Bastard Rock, Bastard Landscapes

Industrial heritage landscapes, often marked by complexity and contested histories, risk being marginalized under rigid UNESCO World Heritage management strategies. This study introduces the concept of 'bastard rock'—a term for quarrying waste—to critique one-size-fits-all approaches in preserving cultural landscapes, using Penrhyn Quarry in Northwest Wales as a case example. It advocates for relational landscape approaches that embrace active industry within heritage sites and buffer zones to ensure authentic preservation. By challenging conventional frameworks, the research highlights how such strategies may inadvertently diminish the very heritage they aim to protect.

Spiwak, A. D. (2023). Bastard Rock, Bastard Landscapes. Journal of Contemporary Archaeology, 10(1), 49–69. https://doi.org/10.1558/jca.25826