Cultural heritage is a set of material and immaterial attributes that people recognize as important parts of their identities. It includes traditions, beliefs, values and social practices. It also consists of representations, expressions and knowledge.
Traditionally, it refers to artifacts, such as paintings or sculptures, and buildings and historical monuments. Today it extends to townscapes, underwater heritage and natural sites.
It’s a way of life
Cultural heritage embodies the values, beliefs and traditions of a society. It is an invaluable treasure that must be preserved and passed down to future generations. It is a reflection of the world we live in, and it is a source of inspiration and creativity.
The concept of heritage can be broadly defined as “the material traces that convey important social and historical information about a culture” (Johnson, 1988: 2). It is the collective property of a people, and it may be either tangible or intangible.
Tangible cultural heritage includes movable and immobile physical artifacts, such as works of art, clothing, machines, and books. It also encompasses buildings and archaeological sites. Intangible cultural heritage is less tangible, but just as important. It includes rituals, customs, and practices, such as tango and flamenco dancing, Viennese coffee house culture, Chinese shadow puppetry, and Kabuki theatre.
Cultural heritage is an integral part of the human experience, and it is an essential component of a person’s identity. It is a vital part of life, and it should be protected from illicit trafficking and pillaging.
It’s a way of thinking
Cultural heritage encompasses both physical artifacts and the intangible attributes of a culture. The former includes works of art, historical monuments and buildings, archaeological sites, and museums. The latter includes practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills as well as instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces that communities, groups and in some cases individuals recognise as part of their own cultural heritage.
It is important to remember that cultural heritage is not static and is constantly changing. This is a result of the ongoing selection process in which humans are engaged, constantly choosing what should be preserved for future generations and what should be forgotten.
The emergence of the concept of cultural heritage is a result of a long history of different values being attached to monuments, buildings, works of art, and natural landscapes. This process led to the recognition of their “outstanding universal value”. Unfortunately, this concept is also highly contentious, as seen in many recent protests and disputes over the preservation and status of cultural heritage.
It’s a way of being
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical and intangible attributes that a culture receives from past generations, experiences in the present, and transmits to future ones. This includes inherited monuments, intangible cultural heritage, such as traditional music, dance and acculturation, the countryside and natural environment, social customs and traditions, political and ideological beliefs, languages, sports, food and drink, religion, calendars, clothing, and even cyber cultures in the digital world.
These artifacts have different values that are based on the context in which they exist. They may be of a historical, aesthetic, or social value, as well as of economic significance. Moreover, they also contribute to soft location factors such as cultural identity and quality of life.
The preservation of cultural heritage requires integrating values related to its protection and conservation into contemporary society. This can be accomplished by incorporating its importance into secondary school and university curricula in the fields of archaeology, art history, anthropology, and ethics. It can also be done by educating people about the costs and consequences of the global antiquities trade.
It’s a way of protecting
Cultural heritage is an invaluable asset for individuals, communities and societies. It is a source of identity, pride and inspiration. However, it is also a fragile resource and faces many threats. These include war and conflict, unsustainable tourism, natural deterioration and neglect. To protect cultural heritage, it is important to build partnerships between people who care about it and those who can provide funds and experts.
One of the most common issues is the balance between private and public property rights. This is especially true in the case of museums, where works of art are often deemed to be public property and cannot be removed from their sites.
Another issue is the definition of cultural heritage. It is difficult to define as it is not limited to physical objects, but includes intangible elements such as traditions, rituals and performances. It is often defined by the society that owns it, and its values, beliefs, and knowledge.