Archaeological Sites’ Management, Interpretation, and Tourism Development—A Success Story and Future Challenges: The Case of Bibracte, France

Abdelkader Ababneh

doi:10.3390/heritage4030128

Abstract

Bibracte is described as a well-managed property with significant heritage value. Even as the site’s managing body and its partners continue to deliver encouraging and engaging projects, there are barriers to success. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the possible future challenges that the current management may encounter. This study used a field work methodology, and comprised interviews, observations, guided visits, discussions, discourse analysis, and the review of an important corpus of material, from which conclusions were drawn. Significant problems arising from various causes were identified. The results reveal that despite the appropriate heritage management, interpretation, and tourism development practices, the heritage and tourism potential remain not fully captured. The management of the site has established its notoriety as an important research center for experimental and educational archaeology, rather than as an important tourist attraction. Thus, the site has failed to become a popular tourist destination. These difficulties are said to have been molded and enforced by imperatives connected to the site and its surroundings, as well as the Réseau des Grands Sites de France title. This research may contribute to elucidating heritage sites and their unknown management difficulties, which will be beneficial to the sites’ employees and visitors.

Highlights

In France, the importance of natural and cultural heritage has long been recognized by national heritage authorities [1,2], and the need for their management and development is well emphasized [3]
The problem that this paper seeks to address is that there are always challenges to consider, even if the site is successfully positioned in terms of appropriate heritage management practices.The scope of this study is the investigation of the heritage management process at the archaeological site of Bibracte, France, with twofold objectives: to understand the heritage management process at the site, and to explore and discuss the main challenges associated with the management of archaeological sites in the context of a changing rural landscape
The primary problems at the archeological site of Bibracte connected to the three examined themes will be emphasized, evaluated, and debated

Summary

Introduction

In France, the importance of natural and cultural heritage has long been recognized by national heritage authorities [1,2], and the need for their management and development is well emphasized [3]. Historical landscapes, archeological sites, and natural parks are regarded, for example, as properties of scenic, political, social, and economic importance, and are related, in different cases, to national identity, collective memory, and tourism progress [4]. These unique places are extremely important, and must be appropriately managed. Sites de France (The Network of Grand Sites of France), the Regional Directorates of Cultural Affairs, and the Regional Directorates of Tourism are among the most important institutions responsible for heritage management Each of these institutions is related to a specific legislative framework, notably including the law of 1913 creating the index of registered historical monuments (monuments historiques classés), and the law of 1930 creating the index of registered scenic places and landscapes (sites classés). Heritage policies are evolving, and it is no wonder that management schemes for archaeological sites are well established

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion