TELL UMM AMER HERITAGE SITE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art and Culture)

Context: The World Heritage Committee (WHC) decided to include the Palestinian site of Tell Umm Amer in both the UNESCO World Heritage Site List and the Lost of World Heritage in Danger during its 46th session in New Delhi.

Tell Umm Amer Heritage Site

• About: Also known as the ‘Monastery of Saint Hilarion,’ is an ancient Christian monastery founded in the fourth century by Hilarion the Great, a key figure in Palestinian monasticism.
• Location: Situated on the coastal dunes of the Nuseirat Municipality, 10 km south of Gaza City.
• Established by: Hilarion, who became a monk at age 15 and attracted followers due to his reputed miracles.
• UNICEF Listing: The site is recognized by UNICEF as "the first monastic community in the Holy Land" and a significant center of religious, cultural, and economic activity.
• Abandonment and Rediscovery: The monastery likely fell into disuse after a seventh-century earthquake and was rediscovered by local archaeologists in 1999.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

• Formation: 1945, is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.
• Objective: It works to achieve peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms.