LCDR Andrea Argirides, PhDHeadquarters Joint Operations Command

J3 Branch, Joint Effects – J39Australian Defence Force

18-21 September 2018, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia

Heritage Under Fire:Cultural Heritage Protection in

International Operations

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Scope of Presentation

1. Definitions.2. World Heritage Site –

Mongolia.3. International Conventions.4. Examples of destruction of

heritage as a weapon of war. 5. Trafficking looted antiquities.6. Cultural heritage, contingency

operations & environmental security.

7. Preservation and protection of cultural heritage.

8. Concluding remarks.9. Questions for discussion

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Assyrian relics in Nimrud Iraq, destroyed by Islamic State - March 2015

Definition of Heritage… architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and

painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings and combinations of

features, which are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science;

groups of buildings; groups of separate or connected buildings which, because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of

outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science;

sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and of man, and areas including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic,

ethnological or anthropological points of view.

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Tangible HeritageNatural Heritage - encompasses the countryside and natural environment, including flora and fauna – examples of natural heritage in Mongolia

Cultural Property – entails tangible heritage such as historic structures that is, castles; churches, temples, mosques; nature preserves; zoos; museums; libraries; works of art, sculpture, archeological and historical sites and monuments - examples shown below

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Archaeological HeritageBamyian Valley, Afghanistan

Babylon, Baghdad Iraq

Palmyra Syria

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Historic buildings of Timbuktu

World Heritage Site - Mongolia

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UNESCO’s newest World Heritage Site: Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai

International Conventions• The World Heritage Convention, for the preservation for world and natural

heritage, 1972• The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the

Event of Armed Conflict ,1954• The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and The UNESCO

General Conference for Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, 1970

• The European Convention for the protection of archaeological heritage, 1969

• UNIDROIT Convention on stolen or illegally exported cultural objects, 1995

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Destruction of Heritage as a Weapon of War

Roman amphitheatre, Palmyra Syria

Ancient relief, Nimrud Iraq

Bamyian Buddhas

Afghanistan

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Ancient Umayyad Mosque, Old City of Aleppo

Daesh Destruction of Cultural Heritage

Mosul Museum - 2014

Palmyra - 2015

Assyrian reliefs - 2014

Hatra - 2015

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Temples Bel and Baalshamin DestroyedUNCLASSIFIED

Items pictured here were selling from $US60-$240[Photos: Courtesy, Dr Laurie Rush, Fort Drum NY]

Looted Antiquities for Sale

Afghan antiquities for sale at a bazar in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan 2010

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Heritage, Contingency Operations & Environmental Security

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Possible considerations include, but not limited to:• Experts invited to participate in contingency operational planning • Education & training military forces on cultural property protection• Access to comprehensive information about cultural heritage sites • Assessing military activity that could impact on cultural heritage• CIMIC acquiring CPP expertise and increase dialogue with local

authorities and communities• Cultural heritage protection should be seen as a preventative

conservation strategy, adopting mitigating measures to limit and/or prevent damage

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Preservation & Protection of Cultural HeritageUNCLASSIFIED

Serious consideration must be given to include the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in the planning phase of contingency operations. This can

significantly contribute to environmental security, protecting national identity and achieving mission success.

The presenter inspecting Royal Tombs at Ur, southern Iraq, May 2008

Blue Shield Emblem

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We all have an obligation to humanity to protect cultural heritage, for those who inhabit those

countries that are affected by conflict and for all mankind now and in the future.

Environmental Security Protects National Identity

Concluding Remarks

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Questions for Discussion

Plaque outside the Kabul Museum Afghanistan – May

2013

1. What is your definition of heritage?

2. Does cultural heritage matter?

3. Why is heritage important for national identity?

4. What cultural heritage issues need to be considered when planning for operations?

5. What are the main threats to cultural heritage?