When people hear the term cultural heritage, they often think of historical monuments and buildings, works of art, or archeological sites. In fact, the term refers to much more: heritage is property that holds a value for a community because it embodies its culture, values and traditions. It’s important to protect or conserve cultural heritage because, unlike natural resources, it cannot be replaced once it is gone.
The concept of cultural heritage developed as a result of the need to safeguard objects that are part of a society’s identity, whether they are tangible or intangible. This includes cultural landscapes, the houses where famous historic figures lived or worked, and even entire cities that were destroyed by war, fire or natural disaster. The idea that these objects, and the natural environment in which they are intimately entangled, have an outstanding universal value that must be preserved has become one of the most enduring notions of heritage.
Today, cultural heritage is an important global industry that brings in significant financial benefits for local communities, countries and regions. It also has a key role to play as a factor contributing to social cohesion. However, there are still gaps in the field of research and practice when it comes to preserving cultural heritage.
Firstly, the way in which we approach cultural heritage and its preservation differs across communities. For example, members of a community may have different views on what constitutes cultural heritage and how it should be represented to visitors. This can cause problems, especially if it leads to the marginalization or exclusion of some members of a community from its heritage and, ultimately, its future.
Another issue is the lack of adequate resources and training for heritage professionals. This is particularly the case in developing countries. Many states do not have an official section or position within the ministry of culture dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage. And even when they do, it can be difficult to find qualified staff with the required expertise.
Insufficient funding and the growing threat of climate change are additional challenges that can have a devastating impact on heritage sites. These issues are not only affecting the physical condition of these places, but they are also diminishing their significance as cultural and historical symbols for their communities.
In order to address these issues, the development of heritage scholarship is crucial. The increasing number of publications about cultural heritage in peer-reviewed journals is a good indicator of this trend. Moreover, the scholarly quality and the high rankings of these journals in international publication indexes are also signs that this is a field with potential for further growth.