Patrimoniul arheologic național: Politici, documentare, acces

Documentation of archaeological heritage is a fundamental tool for understanding and protection. Although we have a number of laws, conventions and recommendations to protect heritage at national, European and international level, their application in practice is not easy anywhere. Since 2000, The Romanian Ministry of Culture and CIMEC – The Institute for Cultural Memory (now a Department in the National Heritage Institute, since July 1, 2011) developed national databases for archaeological documentation, including sites, investigations and reports. By the end of 2013, there are three main archaeological databases at national level, all available online. The last 12 years means a great progress in regulating modern archaeology in Romania, agreeing national legislation with European and international ones, providing of tools and responses to the challenges of reality, primarily immediate threat to the archaeological heritage. Further development and integration of national archaeological databases is an aim which, unsupported, may not be fulfilled. But in today’s world, it is becoming increasingly difficult to put a monopoly on information. Information via the Internet is powered from a variety of sources, sometimes richer, fresher and more accurate than that hierarchically one gathered by the authorities. Therefore we may be are worried for today but optimistic for tomorrow