UNINTENTIONAL MONUMENTS, OR THE MATERIALIZING OF AN OPEN PAST

This article examines the emergence of a new epistemic value that was attributed to remnants past during broad debate on historical evidence in late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: unintentionality testimony. Beginning early modern period, growing awareness partiality literacy narratives regarded as intentional testimonies well interest nonwritten pasts have led consideration other kinds relics, which been seen unwitting indirect carriers information about past. Material iconographic remains, languages oral traditions, costumes, superstitious practices gained currency “neutral” “authentic” times process is accessed by analyzing par excellence eighteenth-century France: monument material immaterial remains. Over course this underwent impressive semantic enhancement became polysemic epistemological object. At time, term “monument” referred an mark designed for entrusted future or involuntary past, later invested with not originally intended its maker. Although nineteenth century saw lose meaning trace what has survived testimonies, albeit under conceptual guises such “remnants,” “witnesses spite themselves,” “traces,” “clues.” What, then, usefulness still imagining today practice research understanding?