Legal Definitions - cultural property

Cultural property refers to tangible items or places that hold significant historical, artistic, archaeological, scientific, or social value to a community, nation, or humanity as a whole. These can be objects that can be moved (movable property) or structures and sites that are fixed in place (immovable property).

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of cultural property:

• Example 1: An ancient, pre-colonial stone observatory located on a mountaintop, built by an indigenous civilization to track celestial movements for agricultural and religious purposes.

  Explanation: This observatory is an immovable property. It possesses immense archaeological, scientific, and historical significance, representing the advanced knowledge and cultural practices of a past civilization. Its value extends to understanding human history and the development of astronomy.

• Example 2: A collection of meticulously crafted silk tapestries from the 17th century, depicting scenes of daily life and historical events from a specific European kingdom.

  Explanation: These tapestries are movable property. They are culturally significant due to their artistic merit, the historical narratives they preserve, and the insights they offer into the craftsmanship and societal norms of their era. They contribute to the artistic and historical heritage of that kingdom.

• Example 3: The original handwritten score of a groundbreaking symphony composed in the early 20th century, containing the composer's personal annotations and revisions.

  Explanation: This musical score is movable property. It holds profound artistic and historical significance as a primary source document for a pivotal work of music. It provides unique insights into the creative process of a renowned artist and the evolution of musical composition, making it invaluable cultural property.