ABSTRACT
The protection of the world’s archaeological heritage is far-reaching in its implications, touching upon science, culture, academic politics, legislation and education, and having important connections with public awareness and publicity. The fundamental difference between these two situations is reflected in the different methods of official organization and in different types of legislation. Most of the member states of the United Nations or Unesco have enacted laws and regulations to protect cultural monuments, often linked with others designed to protect sites of natural interest. Cultural identity makes use of the historical heritage in its entirety: that is the premise from which Unesco starts. Unlike the intellectual cultural heritage, the material cultural heritage to a certain extent provides an anonymous foundation on which a people’s self-awareness and international recognition can develop. Archaeological and cultural research, as well as the conservation, preservation and display of monuments from past epochs of human history, are without doubt important tasks of our time.
