Cultural heritage

Article 1 of the World Heritage Convention defines cultural heritage as:

• monuments: architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings and combinations, which are of Outstanding Universal Value from the point of view of history, art or science;
• groups of buildings: groups of separate or connected buildings which, because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of Outstanding Universal Value from the point of view of history, art or science;
• sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and man, and areas including archaeological sites which are of Outstanding Universal Value from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological point of view.

Some properties might satisfy more than one of these definitions (e.g. be both a monument and group of buildings). This definition was developed in 1972 and concepts of cultural heritage have expanded since that time. Nonetheless, the definition has been interpreted very broadly to embrace the diversity of cultural heritage. The Operational Guidelines offer additional definitions regarding cultural landscapes, historic towns and town centres, heritage canals and heritage routes.

Source(s): World Heritage Resource Manual 'Preparing World Heritage Nominations'