Yemen’s ancient water marvel earns Arab Heritage listing

The Tawila Cisterns, a network of ancient water reservoirs carved into Shamsan mountain, have been included in the Arab Architectural and Urban Heritage list by the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

The move marks a significant milestone for one of Yemen’s oldest cultural landmarks.

ALECSO is a Tunis-based institution of the Arab League concerned with the development and coordination of the activities related to education, culture and sciences in the Arab World. It announced in July the inclusion of Aden's Cisterns in the first batch for the Arab world's architectural and urban heritage list.

Nestled in the heart of Aden, the cisterns reflect centuries-old ingenuity in water management, that used to serve the needs of both the city’s residents and passing ships, according to Haifa Makawi, a Professor of Islamic Archaeology and Civilization at the University Of Aden.

The historic site continues to draw visitors and researchers alike. The network of cisterns, once numbering around 50, are now a total of 18 surviving reservoirs.

"Tawila Cisterns are one of the most important landmarks of Aden City and also of Yemen," added Makawi. "The importance of these cisterns was linked to the importance of providing water to the residents and ships. Its importance was also due to its protection of the city from the floods caused by heavy rains.”

Collectively, the remaining cisterns have a total capacity of around 25 million gallons, according to Makawi.

The recent ALECSO recognition has encouraged cultural pride and raised hopes that the site will gain international attention.

"If we want to get to know the Yemeni people, we must visit the historical landmarks to see how our ancestors were able to conquer the East and West of the earth. They did so only through their greatness, and they built these landmarks with their greatness," said Anis Al-Kharaz a visitor at the cisterns.

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