Whose Values?

Outstanding Universal Value at Two Pre-Columbian Sites Straddling the US-Mexico Frontier

Abstract

How defining and explaining the signification of the « Outstanding Universal Value », fundamental criterion for the inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List? Starting with a reflection on the idea of a “universal value”, this paper proposes to confront this concept to the reality of two similar sites, both inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list but separated by a few hundred kilometers and an international border: Chaco Culture (USA) and Paquimé (Mexico). Through their comparison, the article brings out local particularities in management practices and interpretation attitudes. Despite their common cultural roots in pre-colombian civilization, the two sites offer very different experiences to visitors whose perception is indeed largely influenced by the local context of social and cultural values contrary to the universal intend of UNESCO World Heritage “brand”.