Cultural heritage refers to the collection of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a particular group or society that have been inherited from the past. It has a great value for these groups or societies and therefore it should be preserved. It is of utmost importance for the development of a nation and its people as it represents their history, values and traditions, thus creating a sense of identity and belonging among them. Its preservation also helps to boost the local economy by promoting tourism and encouraging creativity.
Moreover, it also helps to promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between countries. It is also essential in preserving a country’s unique culture, and its historical, natural and social environment. It consists of the historic places, monuments, buildings, works of arts, folklore and archaeological sites, and landscapes. In a globalized world, cultural heritage is an essential part of the humanity’s shared heritage and it should be preserved by everyone.
The concept of cultural heritage developed out of a long-term historicaldevelopment in which different values were attached to monuments, buildings, works of art and artifacts, landscapes, etc. The loss or destruction of these cultural elements led to a growing recognition that they were of ‘outstanding universal value’ and therefore should be protected or conserved. The term cultural heritage has since grown to encompass all aspects of a culture and its broader social, economic, political and moral context.
There are two main types of cultural heritage: tangible and intangible. Tangible cultural heritage refers to the movable and immovable physical objects such as paintings, clothing, machines, books and documents, while intangible cultural heritage refers to oral traditions, social practices and customs, and various knowledge and skills that are passed on from generation to generation. The value of intangible cultural heritage is not in the physical expression, but in the knowledge that it contains.
However, it is important to note that the distinction between intangible and tangible cultural heritage is only a matter of convenience and not of definition. For instance, most definitions include books and manuscripts as part of the intangible cultural heritage. This is because these items contain a wealth of information and knowledge that should be preserved for the future generations.
The challenge in cultural heritage conservation lies in the fact that it is a complex process and there are many issues involved. For example, it is difficult to secure funding for the preservation of heritage. This is because the people who are responsible for preserving heritage do not always have the expertise in fundraising or managing funds. Furthermore, they are often under pressure to produce results quickly, which leads to the use of low-quality materials in their work. In addition, there is a growing concern that some aspects of cultural heritage are being compromised or damaged in the name of achieving commercial valorisation. Thus, there is a need to find better ways of protecting cultural heritage and making it accessible for the future generations.