in the aftermath of the kosovo war (1999) reports from journalists and refugees about the destruction of kosovo cultural heritage emerged and a need to investigate those allegations and to document damage arose. the "united nations" (un) established a civil administration in kosovo however one of its agencies the "united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization" (unesco) that deals with cultural heritage issues had no plans to undertake such an examination. andrew herscher and andras riedlmayer instead conducted research, raised funds and 3 months after the 1999 war ended went in october to kosovo and documented damage done to cultural heritage institutions and buildings. with the conclusion of the field survey, their findings and documentation were placed into a database, a final report was written with copies given to the department of culture of the un mission in kosovo and the office of the prosecutor presiding over the un war crimes tribunal at the hague.