Ancient monument

In British law, an ancient monument is an early historical structure or monument (e.g. an archaeological site) worthy of preservation and study due to archaeological or heritage interest.

For other uses, see Ancient monument (disambiguation).
Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric ancient monuments.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 classified ancient monuments as “scheduled monuments” or monuments that are considered by the Secretary of States of archaeological, historical or artistic importance.[1] In addition, the term “ancient monument” can also refer to any early or historical manmade structure and/or architecture.[2] Certain ancient monuments are of cultural importance for nations and become symbols of international recognition, including the ruins of Baalbek on Lebanese currency and the Angkor Wat on Cambodian currency. According to Dallen J. Timothy, some countries’ coats of arms display symbols of their “ancient buildings and historic sites that help affirm national identity”.[3] In this way, ancient monuments in the modern world are used as icons to represent a country. Its importance extends to cultural heritage and how the people of a nation or city identify themselves.

Historical significance and culture heritage

National identity and iconography

Since the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with the rise of nationalism, part of the nation-building process was the construction of a national past.[4] This past comprised a collection of legends, traditions and myths. In Europe’s emerging nations, ruins and relics became the centre of attention for group consciousness and national aspirations, which became an important motivation for the emergence of a preservation movement.[5] This was because many buildings, landscapes and monuments achieved a great level of significance as symbols and icons of a growing nation. As such, these buildings and landscapes became national monuments, which possessed new meanings given the emergence of nationhood. Light and Dumbraveanu-Andone assert that the connection between heritage and national identity continues to be important.[5] This is also evident in national identity related to an awareness of national heritage that is still visible around the world.

Archaeology

The emergence of the discipline of archaeology was linked to the rise of nationalism.[6] It was often emphasised to be used in service of the nation state to reinforce its historical and territorial legitimacy. Archaeology as a culture-historical discipline is the study and preservation of remains from past societies and their environments.[7] In this, the past is studied through preserving its sources including landscape (ancient monuments and/or heritage sites) and physical artefacts. The preservation and restoration are important for all heritage sites, particularly at locations of ancient monuments and archaeological areas that are in dangerous or delicate conditions.

Preservation and care

To protect, preserve and care for ancient monuments, there were a number of laws and Acts passed during the late nineteenth and twentieth century.[8] These included Ancient Monuments Protection Act of 1882 and Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The aforementioned was passed after several unsuccessful attempts, which ensured governmental involvement in England and Ireland to legally preserve and conserve ancient monuments. Following this, in 1913, the Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act provided an important extension of existing powers by introducing a new concept known as the Preservation Orders.[9] This enabled monuments in threat of “destruction or removal or damage from neglect or injudicious treatment” to be classified under the protection of the Commissioners of Works.[10] The most significant was Section 6.2, which qualified the monuments as national importance and were to be preserved. Additionally, any ancient monument could be considered for inclusion on that list, not just those in the Guardian of the State, and this meant that for the first time legislative protection could officially be applied on a large scale. It was as a result of this that Guardianship Monuments were distinguished to what later became defined as “Scheduled Monuments”.[10]

Furthermore, the Ancient Monuments Act 1931 extended its protection policies around previous monuments, including the Scheduled monuments on the list, through introducing a notification system.[11] As part of this system, monument owners had to provide the Commissioners of Works three months’ notice in writing of any works affecting the monument, which remained in use until 1979.[12] During the 1930s and 1940s, there were a number of background strategies by various organisations concerned with ancient monuments. In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, a committee was established to look into the existing state and future direction of archaeological work in Britain.[13] This resulted in the publication of A Survey and policy of field research in the archaeology of Great Britain and from this, more information about the past to fill gaps in knowledge.[12]

See also

References
  1. Emerick (2014), p. 111.
  2. Priwer, Shana; Phillips, Cynthia (2014). Ancient Monuments. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. p. 111.
  3. Timothy, Dallen J. (2020). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction (Vol. 7). Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications. p. 378.
  4. Resane, Kelebogile T. (2018). "Statues, Symbols and Signages: Monuments Towards Socio-Political Divisions, Dominance and Patriotism?". Hervormde Teologiese Studies. 74 (4): 3. doi:10.4102/hts.v74i4.4895.
  5. Light & Dumbraveanu‐Andone (1997), p. 28.
  6. Light & Dumbraveanu‐Andone (1997), p. 29.
  7. Kristiansen, Kristian (26 March 2009). "The Discipline of Archaeology". The Oxford Handbook of Archaeology: 4. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199271016.013.0001.
  8. Feilden, Bernard Melchior (2003). Conservation of Historic Buildings (Third ed.). Oxford: Architectural Press. p. 17.
  9. Emerick (2014), p. 80.
  10. Darvill (1987), p. 3.
  11. Saunders, A. D. (March 1983). "A Century of Ancient Monuments Legislation 1882–1982". The Antiquaries Journal. 63 (1): 24. doi:10.1017/S0003581500014335.
  12. Darvill (1987), p. 4.
  13. Jokilehto, Jukka (1998). "International Trends in Historic Preservation: From Ancient Monuments to Living Cultures". APT Bulletin: The Journal of Preservation Technology. 29 (3/4): 17. doi:10.2307/1504606.
  • Darvill, Timothy (1987). Ancient Monuments in the Countryside: an archaeological management review. England: English Heritage.
  • Emerick, Keith (2014). Conserving and Managing Ancient Monuments: Heritage, Democracy and Inclusion. Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer.
  • Light, Duncan; Dumbraveanu‐Andone, Daniela (March 1997). "Heritage and national identity: Exploring the relationship in Romania". International Journal of Heritage Studies. 3 (1): 28–43. doi:10.1080/13527259708722185.
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