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CNR – ISMed

CNR - ISMed

Underground space for territories knowledge and enhancement

Proposer: Roberta Varriale

Participants: Bruno Venditto, Tiziana Vitolo, Giovanni Canitano, Immacolata Caruso, Maria Rosaria Rescigno, Candida Cuturi. 

Abstract

Underground is the place where many environmental conflicts and social interactions have always been managed. Artefacts historically excavated in the underground have been used for water management, to remove of urban waste, to support transports, for food management, as shelters, for rites and cults and for extractive activities supporting; in some cases, the underground experience gave birth to the so-called underground cities. The artefacts generated by all these needs are today significant elements of the heritage of local communities and, thanks to their tangible and intangible values, can become HUBs for innovative regeneration processes at urban and rural levels. The aim of the research line is to systematise the results of a rich line of investigation at an interdisciplinary level leaded by ISMed at an international level. Actions supported include risk monitoring, classification by type and by function aimed at territorial development, analysis of the socio/economic context, classification of tangible and intangible values ​​for their enhancement as elements of cultural heritage. It aims to systematize all this potential, in compliance with UNESCO guidelines and the constraints of the Superintendencies, acting as a point of reference for supporting applications for registration on protected lists, for the definition of social development plans and economic aspects of the territories and for the experimentation of new narrative models, also from a network perspective.

Projects

The research acts as a promoter of projects to be submitted for funding based on the expertise already acquired in this context by ISMed:

Undergrounds in Naples: project financed by Campania Region, Province of Naples, Tecnoin, Metronapoli and Ansaldo; A bridge of bones from Naples to Lima: project financed by the STM/CNR program; Damage assessment and conservation of underground space as valuable resources for human activities use in Italy and Japan: project financed under the CNR/JSPS 2018/2019 and 2020/2021 bilateral agreements; Cost Action 18110 Underground4value

Objectives

The research, starting from a substantial network which involves national and international bodies and universities, aims at establishing partnerships useful for the submission of international and cooperation projects. All activity will always be carried out based on solid scientific research aimed at experimenting with innovative analysis models, always with the use of unpublished qualitative and quantitative data. The results of the research conducted, as well as the reports of the activities carried out, will be published in the best national and international journals and presented at national and international conferences. Outputs are expected also in the field governance guidelines for the benefit of local bodies.

Activities

The activity carried out is part of the rich interdisciplinary debate following the introduction of the Underground Built Heritage (UBH) class. It is aimed both at the study and development of theoretical models and at the analysis of case studies, also from a comparative perspective. 

Main case studies are:

  • The underground settlement of Sperlinga as an example of Mediterranean troglodytic lifestyle of inland areas at risk of depopulation
  • The mines of autarky: from the coal mines of Sulcis Iglesiente to the bitumen mining basin of Majella
  • Chinese and Italian troglodyte villages: tangible and intangible values ​​for the development of well-being, even non-monetary, of rural populations
  • Abandoned mining villages in Namibia and the USA: rise and decline of urban planning experiences linked to mining activity
  • Japan among underground thermal resources, geo-sites and mines of the Meij Revolution
Main topics
  • Places of history: many artefacts narrate processes of urban and economic development and offer an original perspective in the reading and interpretation of political and social dynamics.  
  • Traditional construction in urban development: negative construction as an archetype of the attitude of traditional and vernacular construction in the field of sustainable management of local climatic and environmental variables. The study allows us to outline guidelines for their enhancement and for the adoption of traditional building skills for a sustainable urban development.
  • Classification of tangible values for the enhancement of correspondent artefacts within museums, cultural  itineraries, protected areas and thematic routes.
  • Reconstruction and organization of intangible values ​​based on the processing of historical, sociological, linguistic and iconographic data.
  • Enhancement and protection of typical productions: establishment of protection consortia, support for branding and marketing of the companies involved.
  • Contents and tools for tourism development: experimentation and systematization of products for tourism development: geoparks, eco museums, paths.
  • Integrated transport and sustainable mobility for the sustainable development of historic villages at risk of disappearing.
  • Content for communication in the cultural heritage sector for the benefit of local bodies, associations, regional film commissions and business firms
  • Managing diversity: cohabitation, conflicts and coexistence of mining communities, protection of linguistic traditions.
  • Areas at risk of depopulation: sustainable development for territories at risk in inlands.
Main partnerships

International relationships with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS-Japan) and  the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage (CACH- China), the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS-China). Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU): Bari, Taranto, Monopoli, Fasano, Mottola, Monopoli, Massafra, Grottaglie, Palagiano, Palagianello, Gravina di Puglia, Sperlinga, Sortino, Lercara Friddi, Alia, Modica, Comitini, Carbonia, Lettomanoppello, Abbateggio and San Valentino.  MOU with the following UNESCO geoparks: Rocca di Cerere, Madonie. MOU with the Superintendency of Archaeological Heritage of Cagliari. Participation in the committees of ICOMOS, collaboration with CREA. The network includes several universities, associations, local action groups and many local stakeholders.

Goals

The main goal is to have projects financed. The funds raised will support the research activity which is aimed at the creation of field investigation campaigns, the publication of contributions in indexed and open access journals, the participation and organization of national and international conferences and the creation of audiovisual products.

Open Access by Roberta Varriale:

  • 2022, Varriale R., Parise M., Genovese L., Leo M., Valese S., Underground Built Heritage in Naples: From Knowledge to Monitoring and Enhancement S. D’Amico, V. Venuti (eds.), Handbook of Cultural Heritage Analysis, Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022, pp. 2001-2035, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60016-7_70

  • 2019, Genovese L., Varriale, R., Luvidi, L., Fratini, F. “Italy and China Sharing Best Practices on the Sustainable Development of Small Underground Settlements”, Heritage, 2, 813-825. Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/2/1/53 

Last update

29 July 2024, 13:57