Cultural heritage is a very complex topic. Its boundaries are not well-defined, as artists from different cultures learn from one another (such as the neoclassical architecture of homes built by freed African-American enslaved people in Liberia).
In 2003, UNESCO adopted a definition that included both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, which includes practices, expressions, knowledge and skills including instruments and spaces, providing individuals with a sense of identity and continuity and promoting respect for diversity.
Definition
Cultural heritage is the tangible and intangible legacy of a group or society that has been inherited from past generations and maintained by the present generation and bestowed on future generations. Tangible cultural heritage comprises a variety of material traces, such as buildings and town sites, works of art, archaeological and other important monuments, as well as intangible elements like traditions, oral history, community bonds and language.
UNESCO identifies cultural heritage as including cultural objects of historical, aesthetic or ethnological importance as well as sites and precisely delineated natural areas of outstanding universal value. Intangible heritage, however, is a much wider category and encompasses all those cultural practices and knowledge that are transmitted from one generation to the next within a given culture.
It can also include a society’s linguistic, literary and other types of knowledge, as well as in the forms of a society’s customs, values, beliefs and attitudes, such as its spiritual and religious aspects and the ways it relates to the world. It includes all those elements that define a group or society’s identity, and are its foundation for development and survival.
Types
Cultural heritage is a broad term that encompasses the physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a society. It can include works of art, libraries and historical documents. It also includes monuments, archaeological sites and buildings. Intangible cultural heritage refers to traditions, beliefs and values that make a culture unique.
The definition of cultural heritage has expanded over time. It now includes all evidence of human creativity and expression, including buildings, landscapes and even underwater heritage. It can also include social practices, traditions and rituals.
Cultural heritage is under constant threat, whether from climate change, financial issues or conflict and terrorism. The world’s cultural heritage is being damaged and destroyed at an alarming rate. Cultural heritage is a precious part of our history that should be preserved and shared with the world. Transkribus is committed to providing all the tools necessary for preserving and protecting this heritage. From digitising and deciphering historic documents to making them available to the public, we are dedicated to keeping this heritage alive.
Meaning
Cultural heritage can be a strong source of identity, pride and community. In addition, it contributes to soft location factors such as quality of life and sense of belonging. It is important to understand the role of cultural heritage and how it contributes to people’s lives in order to protect and conserve it.
Cultural boundaries are not well-defined and cultural heritage can be shared and exchanged between different cultures, even those that are far apart in space or time. Artists, writers, scientists and craftsmen often draw on a shared cultural heritage as they create new works of art.
The concept of cultural heritage is dynamic and continually evolving. In recent years, it has become the focus of much discussion and debate worldwide. Some issues that have been raised include: tourism and nostalgia, dissonant heritage, and the relationship between cultural heritage and religion. UNESCO has also expanded the definition of cultural heritage to include intangible aspects such as oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, traditional craftsmanship, knowledge about the natural environment and the universe, and spiritual practices.
Significance
Cultural heritage represents a collective memory and a people’s sense of identity. It has been a subject of increasing popular and scholarly interest worldwide. It has also been a source of political conflict and tension, especially in situations of ethnic or religious genocide.
Cultural significance can be understood as the intangible non-use value associated with the cultural heritage stock (Throsby 1999). Non-use values may include the aesthetic, spiritual, social and identity value accruing to a society through the recognition of its heritage.
Economists have a growing awareness of the need to address this issue and a number of studies have attempted to quantify these values by using revealed-preference and discrete choice methods. These studies have shown that cultural heritage is a significant contributor to non-use benefits and has a positive impact on regional economic growth. However, formal econometric analysis remains limited.