KulturGutRetter (KGR): technical characteristics of a cultural heritage response unit

Rapid intervention, integrated processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are key in safeguarding movable and immovable cultural heritage in case of disaster. This is why interoperability between the technical capacities and field experience of civil protection and the expertise of cultural heritage professionals is at the heart of an efficient response operation. The KulturGutRetter (KGR – Cultural Heritage Response Unit) project is designed to unite civil protection capacities and cultural heritage know-how into a single unit to provide emergency support to cultural heritage hit by natural hazards, anywhere in the world. It relies on three founding partners, working together since the conception phase in 2019, in order to develop a fully integrated capacity. The Federal Agency for Technical Relief - THW harnesses its expertise in crisis situation management, logistics and international intervention. The Leibniz Centre for Archaeology - LEIZA, mobilises its knowledge in the safeguarding of movable cultural heritage. Finally, know-how in the preservation of immovable cultural heritage, IT developments and project management and coordination is provided by the German Archaeological Institute-DAI.
PROCULTHER-NET Project. Technical Bulletin N. 1, March 2023 pp. 58-64