Unpacking the role of Actor–Network Theory in heritage research: A systematic literature review

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Actor–Network Theory (ANT) has been used in heritage research to examine how heritage is assembled through relations among people, institutions, artefacts, technologies, documents, and spaces. However, the existing literature is spread across diverse themes and empirical settings, and its wider patterns of application have not yet been systematically synthesised. This systematic literature review aims to identify, synthesise, and appraise the current application of ANT in heritage research. This systematic review followed PRISMA-guided procedures. A search strategy using 11 search terms combined with Boolean operators was applied in Web of Science and Scopus. Retrieved records were screened through title–abstract screening and full-text assessment using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the included studies were synthesised thematically. From an initial 347 records, 41 studies were included in the final review. The review shows that ANT-informed heritage research remains a relatively small but growing field, dominated by qualitative and case-based studies. Six major thematic clusters were identified: digital infrastructures; governance, regeneration, and contested heritage spaces; exhibition, collection, and institutional mediation; intangible cultural heritage and craft practice networks; archaeology and epistemic politics; and post-disaster reassembling. Across these studies, ANT was most commonly used to trace practices and associations, analyse mediation and translation, and examine controversy, value, and unequal authority. ANT-informed heritage research, while still limited in size, demonstrates the analytical value of ANT for understanding heritage as a relational and sociomaterial achievement rather than a fixed object. At the same time, recurrent limitations remain, particularly limited transferability, uneven stakeholder coverage, and contextual constraints on network tracing. Future research would benefit from broader comparative testing, wider actor inclusion, and stronger engagement with governance and long-term safeguarding.