Guidance On Inventory And Documentation Of The Cultural Heritage

Improved heritage management and the inclusion of heritage in planning and sustainable development processes necessitate inventory and documentation. More than mere scientific tools recommended in international agreements, inventory and documentation play a strategic role. The complexity of the heritage items that now have to be inventoried and their interaction with our everyday living environment require the clear definition and harmonisation of practices at the European level. Through its work in the 1960s, the Council of Europe helped to lay the methodological bases for inventorying architectural, archaeological and movable heritage. The efforts to systematise the process came in answer to the broadening meaning of heritage, and today new considerations lead us to address such notions as heritage groups. The guidelines proposed in this book reflect the work done so far and provide a basis for future research. It is part of a series produced under the Technical Co-operation and Assistance Programme to present the experience derived from the projects implemented by the Council of Europe.

Improved heritage management and the inclusion of heritage in planning and sustainable development processes necessitate inventory and documentation. More than mere scientific tools recommended in international agreements, inventory and documentation play a strategic role. The complexity of the heritage items that now have to be inventoried and their interaction with our everyday living environment require the clear definition and harmonisation of practices at the European level. Through its work in the 1960s, the Council of Europe helped to lay the methodological bases for inventorying architectural, archaeological and movable heritage. The efforts to systematise the process came in answer to the broadening meaning of heritage, and today new considerations lead us to address such notions as heritage groups. The guidelines proposed in this book reflect the work done so far and provide a basis for future research. It is part of a series produced under the Technical Co-operation and Assistance Programme to present the experience derived from the projects implemented by the Council of Europe.

The Council of Europe has identified the advancement of a European cultural identity, enriched by cultural diversity, as a major principle in its activities. The guidance on heritage assessment provided in this book is the result of an integrated rehabilitation project of the architectural and archaeological heritage of the Balkans, where it became apparent that the methodology adopted could have a wider application

This two-part text opens with an argument few collections practitioners would contest: Regular inventories are central to meaningful, sustainable, and ethical collections preservation and access. But Vanderwarf and Romanowski argue that in practice—some 25 years working with diverse collections between them—inventories are uncommon: instead of functioning as a commonplace feature of collections care, they tend to be evoked as a last resort when a museum has lost control of its collection. Part I offers a flexible project management framework that illustrates strategies for reining in control of collections now. From identifying objectives that best serve the collection in question to securing stakeholder support and planning time and resources, Part I eliminates some guesswork around what may be an unprecedented and intensive project. To maintain the benefits of a project-style inventory, the authors then encourage practitioners to embrace inventory as an ongoing, evolving collections care function that reflects changing professional values and expectations from the communities museums serve. By centering computerized databases, barcoding, and digital collections, the authors further acknowledge these technologies as permanent, evolving features of collections and inventory practice that merit increased resourcing. Part II gives voice to practitioners around the world through case studies that affirm the vital role of inventories in regaining control of collections. Some of these inventories occurred during the course of everyday work, while others were responses to natural disasters and armed conflict. Still others may be seen as expressions of social justice. As much as the authors offer a guide to performing inventories, thereby filling a longstanding gap in the literature, they invite cultural heritage institutions to rethink how the stories held in collections can be better told and preserved through enhanced inventory practice. The book will benefit seasoned museum collections practitioners as well as those who lack access to formal museology education and training. The book targets stewards of cultural heritage and material culture collections with varying resources

This two volume guide provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles and guidelines for documenting cultural heritage places. It seeks to aid heritage managers and decision makers in understanding their roles and responsibilities inn this essential activity. Volume 1 (Guiding Principles) explains why heritage managers must make sure that heritage information fully integrated into all research, investigation and conservation activities. Through the discussion of basic principles, benefits and new approaches, it assists those in charge of preserving immovable cultural heritage by bringing current heritage information practices to a new level. By recording we create a reference for evaluating change and add to the understanding of a site. By documenting we guarantee that information is systematically collected and preserved for future use. By managing the information we make it available and provide a basis for sharing our knowledge and understanding. Volume 2 presents illustrated examples from around the world. Good documentation of a site allows for better understanding of the site's value. Recognizing value and significance is often the first step toward a site's eventual conservation. The information obtained through the documentation process allows conservation professionals to record current conditions, consider appropriate conservation options, plan interventions, apply treatments, and finally, measure the results of their efforts. Documentation can be a tool in resolving a conservation issue. This volume presents several illustration examples from around the world, in various stages of conservation.

How can Europe's cultural heritage be promoted to encourage intercultural dialogue and enhance quality of life? This volume analyses how the Council of Europe can develop synergies between sectoral policies related to architectural, archaeological, movable, intangible and natural heritage. The companion volume "European cultural heritage: volume 1" (ISBN 9287148643) is a collection of the main intergovernmental texts in this field.

What laws should states enact to protect and promote their cultural heritage, and what administrative systems can they put in place to manage their cultural heritage policies most effectively? This revised and expanded guidance document aims to provide authoritative information on good practice in three primary areas: - the architectural heritage; - the archaeological heritage; and - the movable heritage. Consideration is given to integrated approaches to conservation, in particular those which take into account the global concept of sustainable development and the need for community involvement in formulating legal and institutional mechanisms. This publication is part of a series launched in 2000 on topics of general interest, based on experience acquired through pilot projects in different countries, and made available to all those involved in heritage in the member states of the Council of Europe.