The map of the Global Heritage Stones: a resource in development

In 2008, during the 33rd IGC in Oslo, a working group on natural stones and heritage built in stone was created. In 2012, the working group was accepted as an IUGS Task Group and in 2016 the network was upgraded to Subcommission: the IUGS Heritage Stones Subcommission (HSS). Since then, HSS has worked on the designation of 22 stones as Global Heritage Stone Resource (GHSR), a figure that distinguishes and protects extraordinary stones that have been used to construct some of the most important monuments and historic buildings, some even designated as UNESCO World Heritage. GHSR is a geological standard approved by the IUGS Executive Committee. The Subcommission continues working on the study, nomination and designation of more GHSR, following a strict and transparent protocol that guarantees that the designated stones are perfectly identified and documented. This process is performed under the review of experts in stone heritage and dimension stone. The results on the heritage stones have been published in different journals, special issues of scientific journals and books. The present work displays the 22 stones designated as GHSRs up to now, showing their locations on the world map, exhibiting the rock specimens, together with a list of the publications considered for the designation of these as GHSRS by the Heritage Stones Subcommission. The map will continuously be updated, plotting the new designated GHSRs as and when approved by the IUGS-EC.