Working on the Edge, Dealing with the Core: Emic and Etic perspectives on Island Heritage

Summary

Heritage is a relative concept. Perceptions of the value and importance of heritage, both tangible and intangible, is fluid, changing and contextually dependent. Stakeholders have various views on definitions of the past, the cultural and historical relevance of people places and objects, and the extent to which this should be shared when creating multivocal histories. Research on Inishark and Inishbofin, Co. Galway, Ireland, two islands five miles into the Atlantic Ocean, explain the complexities of shifting perspectives of heritage. This project illustrates the collaborative yet challenging relationship between archaeologists, local communities, governmental agencies and the National Museum. Combining archaeological research with local and national heritage goals results in a richer understanding of the past and ample opportunities for shaping heritage. This project highlights challenges in developing a shared language between stakeholders, developing policies of heritage management, and contested views of authority and what it means to live on the "periphery."

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Life on the Edge: Past and Present Perceptions of People on the Margins   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 707