Colonial Legacies in Heritage Conservation in Algeria

Algeria is a country rich in heritage and history, with many different types of material and intangible heritage, testimonies to the multiple civilizations that crossed its realm and shaped the culture and nationhood of the Algerian people. Yet, despite the potential offered by all these heritage assets, the present conservation practice in Algeria does not appear to be bringing effective answers to the challenges threatening the existence of this heritage, as seen in the flagship case of the Kasbah of Algiers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. This research offers an initial investigation of the underlying causes behind today’s Algerian heritage reality, through a historical review of valuation processes and the conservation practice in Algeria based on the sense of sacred, encompassing the Numidians’ “mausoleum culture,” the influence of waqf, and how a home-grown process of buildings and cultural perpetuation was interrupted by the French colonization and its nation-destroying enterprise. Also, the research argues the role of the Algerian heritage and its nature in elaborating the secteurs sauvegardés, or conservation areas in French conservation. The research concludes on the need to explore and inspire from pre-colonial care practices to construct a heritage conservation approach adapted to Algerian culture.