Heritage

Unesconews

‘Indefensible’: fossil fuel extraction at Unesco sites set to rise by more than 70% in coming decades, report says

A study by Leave it in the Ground Initiative (LINGO) research group states that fossil fuel activities within Unesco sites across the world are due to produce 11.9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide

Russian military destroys ancient Ukrainian burial mounds, report finds

Satellite imagery and geospatial analysis reveals extent of damage to sites in occupied region

Bone of contention: Rijksmuseum and Church disagree on final resting place of Dutch privateer's remains

A bone and lock of hair apparently belonging to Piet Hein have been in storage at the Dutch museum for centuries—now there are calls to have them returned to his grave

Taliban pledges to protect Buddhist city by mining underground

Afghan minister says that copper extraction by a Chinese company at Mes Aynak, an important archaeological site, will avoid damage to relics

‘An irreplaceable portal to the past’: English Heritage launches campaign to help preserve more than one million artefacts

Funds are sought to help experts store, care for, catalogue and undertake new research on the UK charity’s vast array of objects

Israeli archaeology bill raises fears of West Bank annexation

Experts warn that the bill, which expands the Israel Antiquities Authority’s jurisdiction, violates international law and could lead to sanctions against Israel

Warnews

Sudan’s cultural heritage is threatened to an 'unprecedented level', Unesco says

Looting by armed groups has been reported at institutions in Sudan, including the National Museum

Francecomment

Rachida Dati has been reappointed as France's culture minister—but does she have the will to protect heritage?

The debacle over the commissioning of Notre-Dame's stained-glass windows highlights the politician's propensity to ignore expert advice

French heritage sites saw record number of visitors in 2023

More than 46 million people flocked to French museums, monuments and stately homes last year—but social disparities are on the rise, new report says

Charities defend English Heritage for refugee scheme after criticism aired by right-wing news outlet

Philip Kiszley told GB News that the initiative, which has been in place since 2022, encourages refugees to “learn how terrible we are”

Turkey keeps ruins open after dark to combat heatwaves

Fierce summers are making visits to sites such as Ephesus hard to endure, so tourists can now see them in the evening. But is their popularity putting them in peril?

Medieval Carcassonne laid bare in spectacular restoration

Visitors gain panoramic view of historic French city from upper ramparts after €5m restoration makes full circuit walkable

Constantine Arch and Colosseum hit by 'incredible water bomb'

Lightning strike breaks fragments off ancient military monument in Rome

‘This is a farce’: heritage activists react as historic minaret in Iraq covered in white plaster

The Zumurrud Khatun Mosque and Mausoleum have undergone a heavy-handed restoration—and there is a risk of further damage to come

Heritageanalysis

Three years on: how the Taliban has impacted Afghanistan's culture

The government is increasing support for desperately needed restoration projects, but repressive new laws erase women and girls from public life

Cultural sector must do more to protect heritage, say campaigners, as Unesco sites most at risk from climate change revealed

A study by the climate risk firm Climate X has shown how drought, extreme heat and flooding has put historic locations across the world at risk

‘It destroys the image Dickens tried to create’: unpublished letters give voice to writer’s beleaguered wife

Meanwhile, a screen that Charles Dickens decorated with the actor William Macready has returned to its historic home in Dorset, UK

Israeli settlement on Unesco heritage site an ‘imminent threat’ to area, campaigners say

The Nahal Heletz settlement—which is due to be established within the protected Land of Olives and Vines—puts heritage in danger and risks cutting Palestinians off from their land, warn groups and residents

Appeal to save Brighton Pavilion dome after ‘devastating’ damage discovery

Brighton and Hove Museums hopes to raise at least £10,000 to conserve the Grade I listed building

Mysterious Stonehenge altar rock was transported 500 miles, finds study

Researchers have found that the six-tonne feature of the neolithic monument likely came from the Orcadian Basin in north-east Scotland, rather than Wales

The ship that broke Wordsworth’s heart: UK government grants protection to wreck with connections to poet

The remains of the Earl of Abergavenny, once captained by the Wordsworth’s brother John, will be made safe from treasure hunters

Heritageanalysis

Venice rocked by corruption allegations involving city’s mayor and council over sale of land and two palazzos

Mayor Brugnaro insists that he is innocent but calls for his resignation are mounting

Temple of love: €7,000 for a wedding at Paestum

New pricelist gives well-heeled couples exclusive access to the ancient archaeological site. But some Italian politicians are not impressed

Historic Gaza monastery added to Unesco’s world heritage in danger list

The “situation” around the fourth-century Monastery of Saint Hilarion has "deteriorated rapidly" due to the war, an expert says

Politicsanalysis

How Indian PM Narendra Modi’s weaponising of heritage backfired in Ayodhya

The politician lost the Faizabad constituency in which he built the controversial Ram temple

Castle in war-torn Yemen partially reopens

Emergency repairs at 11th-century fortress offer a ray of hope in country where dozens of historic sites are damaged or destroyed

Booksreview

Take a romp through Ancient Rome’s great buildings with this handy (almost) pocket-sized book

Ostensibly a guide to the city's top 50 sites, a new publication by Paul Roberts offers far more

Rare ancient rock art found in Saudi Arabian lava tube

Sixteen panels, thought to have been created 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, include rare depictions of sheep

Qatar Museums and Venice's new protocol of co-operation includes aim of restoring 'symbolic parts of the city’

Renewable five-year agreement, announced during Art for Tomorrow conference, covers collaboration on regeneration of cultural heritage, art publications and connections between Venetian and Islamic architecture

Buckingham Palace opens newly restored wing with Gainsborough and Winterhalter works

Building’s East Wing, displaying 30 paintings and examples of Chinese porcelain, will be open to visitors from July