Intangible Heritage: A Foundation for Cultural Identity by Mishari Al-Naeem

This text argues for the importance of preserving intangible cultural heritage alongside tangible heritage. The author highlights the insufficient attention given to intangible heritage, such as cultural practices and traditions, which are crucial for understanding the meaning and development of tangible artifacts like buildings and tools. A lack of documentation of intangible heritage is presented as a significant obstacle to interpreting the meaning of material culture, leading to a superficial understanding of cultural identity. The author uses the example of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture’s project to illustrate a positive step towards addressing this imbalance and enriching the understanding of cultural identity. Ultimately, the text emphasizes the interconnectedness of tangible and intangible heritage, arguing that a complete understanding of cultural identity requires acknowledging both.

Intangible Heritage: A Study Guide

Quiz

Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

1. According to the author, why is documenting intangible heritage as important as documenting material heritage?
2. What does the author mean by the phrase “material dominance” in relation to cultural identity?
3. Why does the author consider tangible heritage to be like “talismans” or “hardware?”
4. What is the “story” that the author says is often forgotten when focusing only on material heritage?
5. What led to the weakness of interpretive studies of material heritage, according to the author?
6. How does the author connect intangible heritage to the concepts of creativity and innovation?
7. Why did the author struggle to find reliable information for his doctoral research in Al-Ahsa?
8. What is the relationship between “use and meaning” in the documentation of tangible heritage, as described in the text?
9. According to the author, why are visual forms considered to be largely universal?
10. What is the key difference that the author identifies between visual forms and their cultural significance?

Quiz Answer Key

1. Documenting intangible heritage is as important because it serves as the “software” that explains the origins and meanings behind material heritage. Without understanding this intangible context, tangible heritage becomes difficult to interpret, losing the depth of its cultural value.
2. The phrase “material dominance” refers to the tendency to define cultural identity primarily through tangible, visible forms such as architecture or artifacts. This focus on the material neglects the deeper, often invisible, meanings and traditions that actually shape cultural identity.
3. The author uses “talismans” and “hardware” to describe tangible heritage because, like objects needing to be decoded, they are inanimate and their meaning requires the “software” of intangible heritage to unlock their true significance.
4. The “story” is the intangible heritage that includes the cultural practices, knowledge, and beliefs that gave rise to the material object. This story provides context and deeper meaning, which is lost when focus is solely on the product.
5. The weakness of interpretive studies resulted from the neglect of intangible heritage, as it is the foundation for the meanings behind material products. Without studying these unseen aspects, interpretations of tangible heritage are superficial and incomplete.
6. The author argues that intangible heritage is a main source of creativity and innovation, as it provides the cultural context, stories and ideas, which can then inspire the creation of new and unique material expressions.
7. The author could not find reliable information because there was a lack of ethnographic studies and focus on intangible heritage related to the historical architecture of Al-Ahsa. Instead, existing studies focused on direct material monitoring, lacking explanations of cultural significance.
8. “Use and meaning” in tangible heritage are intertwined; if a practice or tradition associated with an object is no longer in use, much of its original meaning and significance may be lost, making it harder to fully document and understand.
9. Visual forms are considered largely universal because the shapes and styles of material culture often appear similar across different societies and regions, due to shared functions or global influences.
10. The key difference is that while visual forms might be similar, their meanings and symbols are deeply rooted in local culture. The intangible context creates specific interpretations that differentiate cultural significance.

Essay Questions

1. Discuss the challenges associated with documenting intangible heritage, according to Al-Naeem, and explain why he believes it is essential to prioritize this documentation alongside the preservation of material heritage.
2. Analyze the author’s argument that a focus on material culture leads to a “superficial” understanding of identity. How does he suggest we should approach understanding identity in relation to cultural heritage?
3. Explore the relationship between intangible heritage and the development of material culture as explained by the author. How do “stories” and “latent meanings” contribute to the emergence of material forms?
4. How does the concept of “use and meaning” challenge traditional approaches to heritage studies, particularly in terms of how heritage is understood and preserved?
5. Evaluate the author’s perspective on the interplay between universal forms and local meanings in cultural expression. How does he use this to explain the significance of intangible heritage for national and cultural identity?

Glossary of Key Terms

Intangible Heritage: The practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.

Material Heritage: Tangible cultural heritage that can be seen and touched such as buildings, monuments, artifacts, and other physical objects.

Material Dominance: The tendency to prioritize or overemphasize the importance of tangible or material aspects of culture, often leading to the neglect of intangible aspects and their meanings.

Latent Meaning: Hidden or underlying meanings and interpretations that are not immediately apparent and require cultural context for understanding.

Talismans: Objects with symbolic or cultural significance, whose meaning may be hidden or require deciphering when divorced from their intangible context.

Ethnographic Studies: Research that involves direct observation and interaction with a culture to gain a deeper understanding of its practices and beliefs.

Use and Meaning: The idea that tangible heritage’s significance is tied to its continued use and the associated practices that create and sustain its cultural relevance.

Mishari Al-Naeem on Saudi Intangible Heritage

Okay, here is a detailed briefing document based on the provided text, focusing on the main themes and important ideas:

Briefing Document: Intangible Heritage in Saudi Arabia

Date: October 26, 2023 Subject: Analysis of Mishari Al-Naeem’s Perspective on Intangible Heritage Author: Bard

Introduction:

This briefing document analyzes the perspective of Mishari Al-Naeem as presented in the provided text, focusing on the crucial importance of intangible heritage, particularly within the context of Saudi Arabia’s cultural identity. Al-Naeem argues for a shift away from the dominance of material culture in defining identity, highlighting the need to understand and preserve the often overlooked intangible elements that give meaning to material forms. He emphasizes the role of intangible heritage in understanding the origins of material culture, fostering creativity, and maintaining a truly authentic sense of identity.

Main Themes and Ideas:

1. The Limitations of Material Dominance in Defining Identity:

• Al-Naeem strongly criticizes the prevailing focus on material culture, especially visual and urban heritage, as the sole defining element of cultural identity. He argues this leads to a superficial and “superficial appearance,” that neglects the deep, underlying values.
• He states, “all I hope for is that the idea of identity goes beyond ‘material dominance’ because it is a dominance that enhances the superficial and superficial appearance.”
• This material dominance also “emptied it of its deep values and made it an expected, closed-ended product devoid of innovation and creativity.”
• Al-Naeem suggests that focusing only on the tangible leads to a “closed-ended” understanding of culture, devoid of innovation and creativity.

1. The Value and Neglect of Intangible Heritage:

• Al-Naeem stresses that intangible heritage, including customs, traditions, knowledge, and beliefs, are crucial to understanding the “reasons that contributed to the emergence of material heritage.”
• He posits that “there is no material development without a reason and any emergence of forms must be centered on humans, so every intangible culture is behind the emergence and development of material culture.”
• He observes that even at the international level, interest in intangible heritage only became significant after the 2004 UNESCO convention. This is problematic because “there was no registration and documentation of this heritage”.
• He argues that the neglect of the intangible has turned tangible heritage, especially urban heritage, into “talismans” that need to be deciphered because their creators and original users no longer exist.
• Al-Naeem uses the analogy of “hardware” (tangible heritage) and “software” (intangible heritage), arguing that the hardware is useless without the “software” that gives it context, meaning, and functionality. He asserts, “The software is the intangible heritage that is disappearing more quickly and needs a rapid documentation process.”
• He underscores that the intangible aspects are often overlooked because of the ease with which material heritage can be visually accessed. “the weakness of interpretive studies that seek the meaning of material products as a result of the weakness of studies of intangible heritage made the concept of ‘identity’ attached to tangible visual forms”.
• This visual dominance “appeared in the clear neglect of the invisible factors that accompanied the emergence of visual components,” where the focus is on the product rather than its “story”.

1. The Importance of Documenting Intangible Heritage:

• Al-Naeem emphasizes the urgent need to document intangible heritage because it’s disappearing rapidly. He highlights the Ministry of Culture’s project as a crucial national endeavor.
• He believes that documenting intangible heritage is critical “not only for the current generation but for future generations.” This implies a sense of responsibility for cultural transmission.
• He notes the ministry is “trying to monitor it, document it, and link it to the material culture that accompanied it.”
• He notes that documenting intangible heritage is “of great importance to understand the reasons that contributed to the emergence of material heritage”, stressing the interconnected nature of the two.

1. The Intangible Roots of Creativity and Innovation:

• Al-Naeem sees intangible heritage as “one of the main drivers of creativity and innovation of unprecedented material components.” He believes the “deep values” and meaning of a culture drive the development of unique forms and expressions.
• He highlights that focusing solely on visual forms stifles innovation, because “visual forms can be similar, they are largely universal, but the meanings and symbols that they generate are local par excellence and refer to a specific culture.”
• He points to his own experience researching the historical architecture of Al-Ahsa, where he realized the need for “ethnographic” studies to understand the “intangible plot” behind the architecture. This highlights how direct visual monitoring alone misses crucial cultural information.
• He discovered that some architectural components that appeared purely aesthetic were in fact “symbolic components with deep cultural connotations rooted in time,” which are driven by the intangible.

1. “Use and Meaning” as Key to Understanding Heritage:

• Al-Naeem argues that “The difficulty in documenting tangible heritage lies in its basic reliance on ‘use and meaning’,” because tangible heritage loses meaning when it’s no longer in active use or practice. He emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between practice and meaning in heritage.
• He cautions that while much of the power of intangible heritage has been lost due to the disappearance of the contexts in which it was practiced, “what cannot be fully understood should not be abandoned in its entirety.” There is still value in documenting and attempting to understand what can be observed.

Conclusion:

Al-Naeem’s perspective is a powerful call to action for a more holistic approach to cultural heritage. He argues passionately that neglecting intangible heritage leads to a superficial understanding of culture and a loss of crucial insights into the origins, meanings, and potential for creativity. He underscores the urgency for research and documentation efforts, such as those being undertaken by the Ministry of Culture, to ensure that the rich tapestry of intangible heritage is preserved for current and future generations. His text provides a compelling argument for moving beyond a purely visual and material understanding of culture and delving into the depths of intangible heritage as the real source of unique cultural identity and innovation.

Intangible Heritage and Material Culture

FAQ: Understanding Intangible Heritage

1. Why is there a growing focus on intangible heritage in addition to tangible heritage?
2. While tangible heritage (like buildings and artifacts) is readily visible, it is often devoid of context without understanding the intangible heritage that created and used it. Intangible heritage, encompassing practices, knowledge, and traditions, provides the ‘software’ or the underlying meaning behind the ‘hardware’ of material culture. Without the intangible aspects, tangible heritage risks becoming mere artifacts without cultural significance or context. Focusing on intangible heritage can lead to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of human development and cultural identity, moving past superficial appearances.
3. What are some examples of intangible heritage that might be overlooked if only focusing on material culture?
4. Intangible heritage includes a vast range of human expressions, such as oral traditions (stories, myths, and proverbs), performing arts (music, dance, and theatre), social practices (rituals, customs, and festivals), knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe (traditional medicine, agricultural techniques), and traditional craftsmanship. It also encompasses the knowledge and stories behind material forms such as the reasons for the designs and features of architectural styles, and the meanings behind tools. These elements are not directly visible like a building but are crucial for understanding the culture that produced them.
5. What challenges are associated with the preservation of intangible heritage compared to tangible heritage?
6. Tangible heritage is easier to document and refer to because it is physically present. Intangible heritage, on the other hand, is often ephemeral, passed down through generations, and susceptible to loss due to changing lifestyles and the disappearance of practitioners. It requires active monitoring, recording, and continued practice to remain alive. Unlike the physical preservation of a building, you cannot preserve intangible heritage by simply putting it in a museum; it has to be continuously performed and taught to others.
7. How does neglecting intangible heritage impact the understanding of cultural identity?
8. When the focus is solely on tangible heritage, cultural identity becomes associated with visual forms without an understanding of their underlying meanings and symbols. This can lead to a superficial understanding of identity, devoid of innovation and the deep values that drive creativity. True identity is rooted in the intangible values and practices which generate unique symbols, which then manifest in material form. Ignoring these intangible origins renders material culture as shallow, static, and uninspired.
9. How do symbolic meanings within tangible forms arise from intangible heritage?
10. Many visual elements of tangible culture are not simply aesthetic, but are actually rooted in symbolic meanings deeply tied to a culture’s intangible heritage. These symbols are generated by the values and traditions of a society and are localized expressions that reference specific cultures. They are not static and evolve with their intangible context. Without awareness of these intangible underpinnings, the unique messages and meanings of forms are lost and are likely not understood in the way they were intended.
11. Why is it critical to understand the reasons behind the creation of material heritage?
12. Every piece of material culture has an origin rooted in human needs, ideas, and cultural practices. Understanding why something was created (the intangible drivers), not just what it is (the material object), is essential to appreciate its cultural significance. Material culture is not developed in a vacuum, and its emergence can only be fully understood by examining the intangible forces that shaped it. The focus should not be solely on the “product” but on the “story” behind it.
13. How is the lack of interpretive studies hindering our understanding of material heritage?
14. The weakness of studies into intangible heritage has resulted in a deficiency of interpretive studies regarding material culture. Because the intangible heritage which creates, informs, and shapes material culture is not well understood or documented, the meaning and value within material objects is missed or lost. This deficiency inhibits our capacity to explore and understand the full narrative behind material forms, hindering deeper cultural insights.
15. What is the role of projects, like the one described by the Ministry of Culture, in bridging the gap between tangible and intangible heritage?
16. Projects that monitor, document, and link intangible heritage with its associated material culture are vital. They ensure that cultural memory is preserved and understood by present and future generations, providing a more complete picture of heritage. Furthermore, such initiatives change the dominant concepts of cultural and material identity, moving beyond superficial appearance to include deep, value-laden cultural context. They emphasize that a complete understanding of any culture must include both its material and immaterial elements.

Documenting Intangible Cultural Heritage

Intangible heritage is a crucial aspect of culture that is often overlooked in favor of material or visual elements [1, 2]. The Ministry of Culture is undertaking a project to monitor intangible heritage throughout the Kingdom, recognizing its significance for both current and future generations [1-3].

Key points about intangible heritage:

• It includes the latent meanings and stories behind material heritage. [2, 4] These meanings are often invisible and have not been valued as much as the tangible aspects of heritage [4].
• It’s the “software” that operates the “hardware” of tangible heritage. [3] Tangible heritage, like urban structures, becomes like a talisman needing interpretation when the intangible cultural practices and knowledge that gave it meaning disappear [3, 4].
• It is essential for understanding material development. Material development is always driven by human needs, practices, and ways of life, therefore, intangible culture is the foundation for material culture [3].
• It is often neglected due to the ease of referring to visual components [2]. The dominance of visual arts has contributed to the neglect of the invisible elements that accompany the emergence of material culture [2].
• The weakness of interpretive studies of intangible heritage has led to a focus on material forms for identity, neglecting the deeper values and meanings stored within these forms. [2]. The intangible component is a driver of creativity and innovation, and is an important factor that has been missing from architectural identity studies [2].
• It is difficult to document because it relies on “use and meaning” [2]. Intangible heritage needs to be continuously practiced to decipher the symbols within it. When the material context changes, much of the heritage’s power disappears and becomes harder to monitor [2].
• It is the generator of the specificity of any culture. Visual forms can be similar across cultures, but the meanings and symbols they generate are unique and refer to a specific culture [2].

The documentation of intangible heritage is a critical endeavor. It’s important not to abandon the study of intangible heritage even if it cannot be fully understood [2]. By monitoring and documenting intangible heritage, the project aims to move beyond a superficial understanding of identity and uncover the deeper values responsible for generating the symbols unique to a culture [1, 2]. This will also help in understanding the reasons for the emergence and development of material heritage [3].

Material and Intangible Heritage

Material heritage, especially urban heritage, has been the subject of much research, with scholars raising questions about the meanings held within it [1]. However, material heritage is also seen as having limitations [2, 3].

Here are some key points about material heritage, based on the sources:

• Material heritage is often easier to reference because each visual component has its own dominance [3]. This is partly due to the association of arts with visual dominance [3].
• The focus on material heritage has led to a neglect of the intangible aspects that accompanied its emergence [3]. According to the sources, every product has a story, but the focus has been on the product while the story has been forgotten [3].
• Material heritage, particularly urban heritage, is facing extinction. Villages are emptying, and there is a principle that urban heritage must be used or it will disappear [1].
• Without its intangible context, material heritage becomes like a “talisman” needing someone to decipher it [4]. Material heritage is like computer hardware that needs software (intangible heritage) to operate [4]. The people who built and used the material heritage no longer exist, so the heritage needs to be interpreted [4].
• The dominance of material aspects in the concept of “identity” has emptied it of deeper values and led to a superficial understanding of culture [2, 3]. This dominance also hinders innovation and creativity [3].
• Material forms can be similar across different cultures, but the meanings and symbols they generate are unique to a specific culture [3].
• Studies of material heritage have often been direct and focused on visual monitoring, without explaining the reasons for the emergence of that heritage [3]. This approach neglects the symbolic components and deep cultural connotations rooted in time [3].
• The difficulty in documenting material heritage lies in its reliance on “use and meaning” [3]. Material heritage must be continuously used and practiced to decipher the symbols hidden within it [3]. When the context in which the heritage was practiced disappears, much of the heritage’s power is lost and becomes difficult to monitor [3].

The sources suggest that material heritage cannot be fully understood without understanding its intangible context [3, 4]. Therefore, it is important to study both material and intangible heritage [3, 4].

Cultural Identity: Material vs. Intangible Heritage

Cultural identity, as discussed in the sources, is a concept deeply intertwined with both material and intangible heritage, but there’s a tendency to focus too much on the material aspects [1, 2]. Here’s a breakdown of how the sources discuss cultural identity:

• Dominance of Material Culture: The sources argue that cultural identity has been overly dominated by material or visual aspects [1, 2]. This has led to a superficial understanding of identity, where it’s seen as a tangible product rather than a complex system of meanings [1, 2]. This “material dominance” enhances a superficial appearance [1].
• Neglect of Intangible Aspects: The focus on material forms has caused a neglect of the deeper values and meanings stored within these forms, which are rooted in intangible heritage [2]. The sources emphasize that the intangible component is the real driver of creativity and innovation [2].
• Superficial Understanding of Identity: Attaching the concept of “identity” to tangible, visual forms, with a neglect of the meanings stored within those forms, makes identity an “expected, closed-ended product devoid of innovation and creativity” [2].
• Identity and Symbolism: According to the sources, identity lies in the intangible depths responsible for generating symbols that are unique to a culture [2]. Visual forms may be similar or even universal across cultures, but the meanings and symbols they generate are local and refer to a specific culture [2].
• Need to Move Beyond Material Dominance: The Ministry of Culture’s project to monitor intangible heritage aims to change the dominant concepts of cultural and material identity [1, 2]. The goal is to move beyond the superficial understanding of identity and recognize the deeper values responsible for generating the symbols specific to a culture [2].
• Intangible Heritage as the Generator of Identity: The intangible component is seen as the “generator of the specificity of any culture” [2]. It’s through the exploration of this intangible heritage that a deeper, more authentic understanding of cultural identity can be achieved [2].

In summary, the sources argue that a true understanding of cultural identity requires a shift in focus from material dominance to the exploration of intangible heritage. This is because it is the intangible aspects of culture that give meaning to material objects and create unique cultural identities [2].

Saudi Heritage: Tangible and Intangible

Saudi heritage, according to the sources, encompasses both material and intangible aspects, with a growing recognition of the importance of the intangible [1-4]. The Ministry of Culture is undertaking a project to monitor intangible heritage in various regions of the Kingdom, underscoring its importance [1, 3, 4]. Here’s a breakdown of Saudi heritage as discussed in the provided sources:

• Intangible Heritage: This includes the latent meanings, stories, and cultural practices that give meaning to material heritage [2, 3]. The sources emphasize that intangible heritage is the “software” that operates the “hardware” of tangible heritage [3]. It’s the foundation for understanding material development and is deeply connected to the lifestyle of the people who developed material culture [3]. The documentation of intangible heritage is a critical endeavor, as it is rapidly disappearing and difficult to monitor [3, 4]. This project will help move beyond a superficial understanding of identity and uncover the deeper values responsible for generating the symbols unique to Saudi culture [4].
• Material Heritage: This is the physical aspect of heritage, such as urban structures and tools [2, 3]. It has been the main focus of heritage studies due to its visual dominance [4]. The sources mention that much of the Kingdom’s urban heritage is facing extinction, with villages becoming empty and deteriorating [2]. This heritage is like a “talisman” that needs to be deciphered, because the people who built and used it no longer exist [3, 4]. Understanding the intangible context is crucial for interpreting the symbols and meanings behind material forms [3, 4].
• Cultural Identity: The sources argue that cultural identity has been overly dominated by the material aspects of heritage, leading to a superficial understanding [1, 4]. The true essence of cultural identity lies in the intangible depth that generates symbols unique to Saudi culture [4]. The project to monitor intangible heritage aims to change this, recognizing that intangible heritage is the generator of the specificity of any culture [4].

Key Themes and Issues:

• Neglect of Intangible Heritage: The sources emphasize that there has been a neglect of the intangible heritage in favor of the material, visual aspects [2, 4]. This has led to an incomplete understanding of cultural identity and the meaning behind material forms [3, 4].
• Importance of Documentation: The sources make clear the critical need for documenting and monitoring intangible heritage, as it is rapidly disappearing [3, 4]. This is due to a change in the material context in which the heritage was practiced and a loss of its “use and meaning” [4].
• Interconnectedness: The sources stress that material and intangible heritage are deeply interconnected [3]. Material forms cannot be fully understood without understanding the intangible culture that produced them [3, 4].
• Moving Beyond Superficiality: The Ministry of Culture’s project is presented as an effort to move beyond a superficial understanding of Saudi identity, by focusing on the deep meanings and symbols generated by the intangible heritage [1, 4]. This is essential for fostering a more authentic and complete understanding of the nation’s cultural heritage [4].
• The Risk of Material Dominance: The sources suggest that the dominance of material heritage in defining identity has hindered creativity and innovation, and led to a superficial understanding of culture [4].

In conclusion, Saudi heritage, as presented in the sources, is a rich tapestry of material and intangible elements, where the intangible aspects are increasingly recognized as crucial for understanding the culture’s identity, history, and development [1, 3, 4]. The Ministry of Culture’s project is a key initiative to ensure that this intangible heritage is not lost and that a deeper, more authentic understanding of Saudi cultural identity is achieved [1, 3, 4].

Preserving Tangible and Intangible Heritage

Heritage preservation, as discussed in the sources, involves both tangible and intangible aspects, with a particular emphasis on the urgent need to document and preserve intangible heritage. Here’s a breakdown of the key points related to heritage preservation based on the sources:

• The Importance of Intangible Heritage: The sources highlight that intangible heritage is just as, if not more, important than material heritage [1, 2]. It represents the “software” that operates the “hardware” of tangible heritage [2]. Intangible heritage includes the latent meanings, stories, cultural practices, and knowledge that provide context and meaning to material objects [2]. It is also the foundation for understanding material development and is deeply connected to the lifestyle of the people who developed material culture [2].
• The Need for Documentation: The sources emphasize that there is an urgent need to document and monitor intangible heritage, as it is rapidly disappearing [2, 3]. This is due to changes in the material context in which the heritage was practiced and a loss of its “use and meaning” [3]. Without documentation, the knowledge and practices of intangible heritage will be lost to future generations [2].
• The Role of the Ministry of Culture: The Ministry of Culture’s project to monitor intangible heritage in various regions of the Kingdom is a key initiative for heritage preservation [1-3]. This project seeks to not only document the intangible heritage but also to link it to the material culture that accompanied it [2]. It also aims to change the dominant concepts of cultural and material identity [1, 3].
• Moving Beyond Material Dominance: The sources argue that there has been an overemphasis on material heritage, leading to a neglect of the intangible aspects [3]. This has resulted in a superficial understanding of cultural identity, where identity is seen as a tangible product rather than a complex system of meanings [1, 3]. Heritage preservation efforts should focus on moving beyond this material dominance to uncover the deeper values and meanings stored within intangible heritage [1, 3].
• The Interconnectedness of Heritage: The sources stress the interconnectedness of material and intangible heritage [2, 3]. Material forms cannot be fully understood without understanding the intangible culture that produced them [2]. Therefore, heritage preservation must address both aspects in order to gain a complete understanding of cultural heritage [2, 3].
• The Challenge of Preserving Intangible Heritage: Intangible heritage is difficult to document because it relies on “use and meaning” [3]. This means that the heritage needs to be continuously practiced in order to decipher the symbols within it. However, as the material context changes, much of the heritage’s power is lost and becomes difficult to monitor [3].
• Preservation as a Tool for Understanding: Heritage preservation is not just about maintaining old traditions or artifacts; it’s about understanding the reasons that contributed to the emergence of material heritage [2]. Every material product has a story, and by focusing on both the product and the story, we can gain a richer understanding of our cultural heritage [3].

In summary, heritage preservation involves the documentation, study, and preservation of both material and intangible cultural heritage. The sources particularly emphasize the urgent need to document intangible heritage, and to use this documentation to move beyond a superficial understanding of culture, to understand the reasons behind the development of material heritage, and to foster a more authentic cultural identity. The Ministry of Culture’s project is a significant step toward addressing this need within Saudi culture.

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

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