Gibraltar’s ‘remarkable’ Neanderthal caves edge closer to World Heritage status

Alice Mascarenhas. Gibraltar is one step closer to achieving World Heritage status for its ‘Neanderthal Caves and Environments’.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites [ICOMOS], the official advisory body of the World Heritage Committee for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO, is recommending that the ‘Gibraltar Neanderthal Caves and Environments’ be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

ICOMOS described the site, which includes Gorham’s Cave and neighbouring sites, as “remarkable and deserving of protection and conservation”.

ICOMOS, a non-governmental international organisation dedicated to the conservation of the world’s monuments and sites, has recognised the Gibraltar nomination has “Outstanding Universal Value”.

It said “…the Gibraltar Neanderthal caves provide an exceptional testimony to the occupation, cultural traditions and material culture of Neanderthal and Early Modern Human populations through a period spanning more than 125,000 years.”

It reached those conclusions in its report on candidate sites, submitted to the World Heritage Committee ahead of its 40th ordinary session in Istanbul Between July 10 and 20, at which Gibraltar’s nomination will be considered. The field evaluation by ICOMOS was carried out locally last September.

The Director of the Gibraltar Museum, Professor Clive Finlayson, said it was “very positive and encouraging” but emphasised it could “not pre-empt the decision of the World Heritage committee” next month.

“It is a very favourable recommendation and they are sure to take it into account,” he said.

“It is much better to have this report than not.”

The extensive 390-page report entitled ‘Evaluations of Nominations of Cultural and Mixed Properties List’ was published on Friday... (PRINT AND E-EDITIONS) Gibraltar Chronicle


Related: Our Neanderthals

From Monday 6th June, 9pm
As consideration to Gibraltar's bid for Gorham's Cave to be accorded World Heritage status draws closer, GBC uncovers some of the secrets in the cave, while taking a closer look at its first inhabitants, Our Neanderthals.

Actualización: Vídeo. Our Neanderthals (4)



Vídeos añadidos a la lista de reproducción: Our Neanderthals (4) - Gorham's Cave Gibraltar


Actualización: Crunch time for Gorham’s Cave – Gibraltar Chronicle
Alice Mascarenhas. Gibraltar will find out this week if its UNESCO bid for World Heritage status of its ‘Neanderthal Caves and Environments’ has been successful.

The World Heritage Committee is meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, this week. Its 40th session was scheduled to begin yesterday and is expected to end 20 July. . Gibraltar’s nomination is expected to be presented towards the end of the week as part of its ‘Cultural’ agenda.

The Gibraltar Government and the team at the Gibraltar Museum led by its Director, Professor Clive Finlayson, who has been at the forefront of the nomination, will no doubt be keeping a close watch on the proceedings throughout the whole of this week.

The World Heritage Committee is examining proposals to inscribe 29 sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List during its 40th session which will be chaired by Ambassador Lale Ülker, General Director for Overseas Promotion and Cultural Affairs at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session is being held at the Istanbul Congress Centre.... (PRINT AND E-EDITIONS)