The Sociopolitical Shaping of Heritage Landscapes

Abstract

Extractive activities in regions with significant heritage values seems to be globally on the rise. Anthropology defines heritage as a social construction in everyday practices. Baird explores how heritage is mobilized, for what purpose and acknowledges systems at play as well as the multiple relations and significations across time and space. She studies the heritage landscapes as sites of contestation in several contemporary contexts, including urban, post-colonial and Indigenous landscapes, wilderness areas, archaeological sites, marine environments, and temple complexes. According to Baird, heritage landscapes are scenes where issues of preservation are inserted in sociopolitical contexts.