Ancient monument
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An ancient monument can refer to any early or historical manmade structure and/or architecture.[1] Certain ancient monuments are of cultural importance for nations and become symbols of international recognition, including the ruins of Baalbek on Lebanese currency, the Angkor Wat on Cambodian currency and the Great Wall of China on the Chinese currency.[2] There are some countries that display ancient buildings as symbols on their coats of arms as a way to affirm national identity.[3] In this way, ancient monuments in the modern world are used as icons to represent a country. The importance of ancient monuments extends to cultural heritage and how the people of a nation or city identify themselves.[4]
In British law, an ancient monument is an early historical structure or monument (e.g. an archaeological site) worthy of preservation and study due to archaeological or heritage interest. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 classified ancient monuments as "scheduled monuments" or monuments that are considered by the Secretary of State of archaeological, historical or artistic importance.[5]
Historical significance and cultural heritage
National identity and iconography
Since the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with the rise of nationalism, part of the nation-building process was the construction of a national past.[6] This past comprised a collection of legends, traditions and myths. In Europe's emerging nations, ruins and relics became the centre of attention for group consciousness and national aspirations, which became an important motivation for the emergence of a preservation movement.[7] This was because many buildings, landscapes and monuments achieved a great level of significance as symbols and icons of a growing nation.[8][9] As such, these buildings and landscapes became national monuments, which possessed new meanings given the emergence of nationhood. Light and Dumbraveanu-Andone assert that the connection between heritage and national identity continues to be important.[7] This is also evident in national identity related to an awareness of national heritage that is still visible around the world.[3]
Archaeology
The emergence of the discipline of archaeology was linked to the rise of nationalism.[11] It was often emphasised to be used in service of the nation-state to reinforce its historical and territorial legitimacy. Archaeology as a culture-historical discipline is the study and preservation of remains from past societies and their environments.[12] In this, the past is studied through preserving its sources including landscape (ancient monuments and/or heritage sites) and physical artefacts. The preservation and restoration are important for all heritage sites, particularly at locations of ancient monuments and archaeological areas that are in dangerous or delicate conditions.[13]
Preservation and care
To protect, preserve and care for ancient monuments, there were a number of laws and Acts passed during the late nineteenth and twentieth century.
Furthermore, the Ancient Monuments Act 1931 extended its protection policies around previous monuments, including the scheduled monuments on the list, through introducing a notification system.[19] As part of this system, monument owners had to provide the Commissioners of Works three months' notice in writing of any works affecting the monument, which remained in use until 1979.[20] During the 1930s and 1940s, there were a number of background strategies by various organisations concerned with ancient monuments. In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, a committee was established to look into the existing state and future direction of archaeological work in Britain.[21] This resulted in the publication of A Survey and policy of field research in the archaeology of Great Britain and from this, more information about the past to fill gaps in knowledge.[20]
- Historic Building and Ancient Monuments Act 1953
- Field Monuments Act 1972
- Scheduled Monument Consent system was implemented instead of the notification procedure as outlined previously.[21]
Modern preservation
The modern preservation techniques consist of
Issues that ancient monuments such as historical buildings face can be linked to internal and external environmental factors.
Tourism
Heritage tourism
Following the mass decolonisation period post World War II, identity through remains, the past and landscapes became more common and global tourism exponentially increased.[27] With the rise of globalisation, tourism has grown to become a type of commodity during the twenty-first century with new places and elements to discover.[28] In addition to this, the exoticism and romanticism around experiencing other "more authentic" cultures have contributed to heritage and cultural tourism.[29] As a result, ancient monuments are linked to heritage tourism because of the cultural and national aspect that the monuments embody. Heritage tours comprise a number of types including religious tourism and patriotic tourism.[30] In the case of ancient monuments, both types of heritage tourism apply.
Religious tourism
The concept of
Patriotic tourism
Tourism that are attached to nationalistic or patriotic sentiments is another type of heritage tourism. In the modern context, post World War I and World War II, certain places and sites and being claimed as nationalistic sites that patriotic tourists visit for the purpose of reclaiming and reaffirming their heritage and national identity. Such sites include the forts and castles of Ghana,[36] the ANZAC Cove[37] and the Great Wall of China. These types of ancient monuments fall under the category of national and historical importance. They are associated with culturally driven tourism linking to the colonial and violent past of nations that have become symbols of cultural reaffirmation and awakening.[38]
Archaeological tourism
Whilst certain types of tourism can negatively impact the sustainability of historical and ancient sites, archaeological tourists have led to the conservation and maintenance of ancient monuments.[39] All archaeological disciplines apply the same types of methods and one includes the study of the physical artefact and/or site. In the modern world, most archaeologists are involved in excavations to rescue and preserve archaeological traces that can be damaged from activities such as housing, road-building, natural gas pipelines or airports.[40] Cultural heritage plays an important role with globalization and increasing ethnic recognition and thus, this type of management is significant.[41] As such, archaeologists are taking care of several ancient monuments and historical sites, and with the growth of tourism, this has become more vital and is defined as "heritage management".[40]
Archaeologists alongside to architects help preserve what other specialists, including art historians, cultural geographers, or ethnologists, study. [42] These may include medieval churches, monolithic monuments or ancient relics, stupas and/or paintings. For example, the study of the concept of "dying culture" refers to a part or portion of a living, an existing culture that has older origins, however, is still in use.[43] In this case, preservation of traditional objects, artefacts and monuments through archaeological study is both important for ancient monuments and the tourism industry.[44]
Examples of archaeological excavation that are classified as ancient monuments:
- Moai Statues Easter Island, Chile
- Chichen Itza, Mexico
- Tikal, Guatemala
- Acropolis of Athens, Greece
- Giza Pyramids, Egypt
- Ancient Petra, Jordan
Other categories of tourists
- Journalists
- Students studying certain sites
- Volunteers
- Community leaders and politicians[45]
Types of ancient monuments
- Palaces and castles: These types of monuments are of historical and national importance as some are symbols of their countries.
- Pyramid: A significant example is the Giza Pyramids of ancient Egypt, which were constructed to revere the Pharaoh.[1]
- Sculptural monuments and mosaics: Some ancient monuments such as temples include stone relief sculptures and mosaics. From these ancient monuments, such as the temple of Parthenon, included sculptures that are found in museums like the Louvre and the British Museum.[46]
- Temple: There are many temples around the world that are classified as ancient monuments and world heritage sites. Somes examples include the Temple of Anahita, Kangavar in Iran, several Ancient Greek temples and Megalithic Temples of Malta.
- Mosque: Early Islamic architecture included elaborate patterns.[1] Some notable examples include the Great Mosque of Damascus (Umayyad Mosque), Masjid Al-Aqsa (Dome of the Rock) and the Tunisian Great Mosque of Kairouan.
- Mughal emperors tombs such as the tomb of Aurangzeb and Akbar's tomb as well as the Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Priwer, Shana; Phillips, Cynthia (2014). Ancient Monuments. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. p. 88.
- ^ Timothy, Dallen J. (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications. p. 377.
- ^ a b Timothy, Dallen J. (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications. p. 378.
- JSTOR 1504606.
- ^ Emerick (2014), p. 111.
- .
- ^ a b Light & Dumbraveanu-Andone (1997), p. 28.
- .
- S2CID 59896572.
- S2CID 129837666.
- ^ Light & Dumbraveanu-Andone (1997), p. 29.
- .
- ^ Feilden, Bernard M. (2003). "Preventive maintenance of historic buildings". Conservation of Historic Buildings: 239.
- ^ Feilden, Bernard Melchior (2003). Conservation of Historic Buildings (Third ed.). Oxford: Architectural Press. p. 17.
- JSTOR 25514048.
- ^ Emerick (2014), p. 80.
- ^ a b Darvill (1987), p. 3.
- ^ Emerick (2014), p. 89.
- ^ S2CID 162768412.
- ^ a b Darvill (1987), p. 4.
- ^ JSTOR 1504606.
- ^ Timothy, Dallen J. (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications. p. 373.
- ^ a b c d e Timothy (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). p. 374.
- ISBN 9780750658638.)
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ a b Feilden (2003). Conservation of historic buildings (Third ed.). Oxford. p. 237.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Feilden (2003). Conservation of historic buildings (Third ed.). Oxford. p. 237.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Timothy (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). p. 16.
- ^ Raj, Razaq; Griffin, Kevin A.; Morphet, Nigel D. (2013). Cultural Tourism. Wallingford: CAB International. p. 39.
- ^ Alvarez, Maria D.; Go, Frank M.; Yüksel, Atila (2016). Heritage tourism destinations : preservation, communication and development. Wallingford, Oxfordshire: CABI. p. 252.
- ^ Timothy (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). p. 32.
- ^ Kristensen, Troels Myrup; Friese, Wiebke (2017). Excavating Pilgrimage: Archaeological Approaches to Sacred Travel and Movement in the Ancient World (1st ed.). Florence: Routledge. p. 32.
- ^ doi:10.1002/jtr.2014.
- ^ Kristensen; Friese (2017). Excavating Pilgrimage: Archaeological Approaches to Sacred Travel and Movement in the Ancient World. Florence: Routledge. p. 45.
- JSTOR 990407.
- ISSN 0732-2992.
- ^ Raj; Griffin; Morphet (2013). Cultural Tourism. p. 46.
- S2CID 161124711.
- ^ Timothy (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). p. 48.
- ISBN 9780203017593.
- ^ a b Kristensen; Friese (2017). Excavating Pilgrimage: Archaeological Approaches to Sacred Travel and Movement in the Ancient World. Florence: Routledge. p. 8.
- ^ Waterton, Emma; Watson, Steve (2014). The Semiotics of Heritage Tourism. Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications. p. 104.
- ^ Timothy (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). p. 31.
- ^ Kristensen; Friese (2017). Excavating Pilgrimage: Archaeological Approaches to Sacred Travel and Movement in the Ancient World. Florence: Routledge. p. 12.
- ^ Timothy (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). p. 68.
- ^ Timothy (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). pp. 28–37.
- S2CID 237724569.
- Darvill, Timothy (1987). Ancient Monuments in the Countryside: an archaeological management review. England: English Heritage.
- Emerick, Keith (2014). Conserving and Managing Ancient Monuments: Heritage, Democracy and Inclusion. Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer.
- Light, Duncan; Dumbraveanu-Andone, Daniela (March 1997). "Heritage and national identity: Exploring the relationship in Romania". International Journal of Heritage Studies. 3 (1): 28–43. .
- Timothy, Dallen J. (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications.