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At around 12,000 years old, Göbekli Tepe in south-east Turkey has been billed as the world’s oldest temple. It is many millennia older than Stonehenge or Egypt’s great pyramids, built in the pre-pottery Neolithic period before writing or the wheel. But should Göbekli Tepe, which became a Unesco World Heritage Site in July, also be regarded as the world’s oldest piece of architecture? — The Art Newspaper
T-shaped limestone pillars. Image: Wikipedia.Archaeological research of the ancient Göbekli Tepe ruin site in present-day Turkey suggests that the impressive monolithic structures, believed to date back to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic era (10th–8th millennium BCE), might in fact be the first... View full entry
The World Monuments Fund (WMF) received $1m from American Express to conserve eight of the 25 threatened cultural heritage sites on their watchlist. The awards range from $25,000 to $225,000 and many will be used to respond to damage inflicted by climate change. [...]
The WMF has also received funding from a private donor and the Friends of Heritage Preservation for the Alabama Civil Rights Sites. The 14 other threatened monuments on the group’s list are still seeking support.
— The Art Newspaper
The United States plans to withdraw from UNESCO, citing financial reasons, as well as what it said was anti-Israel bias at the U.N.’s educational, cultural and science organization. — the Washington Post
This morning, the U.S. notified the organization of their intention to withdraw at the end of 2018. Unesco, the United Nations cultural organization, supports a variety of programs promoting education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture and information around the world, but is... View full entry
The world heritage site status of Liverpool’s waterfront is in jeopardy after the city’s mayor, Joe Anderson, rejected a plea by UN cultural chiefs to halt development in the city [...]
Anderson said he would be writing to the UN body informing it that the city would not be complying with its request [...]
Heritage campaigners recently went to court in a fight to stop the demolition of 10 historic buildings near Liverpool Lime Street station in the buffer zone.
— The Guardian
More Liverpool-related architecture news on archinect:RIBA set to open national architecture centre in LiverpoolTurning the “ugliest building in Liverpool” into an exemplar of public healthAssemble wins Turner Prize, becoming first architects to win "UK's most prestigious art prize" View full entry
The UN's cultural organisation has listed 17 works by pioneering Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier as world heritage sites.
Le Corbusier spearheaded the modern movement after World War One, using iron, concrete and glass in a new focus on bold lines and functionality that did not appeal to everyone.
The sites are in seven countries.
— BBC News
17 of Le Corbusier's buildings, including Unité d’habitation in Marseille and the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo were announced as new UN world heritage sites. The 17 buildings meet three of the selection criteria for World Heritage status:(i) A masterpiece of human creative... View full entry
Across Syria, where a seemingly unstoppable war is about to enter a third year, a heritage built over 5,000 years or more is being steadily buried under rubble. — The Guardian
Related:What Does the Syrian Refugee Crisis Mean to Architecture?The new Monument Men: with 3D cameras and GPS data against cultural annihilation in Syria and beyondTo preserve cultural memory, these Syrian refugees recreate lost monuments in miniature View full entry
“As a World Heritage City, Philadelphia is being officially recognized on the global stage for its wealth of contributions to the world as the epicenter of American democracy and for its enduring commitment to preserving the unique historical and cultural assets in our diverse community." [...]
Global Philadelphia officials said earlier having World Heritage designation was akin to a "Sister Cities program on steroids" that could give a major economic boost for Philadelphia.
— bizjournals.com
More from the perpetually sunny city:New Philadelphians and the end of gentrification guiltHow Many Artists Does It Take to Make an Arts District?Will Philadelphia Ever Be Home to a Middle Class?Philadelphia: Let's Talk About Frank Gehry View full entry
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has declared two districts of the German city of Hamburg a world heritage site: the Speicherstadt and Chilehaus with the Kontorhaus District. Declared following a meeting in Bonn, the designation was based on the belief that the areas represent "an outstanding... View full entry
