Conceptualising spiritscapes

A novel framework, 'spiritscapes,' emerges from this study to redefine the Mongolian Altai's cultural landscapes by integrating contemporary rock markings and sacred features with historical petroglyphs. This approach challenges traditional perspectives, advocating for a multi-naturalist viewpoint that encompasses both biodiversity and cultural elements. The research highlights the interconnectedness of past rock art styles, climatic variability, and modern cultural expressions like ovuus and stupas, offering a radical shift in how these landscapes are understood and preserved. By drawing on biocultural diversity concepts, the study provides a holistic lens to analyze UNESCO World Heritage Sites, emphasizing the dynamic relationship between human communities and their environments.

Verschuuren, B. (2023). Conceptualising spiritscapes. Routledge Handbook of Cultural Landscape Practice, 375–382. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315203119-43