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At the Congress in Athens the following seven main resolutions were made
and called "Carta del Restauro":
- International organizations for Restoration on operational and
advisory levels are to be established.
- Proposed Restoration projects are to be subjected to knowledgeable
criticism to prevent mistakes which will cause loss of character and
historical values to the structures.
- Problems of preservation of historic sites are to be solved by
legislation at national level for all countries.
- Excavated sites which are not subject to immediate restoration
should be reburied for protection.
- Modern techniques and materials may be used in restoration
work.
- Historical sites are to be given strict custodial protection.
- Attention should be given to the protection of areas surrounding
historic sites.
General Conclusions of the Athens Conference
I. -- DOCTRINES. GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
The Conference heard the statement of the general principles and
doctrines relating to the protection of monuments.
Whatever may be the variety of concrete cases, each of which are open to
a different solution, the Conference noted that there predominates in
the different countries represented a general tendency to abandon
restorations
in toto
and to avoid the attendant dangers by
initiating a system of regular and permanent maintenance calculated to
ensure the preservation of the buildings.
When, as the result of decay or destruction, restoration appears to be
indispensable, it recommends that the historic and artistic work of the
past should be respected, without excluding the style of any given
period.
The Conference recommends that the occupation of buildings, which
ensures the continuity of their life, should be maintained but that they
should be used for a purpose which respects their historic or artistic
character.
II. -- ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE MEASURES REGARDING
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
The Conference heard the statement of legislative measures devised to
protect monuments of artistic, historic or scientific interest and
belonging to the different countries.
It unanimously approved the general tendency which, in this connection,
recognises a certain right of the community in regard to private
ownership.
It noted that the differences existing between these legislative
measures were due to the difficulty of reconciling public law with the
rights of individuals.
Consequently, while approving the general tendency of these measures,
the Conference is of opinion that they should be in keeping with local
circumstances and with the trend of public opinion, so that the least
possible opposition may be encountered, due allowance being made for the
sacrifices which the owners of property may be called upon to make in
the general interest.
It recommends that the public authorities in each country be empowered
to take conservatory measures in cases of emergency.
It earnestly hopes that the International Museums Office will publish a
repertory and a comparative table of the legislative measures in force
in the different countries and that this information will be kept up to
date.
III. -- AESTHETIC ENHANCEMENT OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS.
The Conference recommends that, in the construction of buildings, the
character and external aspect of the cities in which they are to be
erected should be respected, especially in the neighbourhood of ancient
monuments, where the surroundings should be given special consideration.
Even certain groupings and certain particularly picturesque perspective
treatment should be preserved.
A study should also be made of the ornamental vegetation most suited to
certain monuments or groups of monuments from the point of view of
preserving their ancient character. It specially recommends the
suppression of all forms of publicity, of the erection of unsightly
telegraph poles and the exclusion of all noisy factories and even of
tall shafts in the neighbourhood of artistic and historic monuments.
IV. -- RESTORATION OF MONUMENTS.
The experts heard various communications concerning the use of modern
materials for the consolidation of ancient monuments. They approved the
judicious use of all the resources at the disposal of modern technique
and more especially of reinforced concrete.
They specified that this work of consolidation should whenever possible
be concealed in order that the aspect and character of the restored
monument may be preserved.
They recommended their adoption more particularly in cases where their
use makes it possible to avoid the dangers of dismantling and
reinstating the portions to be preserved.
V. -- THE DETERIORATION OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS.
The Conference noted that, in the conditions of present day life,
monuments throughout the world were being threatened to an
ever-increasing degree by atmospheric agents.
Apart from the customary precautions and the methods successfully
applied in the preservation of monumental statuary in current practice,
it was impossible, in view of the complexity of cases and with the
knowledge at present available, to formulate any general rules.
The Conference recommends:
- That, in each country, the architects and curators of monuments
should collaborate with specialists in the physical, chemical, and
natural sciences with a view to determining the methods to be adopted in
specific cases;
- That the International Museums Office should keep itself informed
of the work being done in each country in this field and that mention
should be made thereof in the publications of the Office.
With regard to the preservation of monumental sculpture, the Conference
is of opinion that the removal of works of art from the surroundings for
which they were designed is,
in principle
, to be discouraged. It
recommends, by way of precaution, the preservation of original models
whenever these still exist or if this proves impossible, the taking of
casts.
VI. -- THE TECHNIQUE of CONSERVATION.
The Conference is gratified to note that the principles and technical
considerations set forth in the different detailed communications are
inspired by the same idea, namely:
In the case of ruins, scrupulous conservation is necessary, and steps
should be taken to reinstate any original fragments that may be
recovered (anastylosis), whenever this is possible; the new materials
used for this purpose should in all cases be recognisable. When the
preservation of ruins brought to light in the course of excavations is
found to be impossible, the Conference recommends that they be buried,
accurate records being of course taken before filling-in operations are
undertaken.
It should be unnecessary to mention that the technical work undertaken
in connection with the excavation and preservation of ancient monuments
calls for close collaboration between the archaeologist and the
architect.
With regard to other monuments, the experts unanimously agreed that,
before any consolidation or partial restoration is undertaken, a
thorough analysis should be made of the defects and the nature of the
decay of these monuments. They recognised that each case needed to be
treated individually.
VII. -- THE CONSERVATION OF MONUMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATION.
a) Technical and moral co-operation.
The Conference, convinced that the question of the conservation of the
artistic and archaeological property of mankind is one that interests
the community of the States, which are wardens of civilisation,
Hopes that the States, acting in the spirit of the Covenant of the
League of Nations, will collaborate with each other on an
ever-increasing scale and in a more concrete manner with a view to
furthering the preservation of artistic and historic monuments;
Considers it highly desirable that qualified institutions and
associations should, without in any manner whatsoever prejudicing
international public law, be given an opportunity of manifesting their
interest in the protection of works of art in which civilisation has
been expressed to the highest degree and which would seem to be
threatened with destruction;
Expresses the wish that requests to attain this end, submitted to the
Intellectual Co-operation Organisation of the League of Nations, be
recommended to the earnest attention of the States.
It will be for the International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation,
after an enquiry conducted by the International Museums Office and after
having collected all relevant information, more particularly from the
National Committee on Intellectual Co-operation concerned, to express an
opinion on the expediency of the steps to be taken and on the procedure
to be followed in each individual case.
The members of the Conference, after having visited in the course of
their deliberations and during the study cruise which they were able to
make on this occasion, a number of excavation sites and ancient Greek
monuments, unanimously paid a tribute to the Greek Government, which,
for many years past, has been itself responsible for extensive works
and, at the same time, has accepted the collaboration of archaeologists
and experts from every country.
The members of the Conference there saw an example of activity which can
but contribute to the realisation of the aims of intellectual
co-operation, the need for which manifested itself during their work.
b) The role of education in the respect of
monuments.
The Conference, firmly convinced that the best guarantee in the matter
of the preservation of monuments and works of art derives from the
respect and attachment of the peoples themselves;
Considering that these feelings can very largely be promoted by
appropriate action on the part of public authorities;
Recommends that educators should urge children and young people to
abstain from disfiguring monuments of every description and that they
should teach them to take a greater and more general interest in the
protection of these concrete testimonies of all ages of civilisation.
c) Value of international documentation.
The Conference expresses the wish that:
- Each country, or the institutions created or recognised
competent for this purpose, publish an inventory of ancient monuments,
with photographs and explanatory notes;
- Each country constitute official records which shall contain all
documents relating to its historic monuments;
- Each country deposit copies of its publications on artistic and
historic monuments with the International Museums Office;
- The Office devote a portion of its publications to articles on the
general processes and methods employed in the preservation of historic
monuments;
- The Office study the best means of utilising the information so
centralised.
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: 2 August 1994; modified 12 January 1996