Talayotic Menorca's candidacy for UNESCO World Heritage has entered a decisive phase with the evaluation mission held between the 5th and 9th of October by a representative of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
Following the guidelines given by this UNESCO advisory body, the on-site assessment mission was carried out in strict confidentiality, so that the ICOMOS representative, after having read and studied the Talayotic Menorca file in recent months, could review the proposal first-hand and without interference. A representative from ICOMOS Spain was also present during the mission.
The candidacy team is satisfied with the visit and had good feelings about it. As the Vice President and Conseller of Cultural Affairs, Education, Youth and Sports, Miquel Àngel Maria stated: "The objective of the evaluation mission is to verify that what is explained in the file reflects reality. Our objective was to demonstrate that this proposal meets all the requirements to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. We must be cautious, because there is still work to be done, the evaluation has not finished with this visit. But I cannot deny that we are left satisfied and hopeful. " This will be the only official visit to Menorca of the ICOMOS team working on the designation process.
The evaluation mission began with an official reception at the Consell Insular de Menorca with the presence of the president of the CIM, Susana Mora; the Conseller of European Funds, University and Culture of the Balearic Government, Miquel Company; the eight mayors of the island; a delegation from the Spanish Ministry of Cultural Afairs headed by the deputy director of cultural assets, Pilar Barrero; the Insular Director of the State’s Administration in Menorca, Isabel López; the vice president Miquel Àngel Maria; the director of Cultural Affairs and Heritage, Raquel Marquès; the technicians of the Historical Heritage Service of the Consell; and the candidacy’s team.
From Tuesday to Saturday, they toured the main components of the candidacy, led by archaeologists and other experts who have worked on the different aspects of the file, such as the inclusion of the landscape associated with the prehistoric sites, the archaeoastronomical dimension incorporated into the new file, or the management plan.
On Tuesday the 5th there was a private screening of the documentary "La Menorca Talayotica" to the candidacy’s Advisory Commission. The film produced by the Mallorcan production company Espiral moved the attendees and opened a debate on how Menorcan society lives and values the Talayotic culture. It should be said that in the coming weeks the documentary is scheduled to be screened in all Menorcan towns. A screening that will be accompanied by an exhibition of what the candidacy means for Menorca and that will conclude with a sample of the new Talayotica beer.
Next November a meeting will be held, headed by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, with the entire "Panel" (group of experts) of ICOMOS international that carries out the evaluation of the candidacys that are presented to UNESCO next year. Then, in early 2022, the first ICOMOS interim report will be received, and the final report will be released in May. The inscription of Talayotic Menorca on the UNESCO World Heritage List will finally be decided at the World Heritage Committee to be held next July in Kazan (Russia).