Assessing stories before sites: Identifying the tangible from the intangible

The main purpose of the article Assembling stories before sites: identifying the tangible from the intangible is to demonstrate the use of a differing view when designating heritage sites, and justifying the use of this view over other methods. The current widespread method for determining heritage sites involves first defining the tangible elements of a site (physical location, features, etc.) and then determining what intangible elements (stories, historical context, etc.) are associated with the site. Instead, this article makes a case for the use of stories, which are an intangible value, to map cultural heritage. The information from these stories will then be used to identify heritage sites. The specific focus of the article is on Australian Aboriginal culture. The authors have determined that the focus on narratives and stories is not only beneficial for preserving Aboriginal heritage, but would also be effective for other locations and peoples.