Touching Traces of the Past

Traces in heritage sites are not inert relics but dynamic, quasi-objective phenomena that scaffold narratives, generate immersive atmospheres, and invite affective engagement. The study introduces a three-axis taxonomy—intentionality, materiality, and temporality—to explain how material residues function as pathic affordances, attuning visitors to place and narrative through embodied and situated cognition. Case studies, including Kronborg Castle, reveal that the preservation, manipulation, or erasure of traces is an ethical act with profound implications for heritage practitioners, as these traces sustain narratives and memories, preventing heritage dissolution into the past.

Brand, A. R. (2026). Touching Traces of the Past. The Routledge International Handbook of Heritage and Affect, 515–530. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003566892-43