Territorial Analysis

The examination of the multifaceted geographical conception of the Mastorochoria in combination with its ‘sociospatial organizations’ and unique cultural components become the ‘heart base’ of the MaNet Project. The economic, cultural and natural dynamics of the Mastorochoria territory are related to such a degree that the existence of the former presupposes the existence of the latter. Rosalind Williams clarifies aptly this dependence by reference to Fernand Braudel’s statement that ‘Cultures…are ways of ordering space just as economies are’, adding that ‘an economic system can organize and produce space, but it cannot by itself organize and produce meaning [which] […] is instead the role of culture’ (2000:47). The MaNet Project is strongly motivated by the need to set strategic proposals for the sustainable and inclusive growth of the Mastorochoria. It acknowledges the catalytic role of local identity and proceeds to its conception principally through the cohesive approach to natural and cultural phenomena (Medeiros 2014; COM 2008).

 

Natural Environment

The MaNet Project initially places the cultural activity of the Mastorochoria communities within a spatial context through the geographical definition of the territory and the empirical, experiential and intuitional approach, in order to ‘address the holistic and concrete nature of [the] existing environment [and] […] values’, and to access authentic local identity. This methodological process ultimately leads to local knowledge of the Mastorochoria in tune with the place-based approach of the MaNet Project. The approach is based on the assumption that the natural environment is one of several axes of regional development (Ganiatsas 2013:73; 2011a:9; COPTA 2011; Nitsiakos 2008:11,20-22; Geertz 1983:4). In the highland of Epirus, the northwest geographical region of Greece, the mountainous villages of Mastorochoria occupy approximately 1.000km2 of the northern part of the Ioannina Prefecture. The 28 Mastorochoria settlements are located in an imposing natural landscape at the middle altitudes (700-1.600m), on the slopes of two of the biggest mountains of North Pindus, Smollikas (2.637m), eastwards, and Grammos (2.520m), northwards. The aforementioned majestic mountains, along with Mt Tymfi (2.497m) and other smaller6 form the geographical, national and international boundaries of the territory and give it its distinctive geomorphology and unique natural beauty (Nitsiakos 2008:9; Papaioannou 2008:9-22).

The Mastorochoria territory is principally defined by the flow of Sarantaporos River between Grammos and Smolikas. The river is regarded as the nodal point that unifies the natural and cultural forces of the area of study. Two other rivers have a noticeable influence on the territory: the Aoos and the Voidomatis River. Furthermore, the surface waters’ variety is enriched by the presence of alpine and subalpine lakes at high altitudes on the mountains. Ground waters are also rich in the area, due to the high geodynamic energy of NW Greece. Hot water springs of economic value, have been detected in the Konitsa plateau and in three villages (Amarandos, Langada, Pixaria). The presence of these rich aquatic elements plays a decisive role in the morphology of the natural environment, as it transforms and gives life to the continental territory of the Mastorochoria (Map 1; Nitsiakos 2008:23-25; Papaioannou 2008:10,160; Skoulikidis et al. 2008:422,432; Fytikas et al. 2000).

The current concave morphology of Mastorochoria territory owes its particular attractiveness to the complex geological and climatic processes that occurred millions of years ago. This invaluable range of information on the Mastorochoria geomorphology underscores the scientific and utilitarian value of the particular territory. Fluvial networks, subterranean waters, alpine lakes and ridges, hillsides, mountains, gorges, crags, boulders, and massifs are the most remarkable environmental features of the complex physiognomy of Mastorochoria (Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre 2014; Ratios 2013; Tourloukis 2010; Theodosiou et al. 2009; Nitsiakos 2008:9; Papaioannou 2008:17-21; Skoulikidis et al. 2008:429-431; Hughes, Gibbered & Woodward 2006; Hughes 2004; Lewin, Macklin & Woodward 1991).

The multifarious geomorphologic, geological and geophysical traits of the natural environment facilitate local micro-climatic conditions, which contribute to the continuous evolution and presence of rich and diverse flora and fauna. The Mastorochoria area, in general, is characterized by a moderate Sub-Mediterranean climate with cold winters and frequent snowfall and rain. Under these environmental conditions five distinct types of ecosystems along with other smaller, those of rocky slopes, canyons, lakes and rivers, unfold in the surrounding area. They sustain a noteworthy affluence of endemic and relict species of plants and animals, primarily due to the variety of waters and the Balkans’ long geo-heritage (Gerasimidis et al. 2009; Nitsiakos 2008:9-11; Papaioannou 2008:13-22,45; Savić 2008; Skoulikidis et al. 2008:426-435; Tzedakis 1994). The rich biodiversity along with the fact that most species have been listed as rare, protected or endangered at a both national and European level, are substantial factors in the increased significance and singularity of the Mastorochoria natural environment (Hellenic Republic 2012a; 2011; 2010; 2008; 2005; 1998; 1981; European Parliament & Council 2009; 1992). The geographical space of Mastorochoria provides a context for life itself as a functional system where material processes, natural vegetation and living organisms interact in a perpetual motion within circular time. However, the environment is not a concrete material base in which abstract notions of space are reflected in the natural elements. It is a visual and morphological manifestation of the social bonds in the Mastorochoria. The first traces of human presence in the territory appeared 250.000 years ago (Gerasimidis et al. 2009). As a result, the natural environment has been nourished by man since prehistory, a fact that contributed to its transformation to such an extent that its original state has almost disappeared. Thus the geographical analysis of Mastorochoria additionally provides a base to ‘rediscover’, decipher and slowly unravel the ‘almost unperceptible’ structural, historical, social, political and economic truths (Braudel 1995:23).

 

Cultural Landscape

The distribution of the population, the foundation of the Mastorochoria villages and the demarcation of the territory are some of the fundamental anthropogenic actions that have been imposed by natural resources, morphology, external political, historical and economic factors, and human judgement. The Mastorochoria villages began acquiring an integrated form during 16th century when the scattered habitations were assembled into comprehensive settlements. The mountains of Smolikas and Grammos turned the particular complex into an ideal place for the consolidation and development of cultural activity. The oak zones in the middle altitudes provided suitable climatic conditions for permanent residence, while the choice of location was a strategic decision as it provided access to both the Sarantaporos watershed and the upper zones of mountains (Rapakousios 2011:3; Nitsiakos 2008:10-11,20-21; 1998:52; Petronotis & Papageorgiou 2008:50-51; Papageorgiou 2000:16). The experiential approach of the Mastorochoria cultural landscape, which ‘embod[ies] all kinds of relations between environs, individuals and their creations’ (Ganiatsas 2013:61) during the crafting activity of 18th-19th century, is presented in accordance with the thematic units proposed by Vassilis Nitsiakos:

‘Uses of natural resources in the context of traditional productive [technical and other economic] activities’ (1995:181)
The craftsmanship of Mastorochoria is characterized by its direct dependence on natural elements. As a result, Sarantaporos River along with its streams, forests and mountains were imbued with social, spiritual and economic value and became the field craftsmen worked, the main sources of raw materials as well as the means of inspiration, creation and livelihood. The craftsmen appropriated the natural environment in accordance with the needs of both technical skill and societal preservation and function. Stone craftsmen constructed structural elements of use value to organise the space, to open access channels in local and inter-regional level and to consecrate the demarcated residential areas. Whistle, woodcarving and painting craftsmen created large or small scale decorative works of high aesthetic, social, religious and cultural value, since they used several inter-local artistic trends to depict the local traditions, customs and beliefs (Nitsiakos 2008:162-163; Skourtis 2004:20-29). 

In the meantime, the livestock and agricultural activities acquired a complementary character. Their tangible and intangible traces are of significant historic, social and cultural value since they reveal the dynamic role of women in the Mastorochoria communities’ self preservation as well as the inventive ability of inhabitants in adapting themselves to limited space. The domestic livestock and agriculture developed in the continental territory through the implementation of practices of clearing and logging, and arable terraced slopes or ‘pezoules’ (mantels). Meanwhile, cabins, orchards, ‘kiparia’ (vegetable gardens), fruit trees complement the supplementary agricultural activity. It is important to mention that the livestock activity was limited because of the lack of extensive grasslands and the arduous grazing during winter period. The presence of working trees ‘kladera’ at the oak zone demonstrate the predominant animal feed practice. Their irregular appearance represents socio-economic and cultural values and conceals high scientific and informational value, since it enables scientists to understand the survival tactics of prehistoric man. The traditional procedure of animal feed maintains its use value through the community of the village Plikati, which practices both storage (‘kladera’) and stacking (‘thimonies’ or haystacks) techniques. In the surrounding area of the villages sheepfolds and water sources for animal husbandry appear close to pastures (Skourtis 2010:20; Gerasimidis et al. 2009; Nitsiakos 2008:12-13,125-129). Beyond the medium altitudes and the horizontal zone of habitation, forests and river banks have been imbued with the socio-economic value of domestic, woodcutting and commercial economy. According to the toponym Prionia, timber mills have been established for the production of veneer lumber, while their location facilitated the timber transportation mostly towards the rich centres of Albania. Moreover, water mills, water saws and water frictions can be seen along the banks of Sarantaporos and its streams (Nitsiakos 1998:51-52).

‘Operations of natural resources in the organization and management of space’
Outlying churches or icon stands accompanied by sacred trees were common delimiters and protectors of the inhabited area of the Mastorochoria villages. Additionally, solitary trees in the periphery of the settlements have been marked with spiritual andsocial value as they signified ‘the borders [of craftsmen, where the localization ends] and the amorphous field of foreign lands begins’. The ownership of the natural environment becomes apparent even in the interior of the villages. People domesticated trees by importing them from rivers, distant mountains or other regions (Stara, Tsiakiris & Wong 2014; Skourtis 2009:27-28; Tarnanas 1998:77; Nitsiakos 1998:56-57; 1995:105,181).

‘Sacred and mythical places’
The inhabitants combined the natural with the supernatural world as a result of Christian influences, which played an imperative role in pre-industrial cultures. The strong influence of the sacred along with a highly developed ecological awareness of societies contributed to the invention of taboos. Cutting the trees or any other human activity were discouraged with penalties of supernatural punishment by the protector saint to whom the site or the tree was dedicated. For this reason sacred natural sites were often close to outlying churches or icon stands on the edge of Mastorochoria settlements. Moreover, the sacrosanct protection of forest sites, or ‘kouri’, or ‘vakoufika’, which are located above the settlements, were connected to the retention of soil and water (Stara, Tsiakiris & Wong 2014; Stara 2012; Skourtis 2010:23-27; Nitsiakos 1998:74; 1995:179-181).

‘Places of historic significance’
The mountains of the Mastorochoria territory played a leading role in many historic battles of 19th and 20th century. The traces of these historic events during several periods of war in the area have faded. Yet the partly preserved tangible and intangible elements maintain the historical value of the cultural landscape and narrate the historic development of Mastorochoria and the long-term coexistence of cultures under loyalist conditions. The historical trace that is strongly discernible even today in the Mastorochoria cultural landscape is the border line between Greece and the rest of the Balkan Peninsula, which delimited the multiethnic, spatial and cultural entity of Epirus after Balkan Wars and forced the integration of the communities into new systems of administration (Sakoulis 2011:42-43; Sinanis 2010:23; Tasiopoulou 2009:41; Bousbouras 2000:30; Nitsiakos 1998:84; 1995:181).

‘Places [and natural elements] connected with particular cultural events’
Festivities were the most significant traditions of the Mastorochoria communities. Along with the celebration of the patron saint of the village they also celebrated the return of the masters from the foreign lands. Many festivities took place near the streams and under the foliage, where the reconciliation of religious worship and social reintegration under the sound of the local traditional music endowed the natural environment with a profound spiritual value. Even nowadays the local communities along with the younger generations revive the old customs and traditions by incorporating contemporary elements. This social reunification is of particular importance to the members of the local communities that are dispersed throughout Greece (Nitsiakos 2008:189; 1995:181; Drosopigi Fraternity 2004a:3; 2004b:4).

The Mastorochoria landscape has seen severe destruction but maintains all the elements and structures of its crafting legacy that could inspire the future development of innovative actions by infusing the area with new life. However, a detailed study of the Mastorochoria cultural landscape is necessary in order to detect all the cultural manifestations reflected in the environment or in memories and to precisely define its unique polysemy. In the meantime, it is primarily ordering the historical analysis of Mastorochoria, since the historical changes customized, through destruction and construction processes, the ways the area has been settled and used, and introduced alterations in the community organisation (Zomeni, Tzanopoulos & Pantis 2008).

Historical Analysis

Despite the huge amount of information provided by territorial analysis, it is hard to attain a complete picture of the physiognomy of the territory. According to Eric Hirsch, from an anthropological perspective, ‘there is no “absolute” landscape’ (1995:23). Spatiality and time are inseparable sides of the same coin. The tangible and intangible heritage is interwoven with its historical context. The passage of time is evident through the transformations in the landscape, the built environment and the collective memory of the people. However, the historical context only -‘considered as carrie[r] of historic information’- can illuminate and strengthen the most important values that are identified in a diachronic basis. The history as a social construction often is perceived as an objective reality, and although this perspective is ambiguous, the fact that ‘knowledge can be transmitted as a systematic body of thought’ provides the opportunity to describe ‘the relations between the present and the past’ that leads to a thorough and meaningful understanding of the existing values. As professor Vassilis Ganiatsas argues ‘the historic context is the sole criterion of the appropriateness [...] of any projected interpretation in it’. Therefore the Historical Analyses contributes to the qualitative and quantitative identification of the values. The aesthetic, spiritual, economic, historical, social and political values identified in the historical context of the Mastorochoria area are of great importance and, in UNESCOS’ terms, represent ‘an outstanding example of a [...] landscape which illustrates significant stages in human history’, that confirms also the importance of this territory and its universality. The local communities formed their collective identities according to their historical past and continue to identify themselves in relation to ‘the others’ in our globalized era. But above all, these ‘socially shared identities’ revealed and established the local knowledge and the significant culture of the craftsmen during the historical procedures (Ganiatsas 2011a:7-9; 2011b:23; 1996:105; UNESCO 2005; Hirsch & O’Hanlon 1995:17,23).

 

Findings of the Ethnographic Fieldwork

A detailed ethnographic analysis is part of the strategic plan implementation, through a multidisciplinary scientific Research Agenda. In this phase of the MaNet project the fieldwork data was focused on information that would contribute to the design of the strategic plan, representing the local communities’ aspirations ‘to assess spiritual as well as social values’. Thus the territory was researched through multi sensory perspectives and interviews, which were planned to cover a range of issues, composed by a mixed synthesis of informants. This ‘flexible menu of ethnographic and public involvement techniques’ reveals the perceptions of the locals regarding the values and knowledge that is necessary in order ‘to modernize and develop their economies’ (Torre 2002:20-23). From a total of 36 interviews, 18 were conducted in different places of Konitsa’s Mastorochoria and areas of interest in south Albania. Key informants were 14 people of whom 7 were involved in administrational schemes with decision-making or even political power. Although there were very few Masters still working and even fewer alive, we managed to interview 7 craftsmen, 4 of whom were almost centenarians. Most of those interviewed were over 50 years old, mainly pensioners, and only a 19% were aged below 35. A small percentage of 25% were women, but their narratives were very important, illustrating various perspectives of the social and economic life of the people that lived in Mastorochoria villages. Overall, the participant observation during the fieldwork gave us the opportunity to identify values beyond those with outstanding significance. Additionally this experiential approach revealed ‘how the values of individuals and communities are constructed with regard to cultural heritage’ and the importance to integrate them in the MaNet Strategic Plan. The true ecological reflections of the local society stressed the importance of the use value referring to the cost of land and the real cost of the abandonment of the primary sector. Although most of the people we came in contact with recognize the monumental, historical, artistic and aesthetic values of their traditional settlements, they give priority to economic values that have the capacity to reactivate the territory socially and materially. According to these priorities, they are determined to accept the requirement of ‘destruction of a monument’ due to use and newness values. Conflicting values coexist and carry a different weight regarding the different stake- holders’ perspectives. This fact constitutes one major challenge for the MaNet project so that smart sustainable and inclusive growth may become a realistic alternative (Torre 2002:13; Avrami, Mason & Torre 2000:10; Riegl 1982:39-42).

 

Risk Assessment

The dominant issue in the assessment of possible risks within the territory of Mastorochoria is the recent economic crisis that has exacerbated and exposed all the structural weaknesses. However, the same economic crisis has also had an unexpected result, a demographic paradox. Although previous research had predicted the ‘death’ of the mountain communities, the Mastorochoria villages maintained a minimal and stable population due to the return of pensioners. The MaNet Project views these developments as a challenge and addresses the negative aspect of population aging from a positive perspective, as an opportunity and a starting point for the area’s re-inhabitation. However, the depopulation problem had various side effects that have to be taken into account while planning any actions (Nitsiakos 2008:126-127; Torre 2002:25). All the physical threats stemming from a variety of factors ‘and social, cultural, or political forces that produce changes in meaning and valuing’, can be resolved to a great extent given time and strict prioritization, strategically designed plans and a continuous open dialogue and collaboration of the various stakeholders with public sector and scientific institutions. The MaNet Project’s aim is to assume a central role in resolving procedures of such risks, by supporting the local communities of the Mastorochoria territory (Torre 2002:25).

Overall, as an experiential approach to the historical, environmental, ethnological and cultural assets of Mastorochoria territory, the MaNet fieldwork is a methodology of identifying and understanding local values. This value-centred research is a fundamental element for the design of the MaNet Strategic Plan.