Algerian Cultural Heritage: The Legal System and Protection Mechanisms

Abstract

Algeria is endowed with a rich and diversified cultural heritage that dates back to various historical periods, and reaches 2.4 million years. The Algerian State, which is represented by the Ministry of Culture and the Arts, has made great efforts to protect, preserve, restore and enhance this heritage, but also to develop research and exploration of it. Several institutions specializing in protection, conservation, restoration, research and exploration have been set up for this purpose. But also, several mechanisms have also been developed such as inventory, registration, classification, etc. These provisions which are framed by laws, starting with the constitution and then the law on the protection of cultural heritage, and provisions in the laws of several national bodies relating to the protection of cultural heritage, ministerial decrees and decisions for articles of the Heritage Protection Law. These are the texts that we would like to introduce to the readers to know the legal framework that the State has used to protect tangible and intangible cultural heritage.