*The project is financed by Croatian Science Foundation

Project acronym: ProHeritage

The project title: Cultural Landscape - A Model for Valorisation, Protection, Management and Use of Cultural Heritage

The primary project objective is to establish a Croatian model of valorisation, protection, management and use of cultural heritage. The model is landscape based through the deployment of Historic Landscape Characterization platform. Project aims are in accordance with heritage concepts incorporated in various forms of heritage related practices such as scholarly and public archaeology in Europe and elsewhere and legislation (European Landscape Convention, Florence 2000., Ratification law of European Landscape Convention, Republic of Croatia).

The project will basically be delivered in two major phases i.e. valorisation and protection phase and management and use phase. Valorisation and protection commence by the establishment of the Historic Landscape Characterization model (HLC). The methods and procedures related to this platform will be applied at Jasenice municipality and Town of Obrovac areas. The case study encompasses karst landscape; hence the methods and procedures will be adjusted to heritage in karst, considering the preservation of surface structures which is a feature specific to karst. Therefore, one of the goals is the development and adaptation of a coherent heritage valorisation system in karst which will be applicable in the karst areas in the entire country.

Project approach is in accordance with preventive rather than rescue character of preservation of cultural heritage. Precisely the holistic approach to heritage, while utilising modern technologies, enables the development of effective systems of valorisation, protection, management and use of cultural heritage. Apart from valorisation and protection of heritage, the aim of the project is to develop applied archaeology as an extension of the primary discipline, through synergy with social sciences. The ''endpoint'' of archaeology in practice is heritage as the most direct manner of participation in society. Therefore, the goals in this phase are closely related to management and use of heritage as well as the entire human-made space in processes such as planning and development.

Link to the project webpage: https://ikulenovic.wixsite.com/proheritage

Project team:

Igor Kulenović, PhD, Department of Tourism and Communication Studies, University of Zadar (principal investigator)

Uroš Stepišnik, PhD, Department of Geography, University of Ljubljana (consultant)

Miro Stošić, PhD, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek (researcher)

Denis Radoš, PhD, Department of Geography, University of Zadar (researcher)

Martina Dubolnić Glavan, PhD, The Institute for Historical Sciences of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zadar (researcher)

Vedrana Glavaš, PhD, Department of Archaeology, University of Zadar (researcher)

Filomena Sirovica, PhD, Archaeological Museum in Zagreb (researcher)

Vinko Bakija, PhD, Department of Tourism and Communication Studies, University of Zadar (researcher)

Gabrijela Vidić, M.A., Department of Tourism and Communication Studies, University of Zadar (researcher)

Neda Kulenović Ocelić, M.A. (researcher)

Šime Vrkić, M.A. (researcher)