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3D Scanning is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

The process of repurposing an old or historic building for a new use while retaining its heritage values. Examples include converting an old factory into apartments, or a historic palace into a library. Adaptive reuse gives historic structures renewed life and utility, ensuring their preservation by integrating them into contemporary needs, often with sensitive design modifications that respect the building’s character.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A reconstruction technique in archaeology and conservation where a ruined monument or structure is carefully reassembled from its original fragments. New materials are added only where necessary to support the old pieces. Anastylosis aims to preserve as much of the original fabric as possible and is often used at sites like ancient temples or archways that have fallen apart over time.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Before-and-After Photography is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Cleaning is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Collections Care is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Compatibility (Materials) is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A systematic assessment of the current state of a heritage structure or collection, documenting any deterioration, damage, or risks. Professionals carry out condition surveys to understand conservation needs – for instance, noting cracks in a museum building, fading pigments on a painting, or pests in storage. The survey findings guide restoration priorities and the development of conservation or maintenance plans.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Conservation Ethics is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Conservation Management Plan is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A conservation treatment focused on strengthening and stabilizing fragile materials or structures. For example, a crumbling wall painting or decaying wooden beam may be consolidated by impregnating it with a suitable resin or lime-based solution. Consolidation helps prevent further deterioration by binding weakened components together while minimally altering the object’s appearance.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Corrosion Inhibition is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Data Logger is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Deacidification is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A preservation technique used mainly for paper, books, and archival documents to neutralize acids and slow down deterioration. Paper manufactured from the 19th century onwards often contains acidic compounds that lead to yellowing and embrittlement. Deacidification treatments (such as spraying or immersion in alkaline solutions) raise the pH level of paper, extending the lifespan of these documents.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Desalination is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

In conservation, the process of extracting harmful salts from porous materials like stone, pottery, or wall plasters. Salts often enter heritage objects through groundwater, sea spray, or previous cleaning chemicals and can cause damage by crystallizing and expanding inside the material (efflorescence). Desalination typically involves repeated soaking or poulticing to draw out the salts gently.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Documentation is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Drainage Improvement is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Environmental Control is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

The ongoing tracking of environmental conditions – such as temperature, humidity, light, and pollution – in spaces where cultural heritage is kept or displayed. By using sensors and data loggers, conservators ensure conditions remain within safe ranges. Proper environmental monitoring helps prevent damage like mold growth (if humidity is too high), cracking (if air is too dry), or fading of pigments (if light is too intense).

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

The harm caused to structures, artifacts, or sites by fire and its effects (such as smoke and heat). In cultural heritage, fire damage can lead to loss of irreplaceable architecture, artworks, or archives. Understanding fire damage involves assessing burnt materials, structural stability, and the potential for restoration or consolidation of the remains.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Gap Filling is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Handling Protocols is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Inpainting is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Integrated Pest Management is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A preventive conservation approach to protect collections from pests (like insects or rodents) through a combination of practices. Rather than relying solely on chemical fumigants, Integrated Pest Management involves monitoring for pest activity, improving storage hygiene, controlling climate (pests thrive in certain humidity/temperature), and using traps or biological controls. The goal is to prevent infestations and avoid damage to organic materials such as textiles, wood, or paper.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Laser Scanning is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Light Level Control is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Maintenance Plan is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Material Analysis is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Microclimate is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Moisture Management is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Mold Remediation is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

The process of safely removing mold growth from heritage objects or within historic buildings. Mold can occur on organic materials (paper, textiles, wood) in damp conditions, causing stains and weakening the material. Remediation involves first drying and stabilizing the environment, then cleaning or treating affected items with appropriate methods (like HEPA vacuuming, alcohol wiping, or specialized biocides) to eliminate mold and prevent its return.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Non-Destructive Testing is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

The thin layer or film that forms on the surface of an object over time due to age or chemical reactions. Patina can appear as a greenish layer on bronze statues, a mellow sheen on old wood, or the weathered texture on antique furniture. In conservation, patina is often valued as part of an object’s history – conservators aim to preserve it when possible, as it can indicate authenticity and age, whereas removing it might diminish the item’s historical character.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A technique that uses photographs to measure and create accurate 2D or 3D representations of objects and sites. In heritage conservation, photogrammetry is used to document artifacts or architecture in detail by taking overlapping images and processing them with software to generate scaled models or maps. It’s a valuable tool for recording the condition of a site, monitoring changes, or assisting in virtual reconstruction.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Pigment Identification is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Preservation is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Preventive Conservation is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Regular, planned maintenance activities aimed at keeping heritage buildings and objects in good condition and preventing small issues from becoming major problems. This can include cleaning gutters on historic roofs to avoid water damage, periodically inspecting and treating wooden beams for pests, or tuning climate control systems in archives. Preventive maintenance is cost-effective and extends the life of heritage assets by addressing wear and tear early.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

The isolation of incoming or suspect items to prevent pests or mold from spreading to a collection. Items are inspected and treated before entering main storage.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Reattachment is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

The process of rebuilding or repairing cultural heritage structures that have been destroyed or heavily damaged. Reconstruction can range from anastylosis (reassembling original pieces of a ruined structure) to constructing accurate replicas of historic buildings. It often raises important debates about authenticity and memory – whether to rebuild as it was, adapt to modern needs, or preserve ruins as memorials.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Relative Humidity Control is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Remedial Conservation is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Restoration is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Retreatability is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A core principle in conservation which holds that any treatment applied to a heritage object or structure should be undoable in the future without harm. For instance, if a protective coating or adhesive is used, it should be possible to remove it later. Reversibility is important because conservation techniques and materials evolve – future conservators might need to retreat an item, and they prefer not to be impeded by permanent changes made by earlier restorers.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Salt Efflorescence is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Upgrades made to historic buildings or monuments to improve their structural performance during earthquakes. Techniques for seismic retrofitting include installing reinforcement (like steel rods, braces, or base isolators), strengthening connections between walls and floors, or using newer materials like fiber wraps on masonry. The challenge is to enhance safety and stability while also respecting the building’s historical fabric and appearance.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Storage Supports is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Structural Assessment is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

The gentle removal of dirt, soot, corrosion, or biological growth from the surface of heritage objects or materials. This may involve dry methods (like brushes, vacuuming) or wet methods (using water, solvents, or special cleaning solutions) depending on the item’s sensitivity. Surface cleaning improves appearance and can slow deterioration (for example, removing pollutants that might acidicly corrode stone or metal).

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Temperature Control is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Textile Conservation is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Treatment Report is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

UV Filtration is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Varnish Removal is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Deterioration or loss resulting from water exposure, whether from flooding, leaks, firefighting efforts, or high humidity. For heritage objects and buildings, water can cause warping, staining, corrosion, mold growth, or structural failures. Mitigating water damage involves drying out materials carefully, cleaning deposits like mud or salt, and stabilizing affected structures.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Wind Reinforcement is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Wood Conservation is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A non-destructive analytical technique used to identify the elemental composition of materials. It helps conservators understand pigments, alloys, and corrosion products without sampling.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A gradual discoloration of paper, textiles, or coatings caused by aging and chemical change. It can signal deterioration and guides preventive conservation actions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS