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RUINS AND ROSES ( R E F L E C T ION S ON T H E I N V E NTORY OF THE RU I N S OF G OT L A N D )
KULTŪROS
PAV E L D O
APSAU G O S
PROBL E MO S
Christian Runeby
The ruins of Gotland have played an important role in reconstructing the overall picture about the historic island of Gotland. Since the beginning of the last century Gotland has been marketed as a place were it is possible to enjoy the wealth of roses and ruins. However, it is not my aim to praise the beautiful roses of the place but to discuss the multiple ruins on the island. The parallel phrase ‘ruins and roses’ though hints that this is a topic about an experience were nature and history meet in a delightful combination. It is a perfect starting point for the further discussion about lost values and unused possibilities. In the city of Visby and out on the countryside of Gotland, one can find many remains of buildings made of stone, all of them in different phases of destruction. Once asked about the ruins on the island, most people would probably refer to the well-known church-ruins or the city wall in Visby. However, there are the ruins of the medieval houses, mills, limestone ovens and much more out on the countryside. There are thousands of the remains of building constructions that, in many cases, are appreciated for what they contribute to the landscape. On the other hand, some remnants of other buildings are considered to be disgusting or disturbing as damaging the landscape, or are forgotten and neglected totally.
The abandoned constructions have been left to become ruins. Once these constructions were built for specific purposes to fulfil certain needs, and now they are abandoned and partly torn down or vandalised. However, under certain circumstances, they have become “monumentalised”, mostly where age has been considered an important criterion. In other words, the remains of some constructions have been ascribed the status of historic values. Such objects have no longer the status of their original physical function which, instead, has become more symbolic, but that of a metaphysical function as one may put it. Its major function now is perhaps to remind a society of the glory days, or a “memento mori” in evidence of past time and our own mortality. The ruins have been the classical symbol of societies taking interest in history and part of heritage protection work. With respect to the role of ruins and their long tradition as monuments, one might expect that those working at Heritage Protection of Gotland would have a thorough programme based on the years of experience. Unfortunately, this is not a case. There is no doubt we have much experience and knowledge, and we know many methodological principles. The major issue lies in that all this is not used in a systematic way. The task of taking care of the ruins today at Heritage Protection has a very vague structure.