Traumatic Heritage Places in Urban Context – Assessment and Interpretation of Values

Abstract

Heritage studies have, up to this point, paid little attention to urban landscapes and entire cities that have been considered as Traumatic Heritage Places (THP). As a contribution to the issue of management of non-values in such areas, this paper examines commemorative practice in the aftermath of the 1992–1995 siege of Sarajevo. Following three commemorative episodes, the analysis centers on the contribution of the urban sites' initial qualities to the construction of commemorative values. The key question is the mutual compatibility of the site's initial values and the added commemorative non-value: do they negate one another, or do they effectively coexist and build on each other? The analysis illustrates how disregarding the initial qualities of a site leads to competing claims about its significance and diminishes its pragmatic use. Furthermore, the conclusions of the article point out the vital importance of dialogue among the stakeholders involved, particularly the participation of the concerned users – the citizens, throughout the decision-making process, from the comprehensive and inclusive assessment of non-values assigned to the city, to their accommodation and conveying in a manner sensitive to the city's vital and dynamic urban context. Finally, the illustrated practice indicates a disregard for the prospects and potential brought about by a proper understanding and interpretation of the traumatic context – one that archives and commemorates, but also produces broader social changes critical for the process of reconciliation.