Cultural heritage consists of material and intangible traces transmitted from generation to generation, such as works of art (like the Mona Lisa), towns, archaeological sites and museums. It also includes a wide variety of immaterial aspects such as traditions, language and knowledge.
Illicit trafficking of cultural objects, pillaging of archaeological sites and destruction of historical buildings and monuments are serious threats to cultural heritage. They need to be addressed by national legislation and international conventions.
Definition
Cultural heritage is a set of material and immaterial attributes that belong to a particular group or society and are considered worthy of preservation. It consists of monuments, buildings, works of art, archaeological sites and a variety of traditions that are transmitted from generation to generation. It also includes the neoclassical style of homes built by freed African-American enslaved people in Liberia, for example, or the polyphonic singing of the Aka of Central Africa.
Cultural heritage is a very valuable asset that increases feelings of belonging and helps to maintain a sense of identity. It is essential to preserve it and that is the role of organisations such as UNESCO, which promotes the protection of cultural heritage through various conventions. However, protecting this heritage requires resources, especially for essential tasks such as transcription, digitisation and research. That is where we come in! Transkribus provides the tools to facilitate these important processes. Read on to learn more about what cultural heritage is and why it’s so important.
Purpose
Cultural heritage reflects the values, beliefs and sense of identity that shape societies. Its preservation is vital for ensuring diversity and for transmitting knowledge to future generations. Cultural heritage is comprised of artifacts, monuments, historic buildings and sites, collections of works of art, traditions, languages, folklore and local knowledge. It also includes the natural landscape that people identify with.
Efforts to preserve cultural heritage involve diverse experts including conservators, law enforcement, architects and program managers. The technical expertise of engineers, geologists, hydrologists and agronomists is often required to help preserve physical heritage sites. Social scientists, folklorists and ethnographers play a role in developing programs for intangible heritage and cultural communities.
Benign neglect, major natural disasters, armed conflict and climate change all endanger cultural heritage. This is why it is essential to have legal protection, enforceable standards and international cooperation. It is also critical to support community efforts to safeguard their heritage and promote responsible tourism.
Methods
The protection of cultural heritage is essential to ensuring that it will be available to future generations. This requires a combination of activities, including maintenance, preservation, restoration and reconstruction. The protection of cultural property also involves balancing private and public rights. For example, works of art that decorate a building belong to the community and may not be removed even if the owner owns it alone.
Cultural heritage properties are prone to various threats, including natural and anthropogenic causes. One of the most significant problems is deterioration. It can occur due to ageing, environmental conditions and the impact of visitors on the fabric of the heritage object (including trampling, handling, moisture, temperature, pilfering, graffiti and so on). Another problem is damage from armed conflict.
Results
It is important that communities are actively involved in the safeguarding and management of cultural heritage. This is because the preservation of a community’s intangible cultural heritage can be a source of pride and identity. It can also foster social cohesion and encourage the development of a sense of place.
Several studies have portrayed the importance of cultural heritage and its preservation in promoting cultural continuity and sustainability. However, the conservation of heritage properties is a complex process that can be affected by multiple factors. These factors include lack of proper management and monitoring, funding and promotion, land grabbing and natural catastrophes.
Several data gathering instruments can be used to collect information about the cultural heritage, including surveys, interviews, site observations and document analysis. In addition to these methods, a factor analysis can be performed. The rotated matrix table in Figure 2 shows seven factors that affect cultural heritage conservation. The factors that were not significantly related to the dependent variable are omitted from the regression model.