Gorham's Cave ComplexWas nominated, evaluated and recommended for inscription by ICOMOS as "
Gibraltar Neanderthal Caves and Environments"
But then, at the WHC on the day of decision 15 Jul 2016)......."
At the start of the proceedings in Istanbul today the representative from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre explained the name of the nomination had been changed from 'Gibraltar Neanderthal Caves and Environments' to the 'Gorham's Cave Complex' after Spain raised had concerns." (
See the Gibraltar Chronicle - scroll down)
In fact the site had been on UK's Tentative List as "
Gorham's Cave Complex" since 21 Jan 2012 having
"applied" to be on the T List with that name in 2010. But, one can see why the name got changed during the Nomination process as the proposed boundaries and arguments for inscription were developed way beyond that "complex" alone - e.g from the AB evaluation "
There are more than 200 caves occurring on Gibraltar, and 46 of these are located within the property, occurring in two main clusters – the Gorham's Cave Complex (28 caves) and the Main Cliff, Southern Peak (18 caves)". And anyone who has walked the Mediterranean Steps etc knows that it extends (whether justifiably or not is another matter!) way beyond the Gorham's Cave Complex. The arguments for extension beyond the caves themselves are that more than just the caves are required to understand and appreciate the "Neanderthal environment - "
The caves, cliffs and related geological formations thus offer an exceptional window into the world of the Neanderthals in a spatial and temporal framework that is unparalleled" (Nom file),,,,, but, if agreeing to go back to an earlier name allows unopposed inscription who is going to disagree...?
But why should Spain have had "concerns" with the name.....? Probably because the word "Environments" could be regarded as including the disputed marine areas around the Rock - "
ICOMOS had also recommended the creation of a marine buffer zone but the representative from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre reported it had been agreed beforehand not to proceed with it."
If you do walk the Mediterranean Steps have a look at the notice board at the lower end and you will see that it still (or did when we visited in May 2018!) refers to the Nominated title (I even took a photo for the record!) and must have been ordered/made before the very late name change (or someone just "forgot")!!!
So - we definitely have a "Name change" Connection which is as yet undocumented. Do we also have a "Misleading Name" one since "
Gorham's Cave Complex" clearly doesn't capture the extent of the inscribed site or the arguments used to justify its inscription?