The safeguarding of Mixed Sites: from the recognition to the enhancement

Abstract

In recent years, speaking of Cultural Heritage, the use of the 'mixed sites' phrase is increasingly used to indicate a site where there are more values worthy of protection; mostly, we refer to areas of great naturalistic importance where archaeological emergencies are present. However, it is evident that attributing almost exclusively to this particular quality of coexistence, the meaning of 'mixed site' does not make the idea of the complexity of the existing cases. Many documents drawn up by the international scientific community, such as UNESCO declarations, address the problem but, to date many problems remain unresolved. In March 2016, from 10 to 12, the “Primer congreso internacional sobre conservación de Sitios Mixtos”, was held in Puebla (Mexico), with the participation of researchers from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Spain and Venezuela. At the end of the congress a final document was drawn up, the Puebla Charter, which places to the attention of the international community, the peculiarity of these important cultural sites.