The Evolution Of The Concept Of Historic Site

This thesis aims to describe the evolution of the definition of the concept of historic sites during the last forty years.It bases its reflexion on an analysis of the Venice Charter as the founding international text of the concept of historic site and cultural heritage.In analysing several key dates concerning the evolution of international environmental laws,it aims to explain the importance of each texts.Indeed tomorrow's environmental issues are directly linked to tourism,the latter representing a major criteria in the way of defining a historic site today.This thesis based finally its reflexion on two examples:the Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne in France and the Old Town of Lijiang in China,both inscribed the same year(1997)on the UNESCO World Heritage List.The two sites share many similarities but are also different in many ways.The thesis emphasises the importance of identity given to a site by the local population or the local culture.It concludes on the importance of the education of the local population towards their cultural heritage but also the need of control towards tourists.It eventually questions the founding texts signed by many States Parties during the sixties and seventies.Texts that might have threatened tomorrow's conservation of historic sites.