Safeguarding and destruction of heritage: war and social conflicts

The destruction of cultural heritage refers to the loss or deterioration of cultural assets, movable, immovable and intangible that have historical, artistic, architectural, archaeological, scientific or social value.

The reasons for destruction can be human (wars, vandalism, looting, urban development, neglect, lack of conservation, mass influx of visitors, climate change) or natural (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and other effects of climate change).

Of all these, war conflicts are the most important cause of patrimonial losses. In Europe, there are several research centers that analyze these losses, focusing the analysis on the armed conflicts of the contemporary era (the two world wars).

The ICRPC has joined this global trend, and has consolidated itself as a center specializing in the study of the safeguarding and destruction of heritage during the Spanish Civil War.