On 24 September 2004 Cultural Emergency Response provided 25,000 euro for the restoration of the archive of the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization that suffered extensive damage as a result of the earthquake last year in Bam.
More than 2000 years old, the citadel of Bam in the South of Iran is the largest earthen construction in the world. On 26 December 2003, the oasis city was badly hit by an earthquake.The Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization has a documentation centre on the citadel.With 25,000 euro from CER this organisation is able to reinstate its archive. It is saving parts of its own archive, consisting of many thousands of documents; gathering existing records and documents from elsewhere on the period prior to the earthquake (aerial photos, photos, maps) and is building up a new archive documenting the situation after the earthquake.The Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization considers the latter of great importance because it offers a basis for the restoration work. Moreover, some construction and restoration techniques were better able to withstand the earthquake than others; the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization aims to improve knowledge of earth construction in earthquake areas by a closer study of these techniques.
Bam Citadel under scaffolding after the earthquake of 26 December 2003. Photo: Courtesy of the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation
CER provides emergency relief for cultural heritages that have been affected by man-made or natural disasters.
Cultural Emergency Response
Prince Claus Fund
Hoge Nieuwstraat 30
2514 EL The Hague
Tel. 31 (0)70 4274303
Fax 31 (0)70 4274277
E-mail cer@princeclausfund.nl
www.princeclausfund.nl
