- Archaeological sites And UNESCO heritage in Lombardy, *, ** and *** Ph.D. Student, Department of Architectural Engineering United Arab Emirates University * Responsabile Unità Operativa Valorizzazione di aree archeologiche, parchi archeologici e siti UNESCO- Regione Lombardia - Direzione Generale Culture, Identità e Autonomie. ** Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività culturali e del Turismo - Segretariato Generale *** Già Soprintendente per i beni archeologici della Lombardia- Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività culturali e del Turismo, 2009-2013
Abstract Lombardy has an archaeological heritage vast and widespread, yet still little known, even though four out of nine UNESCO regional sites are archaeological ones. In recent years, a shared path between regional administration, MiBACT and local agencies allowed to start systematic interventions of knowledge and promotion in over than 100 sites. On the basis of the accomplished projects, it is possible to outline a first report of these policies by drawing, from the observation of the good practices, the opportunities and the suggestions for the future interventions. The archaeological sites of Lombardy registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List, moreover, form a monitoring centre that is very significant by many points of view, not only for their characteristic features (they are the testament of different cultures and civilizations that span from Mesolithic to Middle Ages), but also for the aspects of the matter that are more bound to the administrative politics, being diverse cultural goods, sometimes organized in networks, belonging to many subjects that must coordinate and cooperate in order to successfully provide protection and promotion to the cultural heritage. * * * Since 2006, Lombardy is living an happy season in the enhancement of archaeological heritage, thanks to institutional arrangements, local and national regulations, which have enhanced the unique complex of archaeological areas and parks, like rock art parks in Valcamonica, the center of the Roman Valcamonica, the Roman villas of Garda Lake with their museums and antiquaria. The new projects form part of a strategic and focussed plan for the development of the archaeological patrimony coordinated by the Lombardy Archaeological Heritage Superintendency (peripheral branch of MiBACT-Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo), the Lombardy Regional Authority (responsible for development in collaboration with MiBACT) and the local authorities, with collaboration and support also from private individuals and bodies. This planning was based upon the agreement signed in July 2006 between (as they were then entitled) the Ministero - Direzione Regionale and Soprintendenza per i beni archeologici and the Regione Lombardia -Assessorati alle Culture e Identità, al Territorio e Urbanistica e alla Qualità dell Ambiente. This accord gave assent to a project entitled Awareness, safeguarding and development of archaeological areas and parks in Lombardy (ABBIATI, MINOJA, POGGIANI KELLER 2007). Operatively speaking, the project took the form of tenders which involved co-funding from the Regional Authority to local authorities (70%) and private individuals (50%): between 2007 and 2
2015 a total of 135 projects were put into effect (or are still under way), for an overall cost of 15,695,065.00; Regional co-funding amounted to 8,245,859.00 (52.54%). Owners of these areas - public and private - and different kinds of goods from various eras were involved, from urban areas to monuments and sites, including areas recognized World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These cover the following categories of intervention: cataloguing and georeferencing; restoration/programmed conservation; purchase of areas; research and prospecting; archaeological excavation; construction of buildings for public visits (access, protection, roofing); display, illumination; information facilities (signs, panels, advertising material). For guidelines of these actions refer to the Proceedings of Tbilisi ICAMT 2014 (ABBIATI, POGGIANI KELLER 2015): to choose representative sites of various age and type to widen territorial representation which seemed very uneven to pay close attention to conservation problems by giving priority to projects which guaranteed conservation treatment of archaeological remains the enhancement of archaeological remains in relation to the landscape the networking in a territorial sense or according to type of archaeological areas, sites and parks, with multi-theme connections to current environmental, historical and landscape reference points. Networking and the creation of (multi-)thematic itineraries ties into the web of historical routes and ensures its survival as an essential component of the landscape. Thanks to that, situation of areas and archaeological parks in Lombardy has been greatly enhanced: new sites and new parks, often structured in territorial and typological networks. Here you find a list of these areas and parks, with information about their current usability (of 268 sites, 145 are open to the public and 7 under construction). Table of the archaeological areas and parks in Lombardy (2015) Types of archaeological areas and parks in Lombardy Existent Open to visitors Palaeontological areas and parks 4 4 / Pre- or protohistoric areas, sites and parks 43 36 4 Roman or multi-period areas, complexes and parks (Early) medieval (and later, but excavated) areas, complexes and parks 177 63 3 44 42 / TOTAL 268 145 7 In course of preparation 3
Examples of interventions We d like to underline, as a foreword, that Lombardy stands out for the presence of important archaeological historical areas that are examples of excellence on an international level (Lombardia Archeologica 2011): the Grotte di Catullo Roman villa in Sirmione (Fig. 1), along with the other Roman villas on Lake Garda (Desenzano, Toscolano Maderno), the National Rock Engravings Park established in 1955 in Valle Camonica, which in 1979 became the first Italian UNESCO rock art site, the Lombard Castrum of Castelseprio, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (in 2011), together with other important urban archaeological areas in Brescia and Milan. The news sites established differ greatly according to kind (archaeological area, complex, park or itinerary), topographical location and relationship with urban/territorial context (in an urban location, in the countryside, inside a natural or other sort of park), geographical setting (plain, mountain, lake shore or basin), epoch (pre- or protohistoric, Roman, Early Medieval), according to size, and ownership (public: national, regional, local; church; private). Urban areas. Operations in urban areas have in most cases been motivated by the need to improve previous attempts at organizing sites that were discovered in the mid-1900s. In Milan, for example, a number of interventions have been conducted in various locations in the historic centre; these are now under study by a development project and their organization as a network is foreseen ( Milano archeologia, between 2013 and 2015: (Fig. 2). Interventions were made on early Christian basilicas, which represent an unique and important evidence, considering their conservation and their distribution in Milan downtown. We also mention the church of Santa Tecla and the baptismal font underneath the Duomo; analogous work has been carried out in the areas underneath the churches of S. Eustorgio and S. Nazaro. In Bergamo, the successful series of new discoveries during the restoration works of the Cathedral and the Palatium Potestatis, both overlooking the Old Town Square in the heart of the Roman and medieval city, led to the creation of two archaeological sites, opened in 2012 (FORTUNATI, GHIROLDI 2012) (Fig. 3). The Roman baths of Como were the subject of an interesting development project linked to the construction of a seven-floor multi-storey car park (JORIO 2011). The archaeological area covers 1500 m 2 and is notable for its openness (the floor above the remains is at a height equivalent to twice the distance between floors of the car park) and for its successful insertion into this urban context thanks to the visual relations between interior and exterior (ABBIATI, POGGIANI KELLER 2015, Fig. 10). 4
Against the background of Lombary's areas and parks, Valle Camonica constitutes, with its articulated complex of archaeological features, an important example of the development of the extensive UNESCO World Heritage Site Rock Drawings in Valle Camonica (POGGIANI KELLER 2014). Valle Camonica's prehistoric hub (Fig. 4) has a corresponding Roman hub centred on Cividate Camuno, once Civitas Camunnorum, consisting of an articulated group of archaeological areas: the Parco del teatro e anfiteatro (MARIOTTI, GUIDUCCI, MERCANDELLI 2004: ABBIATI, POGGIANI KELLER 2015, Fig. 6), the Santuario di Minerva (ROSSI 2010; ABBIATI, POGGIANI KELLER 2015, Fig. 7) for which the Museo Nazionale della Civiltà Romana functions as a point of reference and further information. In the case of pre- and protohistoric sites in which the natural environment determined the site lay-out and were on occasions deliberately sought out as essential constituents, the approach to development was to maintain as much as possible their naturalness, safeguarding the appearance of the landscape. A further example is the Grosio Rock Engravings Park-Valtellina (POGGIANI KELLER, LIBORIO, RUGGIERO 2008). The new 2006 design enhances this historical landscape, emphasizing the various aspects archaeological, historical and architectural, regarding settlement and agriculture (ABBIATI, POGGIANI KELLER 2015, Fig. 2). This light-touch style is facilitated by the fact that the assembly point where the site is explained is at the park entrance, located together with the Antiquarium (museum) in a ruined eighteenth century building that was restored so as to add rural architecture as an additional element in the site history. The archaeological remains on the Rocca di Manerba range from the Mesolithic period up to the 16 th century (ABBIATI, POGGIANI KELLER 2015, Fig. 13). The area is also visited as a natural park. Development of the site itself has led to the establishment of an internal itinerary with walkways, whereas explanatory and publicity material may be found in the Documentation Center situated at the entrance to the site. Here educational activities for schools are also conducted, which introduce and enrich the visit. In conclusion, we believe that we have presented a significant selection of examples. It seems clear, though, that in Lombardy, thanks to the coordinated action of national, regional and local government together with private bodies and individuals, what might be called a positive feedback loop is in operation: research, awareness and study, conservation, development with archaeological sites, areas, parks and cultural itineraries opened to public visits that are the result of an overall strategy, coordinated and incisive, of protection and promotion of our archaeological heritage. (M.A, RPK) 5
The UNESCO archaeological sites The archaeological sites of Lombard Region inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List form a monitoring centre that is very significant by many points of view. These sites not only show different characteristic features, that are evidences of different cultures and civilizations spanning from Paleolithic to Middle Ages, but also are meaningful for the aspects of the matter that are more bound to the management politics, being diverse cultural goods, sometimes organized in networks, belonging to many subjects that must coordinate and cooperate in order to successfully provide protection and promotion to the cultural heritage. All properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List should ensure that their Outstanding Universal Value, including the conditions of integrity and/or authenticity at the time of inscription, are sustained or enhanced over time. For this reason all properties must have adequate long-term legislative, regulatory, institutional and/or traditional protection and management to ensure their safeguarding. This protection should include adequately delineated boundaries and an appropriate management system to ensure the effective protection of the nominated property for present and future generations. An effective management system should include: a) a thorough shared understanding of the property by all stakeholders, including the use of participatory planning and stakeholder consultation process; b) a cycle of planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and feedback; c) an assessment of the vulnerabilities of the property to social, economic, and other pressures and changes, as well as the monitoring of the impacts of trends and proposed interventions; d) the development of mechanisms for the involvement and coordination of the various activities between different partners and stakeholders; e) the allocation of necessary resources; With regard to the collections of prehistoric petroglyphs in Valcamonica (Fig. 5), all the relevant public authorities and research institutions present on the territory were involved in the preparation of the Management Plan (POGGIANI KELLER, LIBORIO, RUGGIERO 2007). All together they started programming and planning the Operation Plan for the sustainable development of the Valley, founding on preservation and enhancement of the property. The most of extraordinary rock engravings are included in archaeological parks belonging to Municipalities and to the Italian State. The local office of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and of Tourism coordinates the actions aimed at conserving and protecting the property, in collaboration with the numerous local authorities and the Institutional Coordination Group established in 2006 to achieve some priority actions of the Management Plan. The transnational Site of Monte San Giorgio (Fig. 6), which is regarded as the best fossil record of marine life from the Triassic Period, benefits from strong collaboration between the States Parties of Italy and Switzerland. A joint Management plan in place for the property focuses on landscape protection and has resulted in appropriate legislative controls and existing 6
management procedures that are effectively enforced at the local level and which are underwritten by National, Regional and Provincial government support. Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps (Fig. 7) transnational Site, including 111 small individual archaeological sites in and around the Alps is legally protected according to the legal systems in place in the various States Parties and a common Management plan was provided to protect, conserve and present the property and to ensure maintenance of all aspects of its Outstanding Universal Value. An International Coordination Group was implemented and all States are working to define national specific management system, suitable to protect the fragile remains and to ensure that adequate funding is in place for planned actions and activities. There is a specific management system for each of the seven properties included in the serial Site Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.) (Fig. 8). In Lombardy this includes the Capitolium area and S. Salvatore church in Brescia and Castelseprio. This has also been the object of numerous development operations since the 1940s; in 2009 a small museum set up inside the 14 th century Franciscan hermitage was added to the visitors' itinerary (Fig. 9). The system was established in relation to their ownership, comprising many and varied stakeholders. The Italia Langobardorum Association network has become an overarching authority able to harmonize and monitor the series. The Management Plan worked out in 2007 gives evidence for the complexity and the extension of the property (spanning all over the Italian peninsula) which have determined the methodological and planning choices assumed by the numerous public and private authorities and institutions involved in managing the Site (Italia Langobardorum 2011). To comply the Budapest Declaration -adopted by the World Heritage Committee during the 26 th Session in 2002- and following the early Italian experiences in drawing up management plans for UNESCO Sites, in 2006 the Italian Government approved the Law 77 Misure speciali di tutela e fruizione dei siti italiani di interesse culturale, paesaggistico e ambientale, inseriti nella Lista del Patrimonio Mondiale, posti sotto la tutela dell UNESCO ( Special measures for the protection and enjoyment of Italian sites of cultural, landscape and environmental interest inscribed on the World Heritage List placed under UNESCO protection ). Besides to provide yearly funds for UNESCO Sites, the innovative law formally recognized the Management Plans meeting the requests from the World Heritage Committee with regard to the tools necessary to ensure conservation and valorization of those Sites (GUIDO, FERRONI, PATRIGNANI 2013). Above all the Law initiated a systematic action, at national level, to test and implement a model of governance which, in its current implementation, involves a significant number of points of excellence of Italian cultural and natural heritage. Actually this practice aimed at improving world heritage management system -also involving local communities owning or living on or near properties as well as larger networks- concerns a good part of the most important Italian historic centres, as well as monuments, landscapes and archaeological sites. (AMF) 7
Bibliography: -ABBIATI M, MINOJA M., POGGIANI KELLER R. 2007, Archeologia per il territorio: il progetto Conoscenza, tutela e valorizzazione di aree e parchi archeologici in Lombardia, in Territorio e patrimonio. Conoscere per valorizzare, Atti del Convegno, Muros 4 giugno 2007, D. R. FIORINO ed., Genova 2007, pp. 123-130. ABBIATI M., POGGIANI KELLER R. 2015, Lombardy: a shared process of awareness and development of archaeological areas and parks, Proceedings ICAMT on line, Tbilisi sept. 2014, pp. 50-58. FORTUNATI M., GHIROLDI A. eds. 2012, Hospitium Comunis Pergami. Scavo archeologico, restauro e valorizzazione di un edificio storico della città, Bergamo. GUIDO M.R., FERRONI A.M., PATRIGNANI S. eds. 2013, Legge n. 77 2006 Il libro bianco/law 77/2006 White paper/la loi 77/2006 Le livre blanc, Catanzaro. -Il Parco archeologico del santuario di Minerva a Breno, in ROSSI F. ed. 2010, Il santuario di Minerva, pp. 463-502. -Italia Langobardorum. I Longobardi in Italia I luoghi del potere (568-774 d.c.), Dossier di candidatura, Spoleto 2011. -JORIO S. ed. 2011, LE TERME DI COMO ROMANA, Carpenedolo. -Lombardia Archeologica 2011, Opuscolo per Giornate Europee del Patrimonio, Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Lombardia ed. -MARIOTTI V., GUIDUCCI S., MERCANDELLI M. 2004, Il restauro degli edifici e l allestimento del Parco archeologico, in MARIOTTI V. ed., Il teatro e l anfiteatro di Cividate Camuno, Firenze, pp. 329-373. -POGGIANI KELLER R., LIBORIO C., RUGGIERO M.G. eds. 2007, Arte rupestre della Valle Camonica Sito Unesco n. 94. 2005 Piano di Gestione, Quaderni del Parco Nazionale delle Incisioni Rupestri, 2, Bergamo. POGGIANI KELLER R., LIBORIO C., RUGGIERO M.G. eds. 2008, Guida all Antiquarium del Parco delle Incisioni Rupestri di Grosio, Consorzio per il Parco delle Incisioni Rupestri di Grosio. -POGGIANI KELLER R. 2014, Il Progetto di Monitoraggio nel quadro del piano di Gestione del Sito UNESCO n. 94, in RUGGIERO M.G., POGGIANI KELLER R. eds., 2014, Il progetto Monitoraggio e buone pratiche di tutela del patrimonio del sito UNESCO n. 94 Arte rupestre della Valle Camonica. Legge 20 febbraio 2006, n. 77, E.F. 2010, Quaderni del Parco nazionale delle Incisioni Rupestri, 5, Bergamo, pp. 19-32. 8
Fig. 1- Sirmione. Acquatinta Le grotte di Catullo, 1836-1838. Fig. 2- The project Milano Archeologia, ended in 2015 for EXPO, has contributed to the restoration and development of 44 sites and 24 buildings or monumental complexes. 9
Fig. 3- Bergamo. The new archaeological areas of Palazzo del Podestà (nn. 2,3) and of the Cattedrale (n. 4). 10
Fig. 4- The UNESCO World Heritage Site Rock Drawings in Valle Camonica : archaeological parks, sites and museum of prehistory and protohistory and roman age. 11
Fig. 5- UNESCO Site Rock Drawings in Valle Camonica. Protohistoric petroglyphs: acrobatic horseman on Rock 50 and deer hunt on Rock n.1, from Parco Nazionale delle Incisioni Rupestri di Naquane, Capo di Ponte (BS) Fig. 6- The paleontological Site UNESCO of Monte S. Giorgio and fossil of the Triassic period. 12
Fig. 7- The UNESCO multi-national site Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps, with detail of the Sirmione peninsula with location of the 4 pile dwellings of the Bronze Age. 13
Fig. 8- The UNESCO serial Site Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.): 1. Basilica di S. Salvatore-Brescia; 2-3. the Cividale in Friuli Langobardic Temple. 14
Fig. 9- The UNESCO site of Castelseprio and Antiquarium in Franciscan hermitage (n. 1) 15