Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site- Defining its Outstanding Universal Value

Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site is one of Wiltshire and the UK’s greatest assets. It is internationally recognised as one of the top ranking places in the world alongside cultural marvels such as the Pyramids and natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef.

World Heritage Sites need very careful management and protection. A new consultation has just been launched on a document that should help us to provide this.

The consultation gives the public a chance to comment on a document that summarises exactly what it is that makes Stonehenge and Avebury internationally important. The document will provide a crucial reference for those making decisions on how best to manage the World Heritage Site and look after the very special features which qualify it to appear on the World Heritage List. A clear definition in one document should help us protect the World Heritage Site for this and future generations.

Since 2007 UNESCO has asked new World Heritage Sites to provide a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value as part of the nomination process. Stonehenge and Avebury became a World Heritage Site back in 1986 and along with a large number of other sites across the world we now need to produce a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value.

Stonehenge and Avebury are important to very many people for a wide range of different reasons that are taken into account in their respective Management Plans. The Statement of Outstanding Universal Value sets out to define only the values related to its impressive prehistoric monuments which got Stonehenge and Avebury onto the World Heritage Site list in 1986.

If you would like to be part of the process of protecting the World Heritage Site you can look at the draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value on line and leave your comments. The consultation is open until the end of October. You can find it by visiting the Wiltshire Council website.

The consultation closes on 31 October 2010.

For further information please contact:

Sarah Simmonds, Avebury World Heritage Site Officer
Email: sarah.simmonds@wiltshire.gov.uk

Tel: 01225 718470
Mobile: 07966 900324

Vacancy Notice: Head of the ICOMOS Documentation Centre

                       ICOMOS International Secretariat e-news

                                        17 December 2009

          Vacancy Notice: Head of the ICOMOS Documentation Centre

 

Announcement available as PDF download:

http://international.icomos.org/pdf/DOC_Announce_Poste_EN_20091217.pdf

ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites) is an association of over 9000 cultural heritage professionals present in over 100 countries throughout the world, working for the conservation and protection of monuments and sites – the only global non-government organisation of its kind. It benefits from the cross-disciplinary exchange of its members – architects, archaeologists, art historians, engineers, historians, planners, who foster improved heritage conservation standards and techniques for all forms of cultural properties: buildings, historic towns, cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, etc. ICOMOS is officially recognized as an advisory body to UNESCO, actively contributing to the World Heritage Committee and taking part in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

The ICOMOS International Secretariat and its specialized Documentation Centre are located in Paris (France). The Documentation Centre specializes in the conservation of architectural and archaeological heritage; and the restoration and management of historic monuments and sites. Its collections include approximately 30,000 monographs and 600 periodicals (200 current). It also holds all the original nomination files for cultural properties proposed for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is open to ICOMOS members and the general public. In 2012, ICOMOS will move to new premises in Charenton (Paris) together with the Mediathèque de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine of France.

Study tour of the Republic of Ireland – Quality Place-making

7th-10th July 2009

This tour will explore four towns in the Republic sharing information and good practice on what makes a high quality place.

From contemporary lighting schemes and public realm design in Cork to the colourful shop fronts in Youghal, embedded in the towns history, and Waterford’s vision “ to create a framework of public and civic spaces of character and visual quality” in a medieval city known for its ancient City Walls and craftsmanship, and finally an international conference in Kilkenny Castle – “Serving people while preserving heritage” – which will bring together practitioners and representatives from policy making bodies.

Programme Details and Online Booking

Places are limited and bookings must be received by 12 June.