Day 2, workshop 5

A case study analysisbased upon the

ICOMOS Ename Charter

Daniel PletinckxCEO

Visual Dimension bvbaEname, Belgium

DISH Conference: workshop 5

Visual Dimension bvba

Visual Dimension bvba is a company that specialises in the use of ICT in Cultural Heritage on international scale Consulting Digitisation of museum objects, monuments, archaeology Virtual reconstruction of ancient structures and landscapes Design of innovative presentation methods and systems Applies existing guidelines (London Charter, Ename Charter,

copyrights) Through European projects, major efforts are done for creation

and application of guidelines in cultural heritage EPOCH (2004 - 2008) CARARE (start : Feb 2010) Europeana

The Venlo mikwah

The Venlo mikwah

The Venlo mikwah

The Venlo mikwah

The Venlo mikwah

The Venlo mikwah

Excavated in 2004-2005 in Venlo, Netherlands Identified as a Jewish ritual bath Dated by archaeological finds and historical research to be build

around 1300 and taken out of use around 1350 (1349 pogrom) Oldest mikwah in the Netherlands, only a few mikwahs preserved

in Europe that are older Only lower part of the structure preserved (destroyed by building

activity in the 50’s and 70’s) Had to be removed from its original spot (to build parking garage)

P. 1: Access and Understanding

Interpretation and presentation programmes, in whatever form deemed appropriate and sustainable, should facilitate physical and intellectual access by the public to cultural heritage sites.

Physical access Is possible to give access to the monument ? Should we allow visitors in the monument ? If not, what alternatives can be provided ?

Intellectual access What is a mikwah ? How is it used ? Why is it used ? How do we know it is a mikwah ? How does a mikwah look like ? How did it end up as an archaeological find ?

P. 1: Physical Access





P. 1: Intellectual Access


This photo comes from the book by Lloyd Wolf "Jewish Mothers: Strength, Wisdom, Compassion,"



P. 1: Villa di Livia (Rome)

P. 3: Context and Setting

The Interpretation of cultural heritage sites should relate to their wider social, cultural, historical, and natural contexts and settings.

Social context What is the importance of a mikwah in Jewish society ?

Cultural context How is ritual cleaning perceived in general ? What makes it specific within the Jewish culture ?

Historical context Why does Venlo have a mikwah this old ? What is the story behind the mikwah ?

P. 3: Social Context




P. 3: Cultural Context

"We made from water, every living thing"

(Sura of Al-Anbiya)

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you,

and you will be clean;

I will cleanse you from all your filthiness

and from all your idols.”

Ezekiel 36:25

P. 3: Historical Context

Pogrom of 1349

P. 3: TimeFrame Storytelling

TimeFrame Saint-Laurentius church Ename, Belgium


TimeFrame Municipal Museum, Tervuren, Belgium


TimeFrame Born, Netherlands

P. 4: Authenticity

The Interpretation and presentation of cultural heritage sites must respect the basic tenets of authenticity in the spirit of the Nara Document (1994).

What if the context is completely gone ? How do we preserve the authenticity of archaeological remains

that have been taken out of context ? How to restore the notion of ‘monument’ to a 2 x 90 ton object ? Is it possible to turn this mikwah into a touristical landmark ? Can we integrate it next to the archaeological remains of the

19th century synagogue in Venlo ?

P. 4: Authenticity - Context

Q4 city renovation project


Q4 city renovation project


P. 4: Authenticity - Monument

Köln, GermanySpeyer, GermanyFriedberg, Germany

P. 4: Authenticity - Archaeology

Sint-Catharinakerk, Eindhoven, Nederland

P. 4: Recreated context

P. 2: Information Sources

Interpretation and presentation should be based on evidence gathered through accepted scientific and scholarly methods as well as from living cultural traditions.

Interpretation process ongoing Chapter 15 in new book “Venlo aan de Maas: van vicus tot stad”

Spatial reconstruction : Bart Klück

P. 2: EPOCH 3D Webservice

P. 2: EPOCH 3D Webservice

P. 5: Sustainability

The interpretive plan for a cultural heritage site must be sensitive to its natural and cultural environment, with social, financial, and environmental sustainability among its central goals.

What is a sustainable environment to preserve, manage and present this mikwah ?

How do we create an environment that supports, promotes, explains, educates in the long term ?

P. 5: Sustainability

Costs (financial sustainability) Conservation & restoration Transport ! Housing ! Preservation (conditioned space) Protection Presentation & Interpretation

Political and social support (social sustainability) Long term support Image building How does the Venlo mikwah remains relevant ?

P. 6: Inclusiveness

The Interpretation and Presentation of cultural heritage sites must be the result of meaningful collaboration between heritage professionals, associated communities, and other stakeholders.

How can we engage the general public for an object that is known and identified only by the Jewish part of society ?

How can this mikwah have a meaning in the society of today ? How can this mikwah stimulate understanding and respect

between religions and parts of society ?

P. 6: Inclusiveness

The Venlo mikwah brings us A story about integration and expulsion of another culture,

which is very actual A story about ritual cleaning, purity, transitions

which is actual is nearly all religions and also outside religion A story about the Jewish cultural values, which have close

analogies for the other ‘Religions of the Book’ Strong educational potential

Needs storytelling systems Needs educational support for classroom projects

P. 7: Research, Evaluation, Training

The Interpretation and Presentation of cultural heritage sites must be the result of meaningful collaboration between heritage professionals, associated communities, and other stakeholders.

Research Historical Archaeological Cultural

Educational activities Tourism Art

Conclusion

The Venlo Mikwah, its complexity and the questions it raises, show the necessity of a set of guidelines on Presentation and Interpretation

The political decision process is ongoing These guidelines are adopted by the worldwide cultural heritage

community through worldwide consensus (2008) But need to be recognised and implemented by local levels Technology will need to

fill in the lost physical, cultural and social context allow to experience again the monument stimulate the discussion about intercultural understanding

Knowhow Book on Ename Charter

Available at http://www.enamecenter.org/

Other EPOCH Knowhow Books

Interactive Landscapes – How to read and understand historical landscapes

Interpretation Management – How to make sustainable visualisations of the past

Presenting The Hidden Past – Highlights and impressions from the lowlands

Monitoring Monuments – A low-cost digital early warning system for preventive conservation of built heritage

Electro Bacchanalia – A peep box and interpretive tool for Old Master’s paintings

Interactive Storytelling Exhibition – How to produce a virtual interactive story to engage visitors with the real world

Touch of Kandinsky – How to make a carpet into an interactive or storytelling tool

Virtex – A multisensory approach for exhibiting valuable objects

The ARC 3D Webservice – How to turn images of an object or scene into 3D models for exhibitions and archives

Digitally available at http://www.epoch.eu/

QuickTime™ en een-decompressor

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