription of the property: 

• Lack of survey, documentation and mapping of surviving surface buried archaeological remains of all types
• Slopes of the archaeological mound non stabilized
• Location and/or architectural design of the Kurdistan National Museum not appropriate 
• Existing legal framework needs to be improved
• Insufficient involvement of former inhabitants and of Erbil’s civil society in the revitalization of the Citadel

Total amount granted in the framework of the Kurdistan Regional Government Funds-In-Trust:

• The Revitalization of the Citadel of Erbil Phase I project: USD 1,510,444
• The Revitalization of the Citadel of Erbil Phase II project: USD 12,837,347
• Management of the Buffer Area of Erbil Citadel project: USD 338,208

On 30 November 2015, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1437/documents/ and provides information on the progress achieved in implementing the recommendations adopted at the time of inscription of the property on the World Heritage List. The State Party noted the following:

• Survey, documentation and mapping of buried archaeological remains have been carried out by using integrated investigation methods, including non-invasive prospections and test archaeological excavations. The results confirm the depth and antiquity of the subsurface vestiges. Three phases were found – a more recent phase, dating back to 1000 AD, an earlier one, dating back to the 9^th - 7^th centuries BC, and an intermediate destruction layer, dating to the 2^nd century AD and presumably coinciding with a Roman campaign against Erbil;
• A preliminary study for the stabilisation of the Erbil Citadel slope and perimeter façades has been elaborated. The aggravation of the situation in Iraq prevented the beginning of the stabilisation programme, however emergency works have been carried out where needed (twelve houses along the slope's perimeter have undergone extensive conservation interventions through actions implemented by the UNESCO Office for Iraq and emergency repair and stabilisation interventions implemented by the High Commission for the Erbil Citadel Revitalization - HCECR);
• The implementation of the Kurdistan Museum project is currently halted;
• Efforts undertaken to attract private investors have been delayed due to the increased instability in the region and subsequent financial crisis. A strategy is being elaborated with the assistance of the UNESCO Office for Iraq to facilitate public/private partnership when the situation will be favourable;
• The improvement of the legal framework for attracting private investors was initiated within the framework of the development of the Management Plan and system that was established with the assistance of the UNESCO Office for Iraq;
• Improving the involvement and participation of the local community in the Citadel revitalisation process has been pursued by allocating several houses to local NGOs active in multicultural activities. The Erbil Citadel Friendship Association, aiming at raising awareness and sustaining public participation, is being established, the Citadel Cultural Centre has been inaugurated and a joint committee established, involving the HCECR and civil society to manage the Centre’s activities.

The resolved commitment of the State Party to the conservation and management of the property should be noted. All of the recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription in 2014(surveying, documenting and mapping surviving surface and buried archaeological remains; proceeding with the stabilization of the mound slope; reconsidering the location of the Kurdistan Museum; elaborating a strategy to attract private investors and favoring public/private partnership; undertaking juridical studies so as to improve the existing legal framework for private investment and strengthening the involvement and participation of local community to the Citadel revitalization in spite of the unstable situation) have been acted upon and in most cases, with significant achievements, despite the increasingly unstable situation in the region and the consequent financial crisis. The State Party has made progress in all areas to the extent feasible in relation to the current situation, strategizing and modulating its action on the grounds of the viable options and with a view to a future improved situation.

Archaeological prospections and investigations have been carried out with rewarding results which confirm the antiquity and multilayered nature of the archaeological structures buried in the mound: they are planned to be published in 2016.

The instability in the region and the subsequent economic crisis have prevented the execution out of the elaborated comprehensive stabilization study for the Citadel slope and the perimeter façades that was carried out through the assistance of the UNESCO Office for Iraq. The study and related plan of action was supposed to address the stabilisation of the slope in a holistic manner and according to a prioritized plan. Nevertheless, several interventions have been carried out at buildings along the slope that are in urgent need of stabilization. Some of these were conducted with a complete conservation intervention of the whole building, such as through actions carried out by the UNESCO Office for Iraq on 12 buildings. Others have dealt with emergency maintenance and consolidation of façades carried out by the HCECR. The implementation of these interventions continues. The structural conditions of the several buildings along the Citadel slope remain therefore vulnerable and in need of intervention. Continuing prioritization for stabilization works is essential so as to undertake the indispensable actions when and where needed or urgent.

An array of activities have been initiated to guarantee that local community involvement and participation is reinforced and to bring back social life in the Citadel. Mutual cooperation among the NGOs, associations and Citadel Cultural Centre committee will be essential to rebuild the necessary synergies. Favouring permanent residence in the Citadel can also contribute to recreating its social fabric.

In light of the progress made by the State Party, it is considered that the main concerns of the World Heritage Committee at the time of the property’s inscription are currently being satisfactorily addressed. However, taking into consideration the increasing instability in the region, it is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to continue with the implementation of all relevant measures and plans, where feasible, in order to prevent and to limit the threats to its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).