Decentralized Blockchain Framework for the Provenance of Cultural Heritage

Abstract

This paper presents a blockchain-centered system architecture for cultural heritage provenance that replaces fragmented, paper-based tracking with a tamper-evident, auditable digital workflow. We assume that each object can be reliably bound to a stable physical fingerprint through an established scan-based pipeline, and we focus on how that fingerprint is represented, stored, and verified within a practical distributed ledger design. The proposed framework separates high-assurance settlement events, such as registration and ownership transfer, from high-volume operational records, such as condition updates and monitoring logs, by routing data across multiple layers and committing verifiable summaries of frequent activity to a high-security anchor chain. We also describe a deployable decentralized application stack that integrates standard token interfaces for asset representation, event-driven synchronization for user-facing services, and scalable node access to reduce read latency without requiring institutions to maintain their own node infrastructure. The result is a concrete system model that clarifies how the end-to-end provenance trail remains verifiable under realistic performance constraints.