Desert Cultural Landscapes
Cultural WHS where the OUV derives from its desert location. Sites do not have to be Cultural Landscapes per se.
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Agadez | Crit iv "From the 15th century, Agadez, "the gateway to the desert", became an exceptional crossroads for the caravan trade." | |
| Al-Faw | Criteria ii "The rich collection of archaeological findings and inscriptions is a tangible manifestation of the role of the site as an important meeting place for different groups of people who built the caravan city of Qaryat al-Faw and the influences and cultural exchanges between the tribes of the desert and the trading groups that occupied and resided in the area over time." - AB Evaluation | |
| Ancient Ksour | Crit iii "The Ksour bear unique witness to a nomadic culture and trade in a desert environment. " | |
| Chankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex | The site exemplifies human interaction with a desert landscape and skyscape in a way that remarkably incorporates natural elements within the astronomical function, giving them a value similar to that of constructed elements. (Executive summary, p. 3-4) | |
| Chinchorro Culture | The property is made up of the places where the Chinchorro groups coexisted in equilibrium with their desert environment, which in itself is perhaps what made their complex forms of expression possible. (Chinchorro Culture Nomination Text, p. 88) | |
| Himā Cultural area | The OUV of the nominated Property derives from several factors. The overarching cultural role implied by its name reflects the site's historical function as one of the most important desert wells in the Middle East, if not the world. The passage of vast armies and myriad caravans has resulted in an unequalled historical 'library on rock', comprising massive numbers of rock inscriptions and petroglyphs that reflect Arabia's history over the duration of the Holocene period. (...) The pristine preservation and spectacular desert setting also add to the OUV of the Property. (nom file p5) | |
| Incense Route of the Negev | Criterion (v): The almost fossilized remains of towns, forts, caravanserais and sophisticated agricultural systems strung out along the Incense Route in the Negev desert, display an outstanding response to a hostile desert environment and one that flourished for five centuries. | |
| Maymand | Semi-desert, State Party is advised to promote the concept of Desert Cultural Landscapes | |
| Meroe | Crit v "The major centres of human activity far from the Nile at Musawwarat and Naqa raise questions as to their viability in what is today an arid zone devoid of permanent human settlement. They offer the possibility, through a detailed study of the palaeoclimate, flora, and fauna, of understanding the interaction of the Kushites with their desert hinterland." | |
| Rock Art in the Hail Region | Great Nafud Desert | |
| ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape |
Suggestions?
Do you know of another WHS we could connect to Desert Cultural Landscapes?
A connection should:
- Not be "self evident"
- Link at least 3 different sites
- Not duplicate or merely subdivide the "Category" assignment already identified on this site.
- Add some knowledge or insight (whether significant or trivial!) about WHS for the users of this site
- Be explained, with reference to a source