What is a tangible heritage?

Answer 1

A tangible heritage is one that can be stored and physically touched. This includes items produced by the cultural group such as traditional clothing, utensils (such as beadwork, water vessels), or vehicles (such as the ox wagon). Tangible heritages include great monuments such as temples, pyramids, and public monuments. Though a tangible heritage can perish, it is generally more obvious how it can be conserved than intangible heritages that are at greater risk and can be lost for all time. Historically, national policies have given more attention to conserving large public man-made structures as valuable heritage, than managing the conservation and use of intangible heritage.

An intangible heritage, on the other hand, is that which exists intellectually in the culture. It is not a physical or tangible item. Intangible heritage includes songs, myths, beliefs, superstitions, oral poetry, as well as various forms of traditional knowledge such as ethnobotanical knowledge. For the southern Kalahari San, each tree and many other physical sites are part of their intangible heritage as their history is associated with these sites through stories, names and songs.

Answer 2

Tangible heritage refers to physical objects or sites that hold historical, cultural, or artistic significance. It includes items such as buildings, monuments, artifacts, and landscapes that provide a tangible connection to the past and are valued for their cultural importance. Preserving tangible heritage is important for maintaining a sense of identity and understanding of our shared history.