Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae

country. Egypt

year of inscription. 1979 

criteria. Cultural

The Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae WHS is located in the governorate of Aswan. It comprises monuments from the Nubian civilisation, which was closely intertwined with ancient Egyptian civilisation. These monuments include places of worship such as the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel and the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae.

In 1954, Egypt firmed up plans to build a new dam across the Nile at Aswan. Known as the Aswan High Dam, construction was to begin in 1960, and the resultant reservoir formed would submerge many Nubian monuments constructed in the locale, Hence, in 1959, Egypt and Sudan requested for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to help them save the monuments. In 1960, UNESCO launched an international fundraising project in support of these efforts. With the aid of an international team, many of the monuments were relocated to higher grounds, safe from the flood waters. The campaign ended in 1980 and was declared a success. The success of this campaign inspired others, for saving sites such as Venice and its lagoons in Italy, the Moenjodaro in Pakistan, and the Borobudur in Indonesia.

Consequently, between 1965 and 1972, the UNESCO, working together with other heritage convention proposals by the International Convention on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the United States government, drafted a convention to protect cultural and natural heritage in other parts of the world; it was signed in 1972 and effected in 1975. In 1978, the first twelve World Heritage Sites were inscribed.

Yungang Grottoes

country. China
year of inscription. 2001

criteria. Cultural

The Yungang Grottoes are located in the province of Shanxi. The site houses 252 caves of about 51,000 Buddhist statues, dating back to the 5th and 6th century CE, during the Northern Wei Dynasty. The cave art here is reflective of both South and Central Asian influences as well as distinct Chinese characteristics.

Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars

country. Laos

year of inscription. 2019

criteria. Cultural

The Plain of Jars is an archaeological site of megalithic structures located in Xiengkhuang province. Found here are some 2,100 partially-buried stone jars used for funerary practices sometime between 500BCE and 500CE. The fifteen component sites contain large carved stone jars, stone discs, secondary burial sites, tombstones, quarries, and funerary objects. However, little in known of the civilisation that created these objects.

Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape

country. Laos
year of inscription. 2001

criteria. Cultural

The Champasak cultural landscape, found in Champasak province, includes the Vat Phou Temple complex, two planned cities on the banks of the Mekong River, and Phou Kao mountain. The use of the site for religious purposes date back to the 5th century CE; however, the current structures trace their origins to the Angkor era, from the 11th to the 14th century CE. The temple complex, originally constructed for Shaivite Hindu worship, was part of a planned landscape, comprising of an axis from mountain to river of more than 10km, from which a geometric layout of temples and shrines, settlements, and waterworks were laid out.

Town of Luang Prabang

country. Laos

year of inscription. 1995 (modification: 2013)

criteria. Cultural

The Town of Luang Prabang is located in the province of the same name. Formerly known as Muang Sua, and, later, Xieng Thong, it was the capital of Lan Xang and thence, the centre of Buddhism in the region. Following the establishment of the French Protectorate of Laos in 1893, it once again become the capital, a role it would hold on to until 1946. Today, the town is known for its preserved architectural and artistic heritage, reflecting a fusion of traditional Lao and colonial European styles. This townscape is set against a natural landscape of a peninsula formed from the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, with sacred Mount Phousi as the backdrop.