Résumé en anglais
The users of a place are one of the main resourcesin defining the cultural identity and spirit of that place. The
results of a field survey in Tarsus with the aim of assessinguser-ascribed values revealed that some user-valued places
and attributes were not covered by current legal andadministrative rules and regulations in Turkey. In this
context, this paper firstly identified the methodology of thefield survey. Secondly, the current legal and administrative
definitions of heritage and conservation tools in Turkey areassessed. Thirdly, the outcomes of the field survey are
presented and the results in relation to legal andadministrative aspects are evaluated. The paper concludes by
suggesting new definitions and tools for the protection of theimportance of the cultural places to the inhabitants.