Mechanisms of Information Fragmentation in Timber Architectural Heritage: Evidence from Dispersed Timber Components in Rural Zhejiang, China

Research on the conservation of traditional timber architecture has primarily focused on the preservation and restoration of architectural fabric. However, the long-term retention of identity information, spatial relationships, and historical associations of timber components detached from their original architectural contexts and subsequently subjected to dispersed storage or informal circulation remains insufficiently investigated. This study examines dispersed timber components from Fan Village, a traditional settlement in Zhejiang Province, China. Field surveys, interviews, market investigations, and expert evaluations were conducted to establish an information completeness assessment framework and investigate the information preservation status and formation mechanisms of information fragmentation in timber components. The framework comprises four dimensions: identity information, spatial–architectural context, relational information, and historical traceability. An empirical analysis was conducted on 1206 dispersed timber components. The results reveal substantial differences in information completeness between components from fragmented-ownership residences and those from collectively managed ancestral halls, with average completeness scores of 12.4% and 67.2%, respectively. Further analysis indicates that information fragmentation gradually emerges during dismantling and circulation processes and is closely associated with governance conditions and market practices. To address this issue, this study proposes a pre-emptive documentation strategy that establishes basic information records before timber components are detached from their original architectural contexts, providing a potential pathway for reducing subsequent information fragmentation risks and maintaining the identity continuity of timber components.