Fieldwork Futures- Historic Preservation

West Berkeley Shell Mound

• In 2000, Berkeley, California, designated a parking lot near a seafood restaurant as a local landmark, recognizing it as the site of an Ohlone shell mound.

• The shell mound, one of two related to the Huichin settlement, was destroyed from the late 19th century through the 1950s.

• This site was significant to the Chochenyo-speaking Ohlone people, who lived there for thousands of years.

• The Confederated Villages of Lisjan (Ohlone) viewed the land as important for recognition, observance, and spirituality, especially in light of proposed development.

• Despite their efforts, the Lisjan Ohlone lost their fight to preserve the site in 2021.

Shockoe Bottom Preservation

• In Richmond, Virginia, preservation efforts focused on parking lots that marked the location of the city's largest slave market and an African burial ground.

• In 2014, plans for redevelopment sparked opposition from preservation advocates, prioritizing memorialization and recognition of victims of slavery.

• Organizations like Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project and National Trust for Historic Preservation pushed for a memorial and interpretive landscape.

Shift in Preservation Practices

• Both cases highlight a movement towards a more inclusive public history landscape, emphasizing community significance rather than material heritage.

• Preservation practices must evolve to prioritize living communities and intangible heritage rather than just physical structures.

• This involves a paradigm shift from a focus on historical materialism to human-centered methods in preservation.

Public Purpose of Preservation Fieldwork

• Preservation fieldwork impacts public decision-making, with expertise playing a significant role in defining what constitutes "history" in specific locales.

• The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) has shown significant failures in inclusivity, with underrepresentation of minority and women's histories among listed sites.

• Preservation efforts often reflect predominant white male perspectives, necessitating critical re-evaluation of methodologies to incorporate diverse histories.

Future Directions in Preservation

• Moving forward, preservationists must implement community-engaged practices and rethink the definitions of significance and authenticity.

• Engagement should be intrinsic to preservation processes, not just a step; community consultation must guide historical context development.

• The Burra Charter from Australia emphasizes stakeholder involvement and cultural significance, setting an example for U.S. practices.

Rethinking Authenticity and Integrity

• Traditional U.S. preservation systems heavily emphasize physical integrity, which can alienate cultural expressions significant to communities.

• The Nara Document on Authenticity encourages considering heritage properties within their cultural contexts, moving away from strict material authenticity.

• Legitimate heritage and cultural identity should recognize living traditions rather than solely the physical integrity of a site.

Conclusion

• Addressing the inequities and biases within preservation requires a paradigm shift towards more inclusive and community-based practices.

• Preservation education should equip future practitioners with skills for ethical community engagement and diverse methods of evaluation.

• Engaging with these evolving practices promises a more equitable, meaningful, and vibrant preservation landscape.