The Gleaner (12 July 2025) reported that the United Nations cultural has added Jamaica’s famed Port Royal to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Port Royal now joins the Blue and John Crow Mountains as the second Jamaican site on the list. [Many thanks to Veerle Poupeye (Critical.Caribbean.Art) for bringing this item to our attention.]
The decision to include “The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal” was made during the ongoing meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France, Culture Minister Olivia Gange, has reported.
In a video statement following the announcement, Grange, said Jamaica was “proud that our nomination of this unique terrestrial and submerged site has been accepted….This inscription to the World Heritage List supports our national efforts to preserve this heritage for all humanity.”
“In this regard, I express appreciation to the World Heritage Centre, the International Council of Monuments and Sites, the governments of Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan, as well as the people of Port Royal whose livelihood is inextricably linked to the preservation, promotion and sustainable development of the site,” she said.
The site was inscribed based on two UNESCO’s criteria – one that recognises “an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates significant stages in human history,” and another that relates to sites “directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.”
In recommending the inscription, the evaluation team noted: “The integrity of the property is based on the terrestrial and underwater evidence of the 17th-century town of Port Royal. The archaeological ensemble contains all the attributes necessary to convey the Outstanding Universal Value, including the entire town encircled by the six fortifications present at the time of the devastating earthquake in 1692, and its 17th-century urban plan… The underwater sections of the town are exceptionally well preserved under layers of sediments.” [. . .]
The forts in Port Royal hold profound historical significance, serving as tangible remnants of the city’s strategic importance during the colonial era. Fort Charles, for instance, stands as a symbol of British naval power in the Caribbean, protecting the lucrative trade routes and defending against foreign incursions. Its imposing walls and strategic placement showcased British dominance in the region. It remains the only British fort completely standing in Jamaica today. In contrast, Fort Rocky, with its strategic position guarding the entrance to Kingston Harbour, exemplifies Jamaica’s tumultuous history, witnessing battles and changing hands between colonial powers.
Port Royal had seven forts: Fort Carlisle, Fort James, Fort Charles, Fort Rocky, Fort Morgan, Fort Rupert and Fort Walker. [. . .]
For full article, see https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20250712/port-royal-added-unesco-world-heritage-list
The Gleaner (12 July 2025) reported that the United Nations cultural has added Jamaica’s famed Port Royal to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Port Royal now joins the Blue and John Crow Mountains as the second Jamaican site on the list. [Many thanks to Veerle Poupeye (Critical.Caribbean.Art) for bringing this item to our attention.] The
