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Alamut awaits global recognition after 25 years of conservation
A quarter-century of archaeological excavation, conservation and restoration has brought Iran's Alamut fortress complex to the brink of UNESCO World Heritage inscription, the site's heritage chief said.
The World Heritage Committee is scheduled to review the nomination during its 48th session in Busan, South Korea, from July 19 to 29, ISNA wrote.
If approved, "Alamut Castle and its Defensive Fortifications" would become Iran's 30th UNESCO World Heritage property. Archaeologist and Alamut Cultural Heritage Base director Hamideh Choubak said the nomination reflects 25 years of continuous archaeological research, preservation, restoration and interdisciplinary studies carried out across the historic Alamut region.
"After a quarter-century of sustained national heritage projects, the Alamut fortress and its defensive network have reached the stage of UNESCO consideration," Choubak said.
She credited the achievement to years of cooperation among government agencies, technical teams and heritage specialists.
International evaluators visited the site last year and completed detailed technical assessments that will form part of the committee's deliberations. Choubak said the outcome cannot be predicted, as committee members will base their decision on ICOMOS evaluations and other expert reports.
She said authorities have already implemented key measures required under the site's management plan, including documentation, conservation work, road improvements, upgrades in the village of Gazor Khan, and visitor facilities such as water supply, parking and public services. A two-year action plan and longer-term programs extending over the next decade will guide future conservation, infrastructure and tourism management.
Archaeological excavations at Alamut are expected to resume in late September after the peak tourist season. Choubak said excavation must always be matched by conservation efforts.
"Excavation alone is not enough," she said. "Every archaeological project must proceed alongside preservation and restoration."
The serial nomination comprises seven medieval fortresses, including Alamut Castle, the former center of the Nizari Ismaili state, and Lambsar Castle, the largest fortress in the network, together with five other strongholds that formed the integrated defensive landscape of the Alamut region.