1
Cul u al He i age posi ion pape - Eu opean esea ch
challenges: CNR, CNRS, CSIC Humani ies & Social
sciences Scien i ic pe spec i es
Wo king g oup 4
Emanuel Deme escu1, Emilio Cano2, Anne-Madeleine Goule 3
Michela Sa a Ba bo 3, Filippo Calce ano1, Li io De Luca3
Jesus Ga cia2, Ta iana Ped azzi1, Thibaul Sain enoy2
1CNR, 2CSIC, 3CNRS
Ve . 25 h No embe 2024
In oduc ion o he WG4 me hodology
The Wo king G oup 4 on Cul u al He i age has de eloped his posi ion pape h ough an in ensi e
collabo a i e p ocess combining s uc u ed mee ings, asynch onous esea ch, and ex ensi e communi y
engagemen . Ou app oach was designed o ensu e bo h dep h o analysis and b ead h o pe spec i e in
add essing he u u e challenges and oppo uni ies o Cul u al He i age in Eu ope.
Collabo a i e F amewo k and Me hodology. The wo king g oup conduc ed i e plena y sessions, each
las ing app oxima ely 90 minu es, complemen ed by ex ensi e asynch onous wo k including bibliog aphic
esea ch and ocused sub-g oup discussions on speci ic sub- opics equi ing deepe examina ion. The le el
o in e ac ion be ween membe s o he h ee Resea ch Cen es (CNR, CNRS, and CSIC) was pa icula ly
p oduc i e, cha ac e ized by ich exchanges o ideas and pe spec i es. A dis inguishing ea u e o ou
app oach was he signi ican in ol emen o he b oade esea ch communi y beyond he co e g oup o nine
membe s. Thei aluable eedback, p o ided bo h in he ini ial phases and du ing ad anced s ages o
de elopmen , subs an ially s eng hened he pape 's ecommenda ions. This inclusi e app oach was
pa icula ly e iden in Topic 1, which eme ged om ex ensi e consul a ion wi h he humani ies communi y,
cap u ing hei conce ns abou he se ious isks acing he Cul u al He i age sec o , especially ega ding i s
diminishing a ac i eness o younge gene a ions – a c ucial issue o ci ic cul u e and he ha monious
de elopmen o cul u al he i age.
Mul idisciplina y App oach and S a egic Analysis. Ou me hodology was undamen ally mul idisciplina y,
ocusing on iden i ying c i ical objec i es o Cul u al He i age ha ha e ecei ed insu icien a en ion in
p e ious amewo ks. This p ocess began wi h a comp ehensi e e iew o exis ing posi ion pape s, ends,
and ecommenda ions conside ed by he Eu opean Communi y in he Cul u al He i age domain. We
employed a sys ema ic analy ical amewo k using a ma ix app oach o 1) documen and e alua e he
impo ance o iden i ied objec i es; 2) analyse weaknesses and h ea s; 3) map oppo uni ies and
po en ials; 4) de ine expec ed impac s; 5) es ablish clea p io i ies o ac ion.
“Be good ances o s”1. This posi ion pape p esen s a bold ision designed o long- e m impac , while
ensu ing meaning ul bene i s wi hin he i s i e o en yea s. Ou ecommenda ions a e s uc u ed o
suppo he Eu opean Commission in s eng hening Cul u al He i age a he Eu opean le el o e he nex
1 K zna ic, R. (2020). The Good Ances o : A Radical P esc ip ion o Long-Te m Thinking. The Expe imen LLC.
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decade and beyond. The p io i ies iden i ied a e bo h ambi ious and p ac ical, aimed a c ea ing sus ainable,
posi i e impac s on he sec o .
Ou app oach balances immedia e needs wi h long- e m s a egic objec i es, ecognizing ha Cul u al
He i age equi es bo h u gen a en ions o cu en challenges and sus ained in es men in u u e
capabili ies. The ecommenda ions p esen ed he e a e designed o c ea e a obus amewo k o Cul u al
He i age p ese a ion, de elopmen , and inno a ion ha will bene i Eu opean socie y o gene a ions o
come.
Impo ance o Cul u al He i age scien i ic a ea
Cul u al He i age pe mea es e e y aspec o ou con empo a y socie y, mani es ing i sel in bo h physical
spaces – ou ci ies, monumen s, and landscapes – in angible he i age like ou cul u e and adi ions, and
i ual ealms h ough digi al ep esen a ions and online cul u al expe iences. Fa om being me ely a
collec ion o a i ac s and adi ions om he pas , Cul u al He i age ep esen s a li ing, dynamic amewo k
ha shapes ou unde s anding o who we a e and guides ou pa h o wa d. I se es as a c ucial compass in
an e a inc easingly domina ed by sho - e m hinking and apid echnological change. The impo ance o
Cul u al He i age esea ch has ne e been mo e c i ical han in ou cu en his o ical momen . As we ace
he eme gence o ans o ma i e echnologies like a i icial in elligence and i ual eali y, he humani ies-
based app oach inhe en in Cul u al He i age s udies p o ides essen ial pe spec i es ha canno be
eplica ed by echnological solu ions alone. This app oach encompasses:
1. C i ical Thinking and Human-Cen ed Pe spec i es: The humani ies adi ion wi hin Cul u al He i age
esea ch o e s i al ools o de eloping and main aining c i ical hinking skills. In an age o a i icial
in elligence and au oma ed decision-making, his human-cen ed app oach becomes inc easingly
c ucial o unde s anding and shaping ou ela ionship wi h eme ging echnologies.
2. E hical F amewo k and Social Responsibili y: Cul u al He i age esea ch helps us unde s and ou
esponsibili ies owa ds na u e, socie y, and u u e gene a ions. I p o ides his o ical con ex o
con empo a y challenges and helps de elop e hical amewo ks o add essing hem. This is pa icula ly
ele an as we g apple wi h ques ions o echnological e hics and sus ainable de elopmen .
3. Democ a ic Values and Social Cohesion: Unde s anding ou cul u al oo s and sha ed he i age is
undamen al o main aining and s eng hening democ a ic alues. Cul u al He i age p o ides insigh s
in o he e olu ion o social s uc u es and go e nance sys ems, o e ing aluable lessons o
con empo a y democ a ic socie ies.
4. Long- e m Vision in a Sho - e m Wo ld: While many cu en decision-making p ocesses ocus on
immedia e esul s, Cul u al He i age esea ch inhe en ly p omo es a long- e m pe spec i e. This
empo al dep h is c ucial o making in o med decisions abou ou collec i e u u e, pa icula ly in a eas
like u ban de elopmen , en i onmen al p o ec ion, and echnological inno a ion.
5. T ansdisciplina y B idge: Cul u al He i age esea ch se es as a na u al b idge be ween a wide ange
o disciplines, spanning bo h humani ies and sciences - om a chaeology o chemis y, om digi al
humani ies o ma e ials science, om conse a ion science o enginee ing, om social s udies o
physics and en i onmen al sciences. This comp ehensi e ansdisciplina y na u e, in eg a ing bo h
STEM and humani ies app oaches, is pa icula ly aluable in add essing complex con empo a y
challenges ha equi e mul iple pe spec i es and me hodologies. The in eg a ion o scien i ic analysis,
echnological inno a ion, and humanis ic unde s anding c ea es a uniquely powe ul amewo k o
cul u al he i age esea ch and p ese a ion.
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While he cu en Eu opean F amewo k P og am (Ho izon Eu ope) has ecognized hese aspec s, he e
emains signi ican po en ial o s eng hening Cul u al He i age esea ch h ough deepe in eg a ion o
humani ies adi ions wi h echnological inno a ion, emphasis on long- e m esea ch pe spec i es, and
enhanced ocus on philosophical and c i ical hinking in echnological de elopmen . The es ablishmen o
he Eu opean Resea ch In as uc u e o He i age Science (E-RIHS)2 and he u u e Eu opean Pa ne ship
on Resilien Cul u al He i age3 a e e y ele an ini ia i es in his ield ha will need o be complemen ed by
o he ac ions.
Cul u al He i age esea ch oday s ands a a unique in e sec ion: i ca ies he dep h o human expe ience
and wisdom accumula ed o e millennia, while simul aneously o e ing esh pe spec i es on eme ging
challenges. Th ough his lens, we can be e g asp no only whe e we come om, bu also unde s and wha
we a e now and imagine whe e we migh go – and mo e impo an ly, whe e we should go. This p o ound
empo al pe spec i e, spanning om ancien insigh s o u u e possibili ies, makes Cul u al He i age an
i eplaceable compass o na iga ing he complexi ies o con empo a y socie y.
Topic 1. Fos e ing Nex -Gene a ion Humani ies Expe ise o Sus ainable Cul u al
He i age Resea ch
In es men in humani ies esea ch and specialized aining in Cul u al He i age domains ep esen s a
s a egic p io i y o building sus ainable esea ch ecosys ems. While basic esea ch unding ypically alls
ou side F amewo k P og amme scope, de eloping s ong humani ies expe ise is undamen al o
gene a ing he ounda ional knowledge ha enables ansdisciplina y esea ch and inno a ion in Cul u al
He i age. Weaknesses and Th ea s. The Cul u al He i age sec o aces c i ical challenges in main aining
specialized expe ise. Declining en olmen in humani ies p og ams a uni e si ies, pa icula ly in ields such
as ancien his o y, epig aphy, a chaeology, a his o y, and conse a ion, h ea ens he con inui y o
essen ial domain knowledge. Ca ee unce ain y in specialized Cul u al He i age ields discou ages alen ed
s uden s om pu suing hese c ucial disciplines, c ea ing a dange ous gap in expe ise. This end isks
unde mining he en i e Cul u al He i age esea ch ecosys em, as specialized humani ies knowledge o ms
he backbone o cul u al he i age documen a ion and in e p e a ion. Oppo uni ies and Po en iali ies.
In es ing in humani ies expe ise p esen s signi ican oppo uni ies o s eng hening he en i e Cul u al
He i age sec o . S ong humani ies esea ch c ea es he obus knowledge base essen ial o
ansdisciplina y app oaches o esea ch and inno a ion. Specialized esea che s in ields such as
a chaeology, his o y, and conse a ion gene a e he p ima y da a and in e p e a i e amewo ks ha uel
echnological applica ions and b oade esea ch ini ia i es.
Impac s and Recommenda ions
Impac 1: Enhanced Quali y and Dep h o Cul u al He i age Da a. S eng hening humani ies expe ise
ensu es he c ea ion o high-quali y, well-documen ed p ima y da a essen ial o digi al applica ions and
ansdisciplina y esea ch.
P io i y Ac ion: De elop speci ic suppo mechanisms o aining p og ams in specialized Cul u al
He i age disciplines, ensu ing he con inua ion o undamen al domain expe ise.
Impac 2: Sus ainable Knowledge C ea ion. Building a new gene a ion o humani ies expe s ensu es
con inuous p oduc ion o ounda ional knowledge ha suppo s he en i e Cul u al He i age sec o .
2 h ps://www.e- ihs.eu/
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h ps://asse s.c asse s.ne /cdx728z92xkc/15Qci9Qixjzcus3xl7y Wb/8243c4911139ae0802b3c252ce154eec/e
c_ d_04_cul u al-he i age.pd
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P io i y Ac ion: C ea e dedica ed ca ee de elopmen pa hways o humani ies specialis s in
Cul u al He i age, including oppo uni ies o in eg a ion wi h digi al and ansdisciplina y p ojec s.
Impac 3: S eng hened Resea ch Ecosys em A obus humani ies esea ch base enhances he quali y
and eliabili y o all Cul u al He i age ini ia i es, om basic esea ch o echnological and social inno a ion.
P io i y Ac ion: Es ablish p og ams ha b idge adi ional humani ies esea ch wi h STEM
disciplines, c ea ing new oppo uni ies o c oss-disciplina y collabo a ion.
Impac 4: Long- e m Sec o Sus ainabili y. In es men in humani ies expe ise ensu es he long- e m
sus ainabili y o Cul u al He i age esea ch and p ese a ion e o s.
P io i y Ac ion: De elop incen i e s uc u es ha ecognize and ewa d he c ucial ole o
humani ies expe ise in suppo ing b oade Cul u al He i age ini ia i es.
While basic esea ch unding may lie ou side he F amewo k P og amme's di ec scope, suppo ing he
de elopmen o humani ies expe ise ep esen s a c ucial in es men in he sec o 's u u e. The success o
ansdisciplina y app oaches, including digi al ini ia i es, in Cul u al He i age undamen ally depends on he
a ailabili y o skilled humani ies esea che s who can p o ide essen ial domain knowledge and
in e p e a i e amewo ks.
Re e ences:
Bena dou, A., e al. (2017). Digi al Humani ies Resea ch Needs and P ac ices in Cul u al He i age
Ins i u ions.
Gese , G., & Selho e , H. (2014). D2.1 S akeholde In ol emen in he P epa a ion o he S a egic Resea ch
Agenda.
Simons, G. F. (2018). The Role o Humani ies in Digi al Cul u al He i age.
Eu opean Science Founda ion (2019). The Fu u es o Humani ies Resea ch and T aining in Eu ope.
Topic 2: T ansdisciplina y as a ca alys o include high quali y and sec o ized esea ch
T ans-disciplina i y ep esen s a undamen al pa adigm shi in esea ch me hodology, anscending he
adi ional bounda ies o disciplina y specializa ion. Unlike mul i-disciplina i y and in e disciplina i y, which
ope a e wi hin disciplina y amewo ks, ansdisciplina y app oaches c ea e new in ellec ual spaces whe e
di e se me hodologies con e ge o add ess complex challenges in cul u al he i age p ese a ion and
alo isa ion (Niculescu, 1994). Weaknesses and Th ea s: Cu en esea ch amewo ks p edominan ly
a ou discipline-speci ic app oaches, c ea ing a i icial ba ie s o in eg a ed knowledge p oduc ion. The
academic ca ee s uc u e, wi h i s siloed e alua ion me ics, ails o adequa ely ecognize and ewa d
ansdisciplina y e o s. This sys emic bias pa icula ly a ec s ea ly-ca ee esea che s, po en ially
discou aging inno a i e ansdisciplina y app oaches c ucial o cul u al he i age esea ch. Oppo uni ies
and Po en iali ies: The cul u al he i age domain p esen s unique oppo uni ies o pionee ing
ansdisciplina y me hodologies. As highligh ed by Majo ana's epis emological pe spec i e, complex
scien i ic challenges equi e he de elopmen o common languages and o malisms ac oss disciplines. The
Eu opean Resea ch A ea (ERA) can es ablish global leade ship in his domain by os e ing in eg a ed
app oaches ha uni e social sciences, na u al sciences, enginee ing, a chi ec u e, and compu e science.
Impac s
1. Enhanced Scien i ic In eg a ion: B eaking down ba ie s be ween scien i ic domains will acili a e
comp ehensi e app oaches o cul u al he i age p ese a ion and s udy.
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2. Nex -Gene a ion Expe ise: De elopmen o a new gene a ion o esea che s equipped wi h
ansdisciplina y compe encies, as p edic ed in he "100 Jobs o he Fu u e" epo (Deakin Uni e si y &
Fo d, 2019).
3. Imp o ed Collabo a i e P ocesses: Mo e e ec i e ans-disciplina y coope a ion leading o inno a i e
solu ions in he i age science.
4. Ca ee De elopmen : C ea ion o new p o essional pa hways aligned wi h u u e wo k o ce needs in
cul u al he i age.
P io i y Ac ions
Educa ional Re o m: a) Es ablish in e na ional PhD and pos doc o al p og ams speci ically
designed o ansdisciplina y esea ch b) C ea e new doc o al quali ica ions ha explici ly
ecognize mul i-compe ency p o iles combining social sciences, enginee ing, a chi ec u e, and
compu e science
Policy De elopmen : a) Implemen speci ic policies o p omo e and ai ly e alua e
ansdisciplina y esea ch ca ee s b) De elop me ics ha app op ia ely alue ans-disciplina y
con ibu ions c) C ea e incen i es o esea ch ins i u ions o suppo ansdisciplina y p ojec s
Knowledge Sha ing: a) Iden i y and p omo e success s o ies in ansdisciplina y cul u al he i age
esea ch b) C ea e pla o ms o sha ing me hodologies and bes p ac ices ac oss disciplines c)
Suppo mobili y p og ams u ilizing Eu opean esea ch in as uc u e
Funding F amewo k Adap a ion: a) Shi om agmen ed, discipline-speci ic calls o cen alized
c oss-cu ing opics b) P io i ize p ojec s ha demons a e genuine ansdisciplina y in eg a ion c)
P o ide dedica ed unding s eams o ansdisciplina y ini ia i es
The pa h owa d ans-disciplina i y is no me ely an op ion bu a necessi y o ad ancing cul u al he i age
science and consolida ing ERA's scien i ic leade ship. As demons a ed by con empo a y wo kplace ends
and u u e job o ecas s (Deakin Uni e si y & Fo d Mo o Company 2019), he abili y o in eg a e di e se
disciplina y pe spec i es will become inc easingly c ucial. By os e ing ansdisciplina y app oaches, he
Eu opean esea ch amewo k can c ea e mo e esilien , inno a i e, and comp ehensi e solu ions o
cul u al he i age challenges while p epa ing he nex gene a ion o esea che s o he e ol ing demands o
hei ield.
Re e ences
Niculescu, B. (1994). The T ansdisciplina y E olu ion o Lea ning. In “Mani es o o T ansdisciplina i y”. S a e
Uni e si y o New Yo k P ess.
Majo ana, E. (1942). Il alo e delle leggi s a is iche nella isica e nelle scienze sociali. Scien ia 71: 58-66.
Deakin Uni e si y & Fo d Mo o Company (2019). “100 Jobs o he Fu u e”, h ps://100jobso he u u e.com/.
Topic 3: Cul u e-based clima e ac ion (cul u al he i age - especially buil he i age - is
pi o al o suppo g een ansi ion)
Cul u al he i age is unde h ea om clima e change a an unp eceden ed speed and scale and he wo ld is
in di e need o solu ions o le e age he po en ial o cul u al he i age o clima e ac ion and hus o esea ch
p o iding solid suppo o enabling he change. Weaknesses and Th ea s: Cul u e-based clima e ac ion is
s ill no su icien ly ecognized a na ional Eu opean and global le el, lacking unding and poli ical le e age,
and equi ing high skills and a ansdisciplina y app oach o be implemen ed. Oppo uni ies and
po en iali ies: Ha nessing he powe o di e se cul u al alues and ways o knowing, educa ion and
s o y elling, a and c a , angible and in angible he i age, and design and c ea i i y can guide and scale he
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ac ion o ackle clima e c isis, os e ing disciplina y c oss- e ilisa ion, ac ing as a beacon o o he sec o s
like he a chi ec u e enginee ing and cons uc ion indus y and p o iding an added alue o knowledge o
suppo adap a ion and mi iga ion s a egies (EUOMC 2022, Po s 2021, JPICH-CC 2020).
Impac s and Recommenda ions:
Impac 1: Imp o e buil he i age go e nance o conse a ion pu poses in eg a ing adap a ion and
mi iga ion s a egies.
P io i y Ac ion: Suppo me hodological esea ch on ene gy and en i onmen al imp o emen
in e en ions a oiding maladap a ion; in e ope abili y, knowledge sha ing and capaci y building;
join adap a ion and mi iga ion esea ch wi hin a su iciency pe spec i e; boos esea ch
in as uc u e ole o suppo he consolida ion o an in e disciplina y esea ch communi y and
echnological ans e .
Impac 2: "cap u e he hea s and minds” o Eu opeans exploi ing he po en ial o social and cul u al
d i e o e ed by he i age.
P io i y Ac ion: Suppo buil he i age beacon esea ch o accele a e ansi ion in he cons uc ion
sec o ; le e age he he i age sense o belonging o mobilize he socie y; boos esea ch on
sus ainable ou ism and cul u e-based clima e awa eness; En ision he u u e o cul u e and
c ea i i y sec o in a cen u y o clima e eme gency o a be e link be ween he pe o ming a s and
sus ainabili y a he c oss oads o a is ic and ecological commi men encou aging esea ch in o
con empo a y c ea ion especially in he ope a sec o .
Impac 3: Unlock po en ial o buil he i age o clima e ac ion.
P io i y Ac ion: Suppo he echnological s ess es ha buil he i age in e en ions p o ides o
accele a e echnological ans e in he cons uc ion sec o ; le e age he powe o adi ional
knowledge o suppo u ban and cons uc ion sec o clima e ac ion; suppo c oss- e ilisa ion
po en ial o cul u e-based clima e ac ion.
Re e ences
EU OMC g oup. 2022. S eng hening Cul u al He i age Resilience o Clima e Change: Whe e he Eu opean
G een Deal Mee s Cul u al He i age. LU: Publica ions O ice o he Eu opean Union.
h ps://da a.eu opa.eu/doi/10.2766/44688.
Global ABC, and UN En i onmen P og amme, di s. 2024. Thema ic Session - Unlocking Po en ial o he
He i age and Exis ing Buil En i onmen . h ps://you u.be/Lx93W7uBmu8?si=IdjQu z-Adiex-KU.
JPICH. 2020. ‘S a egic Resea ch and Inno a ion Agenda 2020 : Final Ve sion o he Upda ed JPI CH SRIA
Published’. h ps://www.he i age esea ch-hub.eu/s a egic- esea ch-and-inno a ion-agenda-2020-s ia/.
Po s, And ew. 2021. Eu opean Cul u al He i age G een Pape . The Hague & B ussels: Eu opa Nos a.
UNESCO. 2023. ‘Policy Documen on Clima e Ac ion o Wo ld He i age (11/2023)’.
h ps://whc.unesco.o g/en/documen s/204421.
Topic 4. Reconcilia e he eal cul u al he i age objec wi h i s digi al win/ eplica
The ancien Romans an icipa ed a sophis ica ed unde s anding o he i age p ese a ion h ough hei
p ac ice o “in u elam”, whe e ounda ions we e es ablished o ensu e he pe pe ual ca e o public
monumen s4. This his o ical example in i es us o e lec deeply on he ela ionship be ween p ese a ion
4 Epig aphic e idence shows how in u elam was applied ac oss di e en scales o cul u al he i age: om majo
in es men s like 100,000 ses e ces o a lib a y's main enance and 20,000 ses e ces o emple p ese a ion, o
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and alo isa ion in ou digi al age, as we ace he challenge o econciling physical cul u al he i age wi h i s
digi al ep esen a ions. This challenge ex ends o b idging he gap be ween he physical he i age objec and
i s e ol ing digi al coun e pa , which in eg a es he idea o a digi al con inuum ollowing an objec ’s en i e
li e cycle, om esea ch and conse a ion o public dissemina ion, and om he physical objec o i s digi al
ep esen a ion. In he ex ao dina y con ex o Eu opean cul u e, whe e "image cul u e" has his o ically
ca ied conside able weigh , his ela ionship be ween physical he i age objec s and hei digi al
coun e pa s p esen s bo h challenges and oppo uni ies. He i age science's inhe en ly polyphonic na u e,
ga he ing mul iple disciplines a ound he s udy o ma e ial and imma e ial he i age objec s, makes his
econcilia ion pa icula ly c ucial. He i age objec s a e no me ely esea ch subjec s bu ac i e gene a o s
o knowledge, placing he s udy o bo h he objec s and he sciences s udying hem a he cen e o ou
a en ion. Expe ience has shown ha digi al ep oduc ions do no eplace, bu ac ually enhance, he need
o he public o access he o iginal physical asse s, c ea ing new challenges o i s managemen and
conse a ion (such as mass ou ism). Hence, he conse a ion o he ac ual objec s, monumen s and si es
should emain a p io i y. The in eg a ion o di e se disciplina y pe spec i es in o seman ically en iched
digi al en i onmen s highligh s he po en ial o c ea ing new ecosys ems o knowledge (De Luca L., 2024),
whe e ma e ial and digi al dimensions con e ge o os e deepe insigh s in o he i age objec s. Weaknesses
and Th ea s: Cu en esea ch amewo ks ace se e al c i ical challenges. Disciplina y and sec o al silos
pe sis , limi ing i al in e ac ion be ween p o essional, academic, and ins i u ional sec o s in he i age
science. The ocus on echnological aspec s, pa icula ly digi al ools, has deepened di isions be ween
disciplines, sec o s, and gene a ions o esea che s. Addi ionally, he lack o in e ope able sys ems o
uni ying mul i-disciplina y obse a ions has made i di icul o b idge he gap be ween digi al ools and he
ma e ial objec s hey ep esen , isking agmen a ion o bo h he da a and he insigh s de i ed om i . EU
p ojec calls end o dispe se e o s ac oss many hemes, o en p io i izing me hods and echnologies o e
eal-wo ld expe iences. Mos c i ically, he emphasis on echnological/me hodological abs ac ion has
dis anced esea che s om he ma e iali y and cen ali y o he i age objec s hemsel es. The s ong ocus
in he las yea s on he digi al aspec s ha e le aside challenges ela ed o he eal a i ac s. Resea ch and
inno a ion emain c ucial—pe haps mo e han e e —in a eas such as de eloping non-des uc i e analy ical
echniques ailo ed o cul u al he i age needs, c ea ing mo e e icien and sus ainable conse a ion
ea men s and p o ocols, and es ablishing e idence-based policies and managemen sys ems ha
balance conse a ion wi h access and use o he i age. Oppo uni ies and Po en iali ies: The digi al e a
o e s unp eceden ed esea ch oppo uni ies a he in e sec ion o ma e iali y, esea ch p o ocols, and
knowledge o maliza ion. A new on ology o "digi al wins" can be cons uc ed om a his o ical pe spec i e,
wi h esea ch p ojec s ha conside he concep s o ep oduc ion and ep oducibili y, he alue o copying,
and he no ion o au hen ici y in a diach onic pe spec i e. In connec ion wi h seman ic- ich he i age digi al
wins, he de elopmen o digi al eplicas (Deme escu e Alii 2020) - as pionee ed by c ea i e indus ies in
cinema and gaming - o e s powe ul oppo uni ies o aes he ic and imme si e expe iences o ancien
landscapes, objec s, and a chi ec u e. These hype ealis ic isual subs i u es can e ec i ely documen
s a es o p ese a ion and sensi ize audiences o deg ada ion p ocesses, se ing as "ambassado s" ha
d aw public and ins i u ional a en ion o p ese a ion needs a he han eclipsing he physical objec s hey
ep esen . Taking inspi a ion om his o ical models like he Roman in u elam, we can explo e inno a i e
app oaches whe e digi al asse s gene a e added alue ha suppo s physical he i age p ese a ion. Fo
ins ance, c ea ing dynamic digi al ep esen a ions o he i age objec s ha e ol e alongside hei physical
coun e pa s enables con inuous documen a ion and con ex ualiza ion o he objec ’s ans o ma ions o e
ime. These ep esen a ions ac as “ ecei e s” o mul idimensional lows, including scien i ic s udies, public
smalle endowmen s like 1,000-2,000 ses e ces o s a ues and p o essional colleges' cul u al ac i i ies. These
ounda ions would gene a e yea ly e u ns speci ically dedica ed o he p ese a ion o hese cul u al objec s.
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in e p e a ions, and applica ions in di e se con ex s. In his way, he digi al coun e pa becomes a new
locus whe e he cons uc ion o pa imonial alue has ma e ialized, os e ing a deepe unde s anding o he
in e play be ween ma e ial he i age and socie y.
This app oach no only add esses he challenge o ensu ing ha such esou ces a e accessible,
economically sus ainable, and meaning ul o di e se audiences, bu also opens he doo o new economic
models. On a socie al le el, he digi al ealm suppo s inno a i e p ocesses o pa imonializa ion by
engaging di e se s akeholde s and highligh ing he e ol ing ela ionship be ween he i age objec s and hei
communi ies. Scien i ically, i p o ides a ich en i onmen o s udying he in e play be ween ma e ial
objec s and socie al na a i es, enabling esea che s o examine how he i age is in e p e ed, alued, and
ans o med o e ime. The c ea ion o new digi al-bo n he i age objec s has he po en ial o shape
inno a i e p ocesses o pa imonializa ion. These s a egies can ede ine public engagemen wi h he i age
while suppo ing mo e sus ainable app oaches o i s p ese a ion and dissemina ion. The ich cul u al
he i age o coun ies like I aly, F ance, and Spain p o ides unique oppo uni ies o in e connec he i age
objec s, esea che s, and knowledge wi hin ansna ional ne wo ks, u he enhancing he po en ial o
collabo a i e alue c ea ion in he he i age domain.
Impac s and Recommenda ions:
Impac 1: Enhanced Objec -Cen ed Resea ch Me hodology. Shi ing esea ch me hodology o cen e
eal he i age objec s while le e aging digi al asse s enables mo e comp ehensi e mul idisciplina y and
mul isec o al long- e m s udies. This app oach also emphasizes he need o c ea e dynamic and
in e ope able sys ems ha link ma e ial he i age wi h i s digi al ep esen a ion ac oss a ious s ages o i s
li e cycle, ensu ing con inui y in documen a ion and in e p e a ion.
P io i y Ac ion: De elop amewo ks ha place physical he i age objec s a he co e o esea ch
ini ia i es while in eg a ing digi al echnologies as complemen a y ools ha gene a e angible
bene i s o he i age access, unde s anding and p ese a ion.
Impac 2: Sus ainable Access and Conse a ion o Ma e ial He i age Asse s. Ad anced echnologies
designed o mee he speci ic needs o s udying and conse ing cul u al he i age ma e ials will enhance ou
unde s anding o hese objec s, hei in e ac ions wi h bo h na u al and human en i onmen s, and enable mo e
sus ainable managemen and conse a ion p ac ices.
P io i y Ac ions: Suppo he de elopmen o echniques, ma e ials, and p o ocols speci ically sui ed o he
equi emen s o cul u al he i age asse s, wi h a s ong emphasis on sus ainabili y. Impac 3: Ad anced Digi al
and Ma e ial In eg a ion. Explo ing he usion be ween eali y, i uali y (e.g., mixed eali y, me a e se), and
in elligence (human, collec i e, a i icial) helps ede ine he ela ionship be ween ma e ial objec s, digi al
da a, and knowledge.
P io i y Ac ion: De elop sus ainable models whe e digi al win c ea ion and exploi a ion con ibu e
o he p ese a ion and enhancemen o physical he i age, po en ially including inno a i e unding
mechanisms inspi ed by he a o emen ioned “in u elam” ancien p ac ice.
Impac 4: Expanded T ansna ional Ne wo ks. Le e aging Eu ope's ich cul u al he i age c ea es
oppo uni ies o b oade in e connec ion be ween he i age objec s, esea che s, and knowledge.
P io i y Ac ion: Es ablish ansna ional ne wo ks ha acili a e he sha ing o digi al he i age
esou ces and good conse a ion and managemen p ac ices o physical asse s, explo ing new
alo isa ion models ha bene i bo h digi al and physical he i age p ese a ion.
9
Impac 5: Scaled P ese a ion Models. His o ical e idence om Roman p ese a ion p ac ices
demons a es he e ec i eness o scaled in es men app oaches adap ed o di e en ypes o cul u al
he i age.
P io i y Ac ion: De elop lexible unding and p ese a ion amewo ks ha can be calib a ed o he
speci ic needs o di e en he i age ca ego ies - om majo a chi ec u al complexes o smalle
a i ac s - ensu ing app op ia e alloca ion o digi al esou ces and alo isa ion e o s. These
amewo ks should conside bo h he scale o he he i age objec and i s main enance
equi emen s, like how Roman socie ies success ully managed p ese a ion ac oss a ious scales
o cul u al pa imony.
Impac 6: Ensu ing Long- e m Digi al He i age P ese a ion. Digi al documen a ion and ep esen a ions
o cul u al he i age mus be ecognized as cul u al he i age in hei own igh , pa icula ly when hey
cons i u e he only su i ing eco d o los he i age. This ecogni ion demands dedica ed p ese a ion
s a egies and in as uc u e.
P io i y Ac ion: In eg a e long- e m digi al p ese a ion cos s in o ini ial digi iza ion p ojec budge s,
while es ablishing specialized eposi o ies and s o age solu ions speci ically designed o cul u al
he i age da a, ollowing models like Zenodo bu ailo ed o he i age needs. Such in as uc u e mus
inco po a e s anda ds and p o ocols o da a mig a ion and o ma p ese a ion speci ic o cul u al
he i age digi al asse s, alongside edundan s o age sys ems o i eplaceable digi al eco ds o los
monumen s and a i ac s. The sys em should ensu e simpli ied accessibili y while main aining
obus p ese a ion p o ocols, wi h comp ehensi e digi al p ese a ion plans equi ed as pa o
unding applica ions o digi iza ion p ojec s. This app oach ecognizes ha in many cases, such as
wi h he Bamiyan Buddhas o he Temple o Palmi a, digi al eco ds now cons i u e he p ima y
su i ing he i age a i ac , making hei p ese a ion as undamen al as ha o physical objec s.
Re e ences:
Example o epig aphic sou ce o “In Tu elam” ( ui ionem): CIL 02, 05489 = ILER 02045 = IRAlme ia 00043 =
HEp 2003/04, 00009 = AE 2015, +00610 = AE 2016, +00749
De Luca L., A digi al ecosys em o he mul idisciplina y s udy o No e-Dame de Pa is, Jou nal o Cul u al
He i age, Volume 65, 2024, Pages 206-209, ISSN 1296-2074, h ps://doi.o g/10.1016/j.culhe .2023.09.011.
Deme escu, Emanuel, Enzo d’Annibale, Daniele Fe dani, e B uno Fanini. 2020. «Digi al eplica o cul u al
landscapes: An expe imen al eali y-based wo k low o c ea e ealis ic, in e ac i e open wo ld
expe iences». Jou nal o Cul u al He i age. h ps://doi.o g/10.1016/j.culhe .2019.07.018.
Addison, A. C. (2002). Vi ual He i age: Technology in he Se ice o Cul u e.
Whi e, A., & Ch'ng, E. (2020). Digi al he i age p o ile in China's museums: An e alua ion o digi al
echnology adop ion in cul u al he i age ins i u ions.
Kuny, T. (1997). A Digi al Da k Ages? Challenges in he P ese a ion o Elec onic In o ma ion
Ramshol , K. (2009). Digi iza ion: Th ea o Bene i o Conse a ion?
Topic 5. Ta ge ing adop ion o Open Science p ac ices in Cul u al He i age
The adop ion o Open Science p ac ices in Cul u al He i age esea ch ep esen s a ans o ma i e app oach
o knowledge c ea ion and sha ing, undamen ally changing how esea ch ou pu s a e p oduced,
dissemina ed, and p ese ed. This pa adigm shi is undamen al o maximizing he socie al impac o
publicly unded esea ch while ensu ing he long- e m p ese a ion and accessibili y o cul u al he i age
da a h ough ime. Weaknesses and Th ea s: Cu en esea ch e alua ion sys ems p edominan ly a ou
adi ional publica ion me ics o e open da a con ibu ions, c ea ing a sys emic disincen i e o
