Critique of legislation by scientific-technical criteria: toward classification of cultural properties in Turkey

Abstract

The subject of the study is the contemporary conservation of immovable cultural properties. Eminent charters and conventions from the issue of Venice Charter to the present which show technical and legal quality were examined to determine the changes in time. As the study area physically limited with Turkey, immovable cultural properties that were conserved, investigated at Turkish legal texts and acts in force. Aim of the study is to investigate a systematic approach to fix the immovable cultural properties that show some kind of characteristics and applicable within the conditions and potentials of the country. Samples of immovable cultural properties were selected by examination of local geographical magazines, folkloric researches, experiences and official correspondence in addition to identifications at legal texts. During the study (i) some of the administrative institutions. awareness about the troubles of fixing immovable cultural properties (ii) essence of a systematic way defining immovable cultural properties (iii) presence of considerable number of folkloric research resources that show the relation between traditions and physical environment (iv) conflicts at fixation and registration decisions about identical immovable properties and absence of conservation policy that depends on technical and legal basis (v) absence of a national inventory of immovable cultural properties although there is an insufficient unofficial efforts (vi) a new legal attempt to reorganize the administrative institutions were all observed. The study defined a framework for classification of immovable properties that were left out the official conservation process and generally located at the fringes of settlements or at rural. In this context criteria for classification determined and listed for making investigation of inclusion class for each immovable property. Finally recommendations for reorganization of conservation institutions proposed.