the International Coordination Group Palafittes (ICG)

The "Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps", being a transnational and serial site, have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2011. Due to the extraordinary preservation of organic materials and their wealth of finds, they provide a unique insight into 4500 years (5000-500 B. C.) of everyday life as well as into craftsmanship, mobility and economy of the first agricultural societies in Europe.
The countries participating in the World Heritage Site, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and France, comprise the International Coordination Group (ICG). The ICG, with us as their representatives, has committed itself to researching this cultural heritage in a transnational cooperation, to preserve it for future generations and to familiarize the people with the extraordinary value of these settlements. One of our central tasks is to coordinate measures to protect, research and promote this almost invisible heritage. It is of particular concern to us to create awareness for the unifying elements of this common world heritage at a local, regional and international level, to enable people to participate in it and to promote respectful coexistence through science, education and cultural exchange, in agreement with the spirit of the World Heritage Convention.