ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on the Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH) has published in partnership with the UNESCO UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology a model code of practice for safe diving operations. This model code of practice has been drafted by the UNESCO UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology, following on from the Network’s annual meeting in 2016 at UNESCO in Paris. The Network identified a lack of consistent practices and a need for common language related to scientific archaeological diving by its Members as a way to reduce barriers to international partnership working.

ICOMOS is participating in the World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan which takes place as part of the 43^rd session of the World Heritage Committee from the 26 June to the 4 July 2019.

The Forum encourages international cooperation between world heritage site managers and better understanding of the World Heritage decision-making process.

Photo credit : Firuza, Baku Flame Towers - Flickr

The ICOMOS University Forum on Thinking and Planning the Future in Heritage Management took place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from June 11 to 14 of 2019. It was held in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam, ICOMOS International, ICOMOS Netherlands and the City of Amsterdam and ran over 4 days.

Read the Conference Report here.

ICOMOS community mourns the passing of Prof. Dr. Michael Petzet, its Honorary President, who died unexpectedly on Wednesday, 29 May 2019. He dedicated his life to the protection and conservation of the world's cultural heritage – for which he always advocated with strong opinions and clear purpose.

ICOMOS is releasing its final report on Project Anqa which seeks to preserve endangered cultural heritage sites in Syria through their digitalization using state of the art technology, build capacity in the region, promote the transfer of knowledge and create permanent architectural inventory units.

The project resulted in the creation of a web platform which includes virtual tours of 7 endangered heritage sites along with comprehensive data on the sites.

Project Anqa which means “phoenix” in Arabic is a joint initiative of ICOMOS, the non-profit organization CyArk, the Carleton University Immersive Media Studio and Yale University’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH).

Dear members of ICOMOS,

The disastrous fire at Notre-Dame de Paris on 15 April shocked the world.

ICOMOS France and ICOMOS International renew their thanks to those who have expressed their sadness and concern for France.

This message aims to take stock of the current situation of the cathedral and to clarify the respective roles of ICOMOS France and ICOMOS International.