Strategies for the protection of Archaeological Heritage: comparison of World Heritage Cities in the European context

A long tradition has been developed in Europe over many decades in the practice of urban archaeology together with building up policies and protection strategies related to historical and archaeological heritage. World Heritage cities are expected to be an example of protection and management of archaeological heritage, and should serve as models for other cities which have not enjoyed this experience in research and management of its archaeological assets This paper reflects on some of the contents of a research project analyzing the archaeological management in cities declared World Heritage. The focus lies on four European cities: Cordoba, Evora, Paris and Toledo, comparing and analyzing the efforts to protect the archaeological heritage from the premises of preventive archaeology. The legal framework, urban planning regulations, are especially studied, as well as the existence of inventories and protected areas, different degrees of protection offered, management plans or the different actors involved in the management of this heritage. This research project has also centred on the type and characteristics of archaeological interventions made in recent years, in cities in which this information is available. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of protection systems analyzed are assessed, choosing the strategies and initiatives that have provided better results, to build a satisfactory model of protection and management of archaeological heritage in the World Heritage cities