A policy covering archaeological heritage management must include guidelines for preservation and care of monuments and sites as well as for archaeological excavations and documentation of such objects which are impossible to preserve. One objective for ICOMOS International Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management is to carry out a survey of international conventions and recommendations within this specific area and, on the basis of that survey, to draft an ICOMOS Charter on Archaeological Heritage Management. A first draft of a charter has now been made. As an introduction, an attempt is made to describe the relation between people today and the archaeological heritage in different countries and parts of the world. The topics covered are: 1) integrated conservation policies; 2) inventory of and information on the archaeological heritage; 3) legislation and economy; 4) archaeological heritage and development schemes; and 5) maintenance and conservation. Also included are the relationships among the Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management and universities and the need for education and training.