Preliminary version
By: Rudy Larios Villalta
November 16, 2000

Subjects:

1. Analyze the international conservation and restoration norms.
2. Discuss and distinguish the resources applicable to El Pilar site.
3. Define the most significant terms of conservation.
4. Identify the applicable guidelines in order to guarantee the preservation of architectural monuments and maintain a natural environment.

I. International Norms

Today there are many documents that summarize and define the principle actions of the development and conservation of archaeological monuments and sites. One example is the document knows as “Carta de Venecia” (The letter of Venice), or “The International Letter for the Conservation and Restoration of Sites and Monuments”(1964). Many call it inadequate, it continues to be very useful, at least the fundamentals. All subsequent documents have been based on this document. I do not want to say that this letter is a theoretical treaties of restoration and applicable techniques, but rather a series of prohibitions and guidelines. We have prepared this document for El Pilar, taking into account the following documents:

-Carta de Venecia, UNESCO, Venecia mayo 1964.
-Carta de Australia(Burra Chater) ICOMOS, Australia, 1981.
-Normas de Quito, Ecuador, noviembre-diciembre, 1967.
-UNESCO, Nirobi, 1976.
-UNESCO, Antigua Guatemala Septiembre, 1977.
-El Salvador, Junio, 1976.
-La Valette, 1992.
-ICOMOS, New Zealand, Octubre,1992.

2. Definitions

I.1.1 Monument, cultural property of the nation
Norms of Quito
Numbers 3 & 4 literally say:
(need information)

The term monument as I have said before is not a measure of size, such as “enormous”. It is a measure of importance and cultural significance, not of size.
Monument is a category. Its literal significance is memory. It is a witness of the past that expresses the sense and the acknowledgement of an ancient culture. It gives a testimony of a typical history because the memory of a particular culture reflects their physical work.

Conclusion

1. The support and recognition of the state is indispensable for the conservation of El Pilar.
2. A plan should be put in place, appropriate and educational for the adjacent communities to identify themselves with their past.
3. It is indispensable that the communities guard and conserve the site. In exchange for their participation, they would receive the benefits of the tourism and development. In other words, we should continue to support Amigos de El Pilar.
4. El Pilar, as a national monument is worthy of being conserved,

using all the necessary scientific resources .

I.1.2.Conservation & Restoration
Letter of Venice
(need information)

The objective of conservation and restoration is to safeguard. Restoration is only one step in safeguarding. This implies permanent care (Art.3&4). To conserve does not end with the restoration of the monument; it also attempts to go much farther trying to guarantee its permanence for future generations. Premises:
1.The principal objective of conservation is to perpetuate the historic testimony without the denaturalization of its cultural meaning.
2.Tourism can be a useful resource that we should use as a generator of currency and well being. But it is not the most important object.
3.Visitors represent a factor of deterioration. This is why we should work in the prevention and protection of this danger.
4.Restoration is only one method of safeguarding as mentioned in article 9 to help “keep an exceptional character”.
5.To restore is not always the correct thing to do. If the monument is well preserved, our mission will be use the appropriate methods to maintain and guarantee its permanence.

To restore
It literally means to recover or to repair. For the architectural pieces we cannot use this meaning literally. We need to analyze the reality of each archaeological monument. Now it is opportune to mention Cesar Brandi, when he said “To restore means to intervene with any object with the idea of giving it back its efficiency whatever product of human activity ”(Gonzalez,1977:3)
This is seen as a correct definition, but it also has some limitations. Here we have to consider some primordial aspects:
1) For the efficiency  of  any object or product of the human activity, it has to be given back it’s function, for which it was made.
2) The restoration, as mentioned by Brandi, is a process of intervention that will make efficient any product of human creation. It is indispensable that the object be restored to reclaim its efficiency.
3) In our case, archaeological sites are usually in danger of destruction. Consequently they are unique and irreparable  sites .
4) The original social function  cannot be determined until the iconographic characteristics or special features that help us to identify their use are interpreted.
5) The prehispanic works of archaeological investigations that are ongoing, inform us about the social functions, but its social function cannot be restored. Now we are talking about the structural function.
6) Letter of Venice 
With the mention of concepts, it is necessary to review one more time the Brandi definition. So the efficiency will depend  of our decision. Numeral 4, Norms of Quito: A small piece of wood can be useful and efficient for firewood. It also can be use to prop up a damaged and old table. Its efficiency will depend of the object. The social function or the usefulness for which one it has been destined.
The archaeological sites are inevitably tourist attractions.
Conclusions for El Pilar
-To restore, is to return the object its efficiency, as a monument; this includes as a principal, a subjective aesthetic aspect. If it is in ruin, however we cannot reconstruct its efficiency or social function.
-The structural efficiency is not related with symbolism, but to the material, with which it is built, and its equilibrium with the environment.
-We can return the monument to its structural efficiency. For example, the flights of steps is efficient to walk into the building. The base of a column is efficient to support it. The walls are efficient to hold the roof. Every structural element is efficient for something specific.
-If an element does not exist because it is destroyed or damaged, we do not have the right to reconstruct it. If an element exists and has lost its structural capacity, it can be restored with support of evidence.

Conservation
Article 1.4: Burra  Chater
Article 4: Venice Chater
(need information)

-Both letters coincide with “conservation is a permanent care maintenance.”
-With this base we have to avoid the exposure of architectural monuments if the state does not offer them the permanent care that they need.
-Restoration gives priority  to the monuments in high risk, either for natural damage or because of the archaeological investigations.
-The site conservation in a long term has to be a government responsibility, but BRASS is working in a plan of conservation  for this site.

To facilitate the understanding of the monument
Venice Chater, Art.15: (need information)
-The visitor is included, beside the archaeologist and the restorer.
-We can not start to restore until we have the forms and details of the structure, and until we know the state of stability.
-Make easy to the visitor the condition of the site as a didactic document.
-On El Pilar there will be available complement works that will help to explain the monument without transforming its authenticity or cultural meaning, or its esthetical aspects.
I.1.3. Definitions
The conservation and restoration of prehispanic monuments consist in applying all the scientific resources that  cooperate with it permanence. Assists helps to conserve its integrity and cultural meaning. Also its historic testimony, offering to the visitor an understanding of the monument by maintaining it with constant and special technical care.

(II. Methods and III. Restoration Treatments continued on next page)