F1/A Future for our Past: Conservation of Heritage in a Long Durée Perspective

The preservation of cultural heritage has been a longstanding endeavor, driven by a recognition of the intrinsic value of our collective human history. Over the past centuries, attitudes towards cultural artifacts and monuments have evolved significantly, reflecting changing societal values, technological advancements, and global awareness.
In the mid-19th century, as industrialization swept across the globe, there emerged a growing awareness of the need to safeguard cultural treasures threatened by rapid urbanization, development, and conflict. The devastating effects of wars and colonial expansion underscored the vulnerability of cultural sites and artifacts to destruction and looting. In response, the first steps towards organized cultural heritage protection were taken, marked notably by the establishment of national museums, antiquities laws, and international treaties aimed at preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural objects.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a burgeoning interest in archaeology and historical preservation. Scholars and enthusiasts alike recognized the importance of preserving not just individual artifacts but entire sites and landscapes, leading to the development of systematic excavation methods and conservation techniques.
The mid-20th century brought about a pivotal shift in attitudes towards cultural heritage protection, catalyzed in part by the widespread destruction of World War II.

Subsequent decades saw the expansion of international frameworks for heritage protection, including UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention in 1972, which aimed to identify and preserve sites of outstanding universal value.
As we move into the 21st century, the challenges facing cultural heritage protection have become increasingly complex and multifaceted. Rapid urbanization, climate change, and the rise of global tourism present new threats to vulnerable sites and monuments, while advances in technology offer both opportunities and challenges for conservation and documentation efforts. Moreover, debates around cultural heritage have evolved to encompass issues of representation, ownership, and the rights of indigenous communities, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to heritage management.
This course aims to cover all the related issues regarding the protection of cultural heritage in a long durée perspective. It also aims to address the new challenges and opportunities that the 21st century presents.

Seminarleitung: Barış Altan studied architecture at Istanbul Technical University and attained his M.Sc. at the same university in restoration. From 1998 to 2020 he worked in various non-governmental organizations and research institutions and got involved in projects related to cultural heritage. Since 2020 he is working at Brandenburgische Technische Universität (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg and is currently teaching at the Chair of Architectural Conservation at the same university.Bachelor in Architektur an der ENSAS in Strasbourg und IUAV in Venedig  (2012–2015); M.A. in World Heritage Studies an der BTU in Cottbus  (2016–2019); Austausch innerhalb des M.Sc. in Urban Studies an der   UQAM in Montréal (2017); Tätigkeit am UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre  in Paris (2018–2019); seit April 2020, Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin  am Fachgebiet Kunstgeschichte und am DFG-Graduiertenkollegs 1913  “Kulturelle und technische Werte historischer Bauten” der BTU.  Mitglied in der Association of Critical Heritage Studies und der  Memory Studies Association, sowie bei ICOMOS Deutschland.