'Heritage in Extremis'
Dr. Bryan Lintott (Asscociate Professor of Polar History and Heritage at UiT Norway's Arctic University in Tromso)
Thursday 21st March, 2024
- This is a hybrid event, held at the Seminar Room, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Downing Site and on Zoom
- To join online register here.
Heritage endeavours have been extended across Antarctica and beyond the Earth throughout the Solar System. Whilst these are both extreme environments, there are fundamental differences in governance and how heritage governance and management have evolved. Within the Antarctic Treaty System, historic sites and monuments are within a coherent international framework that is comparatively credible, coherent and responsive to challenges such as climate change. In contrast, Outer Space lacks any agreed-upon international heritage mechanisms, with a split between nations acceding to the Artemis Accords, in contrast with Russia and China. In addition, private operators in Outer Space act in ways that would be inconceivable in Antarctica with its agreed-upon environmental standards and national legal constraints. Unsurprisingly, human heritage dynamics on the Earth are being enacted physically and culturally in Outer Space, including images of Orthodox saints aboard the International Space Station to enhance their iconic status. The potential for 'space burials' has raised concerns among various cultures. Space heritage is a topic rich with opportunities for pioneering research that will inform advocacy and policy development. The presentation will provide an overview of current polar and aerospace heritage advocacy endeavours and then open for discussion on related research areas.
Bryan is an Associate Professor of Polar History and Heritage at UiT Norway's Arctic University in Tromsø. He focuses on the interface between science, technology, archaeology, history and heritage. His current research includes integrating green technology with the heritage values of reconstruction homes – built after a WWII scorched earth policy in Finnmark and Nord Troms. He is leading the 'Arctic Legacy of War, Tirpitz Site Project'. A former President of ICOMOS Aotearoa New Zealand, he served as Secretary General of ICOMOS Polar Heritage; convening the group that developed the Antarctica Archaeology Guidelines. Currently, he on the ICOMOS Climate Action Working Group. In 2022, he was team leader of the working group that founded ICOMOS AeroSpace Heritage, in which he serves as Secretary-General. Since the early 2010s, he has engaged with CHRC, gratefully acknowledging the many insights, inspirations and opportunities this has offered. Bryan is a CHRC Partner and Scott Polar Research Institute Associate.
