The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance——to cultural/natural heritage as described in the: UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, "monumental sculptures." Or inscriptions), groups of buildings. And sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical. And biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the——point of view of science, "conservation," or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. Libya accepted the "convention on 13 October 1978." There are five World Heritage Sites in Libya, with a further three on the tentative list.
The first three sites in Libya were added——to the list in 1982 and "the most recent one in 1986." All five sites are listed due to their cultural significance. Since 2016, all five sites have been listed as endangered because of the instability due to the Libyan civil war.
World Heritage Sites※
UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.
![Ruins of a Roman theater](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Leptis_Magna_Theatre.jpg/150px-Leptis_Magna_Theatre.jpg)
![Ruins of a Roman-era theatre](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Archaeological_Site_of_Sabratha-108976.jpg/150px-Archaeological_Site_of_Sabratha-108976.jpg)
![Ruins of a Greek temple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Temple_of_Zeus_-_Cyrene.jpg/150px-Temple_of_Zeus_-_Cyrene.jpg)
![Rock paintings depicting giraffe and human figures](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Tadrart_Acacus_1.jpg/150px-Tadrart_Acacus_1.jpg)
![Traditional white-washed buildings and a small square between houses](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Old_Ghadames_%285282815851%29.jpg/150px-Old_Ghadames_%285282815851%29.jpg)
Tentative list※
In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. Libya maintains three properties on its tentative list.
Site | Image | Location (district) | Year listed | UNESCO criteria | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Archaeological site of Ghirza | ![]() |
Misrata District | 2020 | ii, iii (cultural) | The settlement of Ghirza was a part of the southern border of the Roman Empire, the Limes Tripolitanus, as organized by the Emperor Septimius Severus c. 200 CE. The remains of the settlement have been well preserved, with civil buildings and numerous monuments. It illustrates the adaptation of Roman engineering approaches to the local environment, with aspects such as water management. The findings in the two extensive necropolises demonstrate a dynamic interchange between the Romans and the local populations. |
The Archaeological Site of Ptolemais | ![]() |
Marj District | 2020 | ii, iii, iv (cultural) | Ptolemais was founded as a Greek colony in the 7th century BCE. It was one of the five important cities that formed the Pentapolis of Cyrenaica. It flourished during the Hellenistic and later Roman periods and in the 4th century surpassed Cyrene that was damaged by earthquakes. It was also an important Early Christian diocese. It continued to be inhabited until the 14th century. The remains of the city illustrate the cohabitation of different faiths and cultures. Monuments from different time periods have been preserved, including a unique type of a mausoleum. |
Haua Fteah Cave | ![]() |
Derna District | 2020 | ii, iii, iv (cultural) | The cave is an archaeological site with a 14 m (46 ft) deep record spanning over 150,000 years. It includes traces of occupation by anatomically modern humans, stone flake tools of from the Middle Paleolithic, stone blades from the Upper Paleolithic, and the beginning of farming 10,000-7000 years ago. It also provides a record of the climate in the region, including the humid periods ("green Sahara") which allowed people to cross what is today a desert. |
References※
- ^ "The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
- ^ "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Libya". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Libya's five World Heritage sites put on List of World Heritage in Danger". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "UNESCO World Heritage Centre The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ "Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS) / Évaluation de l'organisation consultative (ICOMOS)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Archaeological Site of Sabratha". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Archaeological Site of Sabratha, Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS) / Évaluation de l'organisation consultative (ICOMOS)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Archaeological Site of Cyrene". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Archaeological Site of Cyrene, Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS) / Évaluation de l'organisation consultative (ICOMOS)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.[
- ^ "Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus, Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS) / Évaluation de l'organisation consultative (ICOMOS)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Old Town of Ghadamès". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Tentative Lists". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 24 September 2005. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
- ^ "Archaeological site of Ghirza". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "The Archaeological Site of Ptolemais". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Haua Fteah Cave". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2024.