Rola Maayaa, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, proudly revealed that Palestine has achieved the inclusion of the historic Jericho/Tel Al-Sultan site on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List.
This significant announcement took place at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, convening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
5 UNESCO-Listed Sites
With this achievement, Palestine now boasts five officially registered sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. These sites include Jerusalem (the Old City and its Walls), Bethlehem (Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route), Battir (Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem), and Hebron (Old Town of Hebron).
Maayaa emphasized the significance of this decision, as the Tel Al-Sultan site represents an integral part of Palestine’s diverse heritage with exceptional human value.
Global Significance
This archaeological site holds global importance as the world’s oldest fortified town and a successful model for the human settlement journey, beginning with the Neolithic period and the advent of plant and animal domestication.
She pointed to the substantial collaboration among various stakeholders in achieving this milestone, notably the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Palestinian Mission to UNESCO, the Municipality of Jericho, as well as local and international experts and contributors who assisted in preparing the nomination dossier.
Historical Site
The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities emphasized the historical significance of the Tel Al-Sultan site as the earliest successful model of permanent human settlement.
Located more than 250 meters below sea level near the Ein Sultan Spring, the site signifies the transition of humans from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled one based on plant and animal domestication, architectural construction, pottery making, and the development of social, economic, and religious systems.
This transformation marked a distinctive milestone in human civilization, unparalleled in its contribution to the evolution of human history.
Read more: UNESCO Faces Israeli Ire Over Jericho Heritage Bid
Thus, ancient Jericho/Tel Al-Sultan has etched its name as the world’s oldest fortified town and a crucial symbol of Palestine’s exceptional contributions to global history. The recognition of the Tel Al-Sultan site on the UNESCO World Heritage List is a testament to these unique global values.
Maayaa expressed gratitude to all international and local partners who contributed to this achievement, with special mention to the World Heritage Fund, which funded the preparation of the nomination file, and UNESCO’s office in Ramallah. She regarded this achievement as the fruit of shared cooperation between Palestine and friendly supporting countries.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=49990
