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# Estonian Saunas and Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Shooting Merit Preservation, UNESCO Says
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/estonian-saunas-and-mongolian-knuckle-bone-shooting-merit-preservation-unesco-says/
- Published: 2014-12-05T02:00:18.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:16:18.000Z
- Description: The smoke sauna tradition of Võromaa, Estonia, the cultivation and culture of the argan tree in Morocco, and Askiya dueling debate of Uzbekistan are all now officially recognized as unique parts of the world's heritage. The traditions are among those UNESCO added to its Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Author: Allison Meier
- Tags: News, Cultural Heritage, Preservation, UNESCO, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:08 (2014, 2015, part 2)

![An argan tree in Morocco. The cultivation and culture around the tree was added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Culture (photograph by F. Benotman, via Wikimedia)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/12/argantreephoto.jpg)

An argan tree in Morocco. The cultivation and culture around the tree was added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Culture (photograph by F. Benotman, via Wikimedia)

The [smoke sauna tradition](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&RL=00951&ref=hyperallergic.com) of Võromaa, Estonia, the cultivation and culture of [the argan tree in Morocco](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/00955?ref=hyperallergic.com), and [Askiya](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&RL=00971&ref=hyperallergic.com) dueling debate of Uzbekistan are all now officially recognized as unique parts of the world’s heritage. The traditions are among those UNESCO added to its [Intangible Cultural Heritage](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&ref=hyperallergic.com) list at its session last month in Paris, which concluded [on November 28](http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/11/27/5-things-to-know-about-japans-handmade-washi-paper/?ref=hyperallergic.com).

![Coming forth of the masks and puppets in Markala (© DNPC, 2008, via UNESCO)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/12/comingforthmasks.jpg)

Coming forth of the masks and puppets in Markala (© DNPC, 2008, via UNESCO) (click to view larger)

Three elements were added to the list in need of urgent safeguarding alongside 34 other global items. Inclusion on the list, which was started in 2008, is aimed at[ encouraging the preservation](http://hyperallergic.com/81220/eight-unexpected-traditions-preserved-as-our-intangible-culture/) of immaterial heritage. As UNESCO [explains](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/news/Namibia-to-host-the-10th-session-of-the-Committee-00110?ref=hyperallergic.com), the Representative List “serves to raise awareness of intangible heritage and provide recognition to communities’ traditions and know-how that reflect their cultural diversity.” In other words, UNESCO hopes the list will give a higher profile to the newly recognized traditions, and leverage where they are slipping away.

Those listed in need of urgent safeguarding include the [Isukuti dance of Kenya](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&USL=00981&ref=hyperallergic.com), where funds for its costumes and instruments aren’t available, and those who still practice it are growing old. Also nominated was the [Mapoyo oral tradition](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&USL=00983&ref=hyperallergic.com) of Venezuela, where a similar problem with an aging leadership is compounded by land loss due to mining and public schools discouraging the language. Alongside these traditions are inclusions in less dire straits like the [“coming forth of the masks and puppets”](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/01004?ref=hyperallergic.com) ritual in Markala, the [“joking relationships”](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/01009?ref=hyperallergic.com) of Niger that facilitate playful taunting between communities, the [knuckle-bone shooting](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/00959?ref=hyperallergic.com) game in Mongolia that involves sheep knuckle bones, and Japan’s [Washi](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&RL=01001&ref=hyperallergic.com) paper, which is made from mulberry plant fibers.

No American traditions have made the list yet, although there are certainly plenty of endangered American Indian oral traditions that warrant inclusion. Possibly the United States [losing its UNESCO voting rights](http://hyperallergic.com/93164/united-states-loses-unesco-voting-rights/) last year hasn’t helped the country’s cultural profile in the organization. While the Intangible Cultural Heritage list can’t on its own keep [Lebanese folk poetry](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&RL=01000&ref=hyperallergic.com) or [Bulgarian carpet-making](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&RL=00965&ref=hyperallergic.com) alive, it can help rally communities behind them, as that’s the only way they will survive.

![A veteran Isukuti player in Kenya (© Department of Culture, 2013, via UNESCO)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/12/intangibleheritage.jpg)

A veteran Isukuti player in Kenya (© Department of Culture, 2013, via UNESCO)

*View* [*the complete list of UNESCO Intangible Heritage*](http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&ref=hyperallergic.com)*.*