The following remarks can be made on the state of conservation of the site concerning:
A. The restoration of the site: a lengthy process
- The site of Lalibela has been the object of several restoration campaigns; the main problem having been and still is the deterioration of the monolithic stone roofs of certain churches during the rainy season, as well as cracks in the exposed facades of several monuments. Three successive campaigns were carried out: in 1920, in 1954 and in 1966-68 under the direction of Sandro Angelini. It is highly probable that the first restorations of 1920 and 1954, which were undertaken in haste, without scientific precautions and with recourse to the excessive use of cement, aggravated the situation; Sandro Angelini was obliged to correct the most negative aspects of these first campaigns.
- At the present time, several churches are protected by zinc roofing mounted on wooden scaffolding (the most recent is the one covering Beta Madhane Alam, constructed in the framework of the FINNIDA project). Although they fulfill their purpose, these roofs and scaffolding considerably disfigure the monuments and must be considered as temporary stopgap measures whilst awaiting a veritable restoration which is stressed by all concerned as a matter of urgency.
- Another challenge is the drainage problem, in an area of deep excavations where water rushes in and stagnates. The traditional drainage system often becomes obstructed and should be cleaned and improved.
B. The management of the site and the harmonization of current projects
The CRCCH has a representative at the site, but there are other partners as well:
- the Ethiopian Church, in its different components, in particular the clergy of the churches of Lalibela, about 500 strong, who have formed a committee placed under the authority of the patriarchy of Addis Ababa and Dessie;
- two projects with international financing are underway today in Lalibela: the project entitled "Restoration and Preservation of the Churches of Lalibela", financed by the European Union (2 million Ecus) began in 1994; a second project, financed by the FINNIDA, is responsible for the rehabilitation of the site, in particular its urban environment (2.2 million dollars over a four-year period): [drainage, réalisation d'un plan directeur pour la ville] improvement of the living conditions of the religious community.
Presently, the main difficulty encountered by the CRCCH seems to be the harmonization of the different projects and coordination between the partners, and, to date, the restoration still has not begun. The situation in Lalibela is extremely delicate. Several measures could be taken, on two different levels:
1) from the scientific research point of view, which is perhaps not sufficiently taken into consideration in the current international projects, we can recommend:
- a sociological study on the religious function of the city today, which would allow a better understanding of the organization of the clergy, the role of the site for the faithful and its frequentation as a sacred place, for the framework of a project for developing the site;
- documentary and archivistic research on the evolution of the site over a century, compiling all the available documentation on the different restoration campaigns. This documentation, together with all the data on Lalibela, should be deposited at the CRCCH in Addis Ababa and at the site itself;
2) It would also be advisable that the role of the CRCCH, as coordinator of the restoration projects currently underway, be strengthened and that it ensure, in accordance with the principles of the Global Strategy, that the activities on the site are not limited to interventions on the monuments. The CRCCH and the World Heritage Centre could participate in the creation of a structure for reflection and management of the restoration and development projects of the site of Lalibela, calling upon the local partners to assist in defining a common strategy.