Inkeri Aula, Masood Masoodian, Alicia Nunez Garcia

Ethnographic and Narrative Methods of Enquiry for Researching Intangible Cultural Heritage

Introduction

Ethnographic and narrative methods of enquiry for researching intangible cultural heritage. Research Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) with ethnographic & narrative methods. Learn about walking interviews & workshops capturing community stories at heritage sites for preservation.

Abstract

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) related to tangible heritage sites includes contemporary meaningful human practices such as experiences, stories and embodied knowledge. These practices can deepen people’s connection to the past and prepare them for the future, especially in times of environmental crises and societal transformations. To facilitate preservation and sharing of such ICH, museums and other cultural institutions and agencies are increasingly interested in accounting for the living practices of communities and different social groups connected with heritage sites in creative and engaging ways. For attaining this, accessible methods of cultural research that are considerate of community engagement are needed. This article presents multisensory narrative methods that we have been adapting and developing in order to capture, present and share ICH associated with several ancient heritage sites across Europe in a multi- and trans-disciplinary context. In particular, we focus on two methods: (1) on-site walking interviews inspired by sensobiographic walking, and (2) a form of narrative workshop which combines storytelling circle with sensory activities. Through these creative and participatory methods, we have produced research data about the experiences, emotions and environmental dimensions related to the megalithic, standing stone sites in the Central Alentejo region of Portugal, and Calanais stone circles in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Our objective here is to share these knowledge generation methods so that they can be easily replicated by others, while taking into account the complexity and depth of human narratives of ICH.

Review

This paper addresses a highly pertinent and timely topic: the methodologies for researching Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) associated with tangible sites. In an era marked by environmental crises and societal transformations, the authors correctly identify the critical need for accessible and community-engaged research methods to capture and preserve living practices, stories, and embodied knowledge. The abstract positions the work as directly contributing to this need by presenting adapted and developed multisensory narrative methods, making a valuable contribution to the field of heritage studies and cultural research. The focus on deepening connections to the past and preparing for the future through ICH is particularly compelling. The core of the paper lies in its detailed exposition of two innovative ethnographic and narrative methods. Firstly, the authors highlight on-site walking interviews, drawing inspiration from sensobiographic walking, which promises to elicit rich, embodied responses directly connected to the heritage environment. Secondly, a distinct form of narrative workshop, combining storytelling circles with sensory activities, is introduced. These participatory and creative approaches have been applied to generate data regarding experiences, emotions, and environmental dimensions related to megalithic sites in Portugal and Scotland. The abstract effectively conveys how these methods are designed to capture the complexity and depth of human narratives surrounding ICH, moving beyond purely factual accounts to embrace subjective and lived realities. The stated objective of sharing these knowledge generation methods for easy replication is a significant strength, positioning the article as a practical guide for researchers and practitioners alike. This approach is highly beneficial for museums and cultural institutions increasingly seeking engaging ways to account for community practices linked to heritage sites. By offering concrete, adaptable methodologies, the paper has the potential to empower a broader range of institutions and researchers to undertake meaningful ICH research. The emphasis on replicability, while acknowledging the inherent complexity of human narratives, suggests a pragmatic yet rigorous approach that will undoubtedly be welcomed by those working in heritage preservation, community engagement, and cultural understanding.

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