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‘National’ identities and the politics of ancient heritage: continuity and change at ancient monuments in Britain and Ireland, c .1675–1850
Author(s) -
Harvey David C
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
transactions of the institute of british geographers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.196
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1475-5661
pISSN - 0020-2754
DOI - 10.1111/j.0020-2754.2003.00105.x
Subject(s) - politics , nationalism , identity (music) , phenomenon , history , national identity , period (music) , sociology , anthropology , archaeology , aesthetics , political science , art , law , epistemology , philosophy
This paper explores the complex and ambiguous development of a concept of nationhood during the early modern period ( c .1675–1850). It does this through examining how aspects of identity politics were reflected in, and worked through, contemporary descriptions of the ancient sites of Avebury in Britain and Newgrange in Ireland. A relationship between these descriptions and the development of national identity is put forward and then problematized, with the apparent ‘nationalism’ of ancient heritage being seen as a far more complex phenomenon than first sight would suggest. Though primarily focusing on the construction and development of an idea of nationhood therefore, this paper works through drawing together and critically evaluating related strands of archaeology, heritage studies and historical‐political geography.