nfmungard:
So, what sites in this year's batch do you think are truly great?
I think it is the first year since we produced our "Top Missing Sites" (2 previous??) that no site on that List has been added?
I have also tried to ask myself how many of this year's additions would make the "Top 200" List?
So here are my initial thoughts on whether there are any potential "Top 200" sites among them
Unfortunately we seem to have "lost" our previous list sequenced by no of votes so it is a bit difficult (
ELS - WAS THIS INTENDED??)
Ahmadabad - NO - a few "Pols" aren't that important!
Aphrodisias - NO - worth being on the list but the top 200 is already well supplied with Classical sites
Asmara - ??? - Poss as the main Art Deco exampleCaves and Ice Age Art - NO -the important objects appear to have all been removed!!
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town ??? Cradle of Judaism? But it can't overtake Jerusalem so I think notKujataa - NO - Norse/Inuit is an interesting "niche" subject but no more
Kulangsu - ????? Possible - I don't perhaps know enough about it in detail but the concept seems significantLake District - NO - I will not be accused of "Nationalism" and in any case is it really "Top 200" material.
Landscapes of Dauria - NO - Another Steppe - I know of no argument to give it Top 200 status
Los Alerces National Park - NO - fine S Andean NP but not good enough to push out/overtake those further south
Mbanza Kongo - NO - "interesting" example of an African kingdom town during the colonial era but apart from correctly representing this on the list it isn't that significant.
Okinoshima Island - ??? - Could be "special enough"?? Do we have Shinto already represented (no reason of course why there shouldn't be more than 1 - but it is a factor to consider)Qinghai Hoh Xil - NO - our Top 200 list was always criticised for not valuing Natural sites enough but is this one really strong enough to push its way into "top 200"?
Sambor Prei Kuk - NO - fine Temple but a bit of a duplication?
Sviyazhsk - ???- Looks a fine site but there are aleady a fair number of Russian Orthodox WHS. Is it Top 200 material?Taputapuātea - NO -worth having on the List but not exceptional
Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver Mine - NO - another mine - We hope to see it later this year but are not expecting a lot
Valongo Wharf - NO - another "slavery" site with mainly "associative value"
Venetian Works of Defence - NO - yet more Forts
Yazd - ?? - worth discussing perhaps but I don't fully buy the three religions argument and how significant is the "desert adaptation" argument. Would need comparing with other cities from around the World which have been added to our Top 200 List ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape - NO - Not really that different from other S African CLs?
So I see no definite candidates and only 6 which might be worth discussing!!
What do others think?