Technical notes (a) Derivation of terms

24.
...
(b) (i) meet the test of authenticity in design,
material, workmanship or setting and in
the case of cultural landscapes their
distinctive character and components (the
Committee stressed the reconstruction is only
acceptable if it is carried out on the basis
of complete and detailed documentation on the
original and to no extent on conjecture)
(UNESCO February 1996: 7).
The text concerning groups of urban buildings included
in the Operational Guidelines also refers to the need
to meet the test of authenticity (UNESCO February
1996: 8, Paragraph 27).
Paragraphs 57 and 58 of the Operational Guidelines
state that cultural properties nominated for
inclusion in the World Heritage List should satisfy
the conditions of authenticity and that the
determination as to whether these conditions are met will be
carried out by ICOMOS (UNESCO February 1996: 18).
Paragraph 64 (e) of the Operational Guidelines states
that "indications as to the authenticity of the property"
should be included in the completed nomination form
under the heading of "Justification for inclusion in the
World Heritage List" (UNESCO February 1996: 20).
Paragraphs 64 (f) (iv) and 78 of the Operational
Guidelines refer to the undefined concept of "historical
authenticity" (UNESCO February 1996: 20 and 28).
It is generally acknowledged that the concept of
authenticity is a vague one and may be subject to
different cultural and social interpretations.
Authenticity and its application in relation to the
World Heritage Convention was the subject of a
conference held in Nara, Japan in November 1994 (Nara
Conference on Authenticity in Relation to the World Heritage
Convention). A preparatory workshop was held in Bergen
in Norway from 31 January to 2 February 1994. The
proceedings of the preliminary workshop are published in
Larson and Marstein (1994). The Nara Conference
resulted in the adoption of a declaration known as The
Nara Document on Authenticity. The proceedings of the
Nara Conference and the Nara Document on
Authenticity are published in Larson (1995).
In March 1996 an Inter-American Symposium on Authenticity in
the Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage was held
in San Antonio Texas, U.S.A. The Symposium was co-sponsored
by US/ICOMOS, the Getty Cosnervation Institute and the San
Antonio Conservation Society.
see Conservation, Information sources