Bibliometric Analysis: Cultural Heritage Research

Open Access (Nature, March 6, 2023)

Citation: Vlase, I., Lähdesmäki, T. A bibliometric analysis of cultural heritage research in the humanities: The Web of Science as a tool of knowledge management. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 10, 84 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01582-5

This bibliometric analysis of 1,843 journal articles published across a period of roughly twenty years and indexed in the Web of Science shows a shift in cultural heritage research.  This article, published by Nature, may fuel further discussion of funding and focus. From the abstract: 

Although the indexed research has grown significantly, the bulk of studies on cultural heritage in WOS is concentrated in a reduced number of European institutions and countries, written by a small number of prolific authors, with relatively poor collaborative ties emerging across time between authors, institutions, and countries. The central themes reflect the development of digital technologies and increased participatory emphasis in cultural heritage care. This article brings new insights into the analysis of the cultural heritage research in correlation with the emergence of international heritage governance with new institutional actors, professional networks, and international agreements, which are all constitutive elements of scientific production.

The article concludes with the following:

The key challenge faced by research is broadening the field in order to include various voices and views from all continents in its knowledge production. Cultural heritage research would benefit from a more active cross-continental collaboration of scholars and research institutes.

Full text of the work is available here.