History and rules on cultural heritages, in particular on paleontological sites and specimens. Excavations and collection of paleontological heritages. Conservation and management. The recovery of paleontological assets and introduction to restoration. Examples of Italian paleontological goods. Examples of Italian paleontological sites. Management and protection legislation during major works. Enhancement and conservation of paleontological heritage and sites and their socio-cultural impact.
Bibliographic references reported in the slides. Supplementary online material accessible during the course.
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons or online lessons
Further information
No additional info
Type of Assessment
Oral exam.
Evaluation of learning of the covered topics; evaluation of discursively organizing knowledge; critical reasoning skills; presentation quality; vocabulary skills, knowledge of specialized terminology; knowledge of regulatory acts; ability to apply and evaluate knowledge in the studied cases; ability to solve the proposed problems.
Course program
The state of the art of the Italian legislation on the management and protection of paleontological assets. The comparative framework on the legislation of other European and non-European countries. The art. 10 (paragraph 4, letter a) of the Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape and the definition that includes cultural heritage: "things that concern paleontology, prehistory and ancient civilizations". A historical excursus of the discipline starting from what established by the first law on cultural heritage (L. 1089/1939, "Bottai Law"). The difficulties of applying the rule "in toto" to paleontological heritage and the institutional attempts to overcome the setting of the Bottai Law of 1939. The role of the nucleus protects the artistic and cultural heritage of the Carabinieri weapon. The recent renewed interaction between scientific societies of the sector (Italian Paleontological Society) and the Ministry of Heritage and Crop Activities.
Paleontological excavations. The recovery of paleontological assets and introduction to restoration. Examples of Italian paleontological goods. Examples of Italian paleontological sites. Management and protection legislation during major works. Enhancement and conservation of paleontological heritage and sites and their socio-cultural impact. Cave excavations. Protection and recovery projects and the search for funds. Excavation vehicles and special local and regional regulations. Confiscation of property and penalties. Comparison with some cases from abroad. The fossil trade. Paleontological assets in the making. Museums, itineraries and educational campaigns. The geosites. UNESCO sites. The ICCD card. the ICA. The Ministry. Preventive archeology and preventive paleontology. Archaeological and paleontological surveillance. Cultural heritage professionals.