KulturGutRetter One vision. One Network.
One Vision
Developing an emergency mechanism for cultural heritage in crisis situations.
One Network
The Archaeological Heritage Network (ArcHerNet) was founded in 2016 and harnesses German expertise to safeguard and protect cultural heritage worldwide.
KulturGutRetter
The KulturGutRetter project is developed out of the Archaeological Heritage Network and is carried by three strong partners: the DAI, the THW and LEIZA.
Project NEWS
Experts in movable and immovable cultural heritage deepen their training
In 2025, two in-depth specialist workshops were organised for volunteers from the CHRU’s Immovable Cultural Assets (ICA) and Movable Cultural Assets (MCA) units. Participants were encouraged to improve their knowledge of work processes by applying them
New training round launched in the KulturGutRetter project
From September 22 to 24, 2025, around 60 volunteer team members participated in a practical station training at the THW logistics center in Hilden as part of the KulturGutRetter project. The training specifically prepares the Cultural
Events
Days until Event...
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28th Austrian Conference of Restorers of Archaeological Finds, 18-19 September 2025
Are we prepared for disasters? KulturGutRetter – a mechanism for rapid assistance for cultural heritage in crisis situations
18 September 2025 VienaThis presentation in Vienna presents the latest developments in the KulturGutRetter project, with a focus on the mobile emergency conservation laboratory: a modular, air-transportable system in aluminium boxes, which was successfully tested for the first time in September 2024 in a full-scale exercise with trained volunteers.
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Tag der Offenen Tür, 23-24 August 2025
KulturGutRetter Stand
23 August 2024 Federal Foreign Office, BerlinOver the course of a weekend, the KulturGutRetter project sets up camp in the courtyard of the Foreign Office. The public has the opportunity to learn more about the KulturGutRetter project and test some of the equipment that will be used in emergency operations by the Cultural Heritage Response Unit (CHRU). The KulturGutRetter project tent is located right next to those of the THW, which is one of the project partners alongside the DAI and LEIZA.
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National Workshop 10-11 April 2025
Yesterday-today-tomorrow: where does the protection of cultural heritage stand in 2030?
10 April 2025 OnlineThe online workshop is part of the EU project PROCULTHER-NET2, in which the DAI and THW have been involved since 2022. The aim of the project is to work together on a stronger integration of the protection of cultural heritage into European civil protection. Accordingly, the workshop will focus on networking between the national and European levels and on the interfaces between cultural heritage protection and civil protection/civil protection.
German Archaeological Institute (DAI)
Founded nearly 200 years ago, the DAI is a globally active scientific institution. Operating as a federal agency within the area of responsibility of the Federal Foreign Office, it is committed to protecting, preserving and disseminating information about cultural heritage.Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW)
For 70 years now the THW has provided technical and humanitarian aid in crises and natural disasters in Germany and abroad on behalf of the federal government. It falls within the area of responsibility of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie (LEIZA)
The LEIZA is an archaeological research facility founded in 1852. Part of the Leibniz Association, it combines the humanities and natural sciences with restoration expertise and is active in an international context.
From 25 to 28 September 2024, the first full-scale exercise of the Cultural Heritage Response Unit (CHRU) took place at Demerthin Castle (Brandenburg). In a fictitious earthquake scenario, experts from Germany were trained in the international protection of cultural heritage after a disaster. The CHRU is expected to be operational by 2025.
Cultural Heritage in Crisis
An emergency mechanism for cultural heritage in crisis situations
In the past crisis such as earthquakes, floods and fires have shown that in the event of such a disaster, action must be taken quickly. Climate change with its very different local effects also entails a wide range of threats to the cultural heritage of the past. To protect and preserve cultural heritage in all phases of a crisis effectively and sustainably, the essential requirements are well-prepared and rapidly available digital information as well as well-trained and competent decision-makers. For this reason, the project “KulturGutRetter – An emergency mechanism for cultural heritage in crisis situations” was initiated in the framework of the Archaeological Heritage Network (ArcHerNet).
A network to safeguard cultural heritage
The Archaeological Heritage Network was founded in 2016 in the presence of Dr. Frank Walter Steinmeier, now President of the German Federal Republic. ArcHerNet pools the expertise that exists in Germany and makes it available internationally via a network of contacts. The experience gained through the project Zero Hour – A Future for the Time after the Crisis and the modules it comprised were then used to further develop ArcHerNet’s approaches and objectives. Its scope has expanded to encompass new regions. The Middle East and North Africa in their entirety as well as other regions in Africa have come into focus more and more. Moreover there has increasingly been an effort to develop formats that are universally deployable rather than specific to certain countries or localities. ArcHerNet is coordinated by the DAI and supported by the Federal Foreign Office.
PROCULTHER-NET2
Since 2022, two of KulturGutRetter’s partners have been involved in the projects PROCULTHER-NET (2022-2023) and PROCULTHER-NET2 (2024-2025), co-funded by the European Union DG-ECHO. The German Archaeological Institute (DAI) and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) have joined forces with partners from Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Turkey, to better integrate the protection of cultural heritage in the civil protection mechanisms, at national and European levels.
ContaCt
- KulturGutRetter | Deutsches Archäologisches Institut | Podbielskiallee 69-71, 14197 Berlin
- info@kulturgutretter.org
- presse@kulturgutretter.org
- ArcHerNet Webseite | www.archernet.org
