This work reveals a fundamental link between general covariance and Birkhoff’s theorem. We extend Birkhoff’s theorem from general relativity to a broad class of generally covariant gravity theories formulated in the Hamiltonian framework. Conversely, we show that each one-parameter family of static, spherically symmetric spacetimes determines a class of covariant theories, each of which has that family of spacetimes as its entire vacuum solution space. Our systematic and model-independent framework applies to a wide range of spacetimes, including observationally inferred, quantum-gravity-inspired, and regular black holes. It provides a universal tool for probing their dynamical origins and enables the reconstruction of the underlying covariant theories from observational data, including gravitational-wave and black-hole-shadow measurements.

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• Alternative gravity theories
• Canonical quantum gravity
• Quantum aspects of black holes