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Definitions of Conservation
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The legacy of our collective cultural heritage enriches our lives.
Each generation has a responsibility to maintain and to protect this
heritage for the benefit of succeeding generations. Those who care for
cultural property - the material aspects of that heritage - use special
terminology currently defined by AIC as follows:
Conservation: The profession devoted to the preservation of
cultural property for the future. Conservation activities include examination,
documentation, treatment, and preventive care, supported by research and
education.
Examination: The investigation of the structure,
materials, and condition of cultural property including the identification
of the extent and causes of alteration and deterioration.
Documentation:The recording in a permanent format of information
derived from conservation activities.
Treatment: The deliberate alteration of the chemical and/or
physical aspects of cultural property, aimed primarily at prolonging its
existence. Treatment may consist of stabilization and/or restoration.
Stabilization: Treatment procedures intended to
maintain the integrity of cultural property and to minimize
deterioration.
Restoration: Treatment procedures intended to return cultural
property to a known or assumed state, often through the addition of nonoriginal
material.
Preventive Care (also referred to as preventive
conservation): The mitigation of deterioration and damage to cultural
property through the formulation and implementation of policies and
procedures for the following: appropriate environmental conditions;
handling and maintenance procedures for storage, exhibition, packing,
transport, and use; integrated pest management; emergency preparedness
and response; and reformatting/duplication.
Cultural Property: Objects, collections, specimens,
structures, or sites identified as having artistic, historic, scientific,
religious, or social significance.
Preservation: The protection of cultural property through
activities that minimize chemical and physical deterioration and damage
and that prevent loss of informational content. The primary goal of
preservation is to prolong the existence of cultural property.
Conservator: A professional whose primary occupation is the
practice of conservation and who, through specialized education, knowledge,
training, and experience, formulates and implements all the activities of
conservation in accordance with an ethical code such as the AIC Code of Ethics
and Guidelines for Practice.
Conservation Administrator: A professional with substantial
knowledge of conservation who is responsible for the administrative
aspects and implementation of conservation activities in accordance with
an ethical code such as the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for
Practice.
Conservation Educator: A professional with substantial
knowledge and experience in the theory and techniques of conservation
whose primary occupation is to teach the principles, methodology, and/or
technical aspects of the profession in accordance with an ethical code
such as the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.
Conservation Scientist: A professional scientist whose
primary focus is the application of specialized knowledge and skills to
support the activities of conservation in accordance with an ethical code
such as the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.
Conservation Technician: An individual who is trained and
experienced in specific conservation treatment activities and who works in
conjunction with or under the supervision of a conservator. A conservation
technician may also be trained and experienced in specific preventive care
activities.
Collections Care Specialist: An individual who is trained
and experienced in specific preventive care activities and who works in
conjunction with or under the supervision of a conservator.
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