Karta Wenecka a realizacja postanowień Konwencji w sprawie ochrony światowego dziedzictwa kulturalnego i naturalnego z 1972 roku – o pojęciu autentyczności

This article is devoted to the analysis of links between the Venice Charter and the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of 1972, along with the presentation of evolution of certain ideas exemplified by the term of authenticity, which constitutes one of the foundations of the Venice Charter. Some issues, currently well recognised, which constitute the basis of a modern conservation doctrine, are included in the very Venice Charter. Over years, they became reinforced in the international community’s awareness, which directly reflects the contents of the World Heritage Convention and its execution – starting from the term “heritage of mankind” found in the Charter and popularised by the Convention, through the establishment of ICOMOS, which became an advisory organisation to the World Heritage Committee, to the concept of authenticity and respect to historic substance. A historic substance is the basic carrier of the outstanding universal value of World Heritage Sites. However, the meaning of authenticity of the substance has changed within the last forty years. One of the most significant phases in this process, which influenced, among others, the UNESCO World Heritage List, was the adoption of the Nara Document concerning authenticity (1994), broadening and supplementing the provisions of the Venice Charter mainly in the context of authenticity. However, a high degree of arbitrariness in interpreting international doctrinal documents, resulting from their universal character, has led to blurring of importance of values underlying the World Heritage Convention, valuing intangible values over tangible ones, which derives from the Venice Charter. The concept of authenticity, although linked to the provisions of the Venice Charter, began to be defined only in Operating Guidelines to the execution of the World Heritage Convention. Since 1976 it has evolved, reflecting changes in attitude towards heritage. In this article the process has been illustrated by three entries to the World Heritage List: a historical centre of Warsaw, an Old Bridge within the Old Town in Mostar and a historical and archaeological complex in Bolgar.