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Historical and cultural landscape of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria
Section 1. Architecture
Wail Honssin,
Taibah University, AlUla Community Colleage PhD in Architecture, Professor, Head of the Department of Architecture
E-mail: archiwail06@yahoo.com
Historical and cultural landscape of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria
Abstract: The article presents a view of the issue of interactions between space and landscape architecture, judging from the position that these interactions are determined by cultural peculiarities as well as specific features of nature and landscape in the region. Taking into consideration the above-mentioned, it can be stated that a principal distinction between proper architecture and landscape architecture as its component simply does not exist. The phenomenon of a historically created cultural landscape has been discussed, where there are no borders between landscape and architecture, i. e. architecture has blended with the landscape and should be seen as a comprehensive whole.
Keywords: architectural environment, natural surroundings, cultural landscape, Ancient villages of Northern Syria.
Architecture as the art of space formation for human activity is tightly connected with environment, and the latter has its origin in natural surroundings. To prove the above, a statement by Le Corbusier can be cited: “An area that consists of a space and unevenness of the ground, water surface, rocks and sky, dressed in grass and forests, with various perspectives or an open even horizon is food for mind which is provided by our eyes to our sensual and emotional perception as well as our intellect. An area is the initial base for any architectural composition” [1, 213-276]. At the same time Le Corbusier argues that an architectural structure must absorb the landscape and make it its integral part [1, 213-276].
A historically created cultural landscape is a phenomenon in which the boundaries between the landscape and architecture are erased, i. e. architecture has blended with the landscape and formed a single unity with it. These relict landscape areas outside megalopolises play an important role in displaying harmonious relation between the human and environment. In view of the pressing need to preserve the national heritage ofArab countries the notion of the historical and cultural landscape as a specific category of cultural heritage objects becomes crucial.
Cultural landscape is a historically balanced system in which natural and cultural components form a harmonious unity. They cannot be seen only as the background or an influencing factor from one element of the system towards the other [2]. There are different approaches to treating a cultural landscape. A cultural landscape is often defined as an anthropogenic one, i. e. a landscape changed by the man but at the same time preserving certain aesthetic and functional properties. The second approach is characterized by the definition of a cultural landscape as an area which for a long time was inhabited by a certain group of people who were the carriers of some specific cultural values [2].
One more approach is based on the “concept of an active role of intellectual and spiritual activity in establishing a cultural landscape” [2]. In this case it is emphasized that the “cultural, spiritual and intellectual values that are kept and transferred from one generation to the other in the form of information not only determine the formation and development of the cultural landscape but are also its part, being at the same time influenced by other, material components of the landscape” [2]. This approach seems to characterize the phenomenon of cultural landscape in the most comprehensive way.
Preservation of cultural heritage is the most important role of cultural landscape. The development of the concept of cultural landscape in research practice is often connected with the UNESCO activity.
Cultural landscape as a heritage object was officially acknowledged by the world community in 1972 and this notion was included in the text of the main governing document on the use ofthe World Heritage Convention: “Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention”. In May 2009 this document was revised at the conference by experts of the countries that are UNESCO members (the author of the article is a member of the expert team).
In 2011 approximately 40 Ancient villages of Northern Syria were included into the UNESCO World Heritage List. This event was preceded by preparation works (Nomination File) that had lasted for almost 3 years, from 2007 to 2009 and had been carried out by a group of experts from Syria together with qualified specialists from the UNESCO (the author ofthe article was a technical director of the works). To solve the problem of proj ect development with view of including the Ancient Villages to the World Heritage List an international conference was held in April 2008 under the guidance of a Syrian Ministry of Culture,
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Section 1. Architecture
DGA&M Syria with participation of the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, as well as more than 20 UNESCO experts that had been working in those parts for more than 40 years, and the locals. The conference was essential for the completion of the project. The paramount aim of the project was to preserve the architectural and archeological objects together with the landscape in order not to lose their initial appearance. At the same time a territory for new construction works was defined in each park, where it was possible to build something without destroying the historical and cultural landscape.
The Ancient Villages area adjoins the Turkish borders and is hundreds of kilometers (140 to 165 km) long and 60 to 80 km wide. They are a part of the Limestone Massif of Northern Syria that is situated in the valleys of Afrin and Oronte in the West and Aleppo and Chalcis in the East. The ensemble creates a series of unique cultural landscapes that have preserved their authenticity because of the lack of any human activity for a thousand of years and due to the absence of any restoration or reconstruction works in the 20th century.
Picture 1. An opening view from Qirqbize Site — S. Ricca, 2007
The Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, grouped in eight parks, are situated in the North-Western part of Syria. These villages existed in 1-7 centuries AD and the inhabitants left them in 8-10th centuries AD. A characteristic feature of this area is its well-preserved landscape with the architectural monuments, including the remains of houses, pagan temples, churches, cisterns, bathhouses, etc. Their cultural landscapes,
including the landscape structures and village remains, illustrate the transition from the ancient pagan world of the Roman Empire to Byzantine Christianity. The preserved fragments of the Ancient Villages ofNorthern Syria show that their inhabitants were skilled in agriculture. There are some remains of olive oil and wine production as well as mills. The rural lifestyle is proven by markets, bazaars, sport facilities and dwellings.
Picture 2. Church colonnade in Kharab Shams — F Cristofoli, 2003.
First of all, the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria and their relict landscapes provide exceptional testimony to the architecture of the rural house. The whole set of the constructions are peasant houses, they are more or less complicated and belong to one building type that includes three mandatory elements: two-layer rooms, a yard and a fence.
The yard provides the only access to the house, and the rest of the elements are situated around it, including an independent entrance, a gallery, a room with a press, an underground room (storehouse), the second yard, and a garden. The yard is usually surrounded by high dead walls.
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Historical and cultural landscape of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria
This is the place for people to pass and work as well as keep animals, what is proven by the availability of feeding racks among the portal supports. Sometimes the yards are paved with slabs.
Starting with the second half of 4th century AD rural population began to build churches, proving their transition
from heathenism to Christianity. In this time monasteries appear that are widely open from all sides. Usually they are situated far from dwelling areas but close to communication ways. The most interesting San Simeon Citadel and Site are distinguished both by the unique landscape and its architectural complex which is harmoniously included into the landscape.
Picture 3. San Simeon Citadel, view from the Western church — S. Ricca, 2006
Picture 4. Aerial view of San Simeon Citadel & Site — J.-L. Biscop, 2002
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Section 1. Architecture
Picture 5. San Simeon Citadel, terrace of the Western church — S. Ricca, 2003
Qal’at Sem’an — Site de Saint-Simeon “The great cruciform church is unique in the history of architecture and is not only the most beautiful and important existing monument of architecture between the buildings of the Roman period of the second century and the great church of Santa Sophia of Justinian’s time, but also ... is the most monumental Christian building earlier than the masterpieces of the eleventh and twelfth centuries in Northern Europe" [4, 98].
The monastery of Saint-Simeon was a pilgrimage place for Christians from all over the world up to 2010. Unfortunately, fierce fighting is currently underway there, leading to complete destruction of the historical and cultural heritage objects.
The most important role of the cultural landscape represented by the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria consists in the cultural heritage shown by the preserved obj ects that demonstrate the activity of the people who inhabited this area and defined the flow of all social processes taking place on their territory. The complex of historical and cultural as well as unique natural formations is a carrier of historical memory.
Unauthorized use of rocks in the region now endangers the preservation of the archeological traces. The construction of new communication ways threatens the preserving of the villages at the Massif. The former network of roads and paths which used to connect the villages of the Massif can disappear as a result ofthe new roads being constructed without prior approval from the authorities. Even the development of tourism in the region and the need to build new roads to connect them with the ancient places had a negative influence. The landscapes that have been ideally preserved till today demand regulation for landscape protection.
Consequently, a natural landscape environment is a necessary and inseparable component of the architectural ensemble composition. Always being unique and specific for a given region, it determines the nature of interaction between natural environment and architecture.:
Cultural landscape is an environment that possesses the features of cosmic generalization, it helps the human feel an integral part of the Universe. The mountains of the Limestone Massif as the only example of ancient living landscapes in the Mediterranean basin have their own historical value and show how natural areas were conquered by people. They must be preserved but not turned into museums. The problem is to keep them alive, i. e. keep their kind and provide the local population with an opportunity to develop.
References:
1. Corbusier Le, Architecture Masters about Architecture. - M.: Iskusstvo, 1972. - P. 213-276.
2. Management of Cultural Landscapes and Other Objects of Historical and Cultural Heritage in National Parks. М., TSODP,
1999.
3. Vedenin, Yu. A. Determination of a Cultural Landscape Format./Yu. A. Vedenin M. E. Kuleshova, I. P. Chalaya, I. G. Ivanova,
O. E. Shtele, A. N. Davydov, A. V. Eremeyev, S. A. Pchelkin. Access mode: http://www.museum.ru/future/part03/030203.htm
4. Butler, Howard Crosby, (re-print), Early Churches in Syria, 4th to 7th Centuries, Amsterdam, 1969. P. 98.
5. Ancient Villages of Northern Syria Access mode:/http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1348.
6. Houssin, Wail, Development of Professional Activity in Contemporary Architecture ofArab Countries: Theses. Candidate ofArchitecture: 18.00.01/. - Kharkiv National University of Construction and Architecture, 2001.
7. Resume analytique i dossier de presentation en vue de l’inscription sur la liste du patrimoine mondial de l’unesco/les villages antiques du nord de la Syrie. Janvier, 2010.
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