Cultural heritage

About: Cultural heritage is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 28201 publications have been published within this topic receiving 273875 citations. The topic is also known as: cultural assets & cultural goods.

The World Heritage List. What is OUV? Defining the Outstanding Universal Value of Cultural World Heritage Properties

Abstract: An ICOMOS study compiled by Jukka Jokilehto, with contributions from Christina Cameron, Michel Parent and Michael Petzet. The preamble of the World Heritage Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) presupposes “that parts of the cultural and natural heritage are of outstanding interest and therefore need to be preserved as part of the world heritage of mankind as a whole.” For this purpose the preamble demands “a convention establishing an effective system of collective protection of the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value”. In articles 8, 13 and 14 of this Convention ICOMOS , the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is named together with ICCRO M and IUCN as advisory body of the World Heritage Committee. And as advisory body our guideline in defining OUV, the outstanding universal value, remains of course first and foremost the World Heritage Convention in connection with the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (last revision January 2008).

On the heritage trail : maps of and journeys to olde Englande.

Abstract: This paper contains analyses of some theoretical ways of comprehending heritage phenomena. It is suggested that commentators on such phenomena have analysed an intended object based on a particular experience of heritage events. Rather, the author stresses that there are multiple ways of experiencing heritage. Throughout it is suggested that it is performance that creates heritage. Travel is used as a metaphor for this process as it stresses the issue of creative spatiotemporal practices. However, the organisation of heritage is reliant on the assumption that heritage is ontologically prior to its performance. The tension between these two perspectives is mobilised through the metaphors of Map and Journey. The reactionary tendency to reify heritage is seen less as a result of misleading versions of history than as a result of their organisation. This organisation freezes a certain experience of heritage into a virtual object. This object is like a map that is used to attempt to project its own selective order back onto heritage experiences. The author uses anecdotes, examples from the literature, and his own research to illustrate these points.

MobiDENK - mobile multimedia in monument conservation

Abstract: Modern monument conservation aims to foster the public's perception of cultural heritage. To support this aim, we developed a mobile, location-aware information system that draws the visitor's attention to historic sites of interest and provides location-dependent multimedia information. We call the system mobiDENK, which is the acronym for mobile monuments in German: "mobile Denkmaler". Essentially, the mobiDENK application runs on a personal digital assistant (PDA) with an integrated global positioning system (GPS) receiver. By locating the user and showing position and path on an interactive map, mobiDENK offers visual navigation support. As the user casually tours an area, mobiDENK provides location-based multimedia information about points of interest (POIs) along the way, such as monuments and significant historical sites. MobiDENK is one application of the highly modular, flexible Niccimon system architecture that we developed for rapid mobile application development. The project's aim is to provide the public with mobile, location-based multimedia information about significant cultural sites in Lower Saxony.

Satellite imagery-based monitoring of archaeological site damage in the Syrian civil war.

Abstract: Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the rich archaeological heritage of Syria and northern Iraq has faced severe threats, including looting, combat-related damage, and intentional demolition of monuments. However, the inaccessibility of the conflict zone to archaeologists or cultural heritage specialists has made it difficult to produce accurate damage assessments, impeding efforts to develop mitigation strategies and policies. This paper presents results of a project, undertaken in collaboration with the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) and the US Department of State, to monitor damage to archaeological sites in Syria, northern Iraq, and southern Turkey using recent, high-resolution satellite imagery. Leveraging a large database of archaeological and heritage sites throughout the region, as well as access to continually updated satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe, this project has developed a flexible and efficient methodology to log observations of damage in a manner that facilitates spatial and temporal queries. With nearly 5000 sites carefully evaluated, analysis reveals unexpected patterns in the timing, severity, and location of damage, helping us to better understand the evolving cultural heritage crisis in Syria and Iraq. Results also offer a model for future remote sensing-based archaeological and heritage monitoring efforts in the Middle East and beyond.