2025/03/01 by Michael Malliaris · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Environmental Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Medieval European History and Architecture #Ecology, Conservation, and Geographical Studies #Archaeological Research and Protection
paper · pdf · doi:10.11141/ia.70.8
openalex publication_date 2025/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
The regional authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia supervise the legal application of monument law, with a hierarchical structure comprising supreme, higher and lower monument heritage authorities. The supreme monument heritage authorities form part of the Ministry for Regional Identity and are responsible for the implementation of the Monument Protection Act. Higher authorities supervise the lower monument heritage authorities at the municipal level, while urban archaeology units act as executive bodies for these lower authorities in historically significant cities. The current Monument Protection Act, enacted on 13 April 2022, outlines the responsibilities for preserving monuments in the region. As the example of the excavation at the St Stephanus church square in Beckum, Warendorf district (Germany) shows, the organisation of monument heritage management in North Rhine-Westphalia ensures effective oversight and implementation of the Monument Protection Act. Increased construction activities, particularly related to energy projects, pose challenges to heritage conservation, necessitating improved communication and collaboration between the various authorities and stakeholders. The experiences in Beckum emphasise the importance of balancing urban development with the preservation of cultural heritage by smart, communicative and persistent heritage management.