Proposing a site for classification

Our national archaeological heritage includes material remains and all other traces of human existence in the past, therefore:

  • Its conservation and protection is in the interest of the public; and
  • its scientific study enables the reconstruction of human evolution, the history of mankind and their interrelation with the environment.

Archaeological heritage items whose conservation and protection are in the public interest, and whose scientific study makes it possible to reconstruct human evolution and human-related environmental changes, may be classified as national cultural heritage.

Applications for archaeological heritage status must be submitted to the Minister of Culture. The Minister may also initiate such a classification procedure on his or her own initiative.

Who are the people concerned?

Applications to classify an archaeological site as archaeological heritage are submitted to the Minister of Culture by:

  • the owners of the land on which the archaeological site is located;
  • the commune in whose territory an archaeological site is located;
  • a non-profit association dedicated to safeguarding cultural heritage;
  • a private individual;
  • the Commission for Cultural Heritage (COPAC).

The Minister of Culture may also launch such a classification procedure on his or her own initiative. In this case, a notification of his intention to classify, including the conditions of classification and information on the possible payment of compensation, is sent to the owner by registered letter.

Deadlines

The protection applies legally from the moment the Minister of Culture notifies his intention to classify.

The opinion of the Commission for Cultural Heritage and the local council of the commune in which the archaeological site is located must be requested. The owner and other consulted bodies have 3 months from the moment of notification to submit their objections. Classification of the archaeological site by order of the Minister of Culture must take place within 12 months of notification of the intention to classify. Once this period has expired, the procedure becomes null and void.

Practical details

This procedure can be launched following the discovery of archaeological remains during a preventive or research-based archaeological operation. It can also be applied to adventitious finds or archaeological sites that have been known for a long time. The application must be accompanied by the following information:

  • the surname, first name, profession, date and place of birth and home address of the applicant, or, in the case of a legal entity, its corporate name, legal status, registered office address and company registration number;
  • the location of the archaeological site (address, commune, locality, street, number or indication of the locality, taken-over road or national road, as well as the cadastral number);
  • photos of the archaeological site;
  • a text describing the archaeological site and the reasons for classifying it as an archaeological site;
  • any other relevant documents in support of the application.

Consequences of classification

The consequences of classifying an archaeological site as archaeological heritage are as follows:

  • le propriétaire veille à la conservation de son site archéologique classé ;
  • tout travail de réparation, de restauration ou de modification quelconque, autres que l’entretien, à faire réaliser à l’extérieur et à l’intérieur de site archéologique classé, nécessite une autorisation écrite du Ministre de la Culture ; ceci concerne pour les sites archéologiques classés tous travaux qui entraînent une intervention dans le sol, des creusements, des excavations, des fouilles quelconques comme notamment des constructions de toute sorte, l’installation d’aménagements techniques et autres, plantations, etc., indépendamment de leur envergure et profondeur.
  • aucune construction nouvelle ne peut être adossée à un site archéologique classé sans une autorisation écrite du Ministre de la Culture ; pour ces projets, une demande d’évaluation des incidences sur le patrimoine archéologique doit être demandée.
  • la demande d’autorisation de travaux est à adresser par écrit au Ministre de la Culture avant le début envisagé de ces travaux ; Il est recommandé au maître d’ouvrage qui envisage des travaux sur un site archéologique classé ou sur une parcelle adossée à un site archéologique classé de contacter l’INRA / le MC au début des planifications afin de recevoir un accord de principe.
  • les travaux autorisés s’exécutent sous la surveillance de l’Institut national de recherches archéologiques. Le propriétaire d’un site archéologique classé comme patrimoine culturel national peut bénéficier d’une assistance à maitrise d’ouvrage.

Contact

  • Institut national de recherches archéologiques (INRA): pcnarcheo@inra.etat.lu
  • Ministry of Culture