Historical relics have different owners and beneficiaries and as a result, numerous challenges arise in the process of their protection and restoration. A scientific and ethical approach based on a kind of consultative approach is needed to face these challenges. The present research examines the issue by investigating the attitudes of conservators of historical relics. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the dominant approaches to conservation from the viewpoint of consultative and collaborative approach, which is carried out based on the criteria and assumptions of such approaches.
The present study is an attitudinal descriptive-analytical research with a statistical population comprising three groups of conservators in Iran, who are working at universities, Department of Cultural Heritage, empirical veterans and educated professionals working in the private sector. The sample includes 30 conservators selected through simple random sampling. Open interview was used to collect data and data foundation method was employed for data analysis within the framework of the theoretical foundations of the research. Based on the investigations made, predominant approaches to conservation in Iran include historical/fact-seeking, scientific/object-oriented, artistic/taste-oriented, selective value-oriented and somewhat rule-oriented/authoritarian approaches. These approaches are founded on a theoretical framework of conservation profession, hard science, and individualism, and in part, on micro and macro policies and organizational hierarchy. The findings of this research indicate that the demands and consultative and collaborative role of public beneficiaries in conservation approaches, it is not much considered and as a main component in making decisions and carrying out actions, there is no belief and acceptance towards it.