The preservation of cultural heritage from emergency planning through to heritage recovery processes

Abstract

This study deals with the protection, disaster response, and heritage recovery of immovable and movable cultural heritage in accident and disaster situations. The study examines 19 incidents that required the protection, rescue, and aftercare of cultural heritage. The research provides basic information on how and with what type of mechanisms cultural heritage deteriorates in disaster and post-disaster situations. The methods chosen in the disaster response and heritage recovery work can either prevent or increase heritage damage. Existing operational models and available material and personnel resources enable the carrying out of successful heritage recovery work that minimizes the damage to cultural heritage. The researched incidents occurred in Finland between 1990 and 2010. The research data consists of four independent information sources: 1) themed interviews with the disaster sites’ owners (18 interviews, 19 cases), 2) themed interviews with subject matter specialists (nine interviews), 3) Finnish crime statistics between 1990 and 2010, and 4) six disaster case trial conviction documents. Qualitative content analysis was used with the help of Atlas.ti 6.1 software to analyze the research data. The study shows that cultural values as a background factor had an impact on the funding of heritage recovery. This influenced the success rate of disaster response and heritage recovery processes. A lack of emergency planning and economic resources caused ineffectiveness in both disaster response and heritage recovery work. This sometimes leads to significant secondary heritage damage, especially in the case of water damage. Based on the research data, the deliberate destruction of heritage through vandalism or arson poses a significant threat to Finnish cultural heritage. This should be considered in cultural heritage site emergency planning. Keywords: cultural heritage, cultural property, heritage studies, risk management, disaster management, heritage recovery, preservation, preventive conservation