Hi all

Could you please wait with suggestions for Connections related to the 26 new WHS?

I am currently working my way down systematically through all, on basis of the AB evaluations. I hope to finish it this week.

So far I have done these - you can suggest additional ones for these now:
20. Birthplace of Jesus: the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem Palestine
21. The Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications Portugal
22. Lena Pillars Nature Park Russia
23. Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula and Bedik Cultural Landscapes Senegal
24. Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija Spain Slovenia
25. Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland Sweden
26. The Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük Turkey

I hope anyone can find Connections for the Pearling site, I found it very difficult

Bahrain Pearling site
I see you have found a few!
I came up with this via a bit of Googling - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1015811
It is interesting to see the extent to which the site has been "created" (or "packaged") for the immediate purpose of gaining inscription and the longer term objective of stimulating Bahrain's tourism and jewellery industries!!

Note the sentence "In order to link the oyster beds to the houses, Dr Rudolff's team had to locate a traditional, natural beach area to meet Unesco requirements."
The article describes how the beach so identified was the location for the Quffal Fesival in which the Women who had been left alone in Muharraq whilst the men were away pearling, welcomed the men back. So there could be a "Connection" for the site to "Role of women"?

The festival is also spelt "Al Qofal" and the following link describes the same tradition in Qatar
http://al-shorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/features/main/2010/02/15/feature-03

More help needed: I am completely blank on Chengjiang

P.S.: I've finished with them all, so let your connections suggestions come

maybe cambiran or precambrian connection with lena pillars fossils and burgess shale

cambrian* or a connection about the idea of the beginning of life on earth

we have Paleozoic, of which Cambrian is the earliest phase (if I understand it well)

In preparation of this year new WHS

Connection with Singapore Botanic Garden (SBG)

- Art Deco, many black and white British bungalow shows how the style incorporated elements of UK's Arts and Crafts and Art Deco movements
- English Garden, SGB heritage zone
- French (formal) garden, Sundial Garden
- Iron Structures, Victorian Cast Iron Gazebo and gates, two of the landmarks of SGB
- Band Stand
- Greenhouse, the Cool House
- Historical zoos, from 1875 - 1913 SBG was the main zoo of the Straits Settlements
- Octagon, Band Stand
- Sundial, Sundial Garden
- Notable Trees, Heritage Rubber, Tembusu Tree
- Orchid, National Orchid Garden
- Rain Forest
- Inscribed in connection with an anniversary, Singapore 50th year of Republic
- Botanic Gardens
- Scientific Development, Research into Botanical diversity
- King Chulalongkorn of Siam (Rama V), visited 1871
- Sir Stamford Raffles, The first Botanic Gardens were set up by Sir Stamford Raffles, before move to the current site
- Innovations in Agriculture, the 1890s invention of the herring-bone method of tapping on Rubber Tree
- Built in the 19th Century, from 1822
- Built or owned by British, colonial government
- Built or Owned by Chinese, Hoo Ah Kay, original land owner, played a key role in the development of the Gardens in 1859
- First inscriptions
- Free entrance
- Located in a Capital City
- Located in a Former Capital, capital of the Straits Settlements
- On Banknotes, Tembusu Tree in SBG is on the back of 5$ SGD banknote
- One million visitors or more, 4.4 million visitors annually
- Only WHS in their country
- Tombs, historic Chinese tombs

Great! Thanks.
It's easier to prepare these days as the process is more transparent. I also already looked for photos of the new WHS, and have written a few general intro texts.

Els, I have listed possible connection of Okinoshima.

- Tombs: Shimbaru-Nuyama Mounded Tomb Group
- Coral: coral reef at 3 islets around Okinoshima, Koyajima, Mikanobashira and Tenguiwa
- Dubbed as another WHS: Okinoshima has nickname as Shosoin of the Sea, Shosoin is part of Nara WHS.
- Goddess: 3 Goddesses of Munakata
- Hiroshima Hotspot: the main shrine on Kyushu Island is easy to visit by bullet train via Kitakyushu and another local train.
- Japanese Garden: Hetsugu Shrine has Japanese garden surrounding its two sacred ponds.
- Wooden Architecture: wooden shirines
- Religious sites connected to fishermen: Local fishermen praying at the island shrine for safety and for bumper catches.
- Silk Road (?): Okinoshima is on the maritime route that connect Japan with Mainland Asia. Many offerings come from silk road.

Thanks Durian! I've added them all

Goryeo Connection (3)

Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong (DPRK)
Criterion (iii): The Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong are exceptional testimony to the unified Koryo civilisation as Buddhism gave way to neo-Confucianism in East Asia.

Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks (ROK)
Criterion (vi): The Janggyeong Panjeon and its unique collection of 13th century Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks, outstanding for their artistry and excellent execution of engraving techniques, occupy an exceptional position in the history of Buddhism as the most complete and accurate corpus of Buddhist doctrinal texts in the world.

Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries of Korea (ROK)
"Despite their origins in the Silla period, much of the architecture of the nominated components represents developments in the later Goryeo and Joseon periods." - ICOMOS

This would be an appropriate connection to round out the 3 key historical periods that span the geographic regions of the Korean Peninsula and Northern China.

Three Kingdoms of Korea (5)
- Baekje Historic Areas
- Gyeongju
- Koguryo Kingdom
- Koguryo Tombs
- Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple

Goryeo (3)
- Haeinsa Temple
- Historic Kaesong
- Sansa, Buddhist Monasteries

Joseon (8)
- Changdeokgung Palace Complex
- Haeinsa Temple
- Hahoe and Yangdong
- Hwaseong Fortress
- Jongmyo Shrine
- Namhansanseong
- Royal Joseon Tombs
- Sansa, Buddhist Monasteries

I struggled with Haeinsa as the key components are from early Joseon, but the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks were commissioned and created during the 13th century under the Goryeo Dynasty. Therefore, I think it appropriate to include Haeinsa in both Dynastic periods as it reflects both. In a similar thread, the Buddhist Monasteries actually span the breadth of Korean history from Silla to Joseon, but as ICOMOS states "Despite their origins in the Silla period, much of the architecture of the nominated components represents developments in the later Goryeo and Joseon periods." - ICOMOS

Here is a non-exhaustive collection of tangible and intangible heritage linked to the 4 temples recommended for inscription. In fact, one of the oldest wooden buildings in Korea will be inscribed in this nomination Muryangsujeon (1376) and its from Goryeo.

Additional Connections - Sansa, Buddhist Monasteries

I know this is early, but it might provide some interesting information to understand the nomination more before we see it inscribed.

13th Century - "The 13th century Hall of Infinite Life is one of the oldest buildings in Korea and an important example of East Asian wooden architecture. Research by art historians, has shown that the current building was probably completed or at least significantly renovated during the Goryeo period. Buseoksa's Hall of Infinite Life, constructed in the 13th century is the oldest extant wooden building in Korea`. - ICOMOS

Contains Significant Structures from the 20th Century - Beopjusa Temple "A large 20th century statue of Maitreya stands within the temple" - ICOMOS

Gyeongju Hotspot - Tongdosa Temple is located 43 km from Gyeongju.

Pagoda - "Beopjusa contains a large multi-story wooden pavilion which is the largest in Korea. Although more common in other parts of East Asia, there are few extant examples of this kind of architecture in Korea." - ICOMOS

"Palsangjeon Pagoda of Beopjusa Temple is the tallest among the pagodas in Korea and only wooden pagoda remaining today, making it an invaluable part of Korean cultural and historical heritage." - Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea

Religious Relics - "Tongdosa Temple does not enshrine an image of the Buddha, because there are relics of the Buddha enshrined in the Diamond Precept Platform." - ICOMOS

Wooden Architecture - "The 13th century Hall of Infinite Life is one of the oldest buildings in Korea and an important example of East Asian wooden architecture. Beopjusa contains a large multi-story wooden pavilion which is the largest in Korea." - ICOMOS

Thanks winterkjm. I am also preparing the pages already for the 10 that surely will be inscribed.

Hedeby and Danewirke:

Viking settlements
Frontier walls
Minority communities - Dannewirke belongs to the Danish minority
River ports
Tombs - multiple tombs in Hedeby
Forced labour during WWII - Right after WWII German prisoners were forced to work at the reconstruction of Dannewirke by the Brits
Writing system - Runic script
Expermintal archaeology - Hedeby
Destroyed during invasion - Hedeby was destroyed by the Slavs in 1066.
Textiles - The numerous pit houses in Hedeby probably served to process textiles during summer.
Built in 8th century - The first stage of monumental construction at the Dannewirke dates to 700 (Phase III).
Relict CL

AASIVISSUIT, ARNANGARNUP QOORUA (GREENLANDIC INLAND AND COASTAL HUNTING AREA)


Traditional hunting
Built in 3rd millennium BC - from 2150 BC to present day
Arctic
Arctic ocean
Minority communities - Inuits
Fiords
Continuing CL - ??
Cemeteries
Cultural islands - Nipisat Island

Göbekli Teke:

Neolithic age - second phase
Palaeolithic/Mesolithic - first phase
Pillars
Tell
Ongoing digs - German Archaeological Institute
Recorded discoveries - 1963
Faux marble - terrazzo
Pictographs
10th millennium BC