Acronym: Heritage
Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Katja Hrobat Virloget
Project promoter: University of Primorska, Faculty of Humanities
Research Area (ARIS): 6.02 Archaeology, 6.03 Anthropology
Source of funding: University of Primorska Rector’s Fund
Duration of the project: 01.10.2021–30.09.2025
Description:
The central research question of the research programme is heritage, which we approach holistically and interdisciplinarily. The title “Heritage as an object and reflection of social processes” reflects two basic approaches to heritage: on the one hand, we study how social processes such as migration, collective identities, mentalities, etc., are shaped by material culture (archaeological artefacts, built environment). On the other hand, we study the reverse process, how these same social processes affect heritage (material and immaterial), i.e. how processes of valorization or (non)heritagization of remnants of the past take place in the present. The research programme bridges the gap between theory and practice, between researchers and practitioners, i.e. between scientific materialism and the theory that emerges from critical heritage studies. At the same time, we are bridging another gap or resolving the conflict that arises between the hegemonic, authorized heritage discourse and the subordinated, alternative, silenced heritage discourse by using an inclusive discourse that emphasizes participation, diversity, intercultural dialogue, etc.