Declaration of San Antonio and the importance of "authenticity"

    Declaration of San Antonio (1966) is one of the declarations about conservation of cultural heritage. Delegates of ICOMOS National Committees of the Americas, met in San Antonio, Texas, United States of America, from the 27th to the 30th of March, 1996. It is mainly about authenticity of the cultural heritage, especially discussing this term in the scope of America. America has a multi cultural variation of states, therefore they have to coexist together. This coexistence is the main strength, containing and recognizing these cultural diversity without any hierarchy. “No nation in the Americas has a single national identity; our diversity makes up the sum of our national identities.” Comprehending the concept of authenticity, examination of the significance of a place is required, and the assessments should be based on the opinions of those who are familiar with the site or its history. This allows not just for the study of change and evolution, but also of the values and traditions associated with the process. It was also emphasized in the document, different values can occasionally crash. 

     The complexity and convergence of different conflicting values may add to the legacy value. Rather than focusing on the dominance of certain groups and their values, the site should be appraised by taking into account all values, even if they are the source of difficult confrontations. Character, traditions, patterns, forms, spiritual significance, and collective memory are sometimes more essential than the preservation of a site's physical elements. “We recognize that in certain types of heritage sites, such as cultural landscapes, the conservation of overall character and traditions, such as patterns, forms and spiritual value, may be more important than the conservation of the physical features of the site, and as such, may take precedence. Therefore, authenticity is a concept much larger that material integrity and the two concepts must not be assumed to be equivalent or consubstantial.” 

    The document distinguishes between two categories of American cultural sites. Static cultural sites are similar to archeological sites that are no longer in use, but dynamic cultural sites are actively used by the community. As a result, their conservation procedures, issues, and authenticity are all determined by different qualities. It is stated that the authenticity of archeological sites is not something that can be replenished. “The authenticity of archaeological sites is non-renewable. It resides in its material elements and their context, that is, the relationship of the structures and objects among themselves and with the physical surroundings. Authenticity can be destroyed when the context of the site is not properly documented, when layers are eliminated to reach deeper ones, when total excavation is undertaken and when the findings are not rigorously and broadly disseminated.” As a result, the original condition of stratigraphy must be preserved so that future generations may be able to study them using more appropriate methodologies. It was also claimed that the employment of new materials, new interventions, new looks, and new hands in the restoration of cultural sites to promote its touristic qualities reduces the authenticity of the sites. Furthermore, economic development and tourism-related activities, as well as poor populations, are all important aspects in the urban centers of historic American cities and places