INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM, TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY LAW The Ephorates of paleoanthropology – speleology is divided in departments, responsible for issues relating to caves. These departments are: 1) Department of Prehistoric and Historic Antiquities, responsible for planning, technically organizing and carrying through speleological excavation research of prehistoric (Palaeolithic to Bronze Age) and historic sites, for cave protection, for the study and promotion of findings in special speleological museums or exhibition halls of regional museums, as well as the stone carving lab for the study and classification of stone tools found in excavations and research. The department is also responsible for the appropriate layout of the caves and the surrounding natural environment, their conservation and protection, the supervision of current excavations, the autopsies for the identification of caves, the recording and electronic registration of cavities, positions and findings, the record keeping of photographs, drawings, maps, declarations, bibliographic information and library facilities. For the implementation of its goals, the Ephoria cooperates with the local government and local bodies and participates in European and international programs. 2) Department of Achaeological Works and Studies, Geology and Paleontology, responsible for identifying, exploring and evaluation of caves, as well as supervising the studies for their promotion, geological research and studies in terms of geomorphology, hydrogeology, paleoenvironment, sedimentology, petrology and geochemistry of the caves. Also, it is responsible for the operation of the Geological Laboratory, the creation of a Bank of Rocks, the research paleontological sites, as well as the study of paleontological findings, caves and open sites. The department is also responsible for the mapping and topographical survey of caves and paleontological sites, for geotechnical studies, fixings, formation and exploitation of the caves and their surrounding area. 3) Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, responsible (among other) for the conservation of caves as well as the antiquities found inside of them. In summary, according to the archaeological law, the competent authority for the caves which are, according to evidence, linked with human existence is the Ministry of Culture and Sports. The rest of the caves, since there is no specific provision, fall under the provisions on the protection of the environment and in particular the provisions of Law 1650/1986 for the protection of the environment. According to Article 2 par 1 the environment is defined as “the sum of natural and anthropogenic
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