The process of using up the future economic benefit or service potential of land often takes place over a period so long that its occurrence is imperceptible—land used as a building site is perhaps the most common example. In contrast, however, that process also sometimes occurs much more rapidly—land used as a site for toxic waste, as a source of gravel or ore, or for farming under conditions in which fertility dissipates relatively quickly and cannot be restored economically are examples.
A recognized cultural, aesthetic, or historical value and, generally, an already long existence have established each work of art or historical treasure as a member of a group of rare works with that characteristic. Most of them are acquired by purchase, gift, or discovery with that characteristic already having been demonstrated, and the holder or acquirer usually takes steps to protect and preserve it, for example, by keeping a work of art in a protective environment and limiting its use solely to display. While that characteristic is not limited to assets with an already long existence, an asset that has come into existence relatively recently cannot be assumed to have it in the absence of the verifiable evidence described in the preceding paragraph. For example, to put a painting in a protective environment is not by itself evidence of cultural, aesthetic, or historical value that is worth preserving perpetually.
Depreciation shall be recognized on any capitalized costs of major preservation or restoration devices or efforts, which provide future economic benefits or service potentials until the next expected preservation or restoration, regardless of whether depreciation is recognized on the asset being protected or restored.
The terms of certain grants and reimbursements from other entities may specify whether depreciation or the entire cost of the asset in the year of acquisition should be included as a cost of activities associated with those grants or reimbursements for contractual purposes (sometimes referred to as allowable costs). Those terms shall not affect the recognition and measurement of depreciation for financial reporting purposes.