How is heritage significance assessed?
Heritage professionals have developed ways of officially measuring the significance of natural and cultural heritage topographic points. The undermentioned paperss. listed in the Resources subdivision of the usher. may supply some aid:
Natural Heritage Places – A enchiridion for preservation: Implementing the Australian Natural Heritage Charter for preservation of topographic points of natural significance. 1998. Lorraine Cairnes. Australian Heritage Commission in association with the Australian Committee for IUCN.
Draft Guidelines for the Protection. Management and
Use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural
Heritage Topographic points. 1997. Department of
Communicationss and the Humanistic disciplines.
‘Guidelines to the Burra Charter’ ( cultural heritage significance ) in The Illustrated Burra Charter: Making good determinations about the attention of of import topographic points. 1992. prepared by Australia ICOMOS. Unit 3
The general stairss involved in a heritage significance appraisal are outlined in these paperss and described briefly below.
Measure 1 Describe the topographic point
Compile the information that you have gathered and organize it harmonizing to single topographic points. If measuring a really big country or a topographic point with a figure of different types of values. you may necessitate to look at elements such as natural. autochthonal or historic characteristics individually. and so convey them together at the terminal to state the narrative of the topographic point.
Measure 2 Consider the significance of the topographic point
There are many positions and positions in sing the important values of a topographic point. For case. some autochthonal communities may wish to specify the significance of a topographic point really loosely. Methodologies for measuring important values constitute a quickly germinating set of thoughts. The undermentioned classs and inquiries are a usher to sing significance.
Why is this topographic point of import?
The undermentioned definitions of societal. aesthetic. historic and scientific values are from the Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance ( the Burra Charter ) ( 1992 ) and the Draft Guidelines for the protection and direction and usage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage topographic points ( 1998 ) . The definitions of biological diverseness. ecosystems and geological values are from the Australian Natural Heritage ( 7harter Standards and rules for the preservation of topographic points of natural heritage significance ( 1996 ) .
Social values
Social value to the community embraces the qualities for which a topographic point is a focal point of religious. traditional. economic. political. national or other cultural sentiment to the bulk or minority group.
Is the topographic point of import to the community as a landmark or local signature? In what ways. and to what extent? Is the topographic point of import as portion of community individuality? In what ways. and to what extent? Is the topographic point of import to the community because an fond regard to it has developed from long usage? What is the length and strength of that fond regard? Which community values the topographic point?
What is the comparative importance of the topographic point to the group or community ( compared to other topographic points of import to it ) ? Is the topographic point associated with a peculiar individual or group of import in your community’s history? What is the importance of the association between this topographic point and that individual or group? Is the topographic point valued by a community for grounds of spiritual. religious. cultural. educational or societal associations? In what ways. and to what extent?
Aesthetic values
Aesthetic value to the community includes facets of centripetal perceptual experience ( sight. touch. sound. gustatory sensation. odor ) for which standards can be stated. These standards may include consideration of signifier. graduated table. coloring material. texture and stuff of the cloth or landscape. and the odor and sounds associated with the topographic point and its usage.
Does the topographic point have natural or cultural characteristics which are inspirational or evoke strong feelings or particular significances? What are those characteristics. and to what extent are they redolent? Unit 3
Is the topographic point a typical characteristic that is a outstanding ocular landmark? Does the topographic point evoke awe from its magnificence of graduated table? To what extent is this of import? Does the topographic point evoke a strong sense of age. history or clip deepness? How does it make this. and to what extent? Is the topographic point symbolic for its aesthetic qualities? Has it been represented in art. poesy. picture taking. literature. folk-art. folklore mythology or other imagination? Does the topographic point have outstanding composing qualities affecting any combinations of coloring material. signifier. texture. item. motion. integrity. sounds. aromas. spacial definition and so on? To what extent is this of import?
Historic values
Historic value to the community encompasses the history of aesthetics. scientific discipline and society. and hence could be used to embrace a scope of values. A topographic point may hold historic value because it has influenced. or has been influenced by. an historic figure. event. stage or activity. It may be the site of an of import event. History can depict the ‘story’ of a topographic point or its people and can use to any period. though non normally the current period.
Is the topographic point of import in demoing forms in the development of the history of the state. State or Territory where your community lives or a characteristic of your local country? How does it demo this? Does the topographic point have autochthonal works species that have historic significance? Does the topographic point show a high grade of originative or proficient accomplishment? How does it demo this? Does the topographic point have geological characteristics that have historic significance? Is the topographic point associated with a peculiar individual or group of import in your history? What is the importance of the association between this topographic point and that individual or group? Does the topographic point represent the plants of a peculiar designer or interior decorator. or of a peculiar design manner? In what ways. and to what extent? Is the topographic point associated with a peculiar event in the history of your country. or the State. District or state? What is the relationship between this topographic point and those events? Does the topographic point demonstrate ways of life. imposts. procedures. land usage or design no longer practised. in danger of being lost. or of exceeding involvement? How does it show thesethings? Does the topographic point represent the features of a peculiar type of human activity in the landscape. including manner of life. usage. procedure. land usage. map. design or technique? In what ways. and to what extent? Does the topographic point reflect a assortment of alterations over a long clip? In what ways. and to what extent?
Scientific values
Scientific value to the community will depend upon the importance of the informations involved. on its rareness. quality or representativeness. and on the grade to which the topographic point may lend farther significant information.
Is the topographic point of import for natural values in demoing forms in natural history or go oning ecological. Earth or evolutionary procedures? In what ways. and to what extent? Is at that place anything about the topographic point or at the topographic point which is rare or endangered. for illustration. works or carnal species. geological characteristics. a type of building method or stuff used. or a peculiar signifier of archeological grounds? Is the topographic point of import in assisting others to understand this type of topographic point? In what ways. and to what extent? Is the topographic point a good illustration of a peculiar type of topographic point. that is. undisturbed. integral and complete? Why is this? Can the topographic point contribute to research apprehension of natural or cultural history? In what ways. and to what extent? Can the topographic point contribute to scientific apprehension of biodiversity or geodiversity? In what ways. and to what extent?
Particular values
Particular values to the community can be considered as portion of other values but are peculiarly of import for some topographic points and some communities.
Does the topographic point have of import values associating to spiritual beliefs? Is the topographic point spiritually of import for keeping the cardinal wellness and wellbeing of natural and cultural systems? Are at that place wilderness or wild river values recognised at the topographic point?
Biodiversity values Biological diverseness ( intrinsic ) value is the importance of the assortment of life signifiers: the different workss. animate beings and microorganisms. the cistrons they contain. and the ecosystems they form. Is the topographic point of import for its species diverseness. ecosystem diverseness or community diverseness? Is the topographic point of import for its rare or endangered elements? Is the topographic point of import for peculiar species?
Ecosystem values
Ecosystems ( intrinsic ) value is the importance of the interactions between the composite of beings that make up a community with their inanimate environment and each other.
Is the topographic point an of import illustration of integral ecological procedures at work? Does the topographic point contribute to of import ecological procedures happening between communities and the inanimate environment?
Geodiversity values
Geodiversity ( intrinsic ) value is the importance of the scope of Earth characteristics including geological. structural. paleontological. dirt. hydrological and atmospheric characteristics. systems and earth procedures.
Is the topographic point of import as an illustration of peculiar Earth procedures at work in dirt. H2O or atmosphere? Is the topographic point of import for its diverseness in dodos. land systems or geological characteristics? Is the topographic point of import for its rare or endangered elements? Is the topographic point of import for peculiar phenomena?
Measure 3 Order your information
After measuring the important values of the topographic point. it is utile to order this information. peculiarly if a figure of topographic points are involved. This is of import if a comparative significance appraisal is done ( see Step 4 ) . Heritage standards provide a common method of depicting the different types of values of heritage topographic points and can be used with little or big countries. and natural and cultural heritage.
Measure 4 If needed. carry on a comparative appraisal
For a figure of similar topographic points. it may be necessary to make a comparative heritage significance appraisal. This can be done by inquiring:
How many other topographic points like this are at that place in this country?
How of import is this topographic point compared to similar topographic points in this country or other countries of the state? How of import is this topographic point to your community or group compared to other similar topographic points in the country of your community? What is the physical status of the topographic point relation to other similar topographic points?
Note that this measure is non necessary if the topographic point in inquiry is the lone topographic point of its type or one of few similar topographic points bing. Comparing the significance of topographic points may non be appropriate for topographic points of autochthonal heritage significance.
Measure 5 Write a statement of significance
The above stairss will hold identified the important values of the topographic point. A statement of significance sets out why a topographic point is of import and explains the values the topographic point holds for the community or groups within the community.
Tips for composing a statement of significance
The statement should be a compendious. clear and comprehensive statement of the major grounds why a topographic point is important. Focus on replying the inquiry: Why is this topographic point important? Word the statement carefully to reflect the values of the topographic point. Mention to heritage standards if appropriate. For a big or complex country. present overall significance as a drumhead statement. supported by subordinate statements for specific characteristics. The statement should bespeak any countries where there are known spreads in cognition. For case. it should gaze whether the topographic point has been assessed for both natural and cultural heritage ( autochthonal and historic ) . The statement should be accompanied by grounds back uping the opinion of significance expressed in the statement. for illustration. paperss. consequences of surveies or workshops. or unwritten statements.
