Serial cultural heritage concept, values identification, and management : case study Angkor - Phimai cultural route

Abstract

Serial cultural heritage refers to groups of cultural heritage sites which are formed as series by significant cultural linkage. It is a category of cultural heritage which has played important roles in World Heritage context, however, it has not been given appropriate attention in general context although it prevails in all cultures. This thesis, therefore, investigated into serial cultural heritage and has clarified its identification, concept, applications, categorization, values identification, and management, both in World Heritage and general contexts, which can be used as initiative frameworks for future works and studies in the issue of serial cultural heritage. To summarize, serial cultural heritage can be categorized into 4 types: Symbolic serial cultural heritage, Pilgrimage routes, Cultural routes of communication, and Cultural theme series; values identification depends on type of serial cultural heritage; and serial cutural heritage concept can be applied both symbolically and functionally, for instance, World Heritage nominations and cultural tourism.

For in-depth research, Angkor - Phimai cultural route was selected as case study, focusing on part of the route in Thailand, which comprises 35 components, including Phimai, the termination of the route, remains of physical road, dharmasalas, arogayasalas, temples, barays, Dvaravati site, ancients towns, and ancient industrial sites, which are testimonies of the existence and significance of the route based on the information from Preah Khan Inscription, archaeological, and historical evidences. Field survey, interviews, and questionnaires were conducted to obtain information on the case study and the perception of people on Angkor - Phimai cultural route in serial cultural heritage perspective. The case study was analysed in the aspects of values, interpretation, management and tourism, which clarified the high historical value that is contrasting with the low tangible and interpretational values of the route due to lack of evidence of the physical road, which requires specific studies in the future. Consequently, the results of case study analysis have provided information on future requirements of the case in respective issues, as well as identified points of consideration which can be applied to cultural routes and serial cultural heritage in other categories. In conclusion, the most challenging issue concerning serial cultural heritage is the establishment of perception on 'serial' characteristics of the cultural heritage series, which will lead to appropriate means for conservation and management, and most importantly, the core value of serial cultural heritage lies in its meaning, which should be conserved and conveyed as a living part of the heritage rather than a rigid set of information so that the values of serial cultural heritage can be expressed and sustained in their full potential.