Maintaining Authenticity and Integrity at Cultural World Heritage Sites

Abstract

To be considered for listing as a World Heritage site, properties must meet the conditions of “integrity” and/or “authenticity” and be of “outstanding universal value.” Identifying and maintaining authenticity and integrity at cultural heritage sites are challenging goals, however. The concepts are difficult to define and are open to different interpretations in different cultural settings. Additionally, the diversity of sites and wide variety of influences on them require individualized approaches to preservation in many cases. Nonetheless, authenticity and integrity are useful guiding concepts in striving for a systematic approach to preservation in diverse contexts. In this article we discuss preservation approaches that are appropriate at a range of sites, paying particular attention to the tensions that arise when balancing the need to maintain authenticity and integrity with the needs of the people who live in or visit these sites.

• authenticity
• integrity
• preservation
• threats
• World Heritage