Cultural routes and the network construction of the World Cultural Heritage conservation

Zhou, Lv (2005) Cultural routes and the network construction of the World Cultural Heritage conservation. In: 15th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Monuments and sites in their setting - conserving cultural heritage in changing townscapes and landscapes’, 17 – 21 oct 2005, Xi'an, China. [Conference or Workshop Item]

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Abstract (in English)

Since UNESCO constituted 《Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage》, the conservation of world heritage has been focused by the people all over the world gradually and the protective object has also extended from certain historic monuments to cities and cultural landscape. Meanwhile the understanding of cultural heritage has been developing, too, from some great works to the cultural diversity. During this course, ICOMOS has been playing a very important role. Since the «Venice Charter» of 1964 defined the basic principles, such significant Documentation as «The Florence Charter», «Washington Charter», «Principles for the Preservation of Historic Timber Structures», «International Charter on Cultural Tourism» and «Charter on the Built Vernacular heritage» have already formed an integrated system of conservation of cultural heritage. Under the flag of «Venice Charter», many countries constituted their own conservation principles according to their specific conditions. Take «Burra Charter» for example, further enrich the theoretic structure of cultural heritage conservation. In 1994, after world heritage committee, the imbalance of cultural heritage conservation was put forward. While in the same year «The Nara Document on Authenticity» referred some principles that the cultural diversity must be respected and the authenticity of cultural heritage must be protected. Practicing for 10 years, we now can see clearly that the protection of cultural diversity not only promotes the conservation of the whole human cultural heritage, but also awaken our conservation consciousness. However, the conservation of cultural diversity also results the imbalance among world heritage sites. As for it, this causes a critical problem that a new system that can reflect the particularity of cultural heritage conservation should be established. Therefore, the notion of cultural routes provides possibilities of establishing such a new system. The inscription of Kii Mountain Range (Japan), discussion of Incense and Spice Road(Israel) in the World Heritage Committee of 2004 with the programs of Incan Road(South America) and silk route(across Europe and Asia) processing now, reveal a rudiment of a new conservation system. There is no doubt that the conservation of cultural routes will promote forming a concept in our heads concerning the whole human cultural heritage as well as establish a global network of conserving cultural heritage. This network has the richest contents in mentioned field, and enables the deeper understanding that exceeds the limits of nations, ethnics and regions. It would also make our cooperation between two countries as well as the government and their people more effectively, and consequently promotes the development of the human society. For ICOMOS, the conservation of cultural routes also means a new challenge. In the future, based on focusing cultural diversity, we should promote the expansion of cultural routes so as to establish an international conservation system, and promote the development of this conservation work through the cooperation between ICOMOS members, Country Committee and Professional Committee. Simultaneity, in both the perspective of conservation theory and science, issue of culture routs is under research and discussion. Moreover, the definition of guidelines should also deserve our attention.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Authors:
Authors
Email
Zhou, Lv
UNSPECIFIED
Languages: English
Keywords: cultural routes; conservation; UNESCO World Heritage Convention; World Heritage sites; transboundary sites; international cooperation; cultural values
Subjects: M. WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION > 03. World Heritage List
M. WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION > 01. Generalities
K. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES > 06. Doctrinal texts, conventions and charters
H. HERITAGE TYPOLOGIES > 07. Cultural routes
M. WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION > 10. Advisory body
E. CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION > 05. Sites
Name of monument, town, site, museum: Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, Japan; The Incense Route and the Desert Cities in the Negev, Israel
UNESCO WHC Number: 1142; 1107
ICOMOS Special Collection: Scientific Symposium (ICOMOS General Assemblies)
ICOMOS Special Collection Volume: 2005, 15th
Depositing User: Jose Garcia
Date Deposited: 07 Dec 2010 10:10
Last Modified: 13 Jan 2011 19:15
URI: https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/446

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