Heritage site
A ground monument, even Archaeological monument, monument preservation in addition to the monument, memorial garden and many other a subspecies of a monument. Archaeological monuments are located in the ground remains of earlier fortifications, settlements, borders, worship and burial sites, production facilities, farms or roads. Even still hidden in the ground and undetected, the archaeological site is protected monument a testimony to past cultural history, its historical value is assessed after his discovery with respect and can be placed under monument protection.
Memorial Nursing Features
Archaeological monuments are then in the ground or in a water body hidden movable or immovable property, where it is evidence, remains or traces of human ( and animal and plant ) life. Excavations, finds and findings are major sources of scientific knowledge about these monuments.
Can be detected a ground monument
- An elevated concentration of finds ( pottery shards, stone artifacts)
- To landscape features (Wall systems or mounds are often still visible as elevations )
- On vegetation characteristics ( as, for example, grow a cornfield about concealed masonry blades of the less high)
- By geophysical prospection
Archaeological monuments are usually made features and finds. In the public 's attention is primarily the finds to part. Findings often contain but the more essential information and allow only one correct interpretation and classification of the finds. It means a significant difference whether an object was found as an accompaniment in a grave or lay in a waste pit. There are also totally free fund archaeological monuments, which consist only of findings. Finds no findings, however, are pure antiques that have little scientific value in the rule.
The demarcation of monuments ( as visible above ground remains of the Roman Limes, archaeological findings in a medieval church ) and natural monuments (World Heritage Site Messel Pit ) are often ambiguous and result in cases of doubt, in practice rather from whether there is a monument nurse, an archaeologist or paleontologist feels responsible.
Archaeological monuments can form an ensemble, as former fortresses with main and fore-castle, settlements with houses, road systems, cemeteries, churches and cemetery, monasteries with dialed parts, production, boundaries, inter alia, m. However, it can also be individual objects like a hill grave.
Legal bases
Archaeological sites are defined in Germany by the conservation laws of the Länder. The legislative authority for conservation and cultural heritage lies in the provinces. It is part of the so -called " cultural sovereignty " of the states. So there are in Germany 16 conservation laws that set the terms of a cultural monument and archaeological monument. The laws are different in detail, but based on similar principles.
All 16 laws define the conservation and preservation of archaeological monuments as " Public interest". Information about the age of ground monuments make only single conservation laws.
The monument law has different rules for floor and monuments, as monuments are usually visible and can be easily taken into account in their interests as archaeological sites, which are often unknown and come to light in the course of a construction project.
In most states there are for archaeological finds a " treasure trove " that is the content structured very differently. It grants the State the ownership of ( selected ) archaeological finds.
International relevant is the European Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage ( Malta Convention ) of 16 January 1992 ( Federal Law Gazette 1994 II, p 1286; 2002 II, p 2709 ).
All conservation laws determine archaeological heritage than ground monument, and some - a legal fiction - traces of plant and animal life, fossils so as paleontological monuments to cultural monuments.
Excavations
An excavation can finds and findings in a ground monument make visible, but at the same time leads to a destruction of the findings. Therefore, should be carefully considered before an excavation, whether the gain of knowledge, which is obtained with an excavation and destruction of the archaeological monument, historic preservation outweighs the interest in its intact preservation.
For excavations, in some states even for the investigation archaeological monuments, permits are mandatory due to the conservation laws in Germany. They are authorized by the competent national or local authority, usually the State Conservation Office issued.
Even the attempt for an investigation or excavation without official authorization to fulfill the offense of common disruptive property damage according to § 304 StGB in Germany. In addition, the conservation laws investigation or excavation define without official authorization as a misdemeanor.