Cultural Landscape Assessment: The Rural Architectural Heritage (13th–17th Centuries) in Mediterranean Valleys of Marina Alta, Spain

Abstract

Europe’s cultural heritage is a rich and diverse legacy that shows evolution through many centuries of history. The Mediterranean landscape is the result of a long process of human activity in the physical environment, which makes the cultural landscape concept remarkable. Despite its growing interest, most cases are still exposed to different types of threats that can compromise their permanence. Given cultural variety, its consideration requires a multidisciplinary approach to provide scientific knowledge and to assess its values from different points of view (e.g., territorial, historical, technical, artistic, etc.). The valleys of Marina Alta are a most interesting example of different periods of history, from prehistory to recent rural life. Mountain conditions have favoured the survival of rural heritage, which is not that affected by the threat of better communicated areas and can be consider a place of exceptional value. In this context, our paper focuses on houses and hamlets of a Muslim origin that date back to at least the 13th century according to archival documents. Scattered in valleys, they are essential to understand historic transformations. They are directly related to the natural environment, are located in and have adapted to mountains to obtain small farming areas with small irrigated areas. Given their present state of ruin, an architectural assessment is needed to recognise the values and threats, and to make proposals for their conservation as a specific contribution to be considered part of an interdisciplinary vision.