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Posts (updated 24/09/24)
In the Urban Cultures Discussion paper 1 we explored issues associated with Cultural Identity including the impacts of the "destruction of cultural heritage" and the UNESCO response to meeting the needs of communities in the aftermath of conflict. In response to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, although these are only two of many examples of targeted destruction of cultural heritage, I recently Posted the following on Linkedin:
Wartime Destruction of Cultural Heritage, Post 1
War inevitably brings death and destruction to populations, leading to human misery and ruined buildings and civic infrastructure, including societies unique and valued cultural heritage.
Watching the Russian army destroy Ukrainian cities on the nightly news led me to re-read "The Destruction of Memory: Architecture at War" by Robert Bevan.
A powerful commentary on a critical approach by armies over the centuries to the destruction of a people's cultural life and heritage.
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Also see:
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Wartime Destruction of Cultural Heritage, Post 2
Further to previous post re the destruction of cultural heritage during the Russian invasion of Ukraine we are now witnessing the destruction of irreplaceable cultural heritage by the Israeli army in Gaza. Putting aside the rights and wrongs of this terrible conflict we are witnessing the unprecedented destruction of places of great cultural heritage.
What a terrible loss for the Palestinian peoples, but also a significant loss of ancient cultural heritage of global significance.
See:
A ‘cultural genocide’: Which of Gaza’s heritage sites have been destroyed?
​In addition to the destruction of Cultural Heritage we are also witnessing Domicide which relates to the destruction of individual, family and group cultural association to home and place.
See:
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Wartime Destruction of Cultural Heritage, Post 3
I have previously Posted about the terrible destruction of built cultural heritage because of the fighting in Ukraine and Gaza. The latest press article in the German media DW site, relates to the destruction of many cultural and world heritage sites that have been destroyed or looted in war torn Sudan.
DW reports that the historic site of Naga which lies 200 km northeast of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, and not far from the banks of the Nile in an area once regarded as the cradle of civilization. The city was founded around 250 B.C. as a royal residence of the Kingdom of Meroe and featured numerous temple and palace buildings. This UNESCO World Heritage site has now been caught up in yet another Sudanese civil war.
"This threat to culture appears to have reached an unprecedented level, with reports of looting of museums, heritage and archaeological sites and private collections," said UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural organization, on September 12, 2024.
Once again irreplaceable cultural heritage has been caught in the crossfire of military madness and left unprotected from mindless destruction and looting. The destruction of such ancient monuments is not only a tragic loss for the Sudanese people, but it is erasing significant world heritage of great importance to our understanding of the foundations of cities and civilization.
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https://p.dw.com/p/4kuGn?maca=en-EMail-sharing
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