scholarly journals What is biological cultural heritage and why should we care about it? An example from Swedish rural landscapes and forests

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 1-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ove Eriksson

There is currently a growing concern that biocultural heritage is threatened in many landscapes. This paper focuses on biological cultural heritage, broadly meaning biological cultural traces that are considered as heritage, but leaving out other aspects of the biocultural heritage concept. An operational definition of biological cultural heritage (BCH) is suggested, based on niche construction theory: “biological manifestations of culture, reflecting indirect or intentional effects, or domesticated landscapes, resulting from historical human niche construction”. Some factors that influence recognition of BCH are discussed, using a comparison between Swedish open to semi-open vs. forested landscapes. While the former landscapes are generally associated with biological cultural values, BCH is generally over-looked in forests. Two main reasons for this are suggested: loss of cultural memory and a perception of forests as wilderness. A conclusion is that recognition of BCH is essential for guiding development of biological conservation programmes in forests, irrespective of whether the conservation goal is to focus on culturally impacted forests or to conserve what is considered as close to pristine forests. Furthermore, recognising BCH in forests will promote interest and learning of the history of forests and their values and will be informative for developing conservation programmes for all biota in forests, not only those that historically were favoured by culture. Hence, there is no inherent conflict between preserving relatively untouched forests and those with remaining traces of pre-industrial forest management. The recognition of BCH in forests will inspire and promote further integration of cultural and natural heritage research.

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Froese ◽  
Ezequiel A. Di Paolo

There is a small but growing community of researchers spanning a spectrum of disciplines which are united in rejecting the still dominant computationalist paradigm in favor of the enactive approach. The framework of this approach is centered on a core set of ideas, such as autonomy, sense-making, emergence, embodiment, and experience. These concepts are finding novel applications in a diverse range of areas. One hot topic has been the establishment of an enactive approach to social interaction. The main purpose of this paper is to serve as an advanced entry point into these recent developments. It accomplishes this task in a twofold manner: (i) it provides a succinct synthesis of the most important core ideas and arguments in the theoretical framework of the enactive approach, and (ii) it uses this synthesis to refine the current enactive approach to social interaction. A new operational definition of social interaction is proposed which not only emphasizes the cognitive agency of the individuals and the irreducibility of the interaction process itself, but also the need for jointly co-regulated action. It is suggested that this revised conception of ‘socio-cognitive interaction’ may provide the necessary middle ground from which to understand the confluence of biological and cultural values in personal action.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3-2) ◽  
pp. 337-351
Author(s):  
Sergey Pilyak ◽  

Interpretation of cultural values and cultural heritage is one of the most common types of their development and creative understanding. However, the concept of ‘interpretation’ remains blurred among related processes, usually without getting much mention. In the field of cultural heritage preservation, interpretation is the main method of human development of cultural heritage objects. The process and results of interpretation, as shown by the long history of preservation of cultural heritage, also affect the preservation of cultural heritage. The proposed material is devoted to the consideration of a museum as an example of one of the most consistent built spaces and tools for the interpretation of cultural heritage. The subject of the research is the methods of museum work considered in the context of mechanisms of interpretation of material cultural heritage. Museum as an instrument of interpretation has been known since ancient times. Human interest in ancient artifacts that act as visible symbols of historical and cultural memory of the past, eventually led to the development of collecting, and then, with the publication of collections, to the emergence of museums. Museum and its activities occupy a special place in the methodology of interpretation. The museum space can set its own special rhythm of historical time and create conditions for comfortable perception of the presented artifacts. No other cultural institution has such a task, and if it is necessary to present an artifact, interested persons in one way or another turn to the method tested on museum sites. As a result of the research, the author identified five stages of museum activities, which are generally typical for the mechanism of interpretation of cultural heritage. Therefore, the main goal of museum activities should be recognized as an interpretation of cultural heritage. In accordance with this goal, the museum's tasks are also implemented, including the preservation, publication and promotion of the collection's artifacts. Thus, the role and place of the museum as a specific space created for the purpose of interpreting cultural heritage is proved. These provisions allow us to look at the theory and practice of museum activities in a different way, in the context of interpreting cultural identity.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Król

PurposeAt the turn of 2018 and 2019, a certain era in the history of Polish Internet came to an end. Most of the websites of rural tourism facilities hosted on free servers no longer exist; however, the very phenomenon has significantly distinguished itself in the promotion of rural tourism in Poland. The paper presents archaic websites or rural tourism facilities in Poland as digital cultural heritage assets. Its purpose is to propose attributes potentially indicative of content or phenomenon being part of digital cultural heritage.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 211 websites of rural tourism facilities in Poland, hosted on free servers, were analysed. The study investigated digital artefacts, i.e. only the websites that no longer exist but whose archival copies are found at the Internet Archive (IA).FindingsThe structure of most websites of rural tourism facilities was based on tables. None of the websites were responsive. The graphics of 132 websites (65%) were never changed, with the oldest recorded copies dating back to 2001 and the newest ones to 2018. On many websites, components that are relatively rarely found these days were noted, e.g. “marquee”-type “floating” objects or online surveys.Originality/valueThe phenomenon of using free-of-charge hosting services by rural tourism facilities in Poland in the years 2004–2012 is part of the history of Polish Internet and an example of digital cultural heritage. Archaic websites of rural tourism facilities in Poland are digital artefacts but not all of them have cultural values. In total, three groups of attributes are proposed that can be important for determining whether a website, content or phenomenon can be considered digital cultural heritage assets.


2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (S1) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan L. Mitchell ◽  
Kenneth Rockwood

This study sought an operational definition of parkinsonism in elderly people (n = 2,914) who underwent a clinical examination in the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA). Parkinsonism was defined as having two of the following features: (1) bradykinesia of face or limbs, (2) resting tremor, (3) rigidity, and (4) abnormality of gait and posture. The association of parkinsonism with other parkinsonian-related features (prior diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, use of drugs with extrapyramidal side effects, and use of antiparkinsonian medications) and variables not expected to be related to parkinsonism (stroke and Hachinski score > 5) was determined. Parkinsonism was identified in 337 people (11.6%). It was significantly more likely with other parkinsonian-related characteristics, and was not associated with a history of stroke, but was slightly higher among those subjects with a Hachinski score > 5. Posture and gait abnormalities were significantly associated with other parkinsonian-related variables, but were also more common among subjects with stroke-related features. When the gait and posture disturbance category was excluded as a parkinsonian sign, the narrower definition was more specific but less sensitive in detecting cases with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Despite limitations, the approach presented in this article is a valid method to operationalize parkinsonism from the dataset.


Author(s):  
C. Villalba Montaner

Abstract. There are 23 rural historical ensembles listed as BIC in the province of Teruel, one of the most depopulated areas in Spain. On the one hand, the lack of economic and demographic pressure in this region has made it possible to preserve many of the typological features of their vernacular architecture. On the other hand, the loss of permanent inhabitants and skilled craftsmanship practitioners has led to a worrying lack of maintenance and abandonment, which threatens their future conservation. The Cultural Heritage Department (Gobierno de Aragón) has been promoting several studies aimed at the protection of 6 different listed case-studies (Albalate del Arzobispo, Calaceite, Rubielos de Mora, Mirambel, Beceite and Teruel). Despite being very small, municipalities are the only competent bodies for the elaboration of the Special Protection master plans of each HE, according to Urban Planning and Cultural Heritage legislation. Hence, the primary purpose of these studies is to support them by analysing their heritage significance and singularities so they can use them as the base for master plans. They will also help raise awareness of their cultural values among local communities, while avoiding the mere conservation of empty urban and rural landscapes. The methodology comprises the identification, analysis and diagnosis of the heritage values that build their identity, thanks to a thorough inventory of all the vernacular constructive techniques, components and zones with a distinguishable character within the urban tissue and its environment.


2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deniz Özkut

The phenomenon of preservation may be described as a physical process that depends onconceptual facts. When observed from a conceptual point of view, ‘values’ cause the divergencesin the preservation process, which could be named as the pre-requisites of the construction.Values carry emotional and physical points of view. The emotional context, of course, dependson recognizing and remembering while physical context depends on direction of research. They are indicators of cultural characteristics and historical identity. ‘Cultural values’1, more over, explains the meanings attributed to the cultural property, which meanings will be preserved, and the reasons for their preservation. On behalf of this context, the preservation process may be defined as the preservation of the cultural heritage within an effective system. This effective system isaimed at attaining the total quality as a result of a synthesis of the technology, technique, and material originally deployed with those of the present. Besides, one of the most important inputin the preservation process is the priorities of the intervention to be held, as the latter will determine the decisions and types of intervention during the implementation phase of the preservation project. As a significant paradox, the most important parameter that shapes both a preservationproject and its process appears to be the risks that consist of indefinite input preventing theproject from a proper definition of its context. Since all physical problems and the social statusof the cultural property to be preserved have direct impact upon the design process of thepreservation project, these priorities and the risks should be clarified in the course of pre-assessment phase at the beginning of the preservation process.


Author(s):  
Christopher B. Menadue

In science fiction magazines of the first half of the twentieth century, tropical environments are chaotic domains where civilised restrictions do not apply. Visitors who cross the boundary between civilisation and jungle exhibit carnal desires and violent behaviours in response to the opportunities and threats they encounter. Mysterious cities and settlements hidden in the jungle and inhabited by supernatural beings are a common feature of science fiction of  this period. The tropics are ‘torrid’ in both a human, emotional sense, as well as in the sense of Aristotle’s definition of a geographical area that is virtually uninhabitable due to the hostility of the climate (Physics, 362a33-362b29). However, by the end of  the century, the tropical jungle had been transformed in science fiction into something positive and less fearsome; a rich ecological reserve, endangered, and in need of preservation. Tropical science fiction narratives reflect a changing public understanding of the tropics, and illustrate the value of science fiction as a record of the history of changes in social and cultural values.


2021 ◽  
Vol 02 (09) ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Dilorom Shabonovna Fayziyeva ◽  

This article gives a brief overview of the life, manuscripts, and works of Yusuf Hamadoni, who contributed to the spread of the Khojaly sect. Through this information, we are exploring our history and cultural heritage, as well as promoting the teachings of Naqshbandi, the information given in these manuscripts is the most valuable information about the “Khojagon sect” and its pir today. At the same time, it is more important than ever that the books published today have a deeper content and a better style. This, in turn, leads to clear conclusions about changes in the manuscripts, eliminating errors and confusions in sentences and phrases. As a result, the quality and weight of research on manuscripts written in the last century will increase. Addressing these shortcomings has become one of the most pressing issues today. Issues such as the problem of the history of the text of written sources in the early days of the Khojagon sect and the definition of the scientific and theoretical basis of the text of these works are the features that determine its relevance today. In particular, it is necessary to acquaint our people, especially our youth, with the beliefs and views of Abdukhalik Gijduvani, Khoja Arif Revgari, Khoja Ali Romitani in these manuscript sources.


Author(s):  
Wiji Suwarno

Library is not only a space for displaying books, but there are many important values within. The paradigm of library has been shifted from books oriented into user oriented meaning library is as sources of information. Besides that, library plays its roles as an institution of cultural heritage conservators in maintaining cultural values, and revitalizing the tradition. In this technology era, this article tries to explain the interesting phenomena in the libraries of the State Institute for Islamic Studies (PTKIN) in Indonesia concerning the history of the emergence and development of such novel traditions including Online Research Skill (ORS) and Writing Skill (RS).


Author(s):  
W.M.T Yudhaa ◽  
R. Fadli R. Fadli ◽  
S. Astari S. Astari ◽  
S. Yulisma S. Yulisma ◽  
R. M. Siahaan R. M. Siahaan ◽  
...  

Istana Maimun adalah istana kebesaran Kerajaan Deli yang dibangun pada tahun 1888. Saat ini istana maimun sudah beralih fungsi menjadi museum dan hunian untuk keluarga keturunan sultan. Istana Maimun memiliki daya tarik tersendiri terutama sebagai bukti perjalanan sejarah kebudayaan Kota Medan. Dalam Penelitian ini Peneliti menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif yaitu dengan menguji signifikansi kondisi Istana Maimun sebagai bangunan bersejarah Kota Medan melalui nilai sejarah, nilai ilmu pengetahuan, nilai agama dan nilai kebudayaan seperti yang ditetapkan dalam UU No.11 Tahun 2010. Dengan pengumpulan data melalui wawancara, dokumentasi dan konservasi lapangan. Hasil dari penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menjadikan Istana Maimun menjadi bangunan bersejarah cagar budaya Nasional.   Maimun Palace is an oversized palace of the Kingdom of Deli which was built in 1888. At present Maimun Palace has turned into a museum and residence for families of descendants of the Sultan. Maimun Palace has its own charm, especially as evidence of the journey of the history of the city of Medan. In this study the researcher used a qualitative descriptive method, namely by testing the significance of Maimun Palace as a historical building in Medan through historical values, the value of science, religious values and cultural values as stipulated in Law No.11 of 2010. By collecting data through interviews, field documentation, and conservation. The results of this study are expected to make Maimun Palace a historic building of national cultural heritage.


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