On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 7:45 PM, Vicenç Riullop vriullop@hotmail.com wrote:
We have encountered an unexpected problem with monuments of Minorca (http://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llista_de_monuments_de_Menorca). There are about 1,000 monuments, most of them of Talayotic culture (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talaiotic_Cultura), possibly with an unclear demarcation between the categories of monument and archaeological area, two of the categories defined for Bien de Interés Cultural (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bien_de_Inter% C3% A9s_Cultural). We have contacted with the person in charge of heritage in the island council asking for help to identify them and locate them as the online register only contains the name and little else. His answer is that we must limit to 65 monuments that are accessible to the public. The reason is that most are on private lands and they want to avoid spolation. He recognizes out of the record that most are not monuments. I think they probably lack of protection and I know the islanders are very sensitive that tourists do not invade private lands.
I think it is perfectly understandable that the owners of private lands do not want that people enter and destroy their crops for sake of taking a photo of a few stones (I guess that's what most owners would think). At the same time, it would be a pity to restrict to only 65 monuments. I think some compromise solutions must be found. For example, indicating clearly in the list which monuments are in private lands, with an invitation to be considerate. Or, if it was possible, trying to arrange, maybe with the mediation of the chapter or of some local authorities, visits to these monuments with the permission of the owner of the land.
Cruccone