Cultural heritage is all of the objects, people, and beliefs that make up your identity. It can include tangible or intangible things, like art, language, or traditions.
UNESCO defines cultural heritage as “artefacts, sites and areas of Outstanding Universal Value, whether natural or built, that have a symbolic, aesthetic, historical or ethnological value”. This definition is broad, which makes it difficult to define exactly what constitutes cultural heritage.
Physical features
The physical features of cultural heritage include monuments, statues and other cultural items. It also includes art, historic buildings and towns, and archaeological sites.
These are considered cultural heritage because they have been selected for preservation by society, and are a reflection of the values of the culture. However, the concept of cultural heritage is complex and can be interpreted differently by different people. This is because cultural heritage is a product of a long historical development, and the meaning of a specific heritage changes over time.
This is why the concept of cultural heritage is so important, and it should be preserved for generations to come. The preservation of a culture’s monuments, languages, traditions and other intangible heritage is essential to building community identity and fostering a sense of belonging.
Artifacts
A cultural artifact is any object or material expression of culture, including non-physical characteristics such as beliefs, languages, folklore and traditions. It also includes intangible cultural heritage, such as photographs and other documents. These objects are usually stored and displayed in museums or libraries. However, they are subject to biodeterioration caused by microorganisms, which can destroy valuable records of our history.
Scholars have argued that the notion of cultural heritage is complex and multifaceted. It covers a wide range of topics, including archeology, anthropology, cognitive science, and philosophy. In addition, the concept has experienced a typological-thematic extension and a change in its selection criteria. However, scholars seem to agree that the core of the concept is a collection of enduring objects, places and traditions.
Languages
The languages of a nation are part of its cultural heritage, whether spoken or written. They reflect the culture, traditions and values of the people who speak them.
The development of a language is also influenced by its environment. For example, an Inuit language has many words for snow, as it is a prominent feature of their culture and their surroundings.
A language can also be shaped by its dialects, which are forms of the language that differ from each other within regions. Examples of English dialects include Cockney, Geordie and Scouse.
UNESCO believes that maintaining the diversity of languages is vital to human cultural heritage, both for its own sake and because it can be used as a tool for understanding how human cognition and communication work. For example, linguistic diversity can help us better understand the relationship between language and memory.
Beliefs
Religions and beliefs are part of cultural heritage, as they are a way for humans to find meaning in their lives. This is why it is important to preserve these traditions and help younger generations become familiar with them.
Living cultural heritage consists of art, music, dance, architecture, cuisine, handicrafts, names and designs, narratives, and other expressions that are passed down from generation to generation within a specific community or society. They contribute to the identity and continuity of a culture, and can also be valuable economic assets.
The concept of cultural heritage has been criticized for introducing an anodyne notion of culture, as opposed to the more problematic and contentious nature of defining particular cultures (Merryman 1986; Appiah 2006). The protection of intangible cultural heritage through intellectual property rights may also lead to the transformation of these expressions into commodities, thus distorting their values.
Traditions
A variety of cultures have traditions that can be considered their cultural heritage. They include religious rituals, festivals, and other cultural expressions. They provide a sense of identity and help maintain social cohesion. These traditions can be preserved through law, education, and other measures. They can also be destroyed by war or conflict.
Because cultural heritage is a dynamic phenomenon, it changes over time and can be affected by a number of factors. These factors may be economic, environmental, or political. For example, rapid urbanization can cause a loss of historic sites. In addition, climate change can destroy heritage sites. The destruction of Palmyra by ISIS is another example. This makes it necessary to preserve cultural heritage and protect against threats that could harm it.