Conferences by Higgins Valerie
Papers by Higgins Valerie
Acta ad archaeologiam et artium historiam pertinentia, 1970
This article looks at the interaction of the people of Rome with their past and the creation of s... more This article looks at the interaction of the people of Rome with their past and the creation of sites of memory with a particular focus on the period from the Risorgimento and onwards. It uses visual, textual and oral evidence to examine how the monuments of the ancient past were used as places to live and work. Being an integral part of the daily lives of the citizens meant that these monuments became important symbols of their identity and social cohesion. The use of ancient Rome for political purposes by the Risorgimento and Fascist governments was a separate heritage discourse, distinct from the daily interactions of ordinary peoplle. Using the memorial at the Fosse Ardeatine as a case-study explores how lieux de mémoire change status as succeeding generations reinterpret events and how monuments become co-opted into an Authorised Heritage Discourse.
Communities and Cultural Heritage explores the relationship between communities, their cultural h... more Communities and Cultural Heritage explores the relationship between communities, their cultural heritage and the global forces that control most of the world's wealth and resources in today's world. Bringing together scholars and heritage practitioners from nine countries, this book contributes to the ongoing dialogue on community heritage by analysing impediments to full community participation. The undermining of local communities comes at a high price. As the chapters in this book demonstrate, the knowledge embedded within traditional and Indigenous heritage creates communities that are more resilient to environmental and social stressors and more responsive to contemporary challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, post-disaster recovery and relocation. Cultural heritage practices often fail to capitalise upon local knowledge and traditional skills and undervalue the potential contribution of local communities in finding creative and resourceful solutions to the issues they are confronting. Arguing that the creation of successful community heritage projects requires ongoing reflection on the aims, methods, financing and acceptable outcomes of projects, the volume also demonstrates that the decolonization of Western-focussed heritage practices is an ongoing process, by which subaltern groups are brought forward and given a space in the heritage narrative. Reflecting on trends that impact communities and heritage sites across different geographical regions, Communities and Cultural Heritage will be of interest to academics, students and practitioners of cultural heritage, archaeology and anthropology around the world.
Ex Novo: Journal of Archaeology, 2016
This paper examines the changing attitudes of young Albanian archaeologists to Albania’s archaeol... more This paper examines the changing attitudes of young Albanian archaeologists to Albania’s archaeological heritage. As Cold War archaeologists retire and are replaced by a generation trained after the fall of communism, this paper asks how their different world perspective will influence the future direction of archaeology. Particular issues that are addressed are the perceived role of the Illyrians in national identity and the willingness of young archaeologists to embrace new types of heritage sites, such as industrial and Cold War archaeology. Examples of the latter are very prominent in the Albanian landscape, but their interpretation and incorporation into the national narrative are still contentious issues for many.
Uploads
Conferences by Higgins Valerie
Papers by Higgins Valerie