At the 46th UNESCO World Heritage Meeting in New Delhi, “Ecbatana” was officially registered as Iran’s 28th world heritage site. This decision followed amendments suggested by ICOMOS and support from Qatar, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Turkey, Kenya, and Rwanda, leading to the exclusion of the “Hamadan Historical Center” section.
Ecbatana features ruins of the Medes’ capital, later serving as the summer capital for the Achaemenids and Parthians. Significant findings include a large defensive wall of mud bricks and a checkered urban plan. Located within Hamadan, in the Alvand sub-branch of the Zagros Mountain range, Ecbatana has a continuous human history spanning three thousand years, with evidence of Median civilization from the 6th and 7th centuries BC.
In 2023, ICOMOS, as a UNESCO advisory body, had initially raised concerns regarding the site’s authenticity, custodial documents, boundaries, legal support, and historical context, recommending further investigation and deferral.
Following the release of the ICOMOS report, Alireza Izadi, Director General of Registration and Preservation at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, confirmed the review process for Ecbatana. He noted that the initial submission, titled ” Ecbatana and Hamadan Historical Center,” encountered content issues during the World Heritage Committee’s review. To address these concerns, a committee was established under the Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage. This committee, which included experts and original file preparers, made revisions to the proposal. The revised file, now solely focused on “Ecbatana,” will be considered at the upcoming World Heritage Summit.
Initially, the proposal encompassed the historical market area of Hamadan and Ecbatana Hill, covering about 100 hectares with various historical sites. However, when the file was renamed “Ecbatana and the Historical Center of Hamadan,” the scope and content were altered. At the 46th UNESCO World Heritage Meeting, the “Hamadan Historical Center” was excluded from the title, and the registration was approved under the name “Ecbatana.” The designated area for Ecbatana is 75 hectares, with a buffer zone of 287 hectares.
Iran’s World Heritage Sites
Iran boasts 27 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, reflecting its rich historical and natural heritage. These sites include Chogha Zanbil, Takht-e Jamshid (Persepolis), Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, Takht-e Soleyman, and the Bam Citadel Cultural Landscape. Other notable sites are Pasargadae, the Dome of Soltaniyeh, the Behistun Inscription, and the Armenian Monastic Ensembles. Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, Tabriz Historic Bazaar, and the Mausoleum of Sheikh Safi are also part of this prestigious list. Persian Gardens, the Isfahan Grand Mosque, Gonbad Qaboos, and Golestan Palace further highlight Iran’s cultural legacy. The Burnt City, Cultural Landscape of Maymand, Shush, and Iranian Aqueducts add to the diversity of the list. The Historic City of Yazd, the Sasanian Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region, the Hyrcanian Forests, the Iranian National Railway, the Cultural Landscape of Hawraman, and the Historical Caravanserais of Iran complete the list.
The 46th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, held from July 21 to July 31, 2024 (10 Amordad 1403) in New Delhi, India, reviewed these sites. The committee considered 27 new sites for inclusion in the World Heritage List and assessed the status of 124 existing sites, including those listed as World Heritage in Danger.
