According to scholars, the concept of cultural heritage developed through historically changing values that are recognized by different groups of people. These values are associated with monuments, buildings and artifacts that have outstanding universal value from historical, architectural, commemorative, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological perspectives.
The purposeful destruction of tangible cultural heritage by nonstate armed forces, militias and despotic governments is a form of social and cultural genocide.
What is it?
Cultural heritage includes both physical objects (cultural property) and intangible attributes of a culture that have been passed down from past generations. It is a concept that has emerged from a long historical development, driven by the need to protect or conserve monuments, buildings, art and other tangible aspects of a country’s culture, as well as a desire to preserve the natural environment that these cultural elements are intimately entwined with.
Intangible cultural heritage includes the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their culture. In contrast to the physicality of cultural property, it cannot be easily touched or measured and therefore is much more vulnerable to economic challenges, conflict and terrorism, or simply environmental conditions that may threaten its existence.
This is why it is so important to support cultural preservation efforts at all levels of society, including national, regional and local, through initiatives such as UNESCO’s conventions. At the same time, globalization and connectivity have led to a growing curiosity about other cultures’ heritage and an increased desire for people to experience this cultural heritage through travel and tourism.
What is it worth?
The concept of cultural heritage grew out of the recognition that monuments, buildings, art works and natural environments are unique and irreplaceable and that they possess intrinsic value. This intrinsic value is a result of their history and the way that human communities live with them. It is also a result of the fact that they are intimately entangled with the natural environment.
In this context, a new use value of heritage is gaining ground: it can serve as an ecosystem that provides a range of services to society. This can be seen as a complement to the more traditional and instrumental values that are associated with these heritage assets.
This approach is consistent with the circular economy (CE) concept and can help achieve greater synergy between heritage and environmental management. It can also provide a route to incorporate more diverse values in the heritage sector, including those based on a spiritual and environmental perspective.
What is it worth to me?
A key element of cultural heritage is the knowledge and values passed down from generation to generation. This includes intangible heritage such as language, traditions and rituals. Intangible heritage also represents a source of livelihood, providing opportunities for economic development in both developing and developed States.
In addition to its economic value, culture has a strong emotional connection to many people. This can be a powerful tool in creating social cohesion and solidarity in societies in conflict.
Moreover, involvement in cultural heritage can aid personal development, with benefits such as new skills, improved confidence and self-esteem. However, it is important to be aware of cultural appropriation and to respect the practices of other cultures. Taking elements of a culture without proper research and understanding can lead to accusations of cultural infringement and unintended harm. For example, a student’s ceremonial dress was mistaken for a costume at a campus event, highlighting how important it is to understand the cultural context of any tradition before adopting it.
What is it worth to you?
When we think of cultural heritage, we generally envision artifacts, buildings, monuments and landscapes. But we also include living heritage, such as a language, music or food tradition. These traditions can bring us a sense of identity and pride, as well as provide us with the means to face our challenges.
It has been difficult to quantify these intangible benefits. But, over time, we are gaining a better understanding of the processes that can help to do just that. We now have techniques that are capable of identifying the intangible values that can be attached to immovable heritage, as well as the indirect uses that can be associated with those values.
Using these methodologies can also help to guide decision making. For example, the PERICLES project has developed techniques that can assess whether it is more cost-effective to preserve a historic city or to allow it to disappear. This helps to guide the decisions that are made regarding the allocation of public resources, and thereby makes it possible for more people to be able to experience the richness of their own heritage.