UNESCO World Heritage….2

And parallel to another scientifically analyze does not focus on the villages but the scenes of the limestone block to define the various scenic elements that characterize the region and protection. The eight selected clusters give the view of the full richness of the landscape in the region and the efforts made by the man on the rocky ground is often appropriate to carry out various economic activities, since the classical period to the present day. So the basic elements formed for the representative cultural scene within the eight candidate ranges for registration from the traces of areas zoning during the classicaI period based on the existence of temples on the tops of the mountains top, linked in roads and paths could still be identified, and the development of the land which had entered in Christianity And concentrated in high places in areas of heavy pilgrimage, which was known its importance in the entire Mediterranean region, and the surprisingly large number of monasteries and scenes of agricultural which still retains the walls  barriers and old terraces. In addition to the pure scientific standards that have been summarized above, the technical standard associated with the requirements of the 1972 convention.

It has been taking the two ideas of “integration and originality into account, not only in relation to archaeological remains which are exceptionally keep them in good state, which have not been restored in most cases, and thus still retains originality without any addition, but also for the landscape scene as well it has been excepting sites, where arrived chaotic urbanization and unregulated recently, or converted by planting mechanism and / or industrial activities which do not respect the environmental scene . And the areas which offered for recording shall maintain the optical integration in the archeological sites, and within the eight regions taking into account the geographic situation (mountain peaks, river basins …) and the visual cones from archaeological sites and landscapes. Site has been nominated for registration on the list of cultural heritage through the standard third, fourth and fifth, because it represents an exceptional way the growth of an extinct agricultural civilization and because it had been provided through the many architectural sites with exceptional value in the Eastern Christian world, and it allows to understand the old ways to exploit the agricultural area. Supports the exceptional value of the archaeological villages of northern Syria, the special case of conservation of the ruins, Graves, houses and monasteries are often retained their basis materials buildings, and the integration of landscape and sites where only some portions are missing such as wood and finishes that are not resistant to the passage of time. in addition, the authenticity of the places have remained in full because of the location of this region, which has been for a long time outside the major historical events which were associated with the end of the classical world, and the period of the Franks, and the Ottoman period, and even the changes caused by the occupation and the rule of modern states the acts of vandalism which were rare in the region during the last two centuries did not affect the authenticity of the material or scene in the archaeological sites in villages in northern Syria Based on the above, it has been formed a national working group from the Directorate General of antiquities and museums and experts of UNESCO in cooperation with the archaeological excavation missions and foreign national working in the region to complete the registration file which has been submitted to the world heritage Centre in February 2009. the answer came from the World Heritage centre for an extension of the project for a full year to complete the completion of detailed maps of the ancient villages linked to the global coordinates  and completion of the study and comparison with similar sites in the world in addition to put the structural for development of management of these Clusters. It has been completed the required file and sent to the world I heritage Centre in February2010 and the answer came from the world Heritage Centre to accept the initial file to complete all the required items. This model is the “first” in the Arab world and second in the world, as integrates the urban landscape – with the architectural landscape of these cities. It has been submitted an integrated file on these protected areas by the Syrian national team specialist in relics and a team of UNESCO -world heritage centre. These clusters will be a center of scientific research to historians and archaeologists in the world, not to mention that the benefit of tourist, cultural and heritage of these areas will be extended to include other archaeological villages not yet registered on the World Heritage list

Haifaa Mafalani