From the Archaeological Heritage Inventories to the Historical Landscapes of Spain

Abstract

In Spain, although there have been various initiatives for the development of Cultural Heritage registers, it was not until the 1980s that a specific national inventory of Archaeological Heritage began to be developed. This inventory was completed in some provinces, based on the documentary information available (interventions, bibliography, references, etc.) without ever comparing the data with ground observations. In 1985, heritage policy was transferred to the 17 autonomous regions of Spain. Since then, each region has set its own pace in the development of inventories and the conceptual and technical criteria for their implementation. Thus, while some of them have developed an advanced information system for the processing of the archaeological information available, generating new models of management, others have not. Moreover, rapid and aggressive landscape change is affecting the Archaeological Heritage (intensive farming, urbanization, large infrastructures, etc.) and it is increasingly necessary to identify and preserve Historic Landscapes. Some Spanish regions have already begun to use the new modes of research and management tools. In this context, cooperation between research institutes and agencies that manage the Cultural Heritage is crucial.