Post-colonial heritage conservation in Africa: perspectives from drystone wall restorations at Khami World Heritage site,Zimbabwe

Abstract

Before colonialism, heritage sites such as Khami were considered resting places for ancestors, valued more for the spirit of place than their monumentality. In this context, local custodians hardly intervened with the fabric of the site. With the introduction of modern conservation principles, which persist to this day, vegetation control and wall restorations became part of routine conservation measures. This paper discusses drystone wall restorations carried out at Khami between 2000 and 2015 focusing on the disjuncture between indigenous and local concepts of heritage, concerned with access and preserving the spirit of ancestors, and ‘western’ principles of restoration. It argues that while ignoring the structural disintegration of Khami would have resulted in possible delisting from the World Heritage List, the ‘neglect’ which Khami experienced was in tandem with its local social context; being a resting place for ancestors. While the reconstructions interfered with an acceptable physical context of local beliefs, restorations maintained the integrity of the site as a tourist destination with positive local economic benefits. Although compromises are by their nature unsatisfactory, modern heritage conservation in Africa must adapt and improvise to achieve a mix of local and international practices to reflect changed and changing realities.     

Teaching visualised geographies: towards a methodology for the interpretation of visual materials

Abstract

This paper suggests a number of questions which can be used to structure a small‐group discussion about the interpretation of visual images. As many geographers now are demonstrating, geographical knowledges are very often visualised. However, there is currently little on offer methodologically to help students approach the interpretation of visual images critically. This paper hopes to start to remedy this situation. It begins by sketching a theoretical understanding of the meanings of visual images. It then suggests a number of questions that flow from that understanding, which can be addressed to a particular visual image in order to facilitate a discussion about its possible meanings.     

LET MANY FLOWERS BLOOM

In this rich and sensible assessment of historians' practice and prospects, Allan Megill focuses on the obligation that historians have to support their accounts with evidence. He does this, first, by illustrating the difference between real and merely claimed evidence and, then, by giving an analysis of the underlying nature of evidence in historical accounts. Turning later to the question of how historians and their public should feel about diminishing unity (fragmentation) in historiography and the practices that generate it, Megill explains the sources of fragmentation and then argues that it doesn't matter whether historians are doing the same thing and/or doing it in the same way. What matters, rather, is whether they are doing interesting things and doing them well.     

略论陆懋德的史学思想

陆懋德是20世纪前半期在史学理论方面颇有建树的著名学者。他强调治史应以"无所谓中西,取其长而求其是"为宗旨,以考古史料与文献材料并重的史料观审查、检验史料的真实性,用物质和心理的解释"二者当参用而不可偏用"的观点来解释历史变化、发展的过程。他的这种史学思想,是在继承前人成果与反思当时中国史学发展状况的过程中形成的,具有较强的理论价值和现实意义。     

永远的故宫 永远的保护——作于中国第一个文化遗产日到来之际

作为我国最大的综合性国家级博物馆,故宫安全及文物保护是故宫一切工作的基础。故宫的保护要有全面和整体意识,要处理好吉建筑中保护与利用,日常维护与大修的关系;清查、整理和修复、抢救文物藏品的工作,要与研究、发掘、保护和传承非物质文化遗产的工作相结合;要提高文物保护的科技水平,加快“数字故宫”的建设。故宫除自身研发井应用了一批科研成果外,还积极与国内外有关部门合作,在运用科技手段保护和利用文物方面取得了很大的进展。故宫决心不辜负全国人民的重托,增强和提高文物保护的能力,更好地传扬中华民族的文化瑰宝。     

新出四方北朝韦氏墓志校注

近年出土的韦戚夫妇、韦彪夫妇等四方北朝墓志,周伟洲、罗新等先生先后做过考释和疏证,兹据墓志拓片,对周、罗的录文进行校正,并附墓志拓片图版,以供研究者比对。     

李大钊哲学思想发展再探

我在<哲学研究>1981年第6期发表了<李大钊哲学思想发展初探>一文.本文对该文在李大钊哲学思想发展的三个阶段的划分和其哲学思想的评述上,予以实事求是的肯定,同时指出,它对三个阶段时限的划分及某些哲学观点的认知和评述不够准确、妥帖,进而对李大钊哲学思想发展的三个阶段的时限作了新划分,并对某些哲学政治观点的不妥之处作了修正,进行了新的述评.     

我国遗产旅游开发的问题、误区及对策研究 --关于"世遗门票上涨"的思考

超载开发与资金匮乏是困扰我国遗产旅游开发的两大主要问题,也是保护与发展所争论的焦点。北京六大世遗门票上涨事件引发了全国各遗产景区的连锁反应,凸显了我国遗产旅游市场的非理性运作,也揭示了部分开发者对资源与产品的认识误区。本文以此为切入点,从经济学的角度分析了单一的票价调控机制在调节人流和增收资金两方面的局限性,并建议从提高认识、多渠道融资、多手段调节及深化公众参与制度等四方面来探索遗产旅游开发问题的解决之道。     

文化遗产旅游商业化的路径依赖理论模型

文化遗产地的旅游发展部逃脱不了这样的一个发展模式：遗产被“发现”、被包装后推向市场,开始走入现代化的发展道路,起到了地区经济的带动效益,但最终又不免陷入“过度商业化”的困境。本文总结了遗产地旅游商业化的动态过程,通过旅游开发中。文化资本和经济资本的转化,对遗产资源开发的商业化作了理论阐述,提出文化遗产旅游商业化“路径”依赖的假说,并建立遗产地旅游商业化发展的理论模型。     

历史解释建构中的理解问题

历史研究的任务在很大程度上就是建构历史解释,而建构历史解释的关键环节是理解。历史学家面对遥远而陌生的过去世界,要对前人抱有“了解之同情”,以博大的襟怀和丰富的知识来了解前人及其生活,尽力突破时空和化的阻隔,以期对过去做出公正而贴切的解释。诚然,真正理解前人及其生活是一件极为困难的事情,但对历史学家来说,理解首先是一种态度和愿望,基于这种态度和愿望,研究就会极尽可能地收集材料、调动各种知识和理论资源,以准确地了解前人,避免武断和简单化的评判。当然,“同情”不是同意,“了解”也不是认可。研究要以中性的立场来建构解释,而不能将自己等同于过去事件的参与或辩护人。