Preservation of the cultural heritage of historical settlements in Russia: a bibliographic review of modern scientific literature

Based on an analysis of scientific periodicals published between 2014 and 2024, a set of problems related to the study of historical settlements in domestic heritage science is considered. The author focused her attention on identifying the most promising areas of this topic, which were reflected in the analyzed publications. The structural basis of the review was a chronological principle; the content was formed from materials from articles published in scientific journals and thematic collections. The leading analytical tool was the comparative-historical method, with the main criteria in the study of materials being the goals of the researchers, the methodological settings characteristic of them, and the topics of research; The system-structural method and the method of periodization were also applied, and the hermeneutic method was used in the analysis of texts. Three stages were identified in the development of the problem: the first (2014-2016) is characterized by work devoted to projects for preserving the architectural and urban appearance of historical settlements and analysis of their architectural environment; the topics of the second stage (2017-2019) tend to analyze issues of a regulatory nature, consider gaps and contradictions in current legislation; at the third stage (2020-present), the authors return from problems of a regulatory nature to research practices aimed at in-depth studies of the past architectural environment of historical settlements. Four thematic areas were identified that scientists actively developed throughout the analyzed period: (1) scientific and urban planning themes (analysis of the architectural environment of historical settlements, their development, identification and study of historical plans, determination of the role of various factors in the formation of the historical urban environment, etc.); (2) monument protection (problems of preservation and restoration of cultural monuments of historical settlements, their architectural and urban appearance); (3) scientific and legal themes (problems of improving the base of legal regulation of activities for the preservation of historical settlements, associated estates and architectural complexes); (4) infrastructural themes (following the principles of historical and cultural continuity when creating modern technical solutions in the process of developing quarters of historical settlements). The importance of expert and public activities of representatives of the scientific community is emphasized, and the prospects for the development of various aspects of the study of historical settlements are assessed.