Original title: Wrestling with the Social Value of Heritage: Problems, Dilemmas and Opportunities
Social value is what a historic place means to people today, such as its ties to identity, memory, or belonging. These meanings can change and differ across communities. The article argues that expert assessments alone often miss this living, changing value. Interviews and observation can help, especially when communities take part in the assessment.
A family keeps returning to a park where they have celebrated birthdays and remembered relatives. A visitor might see only trees and paths, while the family’s memories and routines give the place a meaning that changes over time. In this paper, the park stands for a historic place, and the family’s lived connections show why expert judgment alone can miss what a community values.
Heritage decisions affect the communities who live with historic places and draw meaning from them. If assessments rely only on experts, they may overlook local identity, memory, belonging, or spiritual connections. The article argues that listening to people and involving them in the process can better capture those values.
The abstract presents an argument about suitable ways to assess social value, but does not report a specific case study, measured outcomes, or a comparison of research methods. It does not establish how well these approaches work in every heritage setting.
Ask anything about this paper. Answers come from its abstract, and say so when the abstract doesn't cover your question.
Wrestling with the Social Value of Heritage: Problems, Dilemmas and Opportunities — Sian B Jones — Journal of Community Archaeology & Heritage — doi:10.1080/20518196.2016.1193996
Abstract licence: CC BY
Explanation generated by Synthesis from the abstract — it is not the original paper.