Pilar Smyth | Leiden University (original) (raw)

Papers by Pilar Smyth

This thesis discusses the direct and/or indirect negative physical and social impacts of TV&T (tr... more This thesis discusses the direct and/or indirect negative physical and social impacts of TV&T (travellers, visitors and tourists) and/or the greater tourism industry on heritage sites around the world. The physical impacts were found to be in the forms of TV&T producing vandalising graffiti and erosion caused by their movements, their impact on the micro-climate of caves containing ancient wall art, touching or keeping pieces of cultural heritage artefacts and the greater tourism industry initiating the placement of both temporary and permanent forms of construction. It was also discovered that TV&T and/or the greater tourism industry has caused various negative social impacts on the perceived sense of sanctity of various heritage sites and to the Indigenous Peoples living among them in the forms of ‘Naked Tourism’ and overcrowding at Machu Picchu and the city of Venice, Italy. Lastly, an exploration into the social impact of the commodification of Indigenous Peoples by the greater tourism industry led to the realisation that this can and has led to the exploitation of many of these peoples and the change in the significance of many of their cultural materials.

The purpose of this Master's thesis is to uncover the negative physical and social effects of tou... more The purpose of this Master's thesis is to uncover the negative physical and social effects of tourism on heritage sites around the world and on various ethnic groups and/or Indigenous Peoples.
The specific aims of this thesis are:
 To discover incidents of vandalism at heritage sites from around the world in the forms of looting and graffiti that were either directly or indirectly caused by the tourism industry. To discover and demonstrate the negative physical effects that arise from looting and graffiti.
 To discover various examples of erosion at heritage sites from around the world that were either directly or indirectly caused by the tourism industry. To demonstrate the negative physical effects of these examples of erosion on our global heritage.
 To discover case studies of where the culturally and socially perceived sense of sanctity of various heritage sites was either directly or indirectly effected by the tourism industry. To discover the implications of how these effects may have impacted various ethnic groups and/or Indigenous Peoples associated with these heritage sites.
 To discover the negative social effects of the commodification of various ethnic groups and/or Indigenous Peoples cultural heritage that was either directly or indirectly brought on by the tourism industry. To find and discuss at least one case study in which a specific ethnic and/or Indigenous Peoples group was (or still is) negatively impacted by cultural commodification that was either directly or indirectly brought on by the tourism industry.
The research for this thesis led to the discovery that heritage sites have suffered often irreparable damage (either directly or indirectly) by the tourism industry in the forms of vandalism (looting and graffiti) and erosion via tourist’s movement, general behaviour, generated humidity and construction. It was also discovered that the tourism industry has caused various negative social impacts on the perceived sanctity of various heritage sites and to the Indigenous Peoples living among them in the forms of ‘Naked Tourism’ and overcrowding. Lastly, an exploration into the social impact of the commodification of Indigenous Peoples by the tourism industry led to the realisation that this can and has led to the exploitation of many of these peoples and the change in the significance of many of their cultural materials.

This is a revision of the previous essay, "If the Shoe Fits: Women Defining Personal and Social I... more This is a revision of the previous essay, "If the Shoe Fits: Women Defining Personal and Social Identity by Means of Wearing Permanent Metal Adornments from the Early to Middle European Bronze Age".
Our appearance matters, it is as simple as that. Why our appearance matters and what it can signify is rooted within our diverse cultures. We often dress according to what our specific cultures dictate or encourage. Therefore, through our dressing traditions, we have the ability to establish our personal identity as belonging to a specific social category of which the surrounding society would be able to comprehend, as long as they consider themselves to be of the same or similar culture. This essay will focus on permanent metal adornments that some women wore during the Early to Middle European Bronze Age. Could wearing such permanent metal adornments be symbolic of these women’s personally and socially perceived identity within their community and how could such a practice be continuously reinforced across several generations? To discover this, I will predominately use the research on Bronze Age female identity from the archaeologist, Marie Louise Stig Sørensen. I will also briefly cross-examine these ancient practices with the women from one unique modern day culture, whom much of the Westernized world perceives as taboo.

Our appearance matters, it is as simple as that. Why our appearance matters and what it can signi... more Our appearance matters, it is as simple as that. Why our appearance matters and what it can signify is rooted within our diverse cultures. We often dress according to what our specific cultures dictate or encourage. Therefore, through our dressing traditions, we have the ability to establish our personal identity as belonging to a specific social category of which the surrounding society would be able to comprehend, as long as they consider themselves to be of the same or similar culture. This essay will focus on permanent metal adornments that some women wore during the Early to Middle European Bronze Age. It will be established that such adornments would have likely been continuously part of their personally and socially perceived identity within the community. I will also briefly cross-examine such ancient practices with that of one unique modern day culture, whom much of the Westernized world perceives as taboo.

This essay gives a brief introduction to the Roman occupation of Egypt. In it you will find infor... more This essay gives a brief introduction to the Roman occupation of Egypt. In it you will find information about the Roman forts in the Egyptian Sahara, how the Roman's found water in the desert and the economic motivation of the Roman's controlling the desert trade routes and the Asian goods coming into the Red Sea ports.

Wall's are meant to protect, but is that all? In this essay, I cover the different phases of Pomp... more Wall's are meant to protect, but is that all? In this essay, I cover the different phases of Pompeii's ancient city wall's and the rather multifaceted functions they served. This essay harmoniously fuses the disciplines of history, archaeology, anthropology and even sociology.

In this essay I briefly discuss the negative effects that tourism has had on the archaeological h... more In this essay I briefly discuss the negative effects that tourism has had on the archaeological heritage at Petra and my personal recommendations for improved management of the site.

This thesis discusses the direct and/or indirect negative physical and social impacts of TV&T (tr... more This thesis discusses the direct and/or indirect negative physical and social impacts of TV&T (travellers, visitors and tourists) and/or the greater tourism industry on heritage sites around the world. The physical impacts were found to be in the forms of TV&T producing vandalising graffiti and erosion caused by their movements, their impact on the micro-climate of caves containing ancient wall art, touching or keeping pieces of cultural heritage artefacts and the greater tourism industry initiating the placement of both temporary and permanent forms of construction. It was also discovered that TV&T and/or the greater tourism industry has caused various negative social impacts on the perceived sense of sanctity of various heritage sites and to the Indigenous Peoples living among them in the forms of ‘Naked Tourism’ and overcrowding at Machu Picchu and the city of Venice, Italy. Lastly, an exploration into the social impact of the commodification of Indigenous Peoples by the greater tourism industry led to the realisation that this can and has led to the exploitation of many of these peoples and the change in the significance of many of their cultural materials.

The purpose of this Master's thesis is to uncover the negative physical and social effects of tou... more The purpose of this Master's thesis is to uncover the negative physical and social effects of tourism on heritage sites around the world and on various ethnic groups and/or Indigenous Peoples.
The specific aims of this thesis are:
 To discover incidents of vandalism at heritage sites from around the world in the forms of looting and graffiti that were either directly or indirectly caused by the tourism industry. To discover and demonstrate the negative physical effects that arise from looting and graffiti.
 To discover various examples of erosion at heritage sites from around the world that were either directly or indirectly caused by the tourism industry. To demonstrate the negative physical effects of these examples of erosion on our global heritage.
 To discover case studies of where the culturally and socially perceived sense of sanctity of various heritage sites was either directly or indirectly effected by the tourism industry. To discover the implications of how these effects may have impacted various ethnic groups and/or Indigenous Peoples associated with these heritage sites.
 To discover the negative social effects of the commodification of various ethnic groups and/or Indigenous Peoples cultural heritage that was either directly or indirectly brought on by the tourism industry. To find and discuss at least one case study in which a specific ethnic and/or Indigenous Peoples group was (or still is) negatively impacted by cultural commodification that was either directly or indirectly brought on by the tourism industry.
The research for this thesis led to the discovery that heritage sites have suffered often irreparable damage (either directly or indirectly) by the tourism industry in the forms of vandalism (looting and graffiti) and erosion via tourist’s movement, general behaviour, generated humidity and construction. It was also discovered that the tourism industry has caused various negative social impacts on the perceived sanctity of various heritage sites and to the Indigenous Peoples living among them in the forms of ‘Naked Tourism’ and overcrowding. Lastly, an exploration into the social impact of the commodification of Indigenous Peoples by the tourism industry led to the realisation that this can and has led to the exploitation of many of these peoples and the change in the significance of many of their cultural materials.

This is a revision of the previous essay, "If the Shoe Fits: Women Defining Personal and Social I... more This is a revision of the previous essay, "If the Shoe Fits: Women Defining Personal and Social Identity by Means of Wearing Permanent Metal Adornments from the Early to Middle European Bronze Age".
Our appearance matters, it is as simple as that. Why our appearance matters and what it can signify is rooted within our diverse cultures. We often dress according to what our specific cultures dictate or encourage. Therefore, through our dressing traditions, we have the ability to establish our personal identity as belonging to a specific social category of which the surrounding society would be able to comprehend, as long as they consider themselves to be of the same or similar culture. This essay will focus on permanent metal adornments that some women wore during the Early to Middle European Bronze Age. Could wearing such permanent metal adornments be symbolic of these women’s personally and socially perceived identity within their community and how could such a practice be continuously reinforced across several generations? To discover this, I will predominately use the research on Bronze Age female identity from the archaeologist, Marie Louise Stig Sørensen. I will also briefly cross-examine these ancient practices with the women from one unique modern day culture, whom much of the Westernized world perceives as taboo.

Our appearance matters, it is as simple as that. Why our appearance matters and what it can signi... more Our appearance matters, it is as simple as that. Why our appearance matters and what it can signify is rooted within our diverse cultures. We often dress according to what our specific cultures dictate or encourage. Therefore, through our dressing traditions, we have the ability to establish our personal identity as belonging to a specific social category of which the surrounding society would be able to comprehend, as long as they consider themselves to be of the same or similar culture. This essay will focus on permanent metal adornments that some women wore during the Early to Middle European Bronze Age. It will be established that such adornments would have likely been continuously part of their personally and socially perceived identity within the community. I will also briefly cross-examine such ancient practices with that of one unique modern day culture, whom much of the Westernized world perceives as taboo.

This essay gives a brief introduction to the Roman occupation of Egypt. In it you will find infor... more This essay gives a brief introduction to the Roman occupation of Egypt. In it you will find information about the Roman forts in the Egyptian Sahara, how the Roman's found water in the desert and the economic motivation of the Roman's controlling the desert trade routes and the Asian goods coming into the Red Sea ports.

Wall's are meant to protect, but is that all? In this essay, I cover the different phases of Pomp... more Wall's are meant to protect, but is that all? In this essay, I cover the different phases of Pompeii's ancient city wall's and the rather multifaceted functions they served. This essay harmoniously fuses the disciplines of history, archaeology, anthropology and even sociology.

In this essay I briefly discuss the negative effects that tourism has had on the archaeological h... more In this essay I briefly discuss the negative effects that tourism has had on the archaeological heritage at Petra and my personal recommendations for improved management of the site.