12 November. ICCROM's ATHAR course on Conservation of Stone and Earthen Structures concluded with an official ceremony at Beit Al Nabooda in the Sharjah Heritage Area, United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

The course held under the patronage of H.H. Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of UAE and Ruler of Sharjah, in partnership with the Government of Sharjah (Sharjah Department of Information and Culture, Sharjah Museums Department, American University of Sharjah, University of Sharjah); UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC); ALECSO (Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization); US Department of State; with the support of the Directorate General of Development Co-operation, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGCS).

The closing dinner was attended by the Ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Dr Sheikh Al Qasimi and ICCROM Director-General, Mounir Bouchenaki. Also present were: several representatives from the partner institutions; Dr Zaki Aslan, ATHAR Programme Manager; architect Peter Jackson, Architectural Advisor to H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah.

This five-week course enhances professional capacity in the field of heritage site conservation and management in the Arab region. Specific focus was given to traditional materials in masonry and the conservation of damp buildings. This is a specialized course that follows ATHAR’s core regional courses that have taken place over the last years. Attendance on one of the core courses was a prerequisite for attendance on the specialized course.
After having attended the three ATHAR courses, each participant is now familiar with:

• traditional materials in masonry and earthen structures used in the region;
• the strengths and weaknesses of these materials;
• methods for identification of traditional means of water protection;
• identifying priorities for conservation and treatment interventions of masonry and earthen architecture.

Course activities included laboratory sessions; lectures; and practical work at the site of Al Khan and Heritage Area in Sharjah. The participants also visited several other sites to study historic building conservation techniques.

Participants included site managers, archaeologists, architects, engineers, and planners from eleven Arab countries: Iraq, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Experts and instructors working for ICCROM came from France, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.

Member States represented: Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen

updated on: 27 January, 2010