EARTH SCIENCES AND CULTURE: NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANET EARTH

ABSTRACT. The heritage of mankind should be regarded as an indivisible whole: natural heritage (geological heritage, mineral diversity, biodiversity and the variety of different environments) and cultural heritage in which archaeology, art and folklore heritage are only different facets. Geoarchaeology and archaeomineralogy are important interdisciplinary sciences that help to restore the cultural balance of art and sciences, and to achieve a new harmony between nature and mankind. They have a considerable potential for studying the history of material culture. International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) – A Renaissance of Earth sciences The importance of Earth sciences for society has been systematically underestimated during almost half a century. However, vital problems related to climate changes, water supply shortages, exhaustion of energy and some types of mineral resources, increased natural risks have unequivocally demonstrated that Earth sciences are vital for understanding nature and for finding an adequate response to new challenges for humankind. Following this line of thinking, and after a considerable preliminary work performed by the International Union of Geosciences – IUGS (under the past presidency of Ed de Mulder) and UNESCO, the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization unanimously adopted in December 200