I am an anthropologist by training and have worked in academia for over 20 years, with a primary interest in ritual and belief systems. My research has shown that tangible and intangible heritage are deeply interconnected and should not be treated separately. Places, sites, and monuments draw their significance from the practices, rituals, and social memories that communities associate with them. I believe that local communities are the true guardians of heritage. Their knowledge, traditions and lived experiences sustain both tangible and intangible forms of heritage.