CHNT31: Getting Dirty – Back to the Roots of Cultural Heritage Work

Under the motto “Heritage in Action: From the Field to the Future”, CHNT31 – the Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies – brings together international experts to exchange perspectives on current developments and innovative approaches in the field of cultural heritage. The conference focuses on the practical application of new methods and technologies and their contribution to the study, interpretation, and protection of cultural heritage.

With the session „From Ruins to Routes – Interpreting Heritage through Narrative Trails (and Communities)“ the Center for Cultural Property Protection contributes current perspectives on cultural routes, storytelling, and community engagement to the conference programme. The session explores how cultural routes can support heritage interpretation, foster the active involvement of local communities, and contribute to the sustainable development of cultural landscapes.

For further information about the session and access to the full conference programme, please visit the CHNT31 website.

With the guiding theme „Getting Dirty – Back to the Roots of Cultural Heritage Work“ the conference bridges field-based research, digital technologies, and the challenges of heritage conservation and management. It explores how scientific knowledge and digital innovation can, under real-world conditions, contribute to the investigation, protection, and public engagement of cultural heritage.

How can archaeological sites, historic landscapes, and local stories be transformed into meaningful heritage experiences?

The session „From Ruins to Routes – Interpreting Heritage through Narrative Trails (and Communities)“, organised by the Center for Cultural Property Protection, showcases international case studies that demonstrate how cultural and thematic routes can connect scientific knowledge with storytelling, digital technologies, and the active participation of local communities. Particular attention is given to innovative approaches to heritage interpretation, the visibility of often overlooked heritage assets, and questions of the sustainable development, management, and long-term embedding of cultural routes.
Contributions range from Roman and Iron Age cultural landscapes to historic towns and endangered heritage sites, illustrating how narrative connections, digital tools, and local engagement can create coherent storyscapes and immersive cultural landscapes.

CHNT31
Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies

11–13 November 2026
Apothekertrakt, Schönbrunn Palace, 1130 Vienna

Session: From Ruins to Routes – Interpreting Heritage through Narrative Trails (and Communities)

13 November 2026

Further information about the conference and registration: www.chnt.at