Monument

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

National Monument, Historical Monument, Prehistoric Monument, Megalithic Monument, Colonial Monument, Statue

Category

Tourism, Heritage Attractions, Cultural Attractions, History, Historical Attractions

Message / Function

To indicate the location of a monument

	Source	Description
	BTA 1989	Side view of megalithic structure with two vertical standing stones topped by connecting horizontal stone in outline
	Castilla y León	Side view of megalithic structure with two vertical standing stones topped by connecting horizontal stone
	Extremadura	Side view of megalithic structure with two vertical standing stones topped by connecting horizontal stone
	EJP	Frontal view of a Shinto gate
1)	Eco-Mo Foundation	Frontal view of Japanese building
	Aragón	Frontal view of triumphal arch with three passageways
	Bolivia	Frontal view of triumphal arch with three passageways
	Avanti PUM	Frontal view of triumphal arch with three passageways
	MDCT	Building with door and dome crowned with cross, spire on one side
	Jalisco	Building with door and dome crowned with cross
	EJP	Frontal view of Japanese building on top of four horizontal lines
2)	Eco-Mo Foundation	Frontal view of Japanese building
3)	Eco-Mo Foundation	Frontal view of Japanese building
	Kapitzki	Frontal view of rectangular column like object on tiered base
	Fiori R	Frontal view of column like pointed object on tiered base
	Bolivia	Side view of obelisk like monument on wide base
	DER	Side view of obelisk like monument on base
	Ecuador	Frontal view of human figure on massive base and two tiers at the bottom
	Peru 2016	Side view of horse with rider on massive base and two tiers at the bottom
	BS 8501:2002	Frontal view of human figure on column base
	BTA 1989	Standing human figure on base
	BS 8501:2002	Frontal view of Celtic stone cross
	Argentina SSTN	Wreath of leaves around complex object
	Parks Canada	Frontal view of monument with text indicated by horizontal lines

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

The collection shown above is only a small selection of the wide variety of graphic symbols used all over the world for messages related to various types of monuments. As such monuments often have specific local characteristicts, pictograms used also reflect this diversity. Furthermore in some systems all kinds of historical structures, like churches, castles, and palaces for example, are combined under the term Monuments and no clear differentiation between these attractions is intended. Very early, but not successful endeavors even were aimed at finding a pictogram for the general message Item of Cultural Interest. On the other hand programs like the Experience Japan Pictograms project focus on a multitude of pictograms by providing individual visual representations for many important historical monuments and landmarks. All in all, no specific visual stereotype for indicating the location of a monument can be identified.

In our research we discovered that test results available for Monument in our database are regarding a few pictograms only:

In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the three pictogram variants labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation and marked with 1) to 3) proved to be sufficiently comprehensible concerning the referent Historical Monument with comprehension scores of 73.1, 94.5, and 87.3 (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). No details regarding answers given and their assignments to response categories were provided in this study.

Fiori (2008) examined a map symbol similar to the pictogram labeled Fiori R the table above, but as small scale reproduction. 34.2 % of the responses were classified as correct and about one third of the participants (37.9 %) did not respond. Responses reported were for example Lighthouse, Landmark, and Obelisk.

According to the Parks Canada Identity Program Standards and Guidelines (2007) the pictogram labeled Parks Canada did not pass the required comprehension rate of 60% or higher, so this variant is marked as 'Retired – failed comprehension testing'. No information is available concerning wrong answers registered in the studies that were basis for this classification.

Recommendations

Due to the fact that only very limited research concerning comprehensibility of pictogram variants is available, we recommend to collect more pictograms, and to conduct research using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure for eliminating poor variants and identifying the best of the set available, followed by a Comprehension Test. These studies should deliver useful data for recommending one or several pictograms. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories of the Comprehension Test should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs.

Tests of pictograms of referent Monument

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.

Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.

Parks Canada (2007): Parks Canada Identity Program: Exterior Signage; Standards and Guidelines - Version 1. March 2007.