ABSTRACT This article focuses on the fraught questions surrounding replicas and their use in heritage contexts, drawing on an in-depth qualitative study of a historic replica, the 1970 concrete St John’s Cross, Iona. We examine how replicas ‘work’ and unravel the part that social relations, place, and materiality play in the production and negotiation of their authenticity. The research shows that replicas are important objects in their own right, acquiring value, authenticity, and aura. The ‘life’ of a replica generates networks of relationships between people, places, and things, including the original historic object. While the underlying human stories of creativity, skill, and craftsmanship are rendered invisible when replicas are treated as mere surrogates, we argue that these ‘life-stories’ should be incorporated into future conservation, management and interpretation. The article spells out practical advice and guidance for heritage professionals who find themselves dealing with replicas.

中文翻译：

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复制品的无价遗产价值和意义

摘要本文重点研究围绕复制品及其在遗产环境中的使用的烦恼问题，它基于对一个历史复制品（1970年的爱奥那州圣约翰十字教堂）的深入定性研究。我们研究了复制品如何“工作”，并揭示了社会关系，位置和重要性在真实性的生产和协商中所起的作用。研究表明，复制品本身就是重要的物品，具有价值，真实性和光环。复制品的“生命”生成人，地方和事物之间的关系网络，包括原始历史对象。当复制品仅被视为替代品时，人类关于创造力，技巧和工艺的基本故事将变得不可见，但我们认为，这些“生命故事”应纳入未来的保护中，管理和解释。本文为发现自己处理复制品的遗产专业人士提供了实用的建议和指导。