Crumbling Wonders

By Katie Paul

Antiquities fans were stunned and alarmed when three chunks of mortar broke off Rome’s colosseum just before dawn on Sunday May 9, plunging through a protective netting designed to catch falling debris. As it turns out, they shouldn’t have been so shocked, considering that debate has long been underway over the efficacy of preservation measures at the site. Critics charge that water leaks and rusting metal braces could threaten the structural foundations of ancient buildings throughout Rome.

With those concerns in mind, NEWSWEEK decided to check in on the state of affairs at other beloved heritage sites. Guiding us through the debris are two connoisseurs of antiquities: Doug Comer, a president at archeological management organization ICAHM, and Gustavo Araoz, who heads up ICOMOS, an association of conservation professionals working on cultural heritage sites. Both were quick to point out that none of these are among the 31 properties listed as UNESCO’s most endangered heritage sites, at least in part because of the care and concern their fame elicits. Still, everybody’s got problems. Here are some of the top concerns at each site: