This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.

1. Conservation Theories,
Modern Principles and
Guidelines
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Department of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology
Banaras Hindu University

2. Conservation Theories,
Modern Principles and
Guidelines

3. Conservation Theory
• The conservation constitutes necessary actions
• To prolong its life and existence;
• To prevent its damage and deterioration
• Minimise the impact of external agents of decay and
• Prepare it for natural or human-induced disasters
• A monument should be subjected to minimum interventions
• Must maintain its authenticity and integrity.
• Original/historical material retained for as long as possible.
• The authenticity of the monument should not be replaced

4. Approach
•Maintain the originality
•Return objects to the condition existing just prior to
treatment.
•Avoid the use of materials that may become so
intractable that their future removal will endanger the
object.
•Select treatments whose benefits far outweigh the
losses they cause

5. Conservation Theory
• The monument should be made to retain
1. Its value
2. Significance,
3. Its authenticity
4. Integrity,
5. Its original appearance.

6. Conservation Principles
• Conservation of a monument should, under no circumstance, be based
on any conjecture or artistic imagination.
• It should be based on reliable documentary evidence
1. Past conservation records,
2. Documents,
3. Paintings sketches,
4. Drawings,
5. Photographs,
6. Travelogues, and
7. In situ archaeological evidence

7. Conservation Principles
• Conservation should be treated as a multi-disciplinary
enterprise.
• Conservation must focus on developing holistic solutions
• Save the structure from decay and deterioration.
• A comprehensive and careful study of all aspects should be
undertaken.
• A monument maintains its antiquity and authenticity.

8. Conservation Guidelines: Inspection
• An inspection must be undertaken by experts before work
• Must draw inspection notes
• Find out the causes of decay
• Major/minor cracks etc.
• Growth of vegetation
• Make a necessary conservation programme or plan.
• Regular monitoring and maintenance
• Continuous care of a monument and its setting.

9. Conservation Guidelines: Documentation
• After basic inspection documentation needs to be conducted
• A team of experts shall involve
• Documentation should be done before conserving a monument.
• Maps, drawings, photographs, digital records and field notes so
as to create continuous records of interventions.
• The documentation should capture various stages of
intervention and all relevant details.
• This will be useful to understand all past and current
interventions in the future.
• The entire process of conservation should be documented
before, during and after.

10. Conservation Guidelines: Conservation Plan
• Prepare a Conservation Plan for a monument to understand the
proposed intervention
• The Conservation Plan should clearly define the value-based approach
to conservation.
• The Conservation Plan shall include all micro details of the works
• The plan should be reviewed once every five years (according to
structure).
• Conservation works should be peer-reviewed from time to time.
• A group of multidisciplinary experts shall involve in inspections
• Experts should also examine the quality of ongoing conservation
• Conservation should be carried out according to the approved
conservation plan.

11. Conservation Guidelines: Replacement
• Original/historical material may not be replaced.
• The archaeological or architectural integrity of the monument is to be
retained.
• Replacement of parts of the material is considered only if it has
completely lost its inherent, material strength or structural integrity.
• The replacement may only be undertaken to prevent further
deterioration.
• Avoid Replacement of
1. Missing or damaged sculptures,
2. Idols,
3. Wall paintings,
4. Inscriptions,

12. Conservation Principles: Restoration/Merging
• Fewer interventions such as: restoration, consolidation, and
reproduction.
• In certain cases, where a monument is being restored with the
intention of merging [a new intervention] with the original fabric,
for the sake of maintaining architectural integrity.
• These works must be done very carefully by matching the original
material/details in terms of form, colour and specification
• Preferably through the use of the same material and employing
traditional skills as used in the original fabric.
• Such interventions should, as far as possible, be reversible in
nature.
• The decision for achieving such objectives should be carefully
recorded and documented for posterity.

13. Conservation Guidelines: Fragile Items
• The highest attention should be paid to the conservation of
fragile objects.
• Scientific knowledge should be made to protect and preserve
them in situ for as long as possible.
• If fail to protect their integrity, an assessment should be made
to remove and place them in a safe environment.
• Whilst replacing them with reproductions of the same profile
and specifications to maintain architectural integrity.
• This, however, is to be done only in extremely rare cases.

14. Conservation Guidelines: Technology
• Conservation of a monument should employ appropriate
scientific technology and equipment.
• The use of appropriate technology should also be mandated for
documentation purposes.
• Document the physical nature, the analysis of its materials and
construction technology, and the current condition.
• Practice and examine the new technology before using it in
monuments.
• A trained team of experts are advised

15. Conservation Guidelines: Use of Chemicals
• Prior research is needed
• The outcome and results of the chemical are advised.
• The use of inappropriate chemicals for cleaning monuments
should be avoided.
• Chemicals must be properly investigated before their actual
use in conservation work.
• Close inspection is needed.
• Further regular inspection advised

16. Conservation Guidelines: Landscape
• Landscaping and horticultural practices are necessary within
and around a monument.
• It provides a cleaner, dust-free environment, creates
comfortable spaces, and enhances visual perception.
• Use of local flora, and maintenance of the originality.
• It is necessary to undertake archaeo-botanical investigations or
scientific clearing to discover the original landscape.
• Use appropriate technology to establish original plantations and
species of flora.

18. Conservation Guidelines: Tourist control
• Heritage monuments famous in the world attract tourist
• Tourists: National and International
• It gives financial support to the economy of the nation.
• While tourism is in itself desirable because monuments are
preserved for people to visit and appreciate them.
• But the increase in visitor numbers leads to possible harm to
the monuments.
• Important to have sufficient human resources available to
monitor the movement of visitors
• Computers and web-based applications can also be used for
online appointments for visiting the monument.

21. Conservation Guidelines: Archaeological Site
• Special care should be taken at archaeological sites due to their
fragile nature
• Do not expose them to harsh environments
• Archaeological mounds wherein remains or artefacts are found
on their surface need to be protected.
• Such sites shall be carefully preserved and secured
• If preservation is not possible items should be carefully
removed (after proper excavation) from the site to be kept in
safe custody.
• Shade is the most possible way to protect.
• Repeated cleaning required

25. Conservation Guidelines: Training
• All conservation professionals should be encouraged to training
• Training should be on-site and Laboratory
• A team involved experienced archaeologists, architects, engineers,
scientists and horticulturists
• Should engage with institutions such as
a) Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs),
b) Indian Institute of Science (IISc),
c) Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs),
d) National Institute of Design (NID),
e) Various conservation-related institutes and
f) NGOs

26. Conservation Guidelines: Annual Conservation Plan (ACP)
• Annual Conservation Plan (ACP) should be carefully drawn.
• Priority should be given to works of urgent nature required to preserve
or consolidate a monument.
• The annual Conservation Plan can be revised, from time to time,
• Annual plans should also be drawn up for providing amenities or
necessary infrastructure within monuments.
• Short-term (up to 2 years),
• Mid-term (2 – 5 years) and
• Long-term (5 years and above)

27. Conclusion
• Monuments are proud of the nation, its protection is the duty of
every citizen.
• The conservation of a monument is a continuous process.
• During conservation should follow the ethics, theory, principles
and guidelines of the conservation.
• The monument should be preserved, as far as possible, as per
the original design and intent.
• Any contemporary inappropriate alterations should be carefully
removed
• Adequate resources (human and financial) should be made
available to conserve it for posterity.

28. Thank You