Heritage management

The Heritage/archaeology section "Fornminneseksjonen" at the Universitymuseum is responsible for the implementation of the archaeological excavations of monuments and sites older than 1537 AD, in the area of Hordaland, Sogn & Fjordane (Now Vestland county) and Sunnmøre. 

Roles, responsibilty and authority.

The universitymuseum in Bergen av collaborating with and are counseling to the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, counties and municipalities. All heritage monuments and sites older than 1537 are automatically protected by law in Norway. We are managing applications and permissions for projects in potensial conflict with heritage monuments and sites, based on scientific assesments, and evaluate their grade as scientific and archaological source material. We also plan, manage and conduct the archaeological excavations themselves. The directorate of Cultural Heritage are granting the permission for digging into protected heritage monument or sites, and the Universitymuseum is managing the actual archaeological excavations. The goal of the excavations is to preserve the scientific source material and document the prehistoric information, before the remains is lost. 
The cost of the excavations is usually paid by the development project. For smaller private projects the authorities can cover part or all of the costs involved.  

The local county is the first instance in the Heritage management chain, and is handling all applications and questions about found artefacts, heritage minuments and sites. 

Methods

The University museum of Bergen is working according to scientific and professional guidelines. The excavations are done by trained and experienced archaeologists. New technologies and methods for data collection, surveying and documentation is constantly developing, and ensure both high quality, and high effienency for the archaeological excavations. 
The artifacts, structures, scientific samples and documentation are facilitated for further research, publication and exhibitions. The artefacts are cataloged, preserved, documented and secured for the future generations.