write a reflective essay on the threats of tangible and intangible heritage

Tangible and Intangible Heritage

TO BE COMPLETED Although intangible cultural heritage often has tangible objects, artefacts or places associated with it, it is also something different from tangible heritage, as for example the “properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage” that are listed on the World Heritage List . Because intangible heritage is constantly recreated, the concept of “authenticity” applied to World Heritage properties cannot be used for ICH. The strategies for safeguarding tangible heritage cannot be transferred mechanically to the effort to safeguard ICH, which often requires quite different approaches and methods. Nevertheless, there is the possibility of adopting integrated approaches to safeguarding the tangible and intangible heritage of communities and groups in ways that are “consistent and mutually beneficial and reinforcing”, as the 2004 Yamato Declaration states.

Password forgotten?

Threats to Heritage

The Blue Shield believes that even though damage to cultural property in conflict and natural disasters cannot be completely prevented, it can be limited. Proper preparations in peacetime, or acting in certain ways during and after conflict or emergencies, can mitigate some of the risks, limiting the damage. All of these preparations and activities, however, involve understanding the risks that heritage faces.

Based on current research (listed in our Document Library ), the Blue Shield has identified key threats to heritage in conflict and disaster. These are a combination of types of damage and motivations for its destruction: it is only by understanding this combination that we can think about how to stop or mitigate each one. The threats primarily relate to tangible cultural heritage, like buildings, museum and library collections and archives, but it is important to also remember that the cultural rights of people are also affected by a conflict or a major environmental disaster. (For more on heritage destruction and cultural rights see our Law Library ).

• A threat (or hazard) is something that has the potential to cause damage or loss of value (here to cultural property)
• Vulnerabilities are weaknesses that threats can act on.
• The risk is how likely the threat is to occur and how great the consequence would be if it occurs, given the vulnerability.

So, for example, collateral damage is a threat, and it is considered reasonably likely to occur in conflict. A national museum may be particularly vulnerable to being hit, and the consequences of loss if it is are very high, given the importance of its collections.

Therefore the risk of collateral damage to a national museum in conflict is high, and efforts should be dedicated towards mitigating the risk, such as those suggested in the 1954 Hague Convention. These include: identifying the museum as protected cultural property under Article 1 of the Convention, proactively implementing safeguarding measures in the museum in the event of conflict, and informing armed forces of the museum’s location to minimise the chances of collateral damage. (Read more about Risk Management in Cultural institutions in ICCROM’s ABC Method: a risk management approach to the preservation of cultural heritage).

Lack of military awareness

A considerable amount of heritage has been damaged and destroyed by fighting simply because the armed forces were not aware of it, or of its importance.

A number of factors have worked to change this and increase awareness, including:

• the negative press following the destruction of heritage in Iraq after the 2003 invasion by Coalition Forces, and the widespread coverage of heritage destruction in Syria;
• the increased violence in Iraq after key heritage sites were destroyed;
• the loss of community goodwill in Afghanistan after some sites were accidentally damaged;
• the positive coverage of NATO’s heritage protection during Operation Unified Protector;
• the raising of awareness raising by organisations such as the Blue Shield.

Since the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, most western military forces have accepted that warfare has changed and that troops require a much greater understanding of the place and population where they are deployed than previously considered necessary. NATO, for example, has developed what it calls its ‘Comprehensive Approach’ in which a better understanding of culture and cultural property can be seen as a mission relevant priority. With this change in mind-set has come a realisation within armed forces that partnership with heritage experts is essential. Following environmental disaster, as well, the military need to know if there are particular issues to take into account – for example, what can be cleared up immediately and what should be left for later expert attention.

Photo: The ruins of the well known belfry of Arras (Pas-de-Calais, France). Vintage postcard from 1915. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

See key documents on CPP and the military in our Document Library , or see recent reports and documents by armed forces in our  Document Library.

Lack of planning

Mitigation :  It is essential for the heritage sector to try to ensure that cultural property protection is fully integrated and embedded into planning by both politicians and the armed forces – and that resources and responsibilities are allocated to it. At the same time it is essential for the heritage sector to do everything in its own power to plan for disaster risk reduction through, for example: making sure catalogues and inventories are up-to-date and digitised; carrying out regular risk assessments; having, and regularly testing, clear disaster and evacuation plans (including safeguarding the heritage from possible post-disaster damage – for example, from secondary environmental disaster or looting); having good relations and effective communications with emergency organisations and the military; and ensuring all heritage staff are well-trained regarding disaster risk reduction.

Photo: Map showing areas to be spared destruction during World War II: Tubingen. NARA M1944, Records of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas, 1943-46,  via the National Archives and Fold 3 .

See key documents on CPP and the military in our  Document Library , or see recent reports and documents by armed forces in our  Document Library .

Specific (or Deliberate) targeting and damage

Cultural property can also be damaged by deliberate targeting of two types. Put (very) simply, a site may be deliberately targeted if it has become a military objective – for example, in 2016, ARA News  reported “The terror group [ISIS] has a plan to avoid the US-led coalitions airstrikes and “the best way is to hide weapons and media centers inside the mosques”. In using the sites in this way, the site loses its protection, and may become a legitimate military target. However, just because it is a legitimate target, this does not mean it will be targeted.

Improved documentation of events from social media has added to multiple records of the deliberate targeting of cultural property for no clear military gain. This can range from devastating attacks on city centres to incidences of vandalism. In World War II, for example, the Allies bombed the historic German towns of Lübeck and Rostock. Furious, Hitler ordered  retaliatory raids  on historic British centres, like York and Bath. At the other end of the spectrum, in 2003 in Iraq, statues and  mosaics of Saddam Hussein  were destroyed and defaced. It is also becoming more common for heritage destruction to be linked to attacks on the populations for whom it is important. The shelling of the World Heritage site of  Dubrovnik , and  burning of the Sarajevo library  are high profile cases of the almost endemic specific targeting of the enemy’s cultural property during the conflict in the Balkans. This was seen again in the symbolic destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, and the targeting of cultural sites in Iraq, Mali, and Syria, notably the destruction of parts of the World Heritage site of Palmyra, which has been  linked  to purely propagandistic motives.

Mitigation : International law condones attacks against cultural property if certain criteria are met: the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict lays down a basic framework for attacks of this type, which may unfortunately be necessary. Such actions must be assessed against the Laws of Armed Conflict to ensure that the attack is proportionate, necessary, responsible and obeys the laws of distinction. In all cases the attack should be aimed at the people or the equipment at the site as far as possible, and never just at the site.

In addition to raising awareness of the responsibilities of armed groups under international and customary law, peacetime preparations should be made for the protection of cultural property, as by the time armed conflict or a disaster occurs, it is often too late. Protection of cultural property during conflict is context-specific and sometimes there is little that can be done during conflict to mitigate against the specific targeting of sites. The emphasis, where possible, has to be on proactive protection prior to the conflict. At the same time, the international community has begun to take legal action against those responsible for unnecessary destruction, ensuring that such crimes do not go unpunished.

Photo: The Buddhas of Bamiyan were destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban, outside a period of official armed conflict, via  Wikimedia Commons . Photo: Left, 1963, uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by UNESCO. Photo: Right, 2008, uploaded to WIkimedia Commons by mangostar.

Read more about the 1954 Hague Convention and its recommendations for peacetime protection our  Law Library

Read more about cultural heritage prosecutions in our  Law Library

Collateral and accidental damage

Mitigation:  Over the centuries this has been undoubtedly true, but the Blue Shield questions whether it needs to continue to be so. In fact, as precision weaponry continues to improve, if the armed forces are aware of the location and vulnerabilities of cultural property, it is increasingly likely that – in line with the Laws of Armed Conflict, which call for consideration of appropriate weapon choices – weapons can be chosen to minimise the damage to cultural property. However, in order for this to occur, it is vital that the armed forces are made aware of the location and description of such property.

Photo: Clock Square in Raqqa, end of September 2017. By VOA [Public domain], via  Wikimedia Commons .

Read this Blue Shield article for NATO Open to  find out more .

Enforced Neglect

Another threat, which is often forgotten, is the consequences of neglect. During conflict and following environmental disaster, staff may not be able to access archives, historic buildings, libraries, museums, or sites, disrupting essential routine maintenance. Historic documents, books, objects, buildings, and sites need constant maintenance and without such care can rapidly deteriorate. Delicate archives, books, and museum objects also need to be kept in precise environmental conditions that are frequently interrupted by conflict or environmental disaster. Others require treatment by chemicals that are often impossible to obtain. Emergency storage or refuges for objects often lack the needed environmental conditions.

Some of the museum collections in Lebanon experienced significant damage as a result of the humidity in the emergency storage; this problem has also affected the National Museum of Aleppo, as seen in  these pictures . In some places, cultural property is not seen as important, or the staff lack relevant training, so its maintenance, conservation, and cataloging may have been neglected in peacetime, compounding the problems experienced during armed conflict or environmental disaster.

Mitigation:   Working with the armed forces, it is sometimes possible to arrange access to sites for maintenance purposes, or evacuate collections in advance of problems. When preparing emergency refuges in peacetime, consideration should be given to the environmental needs of the collection. However, given the speed of a conflict or disaster, it is not always possible to evacuate a collection, or implement safeguarding measures  in situ . Sometimes, the best support that can be provided externally is materials and equipment to protect objects and sites, or training in emergency measures. This can be for both heritage staff, and the armed forces and emergency responders, who may be tasked with assisting where possible.

Photo: Degrading mudbrick, Tell Beydar, Syria, 2010. Photo: E Cunliffe, Syria

Deliberate reuse of sites

Some sites are damaged by their deliberate use and reuse. Although, at first glance, this may seem to be an issue of awareness, in many cases, those occupying sites are only too aware of their historic importance. For example, a group that occupied the historic Great Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo, Syria, part of the World Heritage site, caused damage to the site (before it was then heavily damaged in later fighting).

The deliberate military use of sites encompasses the erection of fortifications and trenches, military buildings, and the planting of landmines. The site of Carchemish in southern Turkey was mined in World War II: the mines were only removed in 2011 (examined by  Cunliffe 2016 ). Sites are also reused by desperate refugees (internally displaced persons, or IDPs) looking for shelter. During the fighting in Syria, there have been numerous reports of reoccupation of ancient tombs and villages built and abandoned more than a thousand years ago, for example. This reuse frequently heavily damages sites.

Mitigation :  In the case of IDPs, desperation cannot be mitigated: all that we can do is remember the very human cost of war, and assist the delivery of aid wherever possible.  However, in cases of deliberate unnecessary use, we can work to raise awareness of the protection granted to such sites by international law. A number of studies are now ongoing (watch this space!) to examine the types and extent of such damage, to better understand the cost and methods of mitigation. The armed forces, emergency responders, and heritage professionals all need to be aware of the risks posed by armed conflict, of the laws that protect it, and to prepare for it accordingly.

Photo: Military fortifications at the  Tentative World Heritage site of Apamea , built 2012. Image: CNES, Airbus, via Google Earth. 02 May 2014

Read the NPR article on Syrian reoccupation of ancient tombs in our  Media Library  (opens pdf)

See the UNOSAT satellite imagery analysis of damage to the Ancient Villages of Northern Syrian World heritage site  on their website

Read more about the protection granted to sites under international law in our  Law Library

Development

Heritage is often lost or damaged in conflict as a consequence of development (both buildings and agricultural expansion). It’s important to note that the loss of heritage from illegal development is a common problem in peacetime. However, during conflict, the staff charged with protecting sites – whether heritage staff or law enforcement – are frequently unable to access sites to enforce protection. As a result, the destruction of sites to build new houses, or increase the size of fields can become a major problem, particularly at significant sites that may otherwise have been well protected. Whilst the new buildings can be removed, the demolition cannot be undone. Stone robbing is also a problem, as those in need of building materials take the cut stone from existing historic buildings. The rapid destruction of towns – whether from conflict or a natural disaster – also leads to rapid redevelopment, where the urgent need to provide shelter for those who live there, and to restart the economy, frequently overrides the need to take account of heritage, the recovery and rebuilding of which is very slow. The plans for the rebuilding of Beirut, for example, frequently failed to take account of the extensive archaeological layers revealed by the clearance of the rubble, so no money was allocated for their excavation or the storage of finds, and there was extensive loss. In addition, many historic buildings that could perhaps have been saved or rebuilt were cleared away, leading some  to call contemporary Beirut’s centre “soulless”.

Mitigation:  As far as possible, site guards and those responsible for enforcing heritage laws should be supported to continue their work to protect sites and, when the situation permits, national prosecutions should be carried out to punish those who demolish historic areas, acting as a deterrent to future illegal development in the post-conflict period. In addition, those dealing with heritage reconstruction should contact those who deal with larger-scale rebuilding of infrastructure, to raise the importance of heritage in post-conflict rebuilding, both in terms of funding requirements and potential to contribute to community rebuilding. This work will benefit considerably from accurate plans of the location of heritage sites, completed (as far as possible) during peacetime.

Photo:  The Yellow House  (Barakat Building), Beirut, is located on the former “green line”. It is now a museum. 2009, by Elie plus, via  Wikimedia Commons .

See more information about the rebuilding of downtown Beirut on the  Aleppo Project’s website  (including the comment at the bottom)

See examples of development during conflict in this satellite imagery analysis of damage to sites in Syria during the conflict  by UNOSAT

Looting and pillage

Looting is often regarded as an unfortunate side-effect of armed conflict and environmental disaster, but it can cause extensive damage in its own right. History has many examples of victorious armies removing the cultural property of the enemy they have just defeated as the ‘spoils of war’, which is known today as pillage  (that is, looting by armies, rather than looting by civilians). At one time, it was common practice for armies to pay their troops in this way. One of the oldest examples is from the 8 th  century BC, recording how Tiglath-Pileser III, an Assyrian King, took the statues of gods from enemy cities (seen on this relief  in the British Museum ).

After the Second World War, during which there was well documented appropriation of cultural property by forces on all sides, the 1954 Hague Convention was established. Since that time there has been little systematic removal of cultural property by victorious countries during international conflicts. The situation is not as clear, however, in the case of conflicts within countries or those waged by armed non-state actors (ANSAs). Unfortunately, souvenir and trophy collection are still frequently a characteristic of troops and other individuals returning from conflict.  However, looting – whether from museums, libraries, archives, or archaeological sites – is more likely to be carried out by civilians: it can completely destroy them. Following conflict or environmental disaster, a breakdown in social order, the absence of effective law enforcement agencies, and/or unemployment and economic hardship, can all cause people to turn to theft and looting. Sometimes this is done on an individual  ad hoc  basis; at other times it can become part of deliberate, systemic, and sometimes targeted, looting by organised criminal organisations feeding the illicit international art market, and using the money to support organised crime. In Iraq in 2003, 15000 objects were stolen from the National Museum in Baghdad, and one Iraqi expert estimated that 60% of the sites in Southern Iraq were looted in the years following the Coalition invasion. This is, of course, frequently catastrophic for the study of the past. Allowing such looting to continue can also affect mission success for the armed forces, as there is increasing evidence (see link below) that at least some of the profits of such looting are invested in the continuation of the conflict (and see this   factsheet  by the Antiquities Coalition on what the money can buy). Such looting, either after armed conflict or environmental disaster, also undermines the future opportunities for cultural tourism to contribute to longer-term economic stability. However, a lack of awareness of relevant legislation in organisations such as a national police force, or in the customs and border forces, can also contribute to damage during conflict as key legislation that might deter illegal activities is not enforced.

Mitigation:   Awareness raising must be conducted among locals who loot sites, those who purchase antiquities (tourists and dealers), armed forces who may be offered looted “souvenirs”, and police, borders, and customs forces. Many countries now insist on stringent searches of the baggage of both military and civilian personnel returning from deployment. It is also essential for organisations such as national police forces, and borders and customs agencies, to receive training in relevant legislation and in identifying illicit antiquities during peacetime. For example, the Hobby Lobby group were  fined $3Million USD  for purchasing cuneiform tablets that had been smuggled from Iraq, imported as “Bathroom tiles”. In addition, the problems of illicit trafficking cross borders and nations; what begins in a country in conflict can quickly move across the world, requiring Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and bilateral agreements for countries to cooperate in targeting those involved in multi-national operations, as well as training for international organisations like Interpol.  Work by Dr Neil Brodie  and also by  Dr Katie Paul  has established the internet is becoming an important tool for the sale of illicit antiquities, making greater regulation of online sales important.

Photo: German loot stored in church at Ellingen, Germany found by troops of the U.S. Third Army.24 April 1945 National Archives and Records Administration, RG-111-SC-204899, [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Learn more about the laws preventing looting and illicit trafficking of antiquities in our  Law Library

Visit our  Document Library  to learn more about looting and illicit trafficking of antiquities

See this awareness raising pack for tourists created by  the Antiquities Coalition

Privacy Overview

See key documents on CPP and the military in our Document Library , or see recent reports and documents by armed forces in our Document Library.

Cultural/Society

Cultural property is central to the cultural and social life of communities and at a national level is frequently used as the ‘stage’ for aspects of intangible cultural heritage (for example, national ceremonies often take place at historic buildings). There can, of course, be ‘negative’ issues involved in these associations of tangible and intangible heritage: ISIS used the Roman Theatre at the World Heritage site of Palmyra for mass executions in 2016. More frequently, however, cultural property helps preserve national and local traditions and culture while helping to build a community’s association with its heritage, and thereby creating identity.

Photo: Roman Theatre at Palmyra, 2010

By Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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• Heritage studies
• Architecture and sociology
• Urban planning
• Preservation of built environment
• Globalisation

• Anthropology
• Politics and Sociology

Tangible and Intangible Heritage in the Age of Globalisation

• Lilia Makhloufi ( editor )

Introduction: Tangible and Intangible Heritage

Lilia makhloufi, 1. socio-spatial practices of a community living beneath the land in beni zelten, south-eastern tunisia.

• Houda Driss

2. Impact of Jurisprudential Heritage in the Organisation of the Medina of Tunis: Joint Ownership, Social Practices and Customs

• Meriem Ben Ammar

3. Revisiting Definitions and Challenges of Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Case of the Old Centre of Mashhad

• Sepideh Shahamati
• Ayda Khaleghi
• Sasan Norouzi

4. Promoting the Role of Egyptian Museums in Nurturing and Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage

• Heba Khairy

5. Syrian Intangible Cultural Heritage: Characteristics and Challenges of Preservation

• Nibal Muhesen

6. Mutrah Old Market, Oman: Analysis to Enhance a Living Heritage Site

• Mohamed Amer

7. Study on the Visual Perception of Historical Streetscapes Using Kansei Engineering: Cherchell City, Algeria

• Mouenes Abd Elrrahmane Bouakar
• Lemya Kacha

8. Western Churches in Nagasaki and Amakusa as Sites of Memory

• Joanes Rocha

9. Tradition Versus Modernity in Heritage Preservation Discourse in Postcolonial Morocco: Jemaa el-Fna Plaza, Marrakesh

• Assia Lamzah

10. Integrity and Authenticity: Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile)

• Guillermo Rojas Alfaro
• Fabiola Solari Irribarra

11. (Identity) Politics and the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Aliye Fatma Mataracı

Conclusion: Heritage in the Age of Globalisation

Contributors.

Lilia Makhloufi is an architect and urban planner. She obtained her magister’s degree in urban planning in 2003, and her doctorate of science in territory planning in 2009 and her postdoctoral degree (habilitation) with accreditation to supervise research in 2019. As a teacher and researcher, she worked at the University of Constantine, the University of Jijel and since 2010 at Ecole Polytechnique d’Architecture et d’Urbanisme (EPAU) in Algiers. She is also a member of the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA), based in the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) in Germany. Her main research experience and international collaborations are related to housing projects, public spaces, cities and sustainability.

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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement n° 612789.

Tangible and intangible Cultural Heritage

‘Tangible Cultural Heritage’ refers to physical artefacts produced, maintained and transmitted intergenerationally in a society. It includes artistic creations, built heritage such as buildings and monuments, and other physical or tangible products of human creativity that are invested with cultural significance in a society. ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ indicates ‘the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their Cultural Heritage’ (UNESCO, 2003). Examples of intangible heritage are oral traditions, performing arts, local knowledge, and traditional skills.

Tangible and intangible heritage require different approaches for preservation and safeguarding, which has been one of the main motivations driving the conception and ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Convention stipulates the interdependence between intangible Cultural Heritage, and tangible cultural and natural heritage, and acknowledges the role of intangible Cultural Heritage as a source of cultural diversity and a driver of sustainable development. Recognizing the value of people for the expression and transmission of intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO spearheaded the recognition and promotion of living human treasures, ‘persons who possess to a very high degree the knowledge and skills required for performing or recreating specific elements of the intangible Cultural Heritage’.

UNESCO (2003) Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible Cultural Heritage. Paris: UNESCO.

UNESCO (n.d.) Guidelines for the Establishment of National “Living Human Treasures” Systems. Paris: UNESCO.

Protection and management of tangible cultural heritage

Today, after more than 50 years, we continue to face pressing challenges: climate change, globalization, political and armed conflicts, as well as a lack of awareness about the value these sites hold for the memory and identity of peoples.

From the UNESCO MultiSectoral Office in Santiago, we work for the protection and preservation of World Heritage sites in Chile, aiming to raise awareness of their unique value and to create consciousness about the responsibility each citizen has in their care.

Our projects

Campaign "Part of our culture"

World Heritage Sites in Chile

The 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage recognizes the need and importance of creating systems of international cooperation and assistance to deploy joint efforts to identify and conserve heritage. Strengthening the ties between heritage sites in Chile generates virtuous mechanisms for the exchange of technical knowledge, management, and resources, and is a measure that allows for progress towards more sustainable mechanisms for the protection and enhancement of national cultural heritage.

The UNESCO MultiSectoral Office in Santiago is committed to the management and enhancement of World Heritage sites in Chile, through the dissemination of their value as heritage, and also by promoting their conservation and preservation.

Heritage sites have management particularities that correspond to the place where they are located. To achieve this, there are local organizations that help protect them, entities that face challenges in terms of their conservation, preservation, and risk management. UNESCO supports organizations that need help managing the sites and forms alliances with the public and private sectors to consolidate plans to conserve and preserve heritage. 

Campaign "Part of our culture" (Chile)

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• The State of the world heritage
• The World heritage, a legacy for all
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From Tangible to Intangible Heritage

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Ruggles, D.F., Silverman, H. (2009). From Tangible to Intangible Heritage. In: Silverman, H., Ruggles, D. (eds) Intangible Heritage Embodied. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0072-2_1

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The Tangible and Intangible Components of Cultural Heritage

LEED Initiative joins the celebrations for Heritage Treasures Day, commemorating the efforts put into preserving monuments and raising funds for iconic landmarks all over the globe. 

The word “heritage” holds the weight of the past, offering an opportunity to shine a spotlight on those who have shown utter strength and resilience during what has been a challenging time. In this light, the realm of cultural heritage does not only venerate physical structures or locations such as historic buildings and archeological sites, but also encompass arts, music, sculptures, books, customs, rituals, ceremonies, and craft. These tangible cultural forms are living expressions passed down over the years from one generation to another. They display the evolution of societies and thus help us examine our histories.

Tunisia has a rich and diverse heritage due to its strategic Mediterranean location. It was the home to a plethora of different civilizations and it is worth mentioning that seven sites and monuments are UNESCO World Heritage: Carthage, Dougga, El Djem, and Kerkouane and the medinas of Tunis, Kairouan and Sousse. As a matter of fact, the Roman Amphitheater El Jem, listed as a World Heritage Site in 1979, is one of the largest coliseums in North Africa, capable of accommodating 35,000 spectators. Embodying the glory of the Roman Empire, this grandiose amphitheater was built in the 3rd century and is located in the governorate of Mahdia.  

Preserving these monuments and raising awareness among young people on heritage and cultural diversity is one of the prime goals of national and international institutions operating in Tunisia. In this respect, Mohamed Ali, a young entrepreneur and the founder and executive director of Digital Cultural eXperience wanted to capture the Tunisian collective identity through the lenses of cultural heritage by developing a mobile application. The latter is called “World Heritage Sites in Tunisia” and it features an interactive map, engaging audio guides and 360° pictures to promote the 7 cultural World Heritage in Tunisia in an inclusive and youth-engaging format. His initiative was supported by the UNESCO-UNOCT project on the Prevention of Violent Extremism.

Cultural Heritage as Bacons of Affect and Politics

Moreover, there is an intrinsic correlation between cultural heritage and one’s collective identity and sense of belonging. In this respect, a sense of deep connection to the past and being part of a historical continuum is born. Only through having insights into the past, can we immerse in the realm of cultural engagement and shape our future pathways. It is the fact of knowing where we have come from help us discover where we want to go. This train of thought was the pinnacle of Jon’s Hawkes book The Forth Pillar of Sustainability: Culture’s Essential Role in Public Planning, where he contemplates how our social memory and our repositories of insights and understanding are essential to our sense of belonging. He adds that without a sense of our past, we are adrift in an endless present. Hence, this generates a sense of shared ownership and collective identity that spurs us to indulge in cultural activities related to one’s heritage.

There is a growing body of research within Critical Heritage Studies that examines the emotional and affective nature of heritage and memory, more specifically the notion of nostalgia. The latter is classically defined according to Britannica Dictionary as a pleasure and sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past and wishing that you could experience it again. It is an important motivating emotion or affect, a way of being moved by the past. It is through nostalgia and mobilizing emotions that we dwell on the past to carve our present and influence our future. This sentimental value can be seen in the possession of some family heirlooms that may be passed from one generation to another like a ring, a watch or a scarf.

As examined above cultural heritage posses a political power in relation to identity and belonging. It points to the past and generates the material anchors of our narratives and thus our lasting collective identities. As much as cultural heritage is an expression of one’s communal identity, it can be seen as an expression of difference to minority groups or those who do not belong or fit in in the community. Here, we have embroiled in identity-based conflicts and in this case cultural heritage is a threat to one’s identity and sense of belonging.  It can be seen as a tool for social control and dissent especially when it involves social minorities navigating their complex interplay of belonging, nationalism, collective memory and security.

In conclusion, defining cultural heritage can be the catalyst of debates revolving around politics, power, identity, and affect. As we are today more aware of this sturdy interplay, what we must do is protect, promote and share a cultural identity. Only then we can foster a culture of acceptance and tolerance.

The article represents the views of its writer and not that of LEED Initiative.

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Aleppo’s Al-Madina Souq, the heart of the city and center of its centuries old history of trading, burned on September 2012. The fire, possibly set deliberately or perhaps the accidental result of nearby fighting, destroyed much of the massive complex of shops, warehouses, religious buildings and hammams that dated back to the 14th century. The loss to the city goes far beyond the physical destruction. Al-Madina was a vital public space in which all religious groups and classes of the city interacted, where commerce was favored over faith and where Aleppians built trading networks that spanned the globe. The reconstruction of the Souq will be essential if Aleppo is to recover its previous vitality but that will require imaginative processes that go beyond simply rebuilding what was there before. The Souq, the largest covered market in the world with 13 kilometers of shops, was severely damaged in the fire. In 2014, UNESCO assessed the Al-Madina complex and found that 34 of the 45 souqs had severe visible damage and about 1,500 of the 1,600 shops were damaged or destroyed.1 The fire may have started due to nearby fighting. There is no evidence is was started deliberately but no investigation has taken place. The extent of the damage is enormous; the commercial heart of Aleppo and its complex social networks have been destroyed. Those networks provided a vital civic function in the city. Pragmatism was bred into the bones of even the most religious Aleppians. In the 14th century, Arab Sunni merchants who preferred not to deal with Shia Persians hired Armenians to act as middle men in the silk trade. In these ways, multi-faith and multi-ethnic networks developed that retained a resonance up to the present day. Now many of those who owned businesses in the Souq have fled the city. Reconstruction of the Souq will be an essential part of rebuilding Aleppo but there are many challenges ahead. Ownership will be hard to document and in some cases those with claims will have left for good. Reconstruction will need to consider historical accuracy but also provide for improvements demanded by merchants and shoppers. Many of those with traditional construction skills have left the city and the chain of education by which techniques are passed down risks being broken. On top of these issues, there may be commercial pressures to build in a newer style. The precedents elsewhere in the Middle East do not offer much hope. In Beirut the downtown Souq, once a vital commercial center, was abandoned for so long that there was little prospect of it ever recovering. Traders had moved elsewhere and shopping patterns had changed. The Souq was rebuilt as a modern shopping mall with only the faintest nod towards traditional design or organization of the Souq. No provision was made for smaller traditional traders; instead it has become a charmless set of international stores that could be found in any large city. Doha attempted to recreate a more traditional feel in a downtown district but the effect is artificial and sterile, a theme-park emptied of history or spirit. Urbanism across the Middle East has turned away from history in favor of sterile, controlled and private spaces focused on consumerism and tight social control. For Aleppo to succeed, it will be need to put as much emphasis on recreating the social linkages that made the Souq as it does in putting the stones back together. Only with a slow and patient process of consultation will sufficient consensus develop on how to rebuild, how to sequence the construction and how to address the many problems that will arise. Revitalizing the Souq will be essential if Aleppo is to recover a key public space that is not just at its physical center but lies at the heart of its identity as a cosmopolitan trading city.

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Essay on Heritage

Students are often asked to write an essay on Heritage in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Heritage

Understanding heritage.

Heritage refers to traditions, objects, and culture inherited from past generations. It encompasses everything from buildings and artworks to languages and values.

Types of Heritage

There are two main types: tangible and intangible. Tangible heritage includes physical artifacts like monuments, whereas intangible heritage involves traditions, language, and knowledge.

Importance of Heritage

Heritage helps us understand our history and identity. It provides a sense of belonging and continuity, linking us to our ancestors.

Preserving Heritage

Preserving heritage is crucial. It ensures future generations can learn from the past and appreciate their roots.

250 Words Essay on Heritage

Heritage is a multifaceted concept, embodying the tangible and intangible aspects of our past. It is the legacy we inherit from our ancestors and pass on to future generations. This inheritance can be in the form of cultural traditions, historical monuments, folklore, and natural landscapes.

The Importance of Heritage

Heritage plays a crucial role in defining our identity and sense of belonging. It provides a link to our roots and offers a sense of continuity and stability in a rapidly changing world. It is a source of pride and inspiration, reminding us of our collective achievements and struggles.

Heritage and Education

The study of heritage is an essential part of education. It helps students understand their history, culture, and the evolution of societal norms. It fosters respect for diversity and encourages a sense of global citizenship.

The preservation of heritage is a shared responsibility. It involves active participation from individuals, communities, and governments. While governments can enact laws to protect heritage sites, individuals and communities can contribute by promoting their local heritage and educating others about its importance.

Heritage is a priceless treasure that enriches our lives in countless ways. It is a testament to our past, a guide for our present, and a beacon for our future. Therefore, understanding, appreciating, and preserving our heritage is vital for our growth as individuals and as a society.

500 Words Essay on Heritage

The tangible and intangible aspects of heritage.

Tangible heritage comprises physical artifacts and locations that we can touch, see, and experience. These include buildings, monuments, landscapes, books, works of art, and artifacts. They represent the physical embodiment of a culture’s history and achievements.

On the other hand, intangible heritage includes practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills that communities recognize as part of their cultural heritage. Examples include oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, and festive events. These intangible aspects are often more challenging to preserve than tangible ones, as they are embedded in community practices and often require continued transmission to remain alive.

The Importance of Heritage Preservation

Secondly, heritage preservation contributes to identity formation. It allows us to understand our roots and gives us a sense of belonging. It also fosters respect for cultural diversity and human creativity, promoting social cohesion and sustainable development.

Lastly, heritage can have significant economic benefits. Heritage tourism, for instance, can bring considerable income to communities, contributing to their economic sustainability.

Challenges in Heritage Preservation

Furthermore, preserving intangible heritage can be particularly challenging. As societies modernize, many traditional practices and knowledge are being lost. Ensuring their transmission to younger generations is vital for their survival.

The Role of Individuals and Communities

Individuals and communities play a crucial role in heritage preservation. They can advocate for the protection of heritage sites, participate in preservation efforts, and promote the value of heritage through education and community engagement. By doing so, they can help ensure that our rich and diverse heritage is preserved for future generations to appreciate and learn from.

In conclusion, heritage is a precious link to our past, a key to understanding our present, and a gift to our future. It is our collective responsibility to preserve and pass it on, ensuring that the lessons, achievements, and beauty of our ancestors continue to enrich our world.

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