united nations educational scientific and cultural organization
Convention concerning the protection of the World cultural and natural
heritage
Format
for the nomination of cultural and natural properties
for
inscription on the World Heritage List
Under the terms of the Convention
concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted
by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972, the Intergovernmental Committee
for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, called "the
World Heritage Committee" shall establish, under the title of "World
Heritage List", a list of properties forming part of the cultural and
natural heritage as defined in the Convention and which it considers as having outstanding universal value in terms
of such criteria it has established.
These criteria are provided in the "Operational Guidelines for the
Implementation of the World Heritage Convention".
The World Heritage Committee at
its twentieth session in 1996 adopted the attached format and explanatory notes
for the nomination of cultural and natural properties for inscription on the
World Heritage List. Their purpose is to provide guidance to States Parties who
wish to submit to the World Heritage Committee nominations of properties situated
in their territory.
Although it is recognized that
all properties have specific characteristics, States Parties are encouraged to
provide information and documentation on all items listed in the format. It
should be noted that the World Heritage Committee will retain all supporting
documentation (maps, plans, photographic material, etc.) submitted with the
nomination.
Only those nominations received
at the Secretariat before 1st July will be considered by the World Heritage
Committee during the following year. States Parties are reminded of the
Committee's decision not to consider cultural properties which are not
included in the tentative list of cultural properties.
The nomination should be
submitted in English or French and should be sent in three copies duly signed
through the UNESCO National Commission and/or Permanent Delegation of the State
Party to UNESCO to:
UNESCO
World Heritage Centre
7,
place de Fontenoy
75352
Paris 07 SP
France
NOMINATION OF PROPERTIES FOR INCLUSION ON
THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Format
1. Identification
of the Property
a. Country (and State Party if different)
b. State, Province or Region
c. Name of Property
d. Exact location on map and indication of
geographical coordinates to the nearest second
e. Maps and/or plans showing boundary of
area proposed for inscription and of any buffer zone
f. Area of property proposed for
inscription (ha.) and proposed buffer zone (ha.) if any.
2. Justification
for Inscription
a. Statement of significance
b. Possible comparative analysis
(including state of conservation of similar properties)
c. Authenticity/Integrity
d. Criteria under which inscription is
proposed (and justification for inscription under these criteria).
3. Description
a. Description of Property
b. History and Development
c. Form and date of most recent records of
property
d. Present state of conservation
e. Policies and programmes related to the
presentation and promotion of the property.
4. Management
a. Ownership
b. Legal status
c. Protective measures and means of
implementing them
d. Agency/agencies with management
authority
e. Level at which management is exercised
(e.g., on property, regionally) and name and address of responsible person for
contact purposes
f. Agreed plans related to property
(e.g., regional, local plan, conservation plan, tourism development plan)
g. Sources and levels of finance
h. Sources of expertise and training in
conservation and management techniques
i. Visitor facilities and statistics
j. Property management plan and statement
of objectives (copy to be annexed)
k. Staffing levels (professional,
technical, maintenance).
5. Factors
Affecting the Property
a. Development Pressures (e.g.,
encroachment, adaptation, agriculture, mining)
b. Environmental Pressures (e.g.,
pollution, climate change)
c. Natural disasters and preparedness
(earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.)
d. Visitor/tourism pressures
e. Number of inhabitants within property,
buffer zone
f. Other.
6. Monitoring
a. Key indicators for measuring state of
conservation
b. Administrative arrangements for
monitoring property
c. Results of previous reporting
exercises.
7. Documentation
a. Photographs, slides and, where
available, film/video
b. Copies of property management plans and
extracts of other plans relevant to the property
c. Bibliography
d. Address where inventory, records and
archives are held.
8. Signature
on behalf of the State Party.
NOMINATION
OF PROPERTIES FOR INCLUSION ON
THE
WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Explanatory Notes
INTRODUCTION
(i) These notes are intended to provide
guidance to those nominating properties for inclusion on the World Heritage
List. They relate to the headings under which information is sought, which
appear in front of each section of notes. Nomination dossiers should provide
information under each of these headings. They should be signed by a
responsible official on behalf of the State Party.
(ii) The
nomination dossier is intended to serve two main purposes:
First it is to describe the
property in a way which brings out the reasons it is believed to meet the
criteria for inscription, and to enable the property to be assessed against
those criteria.
Secondly it is to provide basic
data about the property, which can be revised and brought up to date in order
to record the changing circumstances and state of conservation of the property.
(iii) In spite of the wide differences between
properties, information should be given under each of the categories set out at
the head of sections 1 - 7 of these notes.
General Requirements
(iv) Information should be as precise and
specific as possible. It should be
quantified where that can be done and fully referenced.
(v) Documents should be concise. In particular long historical accounts of
properties and events which have taken place there should be avoided,
especially when they can be found in readily available published sources.
(vi) Expressions of opinion should be
supported by reference to the authority on which they are made and the
verifiable facts which support them.
(vii) Dossiers should be completed on A4 paper
(210mm x 297mm) with maps and plans a maximum of A3 paper (297mm x 420mm).
States Parties are also encouraged to submit the full text of the nomination on
diskette.
1. Identification
of the Property
a. Country (and State Party if different)
b. State, Province or Region
c. Name of Property
d. Exact location on map and indication of
geographical coordinates to the nearest second
e. Maps
and/or plans showing boundary of area proposed for inscription and of any
buffer zone
f. Area of property proposed for
inscription (ha.) and proposed buffer zone (ha.) if any.
1.1 The purpose of this section is to provide
the basic data to enable properties to be precisely identified. In the past,
properties have been inscribed on the list with inadequate maps, and this has
meant that in some cases it is impossible to be certain what is within the
World Heritage property and what is outside it. This can cause considerable
problems.
1.2 Apart from the basic facts at 1a - 1d of
the dossier, the most important element in this section of the nomination
therefore consists of the maps and plans relating to the nominated property. In
all cases, at least two documents are likely to be needed and both must be
prepared to professional cartographic standards. One should show the property
in its natural or built environment and should be between 1:20,000 and
1:100,000. Depending on the size of the property, another suitable scale may be
chosen.The other should clearly show the boundary of the nominated area and of
any existing or proposed buffer zone. It should also show the position of any
natural features, individual monuments or buildings mentioned in the
nomination. Either on this map, or an accompanying one, there should also be a
record of the boundaries of zones or special legal protection from which the
property benefits.
1.3 In considering whether to propose a
buffer zone it should be borne in mind that, in order to fulfil the obligations
of the World Heritage Convention, properties must be protected from all threats
or inconsistent uses. These developments can often take place beyond the
boundaries of a property. Intrusive development can harm its setting, or the
views from it or of it. Industrial processes can threaten a property by
polluting the air or water. The construction of new roads, tourist resorts or
airports can bring to a property more visitors than it can absorb in safety.
In some cases national planning
policies or existing protective legislation may provide the powers needed to
protect the setting of a property as well as the property itself. In other
cases it will be highly desirable to propose a formal buffer zone where special
controls will be applied. This should include the immediate setting of the
property and important views of it and from it. Where it is considered that
existing zones of protection make it unnecessary to inscribe a buffer zone,
those zones also should be shown clearly on the map of the property.
2. Justification for inscription
a. Statement of significance
b. Possible
comparative analysis (including state of conservation of similar properties)
c. Authenticity/Integrity
d. Criteria
under which inscription is proposed (and justification for inscription under
these criteria).
2.1 This is the most crucial aspect of the
whole nomination dossier. It must make clear to the Committee why the property
can be accepted as being "of outstanding universal value". The whole of this section of the dossier
should be written with careful reference to the criteria for inscription found
at paragraphs 24 and 44 of the Operational Guidelines. It should not include detailed descriptive
material about the property or its management, which come later, but should
concentrate on what the property represents.
2.2 The statement of significance (a) should
make clear what are the values embodied by the property. It may be a unique
survival of a particular building form or habitat or designed town. It may be a
particularly fine or early or rich survival and it may bear witness to a
vanished culture, way of life or eco-system. It may comprise assemblages of
threatened endemic species, exceptional eco-systems, outstanding landscapes or
other natural phenomena.
2.3 The possible comparative analysis (b)
could relate the property to comparable properties, saying why it is more
worthy than they are for inscription on the World Heritage list (or, if they
are inscribed, what features distinguish it from those properties). This may be
because the property is intrinsically better, or possessed of more features,
species or habitats.
It may also be because the property
is a larger or better preserved or more complete survival or one that has been
less prejudiced by later developments. This is the reason for the requirement
for an account of the state of conservation of similar properties.
2.4 This section should demonstrate that the
property fulfills the criteria of authenticity/integrity set out in paragraphs
24 (b) (i) or 44 (b) (i) - (iv) of the Operational Guidelines, which describe
the criteria in greater detail. In the case of a cultural property it should
also record whether repairs have been carried out using materials and methods
traditional to the culture, in conformity with the Nara Document (1995)
(attached). In the case of natural properties it should record any intrusions
from exotic species of fauna or flora and any human activities which could
compromise the integrity of the property.
2.5 Section 2 (d) is therefore the
culmination of the section, relating the specific property to one or more
individual criteria and saying unambiguously why it meets the specific
criterion or criteria. States Parties may consider to provide, if possible, a comparative
analysis of the nominated property with similar properties.
3. Description
a. Description of Property
b. History and Development
c. Form and date of most recent records of
property
d. Present state of conservation
e. Policies
and programmes related to the presentation and promotion of the property
3.1 This section should begin with a
description (a) of the property at the date of nomination. It should refer to
all the significant features of the property. In the case of a cultural
property this will include an account of any building or buildings and their
architectural style, date of construction and materials. It should also describe any garden, park or
other setting. In the case of an historic town or district it is not necessary
to describe each individual building, but important public buildings should be
described individually and an account should be given of the planning or layout
of the area, its street pattern and so on. In the case of natural properties the
account should deal with important physical attributes, habitats, species and
other significant ecological features and processes. Species lists should be
provided where practicable, and the presence of threatened or endemic taxa
should be highlighted. The extent and methods of exploitation of natural
resources should be described. In the
case of cultural landscapes it will be necessary to produce a description under
all the matters mentioned above.
3.2 Under item (b) of this section what is
sought is an account of how the property has reached its present form and
condition and the significant changes that it has undergone. This should
include some account of construction phases in the case of monuments, buildings
or groups of buildings. Where there have been major changes, demolitions or
rebuilding since completion they should also be described. In the case of
natural properties and landscapes the account should cover significant events
in history or pre-history which have affected the evolution of the property and
give an account of its interaction with humankind. This will include such matters as the
development and change in use for hunting, fishing or agriculture, or changes
brought about by climatic change, inundation, earthquake or other natural causes.
In the case of cultural landscapes all aspects of the history of human activity
in the area will need to be covered.
3.3 Because of the wide variation in the size
and type of properties covered by properties nominated for World Heritage
listing it is not possible to suggest the number of words in which their
description and history should be given. The aim, however, should always be to
produce the briefest account which can provide the important facts about the
property. These are the facts needed to support and give substance to the claim
that the property properly comes within the criteria of paragraphs 24 and 44 of
the Operational Guidelines. The balance between description and history will
change according to the applicable criteria. For example, where a cultural
property is nominated under criterion 24 a (i), as a unique artistic
achievement, it should not be necessary to say very much about its history and
development.
3.4 Under section 3 (c) what is required is a
straightforward statement giving the form and date of the most recent records
or inventory of the property. Only records which are still available should be
described.
3.5 The account of the present state of
conservation of the property [3 (d)] should be related as closely as possible
to the records described in the previous paragraph.As well as providing a
general impression of the state of conservation dossiers should give
statistical or empirical information wherever possible.
For example, in a historic town or
area the percentage of buildings needing major or minor repair works, or in a
single major building or monument the scale and duration of any recent or
forthcoming major repair projects. In the case of natural properties data on
species trends or the integrity of eco-systems should be provided. This is
important because the nomination dossier will be used in future years for
purposes of comparison to trace changes in the condition of the property.
3.6. Section 3 (e) refers to the stipulations
in Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention regarding the presentation and
transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage. States
Parties are encouraged to provide information on the policies and programmes
for the presentation and promotion of the nominated property.
4. Management
a. Ownership
b. Legal status
c. Protective measures and means of
implementing them
d. Agency/agencies with management
authority
e. Level
at which management is exercised (e.g., on property, regionally) and name and
address of responsible person for contact purposes
f. Agreed
plans related to property (e.g., regional, local plan, conservation plan,
tourism development plan)
g. Sources and levels of finance
h. Sources of expertise and training in
conservation and management techniques
i. Visitor facilities and statistics
j. Property management plan and statement
of objectives (copy to be annexed)
k. Staffing levels (professional,
technical, maintenance).
4.1 This section of the dossier is intended
to provide a clear picture of the protective and management arrangements which
are in place to protect and conserve the property as required by the World
Heritage Convention. It should deal both with the policy aspects of legal
status and protective measures and with the practicalities of day-to-day
administration.
4.2 Sections 4 (a) - (c) of the dossier
should give the legal position relating to the property. As well as providing
the names and addresses of legal owners [4 (a)] and the status of the property
[4 (b)], it should describe briefly any legal measures of protection applying
to the property or any traditional ways in which custom safeguards it. Legal
instruments should be given their title and date. In addition,the dossier
should say how in practice these measures are applied and how responsibility
for dealing with potential or actual breaches of protection is exercised. For
example, it would be desirable to indicate who is responsible for ensuring that
the nominated property is safeguarded, whether by traditional and/or statutory agencies
and whether adequate resources are available for this purpose.
It is not necessary to set out all
the elements of legal protection, but their main provisions should be
summarized briefly.In the case of large natural properties or historic towns
there may be a multiplicity of legal owners. In these cases it is necessary
only to list the major land- or property-owning institutions and any
representative body for other owners.
4.3 Sections 4 (d) and (e) are intended to identify both the
authority or authorities with legal responsibility for managing the property
and the individual who is actually responsible for day-to-day control of the
property and for the budget relating to its upkeep.
4.4 The agreed plans which should be listed
at 4 (f) are all those plans which have been adopted by governmental or other agencies and which will
have a direct influence on the way in which the property is developed, conserved,
used or visited. Either relevant provisions should be summarized in the dossier
or extracts or complete plans should be annexed to it.
4.5 Sections 4 (g) and (h) could show the
funds, skills and training which are available to the property. Information
about finance and expertise and training could be related to the earlier
information about the state of conservation of the property. In all three cases an estimate could also be
given of the adequacy or otherwise of what is available, in particular
identifying any gaps or deficiencies or any areas where help may be required.
4.6 As well as providing any available
statistics or estimates of visitor numbers or patterns over several years,
section 4 (i) could describe the facilities available for visitors, for
example:
(i) interpretation/explanation, whether by
trails, guides, notices or publications;
(ii) property museum, visitor or
interpretation centre;
(iii) overnight accommodation;
(iv) restaurant or refreshment facilities;
(v) shops;
(vi) car parking;
(vii) lavatories;
(viii) search and rescue.
4.7 Section 4 (j) in the dossier could
provide only the briefest details of the management plan relating to the
property, which could be annexed in its entirety. If the plan provides details
of staffing levels it would not necessary to complete section 4 (k) of the
dossier and other sections may also be omitted where the plan provides adequate
information (e.g. on finance and training).
5. Factors Affecting the Property
a. Development Pressures (e.g.,
encroachment, adaptation, agriculture, mining)
b. Environmental Pressures (e.g., pollution,
climate change)
c. Natural disasters and preparedness
(earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.)
d. Visitor/tourism pressures
e. Number of inhabitants within property,
buffer zone
f. Other.
5.1 This section of the dossier should
provide information on all the factors which are likely to affect or threaten a
property. It should also relate those
threats to measures taken to deal with them, whether by application of the
protection described at Section 4 (c) or otherwise. Obviously, not all of the
factors suggested in this section are appropriate for all properties. They are
indicative and are intended to assist the State Party to identify the factors
that are relevant to each specific property.
5.2 Section 5 (a) deals with development
pressures. Information should be given about pressure for demolitions or
rebuilding; the adaptation of existing
buildings for new uses which would harm their authenticity or integrity;
habitat modification or destruction following encroaching agriculture, forestry
or grazing, or through poorly managed tourism or other uses; inappropriate or
unsustainable natural resource exploitation; damage caused by mining; the
introduction of exotic species likely to disrupt natural ecological processes,
creating new centres of population on or near properties so as to harm them or
their settings.
5.3 Environmental pressures [5 (b)] can
affect all types of property. Air pollution can have a serious effect on stone buildings and monuments as well as on
fauna and flora. Desertification can lead to erosion by sand and wind. What is
needed in this section of the dossier is an indication of those pressures which
are presenting a current threat to the property, or may do so in the future,
rather than an historical account of such pressures in the past.
5.4 Section 5 (c) should indicate those
disasters which present a foreseeable threat to the property and what steps
have been taken to draw up contingency plans for dealing with them, whether by
physical protection measures or staff training. (In considering physical
measures for the protection of monuments and buildings it is important to
respect the integrity of the construction.)
5.5 In completing section 5 (d) what is
required is an indication of whether the property can absorb the current or
likely number of visitors without adverse effects, i.e. its carrying capacity.
An indication should also be given of the steps taken to manage visitors and
tourists. Amongst possible forms of visitor pressure that could be considered
are:
(i) Damage by wear on stone, timber, grass
or other ground surfaces;
(ii) Damage by increases in heat or humidity
levels;
(iii) Damage by disturbance to the habitat of
living or growing things;
(iv) Damage by the disruption of traditional
cultures or ways of life;
5.6 Section 5 should conclude with the best
available statistics or estimate of the number of inhabitants within the
nominated property and any buffer zone, any activities they undertake which
affect the property and an account of any other factors of any kind not
included earlier in the section which have the potential to affect its
development or threaten it in any way.
6. Monitoring
a. Key indicators for measuring state of
conservation
b. Administrative arrangements for
monitoring property
c. Results of previous reporting
exercises.
6.1 This section of the dossier is intended
to provide the evidence for the state of conservation of the property which can
be reviewed and reported on regularly so as to give an indication of trends
over time.
6.2 Section 6 (a) could set out those key
indicators which have been chosen as the measure of the state of conservation
of the whole property. They could be
representative of an important aspect of the property and relate as closely as
possible to the statement of significance. Where possible they could be
expressed numerically and where this is not possible they could be of a kind
which can be repeated, for example by taking a photograph from the same point.
Examples of good indicators are.
(i) the number of species, or population of
a keystone species on a natural property;
(ii) the percentage of buildings requiring
major repair in a historic town or district;
(iii) the number of years estimated to elapse before a major
conservation programme is likely to be completed;
(iv) the
stability or degree of movement in a particular building or element of a
building;
(v) the
rate at which encroachment of any kind on a property has increased or
diminished.
6.3 Section 6 (b) should make clear that
there is a regular system of monitoring of the property, leading to the
recording, at least annually, of the conditions of the property.
6.4 Section 6 (c) should summarize briefly
earlier reports on the state of conservation of the property and provide
extracts and references to published sources.
7. Documentation
a. Photographs, slides and, where
available, film
b. Copies
of property management plans and extracts of other plans relevant to the
property
c. Bibliography
d. Address where inventory, records and
archives are held.
7.1 This section of the dossier is simply a
check-list of the documentation which should be provided to make up a complete
nomination.
(a) There
should be enough photographs, slides and, where possible, film/video to provide
a good general picture of the property, including one or more aerial
photographs. Where possible, slides should be in 35mm format. This material
should be accompanied by a duly signed authorization granting free of charge to
UNESCO the non-exclusive right for the
legal term of copyright to reproduce and use it in accordance with the terms of
the authorization attached.
(b) Copies
of property management plans and extracts of other plans relevant to the
property should be provided, as well as legislation relevant to the property,
if necessary summarized.
(c) The
Bibliography should include references to all the main published sources and
should be compiled to international standards.
(d) One or more addresses for inventory and
property records should be provided.
8. Signature on behalf of the State Party
The dossier should conclude with the
signature of the official empowered to sign it on behalf of the State Party.
AUTHORIZATION
1.
I, .......................................................................................................................................
the undersigned, hereby grant free
of charge to Unesco the non‑exclusive right for the legal term of
copyright to reproduce and use in accordance with the terms of paragraph 2 of
the present authorization throughout the world the photograph(s) and/or
slide(s) described in paragraph 4.
2. I understand that the photograph(s) and/or
slide(s) described in paragraph 4 of the present authorization will be used by
Unesco to disseminate information on the sites protected under the World
Heritage Convention in the following ways:
a) Unesco
publications;
b) co‑editions
with private publishing houses for World Heritage publications: a percentage of
the profits will be given to the World Heritage Fund;
c) postcards
‑ to be sold at the sites protected under the World Heritage Convention
through national parks services or antiquities (profits, if any, will be divided
between the services in question and the World Heritage Fund);
d) slide
series ‑ to be sold to schools, libraries, other institutions and
eventually at the sites (profits, if any, will go to the World Heritage Fund);
e) exhibitions,
etc.
3. I also understand that I shall be free
to grant the same rights to any other eventual user but without any prejudice
to the rights granted to Unesco.
4. The list of photograph(s) and/or
slide(s) for which the authorization is given is attached.
(Please describe in the attachment
the photographs and give for each a complete caption and the year of production
or, if published, of first publication.)
5. All
photographs and/or slides will be duly credited. The photographer's moral
rights will be respected. Please indicate the exact wording to be used for the
photographic credit.
6. I hereby declare and certify that I am
duly authorized to grant the rights mentioned in paragraph 1 of the present
authorization.
7. I hereby undertake to indemnify Unesco,
and to hold it harmless of any responsibility, for any damages resulting from
any violation of the certification mentioned under paragraph 6 of the present
authorization.
8. Any differences or disputes which may
arise from the exercise of the rights granted to Unesco will be settled in a
friendly way. Reference to courts or arbitration is excluded.
____________________
_________ ________________________________
Place date Signature,
title or function of the person duly authorized
Attachement
The Nara Document On Authenticity
Preamble
1. We, the experts assembled in Nara
(Japan), wish to acknowledge the generous spirit and intellectual courage of
the Japanese authorities in providing a timely forum in which we could
challenge conventional thinking in the conservation field, and debate ways and
means of broadening our horizons to bring greater respect for cultural and
heritage diversity to conservation practice.
2. We also wish to acknowledge the value of
the framework for discussion provided by the World Heritage Committee's desire
to apply the test of authenticity in ways which accord full respect to the
social and cultural values of all societies, in examining the outstanding
universal value of cultural properties proposed for the World Heritage List.
3. The Nara Document on Authenticity is
conceived in the spirit of the Charter of Venice, 1964, and builds on it and
extends it in response to the expanding scope of cultural heritage concerns and
interests in our contemporary world.
4. In a world that is increasingly subject
to the forces of globalization and homogenization, and in a world in which the
search for cultural identity is sometimes pursued through aggressive
nationalism and the suppression of the cultures of minorities, the essential
contribution made by the consideration of authenticity in conservation practice
is to clarify and illuminate the collective memory of humanity.
Cultural
Diversity and Heritage Diversity
5. The diversity of cultures and heritage in
our world is an irreplaceable source of spiritual and intellectual richness for
all humankind. The protection and enhancement of cultural and heritage
diversity in our world should be actively promoted as an essential aspect of
human development.
6. Cultural heritage diversity exists in
time and space, and demands respect for other cultures and all aspects of their
belief systems. In cases where cultural values appear to be in conflict,
respect for cultural diversity demands acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the
cultural values of all parties.
7. All cultures and societies are rooted in
the particular forms and means of tangible and intangible expression which
constitute their heritage, and these should be respected.
8. It is important to underline a fundamental
principle of UNESCO, to the effect that the cultural heritage of each is the
cultural heritage of all. Responsibility for cultural heritage and the
management of it belongs, in the first place, to the cultural community that
has generated it, and subsequently to that which cares for it. However, in
addition to these responsibilities, adherence to the international charters and
conventions developed for conservation of cultural heritage also obliges
consideration of the principles and responsibilities flowing from them.
Balancing their own requirements with those of other cultural communities is,
for each community, highly desirable, provided achieving this balance does not
undermine their fundamental cultural values.
Values and authenticity
9. Conservation of cultural heritage in all
its forms and historical periods is rooted in the values attributed to the
heritage. Our ability to understand these values depends, in part, on the
degree to which information sources about these values may be understood as
credible or truthful. Knowledge and understanding of these sources of
information, in relation to original and subsequent characteristics of the
cultural heritage, and their meaning, is a requisite basis for assessing all
aspects of authenticity.
10. Authenticity, considered in this way and
affirmed in the Charter of Venice, appears as the essential qualifying factor
concerning values. The understanding of authenticity plays a fundamental role
in all scientific studies of the cultural heritage, in conservation and
restoration planning, as well as within the inscription procedures used for the
World Heritage Convention and other cultural heritage inventories.
11. All judgements about values attributed to
cultural properties as well as the credibility of related information sources
may differ from culture to culture, and even within the same culture. It is
thus not possible to base judgements of values and authenticity within fixed
criteria. On the contrary, the respect due to all cultures requires that
heritage properties must considered and judged within the cultural contexts to
which they belong.
12. Therefore, it is of the highest importance
and urgency that, within each culture, recognition be accorded to the specific
nature of its heritage values and the credibility and truthfulness of related
information sources.
13. Depending on the nature of the cultural
heritage, its cultural context, and its evolution through time, authenticity
judgements may be linked to the worth of a great variety of sources of
information. Aspects of the sources may include form and design, materials and
substance, use and function, traditions and techniques, location and setting,
and spirit and feeling, and other internal and external factors. The use of
these sources permits elaboration of the specific artistic, historic, social,
and scientific dimensions of the cultural heritage being examined.
The Nara Document on Authenticity was
drafted by the 45 participants at the Nara Conference on Authenticity in
Relation to the World Heritage Convention, held at Nara, Japan, from 1-6
November 1994, at the invitation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Government
of Japan) and the Nara Prefecture. The Agency organized the Nara Conference in
cooperation with UNESCO, ICCROM and ICOMOS.
This final version of the Nara Document has
been edited by the general rapporteurs of the Nara Conference, Mr. Raymond
Lemaire and Mr. Herb Stovel.