www.ipogea.

org

Circuit touristique
“Mejhoul”
du Tafilalet
Conception d’un
eco-musee sur les
Khettara

1
 ICONOGRAPHIC ICONOGRAPHIC SYSTEM FOR
SYSTEM of
APPROPRIATE A NEW 
TRADITIONAL INNOVATIVE PARADIGM
SOLUTIONS
TECHNIQUES and their
INNOVATIVE use

CREATIVE 
CLASSIFICATION
INDUSTRIES
CONSERVATION INNOVATIVE USE
DISSEMINATION COMMON RIGHTS

SITTI EXPERTS
SYSTEM

INVENTORY

STUDIES OF STUDIES OF
IPOGEA, the organization direc- SPECIFIC SPECIFIC
AREAS TECHNIQUES
ted by UNESCO expert Pietro Laureano,
has developed an Iconographic System
for Traditional Techniques and their In-
novative use (SITTI) for recording and ca- STUDIES OF
lassifying traditional techniques. This is a INNOVATIVE USE
further development following the expe-
rience of “The Water Atlas. Traditional Kno-
wledge to Combat Desertification” by Pietro
Laureano who also is the Italian delegate
in the Scientific Committee of the Confe-
rence of Parties of the United Nations TERRITORY
Convention (UNCCD) and the President
of the Panel on Traditional Knowledge of
UNCCD.
2
TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES:
SITTI
GLOBAL TK INVENTORY
FRAMEWORK FOR COLLECTING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
ITS REGISTRATION AND DISSEMINATION

SITTI is a technical operative system which enables to manage and systematically organize
all information subjected to study. The idea of an iconographic system to classify the heritage of tra-
ditional knowledge, divided by functional and typological categories arises from the need to provide
a visual systhesis of such a wide and complicated subject.

SITTI
Notification of
techniques and INVENTORY
specific areas EXPERTS
SYSTEM

ASSESSMENT
S T U D Y  M A N U A L
ICONOGRAPHIC GUIDE-
ARCHIVES LINES

COMPANIES

DATA DATA DATA

COLLECTION> PROCESSING> ANALYSIS REHABILITATION WORK
Innovation
Re-proposition

Using SITTI
The structure of SITTI was not con-
ceived as a mere unstructured cintainer
of data and evidence but as an innovative
tool,capable of adapting itself to diverse
thematic analyses and increasingly operational
contexts. It was conceived as a blueprint of refe-
rence for facilitating identification and notifica-
tion of existing Traditional Knowledge.
A study Manual provided with Guideli-
nes and Iconographic Archives has been prepa-
red for the application of SITTI in the field.
EXPERTS SYSTEM FOR 
NOTIFICATION 
AND DISSEMINATION
The procedure for the notification and dissemi-
nation of information on techniques rely on a
dedicated experts system elaborated with UNE-
SCO. This web based system amis at building a
global network of surveyors who will constantly
interact with the system, developing and upda-
ting it with incoming data.
3
 SITTI
The iconographic system has been created
in order to simplify the identification of techni-
ques and their use.
A classification based on single techniques
is insufficient since it will not grasp the full mea-
ning and significance of Traditional Knowledge.
TK is part of a complex system and cannot
be reduced to a mere list of technical sulutions.
A classification based on icons has only the
practical aim of facilitating recognition and ap-
praisal of the techniques.
Icons have been grouped into 7 thematic
categories. These have been further subdivided
into ICONS OF REFERENCE and SPECIFIC
ICONS. Reference icons group together more spe-
cific techniques, according to a wider functional
and typological principle.

CATEGORIES
SILVICULTURE 
ANIMAL BREEDING
HUNTING, HARVESTING

AGRICULTURE
Conservaionworks
at Lalibela

WATER MANAGEMENT

SOIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION

SETTLEMENT, ARCHITECTURE
AND MOVABLE ARTEFACTS

ENERGY AND RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION, ART
AND SPIRITUALITY

4
SITTI
O PE RATI V E TO O LS

ICONOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES OF TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES

-GENERAL LIST OF ICONS
-GENERAL DESCRIPTION PG EVERYSINGLE TECHNIQUE
-MAIN LOCAL MANIFESTATION OF EVERY SINGLE TE-
CHNIQUE

SIMBOLOGY USED FOR ASSESSING THE CURRENT STATE

GUIDELINES FOR THE STUDY OF LOCAL CONTEXTS

-GUIDELINES FOR AN ANALYTICAL COLLECTION OF

DATA ON THE TYPOLOGY AND CONSISTENCY OF TRA-
DITIONAL TECHNIQUES IN A GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT

-CONCISE CLASSIFICATION FORMS OF THE STUDY

GENERAL ARCHIVES

STUDY MANUAL OF THE LOCAL CONTEXT

ARCHIVES OF THE INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES

-GENERAL LIST OF SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED TECHNIQUES
(making direct reference to the icons for traditional techniques)

-DESCRIPTION OF LOCALLY APPLIED TECHNIQUES

SYMBOLOGY FOR ASSESSING OUTPUTS

 GENERAL LIST OF ICONS

CATEGORY ICONS OF REFERENCE SPECIFIC ICONS

SIVILICULTURE, BREEDING, HUNTING AND HARVESTING

taboo goods protection of harvesting and plant exploitation of dry integrated use maze-like specific techni- harvesting of
and access spontaneous basic cultiva- cultivation and forest clearings stone of marginal traps ques and tools plant essences
to vegetation tion of animal for farming walls areas for hunting and and medical
resources seeds insects breeding (karsification of fishing herbs
forests and mar-
and grubs shes)

AGRICULTURE

terracing large terraced formation protective portable nomad vegetable walled and gardens
systems terracing and fortified of lunettes gardens cultivation gardens protected in craters
systems olive groves protective (hedomite gardens
dunes agriculture)

terraced domestication domestication techniques devices natural forage slash and basic soil creation compost
gardens and and for for humus and fire to burning practice and production
dissemination dissemination soil fertilization creation improve agriculture of natural regeneration from waste,
of important of palm trees regeneration fertilization ash, excre-
trees ments etc.

integrated crop rotation techniques soil irrigation by irrigation by systems of irrigation from water intakes floating
cycle of and of soil watering flowing streams flood water control the subsoil and channels gardens
organic waste fallowing irrigation by sprinkling and water recession (catavotre) (feixe)
conservation

com-like andalusian tilling agricultural devices for

water sharing agriculture and sowing products grinding
systems techniques processing seeds
techniques

6
GENERAL LIST OF ICONS 1

WATER MANAGEMENT

large scale systems of torrent wide comb water

water diver- joint basins for streets water sharing harvesting
sion systems flood water devices in pools
and flood sharing and cisterns
exploitation

tholos-cisterns roofed large connected channelling river side combined integrated use water dripping dams made
bell-cisterns cisterns ope-air cisterns and rain gardens distillation and of water and percola- of stone
and cisterns collecting creation condensation catchment, tion in cave or other
pit-cisterns on slopes water harvesting and dwellings materials
catchments distribution

dyke of water hydrogenesis humidity water stone stone arrange- humidity excavations excavation digging
diversion from and condensation storage in barrows ment and generating and drainage and drainage water catching
perpetual hidden generating cistern-jars surfaces for masonry systems systems in caves
snows precipitation techniques water mines
(bisset) catchment

hydraulic sunken underground rocker wells greater water

devices dams catchment arms powered water lifting management
and tunnels wells by machines on terreced
engines animals (norias) fields

SOIL AND ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION

land plants which manure defences for improvement devices to systems of soil dykes garden ploughing
conservation combat spreading for mitigating wind of slow the flow protection, water and wooden threshing and water
by farming erosion protection and sand heavy soils of torrents harvesting and sluice gates floors sprinkling
against storms composition (with stones protection from
evaporation etc.) wind

7
 SETTLEMENT, ARCHITECTURE AND MOVABLE ARTEFACTS

prehistoric prehistoric cave

constructions monuments dwellings
and (tholos, bar-
settlement rows, dol-
mens, mehirs)

underground greater greater underground rock-hewn underground villages ditched nomad villages on
habitats underground underground hanging monoliths pits and and villages architecture piles
complexes complexes gardens cliff-hewn camps and
cave dwellings architecture
in water

oases settle- oases oases oases considerable cult buildings community remarkable traditional circular
ments of the in wadis in the folk and monuments features settlement huts
typologies erg sebkha architecture ritual funeral and symbolic in architecture
structures architecture dwellings

animal local materials usage raw baked brick stone vegetable symbolic courtyard tower
shelters and destination earth structures structures materials decorations buildings houses
and traditional and peculiar constructions structures
granaries technologies distributive
features

separate traditional garden fortified maze-like square grid urban town and terraced integrated
dwelling units urban towns settlements town plans pland and structures countryside towns sustainable
within planning with blind direct with social-cul- integration urban and
enclosure alleys installation tural back- rural
ground settlement

settlement territorial structural multipurpose specialists local handi- handmade handmade handmade handmade
pattern and symbolism tools and tools for craft and leatherworks pottery metal wooden bone
reproduction multiurban in specific implements working related and textiles vessels artifacts and vegetable
on territory system geomorpholo- local materials techniques artifacts
gical contexts

handmade
stone
tools

8
GENERAL LIST OF ICONS 2

ENERGY AND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

fire conserva- climate control use of refuse food conserva- extreme igloos sunken covered pas- architecture
tion and devices and to feed tion and sto- climate huts sages and for saving
transport channels animals rage architecture exposure energy and
techniques protections resources

water cat- sheltering from systems of indoors local passive urban layout urban urban urban
chnent from exposure to household nomadism insulation cooling for resources planning for planning for planning for
covering the sun waste mana- techniques architecture management climate climate climate
gement control control control

urban
planning for
climate
control

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION, ART AND SPIRITUALITY

subdivision natural places cults and practices for social animal nutrition women’s knowledge forms of
in clans and regarded as rituals in orientation diversification - symbiotic and knowledge passed on social
tribes sacred natural and totemic on plants down the solidarity
places geography relationships generations

symbolic ex- processes nomadism great great transhumance autopoietic great artistic water
pression for of and migratory caravan nomadism communities water expression corporation
knowledge sedentarism semi-noma- nomadism nomadism societies and
transmission dism hydraulic laws

9
 University of Worlverhampton - UK

ANALYSIS OF SYSTEMS WITH SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES
Activities specifically concern:

- Restoration techniques of traditional centres and the

building of a sustainable town.

- Agricultural techniques and landscape. University of Zurich - SWITZERLAND

- Drainage tunnel system and other water harvesting

and water management techniques.

- Terracing systems.

FLORENCE
Laia Libros - SPAIN

University of Valencia - SPAIN

MATERA

MEXICO -
CANADA -
USA
IPOGEA
Ministry of Culture - ALGERIA
University of Oran USTO - ALGERIA ITALY
University of Algiers EPAU - ALGERIA

Institut des Régions Arides Medenine - TUNISIA

University of Moulay Ismail - MOROCCO

Sud Timmi Society - Algeria

SENEGAL

A SUSTAINABLE TOWN
The activity of restoration and organization of a sustainable town with the use of traditional materials,
water harvesting systems and a passive architecture was achieved by IPOGEA in the Sassi of Matera, a rock
hewn town recoded in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The successful experience of reclaming the whole
historical heritage of the Sassi of Matera, deserted by the inhabitants since the 1960s, was made possible
thanks to pilot restoration works.
Italy is proposing a very similar experience in the Kasbah of Algiers with a training initiative funded
by the Italian Ministry of Foreign affairs and entrusted to IPOGEA.

10
 In relation to landscape the Italian Ministry of
University and Research (MIUR), in the framework of
the National Operational Project (RIADE), funded an
analyssis and re-proposition of traditional techniques
and their innovative use for the safeguard of a territory,
to be carried out by IPOGEA on behalf of ENEA.
IPOGEA is also currently coordinating two
cooperative research projects funded by the European
Union (Foggara Inventory, analysis and acknowledge-
ment of traditional water management techniques of
European and Saharan drainage tunnels, and Shadufs
JAPAN
IRAN
CHINA
La Maison d’Antioche Institute - SYRIA
SIDATA - PALESTINE
PNT - JORDAN
OMAN
CULTNAT
- EGYPT
At Palagianello and Grot-
taglie, two small town in Apulia,
IPOGEA has carried out the reha-
bilitation of degraded slopes by in-
troducing the use of terraces as TERRACING
SYSTEMS
observed alsewhere in the region.
The sites had been pre-
viously surveyed appliyng photo-
grammetric techniques. Modern
technology and ancient tradition
have come together to create inno-
vative ways of land reclamation.
Traditional Water Management Techniques: Cultu-
ral Heritage for a sustainable future) about water mana-
gement techniques within 10 Mediterranean countries.
Further projects, also involving Asian countries, will fol-
low. Significant results have already been attained. This
experience will provide the first detailed classification of
these techniques and the appropriate methods of recovery
and distribution.
Specific surveys on terracing systems were carried
out in Italy and all over the Mediterranean area as well.
The results have been published in “La cultura dei terraz-
zamenti” (The culture of terracing systems) realized by
IPOGEA in association with Italia Nostra. Pilot projects
of landscape restoration with the technique of terraced
walls are being carried out in the small town of Palagia-
nello and Grottaglie, in Apulia, Italy.
Following this experience, the region of Campa-
nia has put forward a legistlation aimed at safeguarding
its terracing systems, and some European Members of Par-
liament propose to raise the question at an EU level.
Italy, through PIPOGEA, has contributed to the
drawing up of the Environmental Kit for combating De-
sertification, for the use of primary school teachers and
students in desertification affected countries, developed
by UNESCO MAB (Man and Biosphere) Programme in
cooperation with the UNCCD Secretariat.
The importance of activities concerning Traditio-
nal Knowledge were acknowledged by NATO, which re-
garded its role as positive in the miyigation of conflicts
caused by environmental disasters and migratory flows.
In 2004, NATO granted to IPOGEA an award to coordinate
the project “Combating Desertification with Traditional
Knowledge - A Controbution to Euro Mediterranean Se-
curity”.
11
 STUDY OF SPECIFIC AREAS USING THE ICONOGRAPHIC SYSTEM
EXAMPLES OF CASE-STUDIES CARRIED OUT : MATERA (ITALY)

The iconographic system of

Traditional Techniques and their In-
novative use (SITTI) is used to make
an inventory of traditional techni-
ques, their quality and possibilities
of adaptation in the area oif the
Murgia upland, the Park of Cilento,
and throughout the Mediterranean
(Algeria, Syria, Palestine). The me-
thodology enables research on each
site for the purpose of expanding
the Traditional Knowledge list. In
this way, a local strategy for the con-
servation, restoration or innovative
enhancement of a site based on its
archaeological and historical tradi-
tion is developed.
Sites are acknowledged for
adopting protocols of good practice.

SITTI works by progressive steps:

I LEVEL
- Identification of the study area.
- Identification of the most appropriate te-
chnique and choice of the relevant icon.
- Survey and analysis of the chosen techni-
ques.
- Notification to the Experts System. NOTIFICATION OF EXISTING TECHNIQUES
II LEVEL
- Wider territorial interactions (ecosy-
stems, cultural landscapes).
- Analysis of the integrated local kno-
wledge system.
- Historical stratification of local kno-
wledge.
- Identification of appropriate innovative
knowledge.
- Identification of landscape units and of
knowledge related to them.
- Geographical Information System for
planning scenarios.

III LEVEL
- Socio-economic dimension.
- Role of institutions and local actors.
- Safeguard, dissemination and planning
scenarios.
- Socio-economic assessment of the reuse
of Traditional Techniques and their Inno-
vative use.
- Strategies of economic improvement.
12
SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNIQUES

13
 STUDY OF SPECIFIC AREAS USING THE ICONOGRAPHIC SYSTEM
EXAMPLES OF CASE-STUDIES CARRIED OUT:       WADI MIZAB (ALGERIA)

I LEVEL

SYMPOLOGY USED FOR AS-

SESSING THE CURRENT
STATE

UNALTERED EFFICIENT

PROTECTED, WORKING
NOTIFICATION OF EXISTING TECHNIQUES

PROTECTED AND MODIFIED

ALTERED

AT HIGH RISK OF ABANDONMENT

OR DISAPPEARANCE

ABANDONED OR REPLACED

DEAD

14
15
 INNOVATIVE USE OF TK AND APPROPRIATE NEW SOLUTIONS

Companies proposing the innovative use of traditional techniques, or creating new solutions fit-
ting the logic of traditional techniques, are selected. ENEA, National Research Council (CNR) in Pisa
and in Florence, the universities and the research centres organized in a world network, have joined in
this project. The Municipality and the Provincial administration of Florence and of the Region of Tu-
scany are candidates for housing a centre of excellence which will be the point of reference for the 800
UNESCO sites existing all over the world. FederParchi and LegAmbiente have launched an initiative in-
volving a network of 751 protected areas spread over 3 million hectares of territory. This initiative will
culminate with an exhibition of Traditional Techniques and their Innovative use.

During the first phase, the application of SITTI and the experts system enabled to notify each
single technique and to examine specific local and integrated ecosystems of technical knowledge.
After having assessed the current state and the possible priorities of conservation and recovery,
the proper innovative techniques for each single case-study are selected and certified, while destructive
and inappropriate techniques are removed.

DRAINAGE TUNNELS
In the case of drainage tunnels, research carried out within the framework of the Foggara Euro-
pean Project, demonstrated that the use of local materials and the retention of the aesthetical and mo-
numental qualities of traditional tunnels, help to safeguard rational water harvesting functions.
The project proved that:

The rehabilitation of
foggaras by using
concrete and heavy
technology is inap-
propriate and highly
inefficient

Innovative traditional
techniques, created on
purpose in order to
enable maintenance
with light tools availa-
ble locally, safeguard
both aesthetic and
functional qualities.

16
 TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ARCHIVE
In SITTI, to the archi-
ves of Traditional Te-
chniques, correspond
archives of Innovative
Techniques. The latter
are exactly registered
in correspondence with
the icons of the Tradi-
tional Techniques, i.e.
the functional or typo-
logical principles
which are at the roots
of such practices.

The functional featu- INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

res, the main techni-
cal-economic details
and the applications
already carried out in
the territory and their
results are registered
in the forms concer-
ning Innovative Te-
chniques. A scientific
committee will under-
take the assessment of
such technologies
which possess the ne-
cessary requirements
for being inserted in
the database. This will
insure a safe and con-
stantly updated sup-
port for future work
for the companies in-
volved.

17
 ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT AND CREATION OF A NEW PARADIGM

II LEVEL

Traditional Knowledge is closely integrated

with economy, environment and society.
It determines the building of anthropic eco-
systems based on sustainable cycles.
Its operation leads to the definition of a
new technological paradigm.

NEW PARADIGM

18
 PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION THROUGH LANDSCAPE 
STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

LANDSCAPE UNIT GARGANO CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE 

Cross-section of the landscape building process

Habitat-making process and relevant techniques for a

stratigragrapic analysis leading to the identification of
relevant Landscape Units.

Horizontal stratigraphic analysis

MEDIEVAL PERIOD

ROMAN PERIOD

AGE OF METALS

NEOLITHIC PERIOD
PALAEOLITHIC PERIOD

3D Model

The geographical information

system synthesizes in a 3D
model the whole of the tradi-
tional techniques and the de-
velopment process for the
identification of planning sce-
narios.

19
19
 Pietro Laureano, architect and planner, is a UNNESCO
consultant on arid areas, Islamic society and in endangered ecosy-
stems. He is the author of the report on the Sassi of Matera and
.the Cilento Park for the Unesco World Heritage List

Pietro Laureano is one of

the 1,300 experts from 95
countries who took part in
the Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment (MA) lauched
by UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan in June 2001.
He taught at the University
of Florence, Algiers and
Bari in the Faculty of Archi-
tectue and he is professor
in Master’s Degree courses
at the Univerisities of Basili-
cata and Bologna.
In his position as Italian re-
presentative within the te-
chnical-scientific committee
of the United Nations Con-
vention to Combat Desertifi-
cation (UNCCD) ans as
President of the Traditional
Knowledge Panel, he pro-
moted the idea of a World
Data Bank on Local Kno-
wledge Systems.
At present this mission is
being carried out by IPO-
GEA, the reasearch centre
founded by Laureano him-
self.
IPOGEA research Centre
on Local Traditional Kno-
wledge, coordinates UEU
projects in 10 countries all
over the Mediterranean
world and research and
promotes landscape resto-
ration works with an innova-
tive use of traditional
techniques.
Laureano has published
“Sahara Giardino Scono-
sciuto” (Giunti, 1989), “Sa-
hara jardin méconnu”
(Larousse, 1991); “Giardini
di Pietra. I Sassi di Matera
e la Civiltà Mediterranea”
(Torino, 1993); “Jardins de
Pierre. Les Sassi de Matera
et la civilisation méditérra-
néenne” (Vincennes, 2005);
“La piramide rovesciata. Il
modello dell’oasi per il pia-
neta Terra” (Torino, 1995).

www.laureano.it
 CIRCUIT TOURISTIQUE “MEJHOUL” DU TAFILALET
CONCEPTION D’UN ECO MUSEE SUR LES KHETTARA

L’EXPERIENCE ET LA METHODOLOGIE DE IPO-

GEA DANS LA MISE EN OEVRE DES ECOMUSEES
PAR L’APPLICATION DU SYSTEME ICONOGRA-
PHIQUE DES TECHNIQUES TRADITIONNELLES
ET LEUR UTILISATION INNOVATRICE