Central African Republic,
La colline et la plaine, la rivière Oubangui et le patrimoine colonial bâti de la ville de Bangui - Urban landscape colonial
La forêt et les campements résidentiels de référence pygmée - Forest + Cult landscape continuing
La Réserve intégrale de la Mbaéré-Bondingué - Forest + Fauna
Les chutes de la Mbi - Rivers and lakes
Les gravures rupestres de Lengo - Rock art
Les mégalithes de Bouar - Archeo Prehistoric
Les sites paléo-métallurgiques de Bangui - Factories and Industry
Les vestiges du train de Zinga - Transport and Trade
The Tata (fortified palace) of Sultan Sénoussi, the caves of Kaga-Kpoungouvou, and the city of Ndélé – Urban landscape African

Chad,
Gravures et peintures rupestres de l'Ennedi et du Tibesti - Rock Art
Le site métallurgique de Begon II - Factories and Industry
Les curieuses mines de fer de Télé-Nugar - Mining
Les ruines d'Ouara – Archeo site Subsaharan Africa
Parc national de Zakouma - Fauna
Paysage culturel du Lac Tchad (Chad) - Cult landscape continuing
Site à Hominidés anciens du Djourab – Human evolution

Chile
Ayquina and Toconce - Agriculture, plus some form of CL (Continuing?)
Baquedano Street - Urban Landscape LatAm
Cerro el Plomo high shrine - Archeo Pre-Columbian
Churches of the Altiplano - Religious Christian
Fell and Pali Aike Caves – Archeo Prehistoric
Houses of the hacienda San José del Carmen el Huique – Residence + Agriculture
Juan Fernandez Archipielago National Park - Insular
La Moneda Palace - Palace
Locomotive depot of the Temuco Railroad Station - Transport and Trade
Lota Mining Complex - Mining
Malleco Viaduct - Transport and Trade
Monte Verde Archaeological Site - Archeo Prehistoric
Rupestrian art of the Patagonia - Rock Art
San Francisco Church and Convent - Religious Christian
San Pedro de Atacama - Urban landscape LatAm
The Defensive Complex of Valdivia - Military fortifications
Torres del Paine and Bernardo O'Higgins National Parks, Region of Magallanes - Glaciation

Korea (DPR)
Caves in Kujang Area - Karst & Caves ("underground karstic grottoes formed during the Quaternary of the Cenozoic Era.")

Historical Relics in Pyongyang - Urban Lscape Asian ("ruins of Anhak Palace and parts of Mt. Taesong Fortress......Jangan Fortress...utilized by the later dynasties without any modification... other parts...such as Taedong Gate, Pothong Gate, Ulmil Pavilion and Ryongwang Pavilion.... In the heart of the city.....Sungryong Hall and Sungin Hall and other temples, Confucian buildings, the five-storied octagonal pagoda in Yongmyong Temple and other numerous stone buildings.")

Mt. Chilbo - Eroded ("Eroded Volcanic rocks, waterfalls, forests and coastal scenery...750 species of plants, 20 species of animals, 40 species of birds and 10 species of reptiles"...11 Natural monuments"... "beautifully-shaped rocks, resembling images that earns names such as the General rock, Marriage rock". Its flora and Fauna are less important than the landforms – but which aspect of landform? Have gone for the Eroded)

Mt. Kumgang and the Historical Relics in and around the Mountain (Mixed) CL Assoc / Mountain (The 2021 WHC paper on nominations for 2022 indicates that its name is to be "Mt. Kumgang – Diamond Mountain from the Sea" and that it is nominated as a CL on Crit iii, vii, viii!! i.e 2 Natural. So – needs a Natural Categ. The CL is presumably "Associative"?)

Mt. Myohyang and the Relics in and around the Mountain (Mixed) – CL Assoc / Mountain (Seems the same as Kumgang above – "curious" scenery, beauty, Buddhist temples etc)

Kuwait
Abraj Al-Kuwait – Civic & Public Works ("iconic water storage and supply system....seen as the symbol of Kuwait's modernization in the 20th C")

Boubyan Island and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Marine Reserve (MAKMR) – Marine & Coastal

Sa'ad and Sae'ed Area in Failaka Island – Arch Site Near Eastern ("6 archaeological sites.....on the small Failaka Island in the Persian Gulf. The findings date from both the Bronze Age (the Dilmun civilization) and the Hellenistic period. Babylonians and Byzantines also")

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jabir Palace - Palace ("an early 20th C coral stone and mud brick palatial residence. It incorporates Persian, French, Arabian and Indian architectural influences."... currently in ruins... "an outstanding example of the impact of interchange of values on developments in architecture, and the migration of building arts in the Arabian Gulf region.")

Kyrgyzstan
Saimaly-Tash Petroglyphs – Rock Art
Silk Roads Sites in Kyrgyzstan – Transport & Trade

Kenya
Aberdare Mountains – Mountains

Lake Bogoria National Reserve - Lakes

Lake Naivasha - Lakes

Lake Nakuru National Park (Already inscr) - Lakes

Mombasa Old Town – Urban African (Lamu is Urban - African, Stonetown Zanzibar is "Urban - continuity", Mozambique is "Urban - Maritime"!! Do we need to rationalise or are the differences justified???)

The African Great Rift Valley - Hell's Gate National Park - Volcanic & Thermal ("on-going geological processes which can be seen at hot water geysers and hot springs. Hells Gate Gorge is lined with red cliffs which contain two volcanic plugs: Fischer's Tower and Central Tower. Obsidian rocks".)

The African Great Rift Valley - Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site - Human Evolution ("archaeological and paleontological evidence from the middle Pleistocene. It is known for its large collection of hand axes. Fossil hominid remains and bone fragments of extinct animals have also been found." So – right on the cusp between Palaeon Human or Arch Site Prehistoric. Which is better??)

The African Great Rift Valley -The Maasai Mara (extn) – Fauna /Grassland (cloned from Serengeti categories)

The African Great Rift Valley - The Marakwet Escarpment Furrow Irrigation System – CL Contin ("traditional, clan-owned irrigation landscape. It is based on a communal system of division of the maintenance work and the rewards." We have Aflaj and Qanats as "Public Works" but this covers rather more – as ICOMOS wanted for the Aflaj to make it a CL)

Eastern Arc Coastal Forests (Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and Shimba Hills National Reserve) - Forest

The Great Rift Valley - The Kenya Lakes System (already inscr) – Rivers, Lakes etc

The Historic Town of Gedi – Arch site sub Saharan ("remains of a 15th century Swahili coastal trade center. The town had an inner and outer wall; also pillar tombs, the palace and a great mosque have been excavated". Same as Kilwa?)

The Kakemega Forest - Forest

The Meru Conservation Area - Fauna ("pristine wilderness area with vast numbers of wildlife.....within the Somali-Masai biome...four adjacent national parks...important for the protection of mammals such as Black rhino, Grevy's zebra and elephant")

The Mfangano-Rusinga Island Complex – Human Evolution / Rock Art ("2 islands in Lake Victoria..inhabited by the Abasuba community...sacred sites on Mfangano Island. Ancient rock art...created by early forager-hunters"..."rich in fossils...the skull of "Proconsul Africanus" was found by M Leakey. No hint of CL Relict or Contin. So Religious, Rock art and/or Human Evol?? 2 of 3 seems enough!)

The Tana Delta and Forests Complex - Marine & Coastal (Crit "(ix) and (x): ...outstanding example ...significant on-going ecological processes of fresh water and coastal and marine ecosystems....unique communities of plants and animals. It hosts the restricted East African coast sub-species of Topi,.... Turtles....nest on the sandy beaches; the fish species lunatus, including three eels (Anguilla spp).......falls under the Northern limit of Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests biodiversity hotspot". Could have "Forest" also??)

Tsavo Parks and Chyulu Hills Complex – Fauna ("60 of the 92 Kenyan species in the Somali-Masai biome have been recorded in Tsavo....important populations of resident species....significant stop-over and wintering ground for Palaearctic migrants"...."largest single population of African elephant...Kisula Cave Complex.....extensive lava flows that have created some spectacular craters and hills....what is currently considered to be the second largest lava cave in the world." Is the Volcanic aspect strong enough to add?)

Kazakhstan
Aksu-Zhabagly state natural reserve – Mountain (already part of W Tien Shan and not different argument)

Archaeological sites of Otrar oasis – Arch Site Near Eastern ("Archaeological sites....remains of.... towns and irrigation systems dating from the 1st century and in continual use until the 15th century". Near East is not really satisfactory but is the best we have!)

Barrows with stone ranges of the Tasmola culture - Arch Site Prehist (or Burial??? What has our standard convention on "prehistoric Burial sites been - which aspect has taken priority?)

Cold winter deserts of Turan (Kazakhstan) - Desert (same as Turkmen equiv)

Cultural landscape of Ulytau (Mixed) Grassland / CL Relict ("temperate semi-desertic grassland ecosystem with low land steppe......corridor of migration during the middle Age, with Mongols secret burial place of Gengis Khan descendants and then the center of Uzbek and Kazakh khans.....about 337 monuments preserved, including the only three preserved mausolea of the Golden Horde.")

Megalithic mausolea of the Begazy-Dandybai culture – Arch Site Prehist ("clusters of necropolises, menhirs, ruins of settlements, ancient mines and smelting place of the megalithic Begazy-Dandybai culture... 12th to the 8th C BC". Again – does "Arch site" cover it or does it also need "Burial"??)

Northern Tyan-Shan (Ile-Alatau State National Park) - Mountain

Paleolithic sites and geomorphology of Karatau mountain range (Mixed) – Arch site Prehist / Pal – non homanid (The site is already inscribed as part of Tien shan but the emphasis here seems to be on its geological rather than its "mountainous" aspects – in particular its "Gryphons"/"Griffons" or mud volcano and its paleontology – "fossils of early pleistocenic fauna". we don't yet have a suitable Category for such geological specialisms so I have stuck with just the Paleo!)

Petroglyph Site of Sauyskandyk (XVIII BC – III AD) – Rock Art

Petroglyphs of Arpa-Uzen – Rock Art

Petroglyphs of Eshkiolmes – Rock Art

Silk Road – Trade & Transport

State National Natural Park – Desert ("mostly desertic steppe, rocky terrain and 2500 meters high mountains. The geological structure shows canyons with multi-colored dome rocks, towers composed of colored layers alternate with dry canyons, filled with calcite crystals. There is a unique phenomenon called the singing dune". Part of Turan desert site)

Turkic sanctuary of Merke (Mixed) – CL Relict /Natural Steppe (Burial and ritual centre ..."relics....represent all the stages of the history of the Turks, from the origin to the classic forms of the epoch of the Turk Khaganate.......the Turkic nomadic culture is expressed by the choice of the natural landscape". There is no mention of possible "CL Relict" in UNESCO text but it seems the best since "Burial" by itself seems a bit lightweight?)

"K" all done? I will take the 3 "J's" next - Jordan, Japan & Jamaica

If it is a Burial site only, Burial has taken priority. If it has other things as well (settlements etc), it's an archeological site.
Regarding "Barrows with stone ranges of the Tasmola culture" - "their function doesn't seem to be specifically funerary" according to the official description.

China #1
Ancient Porcelain Kiln Site in China: The Yue-Kiln Site at Shanglin Lake - Factories/Industry
Ancient Residences in Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces - Residence
Ancient Tea Plantations of Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er - Cult. Landscape continuing
Archaeological Sites of the Ancient Shu State: Site at Jinsha and Joint Tombs of Boat- shaped Coffins in Chengdu City, S - Archeological Far Eastern
Badain Jaran Desert—Towers of Sand and Lakes - Desert
Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription - Science and education (similar to the Nilometre?)
China Altay - Mountain
Chinese Section of the Silk Road – Transport and Trade
City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties - Militairy/fortifications
Dali Chanshan Mountain and Erhai Lake Scenic Spot - Mixed: Mountain + Urban landscape Asian
Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups - Urban landscape Asian (should move to a future vernacular villages category)
Dong Villages - Urban landscape Asian (should move to a future vernacular villages category)
Dongzhai Port Nature Reserve - Coastal/Marine
Dunhuang Yardangs - Eroded
Expansion Project of Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: King Lujian's Tombs - Burial
Fenghuang Ancient City – Urban landscape Asia
Guancen Mountain -- Luya Mountain - Mountain
Guizhou Triassic Fossil Sites - Non-hominid fossils
Haitan Scenic Spots - Mixed: Coastal + ??? (no obvious cultural elements, possibly an associative cultural landscape)
Heaven Pit and Ground Seam Scenic Spot - Karst
Hua Shan Scenic Area - Mountain + Religious Indigenous
Huangguoshu Scenic Area - Karst + CL continuing
Hulun Buir Landscape & Birthplace of Ancient Minority – Grassland + Archeo Far Eastern
Imperial Kiln Sites of Jingdezhen - Factories/Industry
Jinfushan Scenic Spot - Karst
Jinggangshan--North Wuyishan (Extension of Mount Wuyi) – Forest + Religious Indigenous (Neo-Confucianism)
Karakorum-Pamir - Mountain
Karez Wells - Civic/Public Works
Lingqu Canal - Trade and Transport
Maijishan Scenic Spots - Religious Buddhist + Flora
Miao Nationality Villages in Southeast Guizhou Province - Urban landscape Asian
Nanxi River - Rivers, wetlands and lakes + Urban landscape Asian

China #2
Poyang Nature Reserve – Rivers and Lakes
Qinghai Lake - Rivers and Lakes
SanFangQiXiang - Urban landscape Asia
Scenic and historic area of Sacred Mountains and Lakes - 6 criteria, Mountain + Lakes + Religious Buddhist
ShuDao – Transport and Trade + Karst + Fauna
Site of Southern Yue State - Archeo Far eastern
Sites for Liquor Making in China - Factories and Industry
Sites of Hongshan Culture: The Niuheliang Archaeological Site, the Hongshanhou Archaeological Site, and Weijiawopu Archa - Archeo Far Eastern
Slender West Lake and Historic Urban Area in Yangzhou – CL clearly defined
Taihang Mountain - Mountain + Human evolution
Taklimakan Desert-Populus euphratica Forests - Forest
The Alligator Sinensis Nature Reserve - Fauna
The Ancient Waterfront Towns in the South of Yangtze River - Urban landscape Asian
The Central Axis of Beijing (including Beihai) - Urban landscape Asian
The Chinese Section of the Silk Roads – Transport and Trade
The Coast of the Bohai Gulf and the Yellow Sea of China - Coastal
The Four Sacred Mountains as an Extension of Mt. Taishan - Mountain + Religious indigenous
The Lijiang River Scenic Zone at Guilin - Karst
Tianzhushan - Pffff. Has everything. Archeo prehistoric and Non-hominid fossils maybe the most outstanding.
Tulin-Guge Scenic and Historic Interest Areas - Mountain (with special geomorphological features) + Religious Buddhist
Vertical Vegetation Landscape and Volcanic Landscape in Changbai Mountain - Volcanic
Western Xia Imperial Tombs - Burial
Wooden Structures of Liao Dynasty - Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County, Main Hall of Fengguo Monastery of Yixian County - Religious Buddhist
Wudalianchi Scenic Spots - Volcanic
Xinjiang Yardang - Eroded
Yalong, Tibet - Terrible description. Rivers and Lakes + Religious Buddhist.
Yandang Mountain - Mountain + possibly a CL associative
Yangtze Gorges Scenic Spot - Eroded + possibly a CL associative

The problem is that we "need" a cultural category from somewhere for these mixed sites! Both claim significant value associated with beauty, poets, painters and writers... which is compatible with their "value" being "associative" but unfortunately there is no hint in the text in either case that China might be thinking of a CL.

the 3 Gorges is said to have "a long history, ancient culture and rich historical and cultural intension". I have done a search on the term "cultural intension" (sic)..... and nearly every example returned relates to China/Chinese... perhaps its Mandarin equivalent is a commonly used concept - but it isn't one I have ever had the need to use in English!! Perhaps Zoe can tell us more - "cultural intension 中文- 英漢詞典 - 漢語網"

Short of listing "Religion" for the temples, "Arch site" for the remains and "Burials" for the hanging coffins "CL Assoc" seems the best proxy we have to encapsulate the Cultural OUV of the sites!

Updated progress overview per country:
A-B: done
C: C-countries until China + Croatia done
D
E: Egypt, Estonia done
F: Fiji done
G: Germany and Greece done
H
I : Ireland, Italy done
J
K-Z: all done

Will do the rest of the C's.

Jamaica
Seville Heritage Park - Urban Colonial
The Underwater City of Port Royal – Arch Site Caribbean

Japan
Asuka-Fujiwara - Arch Site Far Eastern ("archaeological sites of ancient capitals in the Asuka region, where the imperial capital was located from.....592 A.D. to ....710. The.....features....are principally the archaeological remains of palaces and residences of the emperor and imperial court and their related facilities;")

Hikone-Jo (castle) – Military & Fortif

Hiraizumi - Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (extension) – Religious Buddhist

Temples, Shrines and other structures of Ancient Kamakura – Urban Asian ("Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine.....Wakamiya Oji, a large avenue that stretches from the front of the shrine toward the sea.....temples.....like Kenchoji, Enkakuji, Kotoku-in and Yofukuji...as well as sites of houses belonging to the samurai.....Also....steep pathways, known as the Kamakura Nakakuchi, which served as routes to the outside. Along the ocean front there is Wagae-jima, a port site." So – a lot more than just a Religious site – primarily Samurai "Culture"??)

The Sado complex of heritage mines - Mines

Jordan
Abila City (Modern Qweilbeh) – Arch Site Near Eastern ("from Neolithic times.....extensive habitation was in the Middle Bronze /Late Bronze, Iron Age and Hellinistic, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad periods." One of Decapolis cities, No single period/Civil)

Al Qastal (Settlement) Arch Near Eastern ("one of the oldest and most complete remains of an Umayyad settlement......circular minaret....a richly decorated palace, a mosque, cemetery, and a water system.....settlement was built in the late 7th or early 8th century").

Azraq (Mixed) - Wetland / Arch site Near Eastern ("oasis wetland....in the arid desert....attracts...birds....location on the Africa - Eurasian flyway".... "remains of the Roman wall.....300 A.D........Omayyad Arabs...(with)..desert castles")

Dana Biosphere Reserve (Mixed) – Diverse Ecosystem / Mining ("mountains & wadis.....rare mammal species....Nubian ibex, sand cat.....Syrian wolf.....also an Important Bird Area".... 4 biogeographic zones.. diverse flora and fauna......"ancient copper mines in Wadi Feinan" .. they are considered as the most important archaeological complex in southern Jordan outside of Petra.")

Gadara – Arch Anc Rome ("ruined Hellenistic city....part of the Decapolis.....rock-cut tombs, a Poseidon temple, theatres...water tunnels...a paved street".... "regional stability...as of the late 1st C AD....entered....Golden Age of municipal expansion, architectural splendor, economic growth and artistic and cultural vitality" So – issue is Greek or Roman? Biggest element seems Roman)!

Jerash Archaeological City (Ancient Meeting Place of East and West) – Arch Roman

Mujib Nature Reserve - Desert ("wadi system which enters the Dead Sea...consists of mountainous, rocky, and sparsely vegetated desert")

Pella – Arch Byzantine ("ruined city with remains from...Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods....expanded to its largest size during...Byzantine...was a bishopric. Temples, churches and housing")

Qasr Al-Mushatta – Arch Near Eastern ("ruin of an 8th century Umayyad winter palace." Should only use "Palace" for extant buildings??)

Qasr Bshir (a Roman Castellum) – Military & Fortif ("fort from the Roman period, dated by building inscription to 293-306 AD. It was built as part of the Limes Arabiae et Palestinae". Better than simply "Roman"?)

Shaubak Castle (Montreal) – Military & Fortif (Crusader castle from 1115.....captured by Salah al-Din in the late 12th century. Most of it is in ruins)

The Jordanian ḥarrah - Rock Art (Al- ḥarrah = basalt desert.... "early inscriptions and rock art in a basalt desert setting......from early nomads...from later Nabataean, Palmarian, Greek, and early Islamic periods also"...."thousands of rock drawings of wild and domestic animals, entertainments, battles, and hunts....date back from prehistory to the present day")

The Sanctuary of Agios Lot, At Deir 'Ain 'Abata – Religious Christian ("Byzantine monastic complex and pilgrimage site at the eastern shore of the Dead Sea")

Umm al-Jimal - Arch Near East ("ruined town....Nabatean, Late Roman and Byzantine-Umayyad periods....in an arid basaltic landscape.....held 16 churches....heydays as a trading town in the 5th – 7th centuries.". No single period/civil?)

J's all done? I will now take Israel, Iraq and Iran ...leaving Iceland, India and Indonesia from the "I's" for the moment if someone else wants to take

Colombia
Buritaca 200 - Ciudad Perdida - Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta - Archeo PreColumb
Canal del Dique - Dike Canal - Transport and Trade
Catholic Doctrine Temples – Religious Christian
Cultural Landscape of Salt Towns- CL Relict + Mines
Cultural Landscape of the Lower Basin of the Chicamocha River - CL continuing (for the tobacco trade) + Eroded (it's more about the Canyon than the River)
Cultural Landscape of the Vernacular Stilt Housing of Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta and of Medio Atrato – CL continuing
Pre-Hispanic Hydraulic System of the San Jorge River - Civic/Public Works
Puente de Occidente (Western Bridge) - Transport and Trade
Seaflower Marine Protected Area – Marine/Coastal
South of Ricaurte Province – Non-hominid fossils + Urban landscape colonial
Tatacoa Desert - Non-hominid fossils + Archeo Prehistoric
Tayrona and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Parks and their Archaeological Sites - Archeo Pre-Columbian + Mountain
United Fruit Company Infrastructure - Factories/Industry
University City of Bogotá – Science and Education
Virgilio Barco Library - Civic/Public Works

Iran
Phew. There are a few I can't decide – but it doesn't seem worthwhile stalling the exercise whilst I "agonise" further. Either decide for me or leave empty and address later?!

Alisadr Cave - Karst & Cave

Arasbaran Protected Area - Mountain

Architecture of the hist settlements - Urban – Maritime ("historical ports of Iran.....Persian Gulf coastal cities....historic urban fabric still intact.....people...living within the old part of the ports, keeping their historic bonds with the sea". More relevant I think than "Urban planning" which is also mentioned)

Asbads (windmill) of Iran – Civic & Public structure ("windmills were used to grind grain or draw up water". We have used "Civic & Public Structure" elsewhere e.g Kinderdijk – but is that realy correct –they could be commercial. Wouldn't intorcusing some thing along the lines of "technology" be a better Category??)

Bastam and Kharghan - Religious Islamic ("complex of Sheikh Bayazid Bastami, the Chief Mosque, the towered dome of Kashaneh and a part of old wall of the city. The complex of Sheikh Bayazid Bastami comprises the grave of Sheikh Bayazid Bastami, one of the five elevated Sufis of the world")

Bazaar of Qaisariye in Laar - ?????? ("cross-shaped and has an octagonal dome. It is surrounded by several caravanserais". Tabriz Bazaar is "Urb Lscape Arab/ME – doesn't seem right here..or there?? Could be "Trade & Transport"?)

Chega Sofla (Ritual Landscape of Chega Sofla) Arch site Nr Eastern (I think we ignore the "Ritual landscape" aspect and the fact that the site contains significant "burials" – The main comparator used by Iran is that of Susa)

Cultural Landscape of Alamout – CL – Relict (Don't really see why this Castle on a cliff is a CL but if that is what Iran is going for we had better categorise it as such!)

Cultural Landscape of Kong Historic Port – CL Contin (does this conflict with treatment of 5 ports above inc Kong given "Urban – Maritime"? But no indication that Iran is trying for CL for them. We should assign what the SP is trying for?)

Damavand - Mountain

Firuzabad Ensemble (Aready inscr) - Arch Site Nr Eastern

Ghaznavi- Seljukian Axis in Khorasan - ????? (2 "Ribats" or Caravanserais plus Baba Loghman Tomb plus "tomb of Arsalan Jazeb + Minerat next to it". Baba Loghman is ruined ..but not Arsalan Jazeb. So ..Civic, Trade & Transport for the Caravanserai...Religious or burials for the tombs – or both !!)

Hamoun Lake - Wetlands + Lakes etc (Desert lake, Ramsar wetland etc)

Harra Protected Area - Coastal & Marine ("mangrove reserve in the Persian Gulf. It is an important breeding area for birds. Green turtle, Finless porpoise, Hump-back dolphin and common dolphin are also seen.")

Hegmataneh – Arch site Nr Eastern ("Ecbatana...ruins of the capital of the Medes. Later......(summer) capital of Achaemenids and Parthians")

Historic ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin - Arch Site Nr Eastern ("includes architectural and urban remains from the late Sassanian period and the early Islamic period....include the 7th C palace of Khosrow, the Chahar Qapu monument (stone tower), remains of a stone tower and remains of a caravanserai". Ruined so go for Arch site rather than Urban or Palace).

Historic Monument of Kangavar – Arch site Nr Eastern ("Temple of Anahita, a Persian goddess......probably dates from the 2nd century AD")

Historical Ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin - Arch Site Nr Eastern (Seems to be a complete duplicate from 2007 of the earlier T List entry above from 1997)

Hyrcanian Forests (extension) - Forests

Imam Reza Holy Complex – Religious Islamic

Industrial Heritage of textile in the central Plateau of Iran – Factories & Industry

Jame' (Congregational) Mosque of Esfahan – Religious Islamic

Jiroft – Arch site Nr Eastern ("archaeological remains from the Bronze Age, historical period and Islamic period....burial artifacts at Konar Sandal point to the existence of a "Jiroft culture" in the late 3rd millennium BC". So Prehistoric or Arch Site Nr Eastern??? Ex Wiki - "Some Iranian archaeologists believe the discovered inscription is the most ancient script found so far, predating these others, and that the Elamite written language originated in Jiroft, where the writing system developed first and was then spread across the country" But some believe the inscription to be a forgery! Anyway I have used it to avoid "Prehist"!)

Kaboud Mosque (Already inscr) - Religious Islamic

Kerman Historical-Cultural Structure - Urban - Arab & M East ("Connercial town....Old Bazaar...consists of four locations from different periods.....adjacent to the Ganjali Khan Complex.....a school, a square, a caravanserai, a bathhouse, a water reservoir, a mint, and a mosque.")

Khabr National Park and Ruchun Wildlife Refuge – Flora ("area has a rich flora (about 750 species) and about 120 endemic species. In view of phytogeography, the area situated between Irano-Turanian and Sahara-Sindian regions". Flora seems the most important aspect – though it also has the Iranian Cheetah)

Khorramabad Valley - Human Evolution ("Prehistoric sites such as caves, tepes and bas-reliefs have been found here. Historic monuments from a later date are also part of this proposal." So – a bit of everything. Have chosen Human evolution as the Caves seem to be the most important aspect – e.g from Researchgate "Understanding the emergence of modern humans and the disappearance of Neanderthals: Insights from Kaldar Cave (Khorramabad Valley")

Kuh-e Khuaja - Arch site Nr Eastern ("a historic city-fortress. It is decorated with frescoes and stucco carvings. It includes remains from the Parthian, Sassanid and the early Islamic periods." )

Long-lived trees of Iran – Flora ("a number of individual trees....up to 4,000 years old....include Plane trees, Cypresses, and Cedars.....located in different areas of Iran.")

Monastery of St. Amenaprkich - Julfa Vank (extn) – Religious Christian

Nsqsh-e Rostam and Naqsh-e Rajab - Arch Site Nr Eastern

Natural-Historical Complex / Cave of Karaftoo (Mixed) - Mountain / Arch Site Nr Eastern ("a very important and special preserved area.....comprising of 120 animal species and local plants, exclusive to the mountainous regions, some of which are at the threat of extinction." ...."Troglodytic architecture....various historic eras, from Median and Achaemenids to the late Islamic period (Ilkhanids)"

Persepolis and other relevant buildings (extn) – Arch Site Nr Eastern

Persian Caravanserai – ????? (Civic & Public or Trade & Transport. Iran has several other TWHS with Caravanserai as significant so we need to ensure consistency)

Qeshm Island - Insular

Sabalan – Mountain ("volcanic mountain with a crater lake on top.....4,794 metres.... 3rd highest mountain in Iran....large rock formations of eroded volcanic outcrops that resemble animals, birds, and insects" Could be eroded or volcanic? Hot springs only for the latter.)

Salt Domes of Iran - ??????? (Another T List primarily for a Geological/Geomorphological feature for which we don't really have a category?)

Serial Nomin of Tehran's Modern Architectural Heritage - Secular Civic & Public (A series of separate 20th buildings dating from 1925 – "Art Deco style. Girls' College, Justice Palace, Foreign Ministry Palace and Jeep Office Building"....through to "Azadi Tower, Imam Sadegh University and the headquarters of the Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.")

Sheikh Ahmad-e Jām Khaneghah and Mausoleum Complex (Mazar-e Jām) – Religious Islamic ("tomb complex of Sufi saint Sheikh Ahmad Jām......various historical periods...died in 1141...shrine.....from Mongols, Kartids, Tamerlane, and Timurids.....collection of religious buildings, mosques, houses, and tombstones....Khaneghah, a seminary")

Shush (lready inscr)- Arch Nr Eastern

Silk Route (Also as Silk Road) – Trade & Transport

Tape Sialk – Arch Nr Eastern

Taq-e Bostan – Arch Nr Eastern ("a series of large rock reliefs from the era of the Sassanid Empire.. 4th C CE.")

The Collection of Historical Bridges - Trade & Transport

The Complex of Izadkhast – Milit & Fortif ("the castle of Izadkhast, one caravanserai and the Safavid-period bridge....works inside the castle....Sassanids to Qajars.....most important section of the complex is the castle". Do the "Complex" features make this more than simply "Milit & Fortif?? I vote not. )

The Cultural-Natural Landscape of Ramsar (Mixed) - Forest/ Urban Planning ("from the N foothills of Alborz to the shores of Caspean Sea....includes e.g. Ramsar Hotel, thirty -acre Garden, Pahlavi I palace and garden, the main boulevard that ends to (former) Ramsar Casino......shows the city planning of one century ago that was integrated with nature". It I difficult to see any "Natural" value or category!! It has forests and Hot springs. If we have to put 1 it must be "forest")

The Great Wall of Gorgan – Miltary & Fortif

The Historical City of Masouleh – Urban Arab & M Eastern ("City....known for its multi-level townscape.......Courtyards and roofs both serve as pedestrian areas similar to streets". Could be vernacular" if we had this but how small/special to justify that rather than "urban"?)

The Historical City of Maybod – Urban Arab & M Eastern ("transmission.....from different generations to the present.....regularity in city planning......spatial structure of the city shows original plans which conform with the old Iranian city planning" Includes Narin Fort. So – another "Urban M Eastern" or "Urban Planning". I go for the former!)

The Historical Port of Siraf – Arch site Nr Eastern ([i]"port during the Sassanid era......Only ruins of houses of wealthy traders and mosques remain.". Wiki and the Web show it to be very much an Arch site. Could be "Transport

Iran contd

The Historical Texture of Damghan – (Includes Neolithic site of Hesar Tepe and "In the first Islamic century, Damghan reached its peak. It is very hard to find such a place comprising of fateful works in a region with a small area including Mosque (Tarikhaneh) of Damghan, Tower of Alamdar, the Complex of Imamzadeh Ja'far and the city wall")

The Historical Village of Abyaneh – Urbn Arab & ME (could be "Vernacular village" if we have this)

The Historical-Cultural Axis of Fin, Sialk, Kashan – Urban Arab & ME (puts together the already inscribed Fin Gdn with the Arch site of Sialk already T List above and adds "several properties like mosques, bazaar, tekyehes houses and industrial units.")

The Natural-Historical Landscape of Izeh – Rock Art ("rock paintings...figures.....painted one after another in a way that they make a background for the perspective....first time that women.....painted together with men in Iranian paintings.")

The Persian House in Central plateau of Iran - Residence ("unique design....central yard and interaction with the natural environment and its climatic conditions. In Kashan, prominent historic houses such as the Borujerdi House, the Tabātabāei House, and Āmeri House")

The Zandiyeh Ensemble of Fars Province - Urban Arab & ME ("former royal district of Shiraz, the capital of Persia during the Zand dynasty 1750..1800....includes a bath, mosque, garden, law court, water reservoir, caravansarai and square").

Touran Biosphere Reserve – Diverse Ecosystems ("variety of habitats, 3 plains at different altitudes..., a saline river system, 3 mountain systems....and 200000 hectares of sand including moving dunes, and a vast expanse of barren playa...importance of the area in having a high endemic plant species and large mammals")

Tous Cultural Landscape – CL Contin (Almost nothing of use in the UNESCO desc – "is the hometown of many Iranian cultivated persons"!! From an Iranian web site "The CL of Tous.....has attractions such as: Tomb of Ferdowsi, Harouniyeh Dome or the Tomb of Imam Mohammad Ghazali, The Tomb of Mehdi Akhavan Sales, Tous citadel and the ancient walls of the city and a river named Kashfrud". Is it really a CL? if so then not "relict" as e.g The tomb of Ferdowsi Mauoleum dates from 1934)

University of Tehran - Science & Education ("buildings indicate 3 significant stages of Persian architecture.....(these) display an outstanding collection of modern architecture....mixture of Persian and European styles". This Categ could be criticised, and elsewhere, for covering the use of the buildings rather than their period?? Which is more important?).

Vali-e Asr Street – ?????? ("late 19th century urban axis in Teheran. It is over 17km long and provides shade via its plane trees and gardens. Several historic monuments and landmarks are located at this street, such as the Saad Abad Complex and the Marmar Palace." Not really happy with the choices on offer here!)

Zozan - Arch Site Near Eastern ("remains of a historical city....ruins include a castle, a mosque and an irrigation system. The brick mosque dates from the 13th century and has Kufic inscriptions" Wiki photos confirms that it is ruined).

Now for Iraq & Israel

Like China, the quality of the descriptions suffers while maintaining a long Tentative List.


I'll give a second opinion on them!


'Single' Bazaars and caravanserais I'd categorize as Transport and Trade.
Tabriz Bazaar WHS has a bit of both, Trade features in crit iv, but the urban setting in the other criteria
So for the Bazaar of Qaisariye I'd go for Transport and Trade.


Archeo Site Near Eastern (lots of things, not in use anymore)


Transport and Trade