El Patrimonio Marítimo emerge a la superficie con los Hijos del Ayer

Abstract

Drawing on documental, iconographic and empirical evidence collated from the work of both professionals in the field of cultural management and volunteer programmes, through the method of Participant Observation, this thesis offers an analysis of Tangible and Intangible Maritime Heritage, focusing on its study, preservation, recovery, dissemination and maximisation of benefits. It includes consideration of the different practices put into effect by public administration and private enterprises for the recovery of such artefacts and the transmission of nautical lore and experiences. The thesis is the result of professional and investigative experiences, in addition to personal observations, of the Columbine participation of the discovery of the New World, its subsequent conquest and colonisation, and the overseas trade established through the so-called �Carrera de Indias� (Spanish Trade Routes) by the Spanish Crown. In the same vein, an interest in life aboard ship, and the social relations among crew members, both at sea and on land, has been paramount throughout the study. The aim of this study is to study Tangible and Intangible Maritime Heritage for purposes of recovery, both with a view to navigation and with a view to museum display, in particular through the reconstruction of traditional vessels. The findings from research into the reconstruction of these vessels culminated in an enhanced understanding of the world in which they were immersed, and the recovery of traditional crafts such as shipbuilding, net-making, and sail-making amongst others. It also led to the recovery of construction and navigation techniques from the 16th-18th centuries, opening a window onto the mindset and way of life of all those involved. However, in order to ensure that all this work does not come to nothing, a further study was undertaken into how this heritage mieht be utilised bv both national and international maritime museums, as we consider that ordinary people should heirs to the heritage their forebears created. Nowadays, with the crisis occupying the greater share of the news in the media, and with culture facing more cuts than ever, the question of the value of Heritage is a moot point. Nevertheless, it is precisely this we should be fighting for - our culture and our way of life. A whole generation of people can be eliminated, their houses burnt to the ground, and yet they always return. But if we destroy their achievements and their history it is as if they had never existed. They are no more than ash floating in the air. This would seem to be what many States would like, and we cannot allow it. For this reason, we believe that the work undertaken by museums, interpretation centres, and other comparable institutions, whether publicly funded or privately run, should contribute to increasing awareness of, and opening debate about, current issues in Heritage. To this end, amongst their functions should be that of social engagement, and consequently their language and focus should be comprehensible from a modern perspective.