Category Archives: heritage

Finnish Baby Buggy Bumper: Finland’s “Maternity Package” as Cultural Heritage

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Nicholas Merkelson

In 1938, the Finnish government introduced the Maternity Grants Act.  That year, Finland’s expectant mothers each received a baby shower of supplies for their newborn.  All-weather clothing, health and hygiene products, bedding, a toy–these were some of life’s bare necessities … Continue reading →

Posted in anthropology, culture, Finland, heritage, identity, intangible cultural heritage, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Lordy Lord, Lourdes! Pilgrimage Site Suffers Record Flooding

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Nicholas Merkelson

The rainwater and snowmelt that flooded southwest France just over a week ago has finally receded.  The normally tranquil Gave de Pau river rose as much as 15 feet, spilling over its banks and pouring into medieval towns across the Pyrenees. … Continue reading →

Posted in cultural conservation, cultural sustainability, culture, endangered sites, floods, France, heritage, heritage tourism, Lourdes, pilgrimage, Roman Catholic, site conservation, Uncategorized, UNESCO, World Heritage List | Leave a comment

Culture in Peril Shares Photos and Videos

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Nicholas Merkelson

I missed the Instagram memo and decided to start a Flickr Photostream instead.  I like the use of the Flickr portfolio to share images and videos more than the actual social media component of Instagram, though I’m sure each service … Continue reading →

Posted in Flickr, heritage, heritage tourism, Instagram, photography, travel | Leave a comment

Post Office Workers Curb Illicit Smuggling of Peru’s National Cultural Heritage

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Nicholas Merkelson

This article was prominently featured in the The New York Times Americas section on June 14th.  Self-proclaimed “defenders” of their nation’s history, an art historian and an archaeologist have joined together to safeguard Peruvian cultural heritage from illicit smuggling.  Trafficking in … Continue reading →

Posted in archaeology, art trade, cultural conservation, cultural property, culture, endangered sites, heritage, identity, looting, Peru | Leave a comment

Harris Tweed is Back!…or Never Really Went Anywhere

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Nicholas Merkelson

Mills producing Harris Tweed dot the landscape at Ballalan, Outer Hebrides, date unknown (photo credit: Harris Tweed Authority Archive) Three years ago I wrote a piece about the apparent decline of the Harris Tweed weaving industry in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides (see: … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, cultural conservation, culture, Harris Tweed, heritage, intangible cultural heritage, knowledge, preservation, Scotland, weaving | Leave a comment