Beyond skills: reflections on the tacit knowledge-brain-cognition nexus on heritage conservators

Abstract

The conventional perception of heritage conservators’ knowledge has primarily focused on their explicit knowledge rooted between science and humanities. However, this perspective on their knowledge is imprecise and often overlooks other intangible dimensions, particularly their accumulated practical (hands-on) tacit knowledge, which extends beyond the traditional view and is often reduced to a mere skill. This comment/perspective article challenges this traditional view and aims to explore the significance of this ineffable knowledge and the possible implications of repetitive practical sensorimotor motions on the conservator's brain, embodied cognition, intuition, and decision-making. This new vision aims to reflect on how we understand the scope of knowledge of worldwide heritage conservators and to open new doors for research and interdisciplinary collaborations.