Country Summary for ESTONIA

Definitions

‘archaeological monument’ - is the remains, thing or set of things of human activity and other traces which indicate the multiple layers of time on a cultural landscape and which provide scientific information on the history of mankind and human relations with the natural environment. An archaeological layer is an important part of an archaeological monument. (§11.3 HCA 2019)

‘architectural monument’ - is a building together with the interior, including interior design elements and furnishings connected with the original function of the building, civil engineering works or a structural complex, which is an important marker in the Estonian architectural history and development of spatial environment and the keeper of a diverse human environment. (§11.4 HCA 2019)

‘art monument’ - is a movable property, set of things, part of a structure or a part removed from a structure of artistic, cultural, religious, historical, ethnological or scientific value that reflects the development of art, handicraft skills or aesthetics and the processes connected with local traditions and communities. (§11.5 HCA 2019)

‘cultural objects’ - are things of historical, archaeological, ethnographic, artistic, scientific or other cultural value. A cultural object is also a thing declared to be a cultural monument (hereinafter monument) on the basis of the Heritage Conservation Act or a thing placed under temporary protection irrespective of the fact whether the thing is specified in subsection (1) of this section. (§§2.1, 2.2 ICTA)

‘historical monument’ is a thing or area connected with a political or social process, important historical event or an outstanding social or cultural figure. (§11.2 HCA 2019)

‘historical natural sacred site’ - is a thing or an area without significant human impact and characterised by folk tradition, which is associated with sacrifice, worship, healing or religious and ritual activity. Historical natural sacred sites are the significant bearers of folk tradition and local identity. (§11.6 HCA 2019)

‘intangible cultural heritage’ - means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills transmitted from generation to generation – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognise as part of their cultural heritage and recreate constantly. (§5.1 HCA 2019)

‘monument’ - is a movable or immovable property of cultural value, a part thereof, a set of things, an area or structural complex that has been placed under state protection pursuant to the procedure provided for in this Act. (§8 HCA 2019)

Monuments are divided into immovable and movable monuments. Immovable monuments are a historical monument, archaeological monument, historical natural sacred site and architectural monument. Movable monuments are an art monument and a technical monument. (§11.8 HCA 2019)

‘museum object’ - a thing of cultural value registered in a museum, for which records are maintained pursuant to the international principles of museum documentation. (§2.2 Museum Act)

‘tangible cultural heritage’ - means all kinds of objects and places created by people, or by the synergy of people and nature in collaboration, and which have historical, archaeological, cultural, or aesthetic value. (§4.1 HCA 2019)

‘technical monument’ - is a movable property or set of things of historical, technical, scientific, cultural or social value, which reflects the social processes of the past and which is an example of development of economic and social history, industrialisation and aesthetics. (§11.7 HCA 2019)

‘underwater monument’ - is a monument located in internal waters, territorial seas, transboundary water bodies or exclusive economic zones together with the archaeological and natural surroundings. (§12.1 HCA 2019)

(1) The aim of the register of cultural monuments (hereinafter register in this section) is to ensure:

1) the collection of necessary data for the preservation of monuments, heritage conservation areas and protected archaeological sites and exercising supervision;

2) provision and disclosure of information on monuments, heritage conservation areas and protected archaeological sites;

3) maintaining records of things placed under temporary protection and archaeological finds.

(2) The register shall be founded and the statutes thereof shall be established by a regulation of the minister responsible for the area.

2) data on the owner or possessor of a monument or structure located on a heritage conservation area;

3) data on the applications, maintenance plan, restoration obligation, special conditions, research, building design documentation, activity plans, permits, notices and reports regarding a monument or structure located on a heritage conservation area;

5) data on a thing or area of cultural value placed under temporary protection;

6) data on the identification of a thing or area of cultural value;

7) data on archaeological finds and protected archaeological sites;

9) data relating to certificates of competency.

The database of museums shall be established by the Ministry of Culture for registration of a thing of cultural value as a museum object, preservation of the data collected with regard to a museum object and a thing accepted on deposit with the museum for longer than a year and for registration of acts performed with a museum object and a thing accepted on deposit with the museum for longer than a year, as well as for introduction, free of charge, of a museum object and a thing accepted on deposit with the museum for longer than a year. The statutes of the database of museums shall be established by a regulation of the minister responsible for the area. (§15.1 Museum Act)

The list of cultural objects shall be established by the regulation of the minister responsible for the area. (§2.3 ICTA)