Online Symposion, 5-6 November, Leipzig, Germany
On the occasion of the Federal Republic's six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union (July – December 2020), the planned conference will focus on archaeological World Heritage sites in Europe, the protection and preservation of which can only be guaranteed by the European states and their neighbours together.
There are currently 46 UNESCO World Heritage sites listed on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany, 43 of which are World Cultural Heritage sites and three Natural Heritage sites. Eight of these World Heritage sites are cross-border and transnational sites. Hardly any other signatory state to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention has such a high proportion of multinational or transnational World Heritage sites as the Federal Republic of Germany. In particular, among the Cultural Heritage sites of the Federal Republic of Germany inscribed on the UNESCO list over the past decade are a number of archaeological World Heritage sites that have reaccentuated the Federal Republic's World Heritage profile. These are for instance the Frontiers of the Roman Empire (Limes) (2005), the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (2011), the Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura (2017), or the Archaeological Border Complex of Hedeby and Danevirke (2018).
The archaeological heritage worldwide is under constant threat for various reasons, such as climate change and natural disasters, war and civil war, but also infrastructure projects and urban sprawl, as well as increasing tourism at archaeological sites and spaces. However, the sustainable protection of cultural heritage is only possible through international cooperation between experts and specialised institutions. It is therefore important to identify weak points in the organisation and implementation of international and interregional cooperation at European level and to discuss ways of improving them in practice. The planned conference programme consists of the following sections:
- Opening
- Strategies for the inventorisation and preservation of already existing and potential archaeological World Heritage
- Networking, visions, cooperation – options for a professional international exchange on problems in archaeological World Heritage sites (panel discussion)
- Preservation and communication: protection and management of archaeological World Heritage sites
- Threatened integrity: archaeological World Heritage at risk
- Loved to death – threatened authenticity between over-tourism, preservation and reconstruction
Supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Cultural Affairs and the Media.
Co-organisers: German Archaeological Institute (DAI), Deutscher Verband der Archäologen
Cooperation partners: ICAHM, Verband der Landesarchäologen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Please note: Due to the pandemic-related cancellation of the denkmal-fair in Leipzig, the conference will now take place exclusively online on 5-6 November. Participation in the conference is free of charge. Please register at icomos@icomos.de to gain access to the online conference. The slightly adapted programme can be found here.
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