The restored mausoleum of Abu'l-Walid in Herat: Challenges in heritage restoration in Afghanistan

Abstract

This is an account of the contemporary reconstruction of Abu'l-Walid complex (mosque and mausoleum) in Herat, the burial-place of a widely-respected-Muslim scholar of the third/ninth century. This structure was destroyed by aerial bombardment in 1985. Part of the complex was restored as a post-war measure to rehabilitate social and educational space for the inhabitants and children of the nearby village. The project also trained young architects and masons of Herat in the conservation of historic buildings. The mausoleum remained in ruins until the Department of Herat Monuments (DoHM) with support of local resources and pious endowments (waqf), reconstructed it between 2004 and 2007. Restoration of heritage buildings is a challenge in Afghanistan today. Absence of public awareness of the value of cultural heritages, government's limited technical capacity combined with scarcity of funds for preservation, and lack of budget for post-conservation maintenance, exacerbates the challenges of safeguarding historic sites and monuments.