What Divides Us Also Connects Us: Roman Frontiers, World Heritage and Community

Abstract

ABSTRACT Roman Frontiers (Limes) run through several countries across Europe, the Near East and North Africa. In addition to those territories on the boundaries of the Empire, Roman military remains and artefacts are recorded in other countries, reflecting the development, expansion and contraction of the Roman Empire as well as trade within and beyond its borders. Since the early 2000s, a project has been on-going to create a series of transnational World Heritage properties for the Frontiers of the Roman Empire, building on existing networking connections established through the International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies and establishing new collaborations and partnerships, from local to international. In recognising the outstanding value to all humanity of our shared cultural heritage, the Limes provide an opportunity to connect communities and countries, as well as engender a sense of local pride in the global importance of remains. This paper is derived from a keynote given at the European Association of Archaeologists virtual conference in 2020, and asks how, when wrestling with global challenges such as Climate Change and the Covid19 pandemic, can World Heritage and Roman Frontiers contribute to our 21st century society?