Introduction to ‘natural stones and cultural heritage promotion and preservation’

Natural stones (also referred as dimension and ornamental stones) are closely connected with cultural heritage. Stones are the most ancient non-renewable natural resources exploited by humans. From the prehistorical period of the Stone Age, they have been used and transformed to serve as tools, vessels, artwork, and building materials. Which stones were employed and how they were manipulated depended on several factors, linked primarily to geographical and climatological issues, societal values, and acquired technical knowledge. As natural stones are durable, remaining parts or whole works allow us to understand different population poles' way of life, beliefs, and values. From this perspective, natural stones can be intended not just as geological resources but as cultural ones.