The EIA report defines Cultural heritage as all aspects of the history or prehistory of the past and present population. It can be in the form of archaeological remains, monuments, cemeteries, carvings, traditional knowledge of the land, traditional architectural design, sacred lands, and traditional place-names.
LAWS AND CONVENTIONS REGARDING CULTURAL HERITAGE
The Turkish government has passed over the years many laws and has signed many treaties and conventions some of which are listed here:
At an international level, Turkey adheres to the following:
Finally the Turkish regulation for an Environmental Impact Assessment does consider known areas of historic, cultural, archaeological importance as sensitive areas and thus requires a complete survey of the area that will be impacted.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION AND ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE
Situated in a region known as the Fertile Crescent, the region has been inhabited for more than 100,000 years. In Paleolithic times, people migrated from Asia to Europe through the Tigris valley. Later on, in the Neolithic, this area saw the birth of agriculture as well as domestication and sedentarism. Furthermore the Middle East has been and still is, the theatre of many wars. The Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Mongols, Anatolians, Ottomans, Macedonians and others have all claimed this part of the world as their own.
As a result the region is a melting pot of civilizations and a goldmine of cultural heritage. The report argues however that the area is not the “core of any civilization or period, except for some centuries during the Middle Ages”.
LAWS AND CONVENTIONS REGARDING CULTURAL HERITAGE
The Turkish government has passed over the years many laws and has signed many treaties and conventions some of which are listed here:
- "Legislation for the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property"(July 1983). Seeks to protect immovable and movable cultural property against improper intervention.
- Article 10 of this legislation holds The Ministry of Culture responsible for protecting immovable cultural and natural property and for supervising the salvation operations.
- Article 10 also holds The Ministry of National Defense responsible for protecting and evaluating cultural and natural property existing in military zones and near national borders which is the case here.
- When both ministries are involved the legislation states that a protocol determines principles to be adopted for the protection of such property. In 2005, no such protocol had been written between the ministries, for the study area. No archaeological team could work in the area without prior consent of the army.
At an international level, Turkey adheres to the following:
- "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage" adopted by UNESCO in November 1972.
- State member of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and of ICCROM (International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property).
- “Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe” (adopted in 1985)
- “European Convention on Protection of Archeological Heritage” (adopted in 1969 and modified in 1992).
Finally the Turkish regulation for an Environmental Impact Assessment does consider known areas of historic, cultural, archaeological importance as sensitive areas and thus requires a complete survey of the area that will be impacted.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION AND ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE
Situated in a region known as the Fertile Crescent, the region has been inhabited for more than 100,000 years. In Paleolithic times, people migrated from Asia to Europe through the Tigris valley. Later on, in the Neolithic, this area saw the birth of agriculture as well as domestication and sedentarism. Furthermore the Middle East has been and still is, the theatre of many wars. The Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Mongols, Anatolians, Ottomans, Macedonians and others have all claimed this part of the world as their own.
As a result the region is a melting pot of civilizations and a goldmine of cultural heritage. The report argues however that the area is not the “core of any civilization or period, except for some centuries during the Middle Ages”.