Roman cultural heritage as a tourist and educational resource

Archaeological Heritage: Methods of Education and

Popularization

Edited by

Roksana Chowaniec Wiesław Więckowski

BAR International Series 24432012

Published by

ArchaeopressPublishers of British Archaeological ReportsGordon House276 Banbury RoadOxford OX2 [email protected]

BAR S2443

Archaeological Heritage: Methods of Education and Popularization

© Archaeopress and the individual authors 2012

ISBN 978 1 4073 1047 3

The editors are grateful for the financial support of Polish Ministry of the Science and Higher Education (799-P-DUN-2011) and Foundation of Friends of the Institute of Archaeology University of Warsaw.

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Introduction

The Roman heritage has always been observed as a valuable cultural, educational and tourist resource and that is why now, in times of economic crises, we recognize and exploit it.

Archaeological sites and archaeological parks obviously cannot develop and prosper with financing coming exclusively from the government. Own income is imperative and for now at least it can be obtained only through tourism. Education is the second goal to be achieved through implementation of this project. The Roman cultural heritage in Serbia is represented by a large

Roman cultural heritage as a tourist and educational resourceNemanja Mrđić

AbstractThe ancient Roman cultural heritage is easily recognizable and widely accepted, interesting to all target groups. It is also a valuable educational and tourist resource, which can be exploited through economically sustainable projects. Organizing imperial cities, palaces, villas and the fortified frontier into one cultural route, promoted by popular events, helps in regional economic development and raises local awareness of the importance of this common heritage.

KeywordsSerbian heritage, Viminacium, Roman remains, promotion, education

number of sites which have been organized into a cultural route, the Itinerarium Romanum Serbiae (Korać et al., 2009) (Figure 1).

Itinerarium Romanum Serbiae

Project background

Serbia was the homeland of 18 Roman emperors, including Constantine the Great and Justinian I. This is the largest number of emperors born in a single [modern] country away from Italy. Included in the territory of Serbia are imperial cities (Sirmium and Iustiniana Prima), major provincial cities and capitals (Sirmium, Viminacium,

Figure 1. Map of the project Itinerarium Romanum Serbiae (prepared N. Mrđić).

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ArchAeologicAl heritAge. Methods of educAtion And PoPulArizAtion

Naissus and Iustiniana Prima), imperial residences and villas (Felix Romuliana, Šarkamen and Mediana). The military aspect of the empire is just as important. The limes, a fortified frontier with many legionary camps, auxiliary forts and watchtowers (Singidunum, Viminacium, Diana, Pontes), ran along the Danube. There were other architectural marvels on the Danube as well: a road cut into the rock of the Iron Gate gorge with imperial plaques celebrating its construction, Trajan’s bridge over the Danube near Kostol (Pontes) - the longest bridge in antiquity, a canal that bypassed the rapids on the Danube near the village of Sip (marked by an imperial inscription celebrating its construction, today at the entrance to the hydroelectric plant Djerdap I). These sites represent the enormous heritage originating from antiquity, attesting to Serbia’s position as one of the focal points of the Roman Empire for several centuries. Moreover, ancient Roman culture as pan-European heritage and the first ‘European Union’ is attractive to tourists wherever it is presented, and it is widely recognized and easily promoted, not being burdened by nationalistic overtones.

Connecting many archaeological sites into a single thematic route should enhance interest and increase visitor numbers to all of them, especially the sites not on regular tourist routes or along major communication roads. Furthermore, presenting information about all sites at each stop on the route should help to promote and share knowledge about the entire Roman heritage. This way even visitors unable to see all the sites can get full information. Sites included on the itinerary do not compete with one another; they work together toward one and the same goal.

Archaeological sites, which have been included in the final version of the Itinerarium Romanum Serbiae project, are located on an itinerary 600kms long, mostly distributed along the right bank of the Danube. The ground relief and environment along this route varies tremendously: from the plains of Pannonia and the wide river valleys, through the grandiose Iron Gate gorge to the mountainous regions of Eastern Serbia, and from cultivated fields through the untouched wilderness of national parks to the reptile hatches in the middle of nowhere. This diversity along the route makes the voyage practically an exploring adventure.

Access to the sites is also very different. In general, tourists can arrive via air, river or land. At the opposite ends of the route there are the airports of Belgrade (‘Nikola Tesla’) and Niš (‘Constantine the Great’). Trips can be planned out of Belgrade, visiting all the sites and departing from Niš, but because of the higher costs (connecting flights), this version is advisable only for foreign visitors.

Many sites can be accessed from the Danube (Corridor 7), today a major trade and communication route, similarly as in antiquity. The river provides the opportunity for large numbers of foreign tourist to take luxurious river cruises (companies like Uniworld and Viking River Cruises). This is an important target group, since people preferring this form of travel come in organized groups and are

usually of higher status and well educated. Yachts and river boats can dock at Belgrade (Singidunum), Kostolac (Viminacium), Veliko Gradište, Golubac (mediaeval fort), Donji Milanovac (Mesolithic settlement Lepenski Vir), Tekija, Kladovo (forts Diana and Pontes) and Prahovo. Each of these river stops provides easy access to several nearby archaeological sites located no more than about 10-15kms upstream and downstream.1 From the piers in Kladovo and Prahovo one can easily reach Šarkamen and Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad) after a short car or bus ride. The advantage of traveling by boat along the Danube is seeing sites that are visible exclusively from the river: the Roman road through the Iron Gate, the Tabula Traiana and some of the piers of Trajan’s Bridge, which are no longer accessible by land after the construction of the Djerdap I hydroelectric plant.

The best and cheapest way of reaching most of the Roman sites is by the land roads: Corridor 10 (Belgrade–Niš highway) combined with regional roads through the Iron Gate or the Niš–Kladovo highway.

Accommodation facilities around archaeological sites are either not suitable or non-existent. Only 20 hotels exist in the vicinity of major archaeological sites and are concentrated in the big cities. They provide more than 60 percentages of beds available along the route.2 The idea for the development of the Itinerarium Romanum Serbiae includes organizing 100 small, family operated boarding houses along the route. On–site facilities providing visitor services and accommodation are an additional issue. By making all these facilities as replicas of Roman buildings, we should be able to improve visitor perception of antiquity.

The project has the following objectives (Mrđić et al., 2010): linking thematically similar archaeological sites in the country and abroad; development of archaeological tourism on a national level; economic sustainability, the chief problem being generally initial investment; development of economy and tourism through production of souvenirs and reviving of old crafts (small industry and family workshops), employment of new workers on sites and in archaeological parks; building and development of local infrastructure; raising local community living standards as a result of more intensive traffic of people and goods, with special attention focused on economic development of poor regions (southern and eastern Serbia); building or adapting 100 boarding houses along the route in order to provide accommodation for visitors. These are planned as replicas of Roman villas (villa rustica) or buildings adapted in Serbian ethno style, to be managed independently by individual families, but respecting standards promoted for archaeological tourism. They will be located in rural areas, 5-10kms away from one another, in

1 Most of these sites are not included on tourist itineraries because of poor access. Only sites that can be visited in organized groups and with expert guides are mentioned in this text.2 Master plan kulturno istorijske rute ‘Put rimskih careva’. Ekonomski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu

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NemaNja mrđić: romaN cultural heritage as a tourist aNd educatioNal resource

order to be easily reachable by hikers and cyclists, and set in a natural environment, in forests, crop fields and pastures, mostly along the Sava, Danube, Morava and Timok rivers; promotion of national landmarks and improvement of the Serbian Republic’s international repute; raising local community awareness with regard to cultural heritage and its international importance; protection of cultural heritage through its use in sustainable projects.

Ways of promotion

The Roman cultural heritage in Serbia is not promoted sufficiently both nationally and internationally. It is necessary therefore to work in multiple areas in order to promote it adequately: popular websites and multimedia presentations, specifically targeted popular publications (children, etc.), reenactment events (Roman festivals, legionary parades, chariot races, gladiatorial combat, etc.), theater shows (both ancient and modern drama, comedy, musicals), popular concerts and events, lectures and workshops adapted to various target groups, virtual museums.

The following is a list of sites essential for a proper presentation of Roman cultural heritage in Serbia: Sirmium – capital of the Lower Pannonia province (Pannonia Inferior), later of Second Pannonia (Pannonia Secunda) and one of the four capitals of the Empire during the early Tetrarchy, capital of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum, location of an Imperial mint in the 4th century AD; Singidunum – Roman city and legionary camp of the Legio IV Flavia Felix; Viminacium – capital of the Upper Moesia province (Moesia Superior), later First Moesia (Moesia Prima), legionary camp of the Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis, location of an Imperial mint in the 3rd century AD; Iron Gate – part of the Roman frontier (limes), Tabula Traiana, remains of a road cut into the rock, auxiliary forts, present day national park; Diana – auxiliary fort guarding the entrance to a canal bypassing the Danubian rapids; Pontes – remains of Trajan’s bridge and auxiliary fort guarding access to the bridge; Felix Romuliana – imperial palace of the emperor Galerius (305-311); Šarkamen – imperial palace of the emperor Maximinus Daia (308-313); Naissus – Roman city, birthplace of the emperor Constantine the Great; Mediana – imperial villa from the 4th century AD, residence of the family and successors of Constantine the Great; Iustiniana prima – early Byzantine city and provincial capital.

Compared to other archaeological parks in Europe, we are at a disadvantage having relatively little excavated areas and few ruins to present. Generations of our older colleagues had not planned on presenting the results of their research and that is our handicap today. Because of it we must implement other amusement and educational programs to attract visitors.

Viminacium Archaeological Park as a model for the development of other archaeological parks

The Itinerarium Romanum Serbiae is classified as a project of national import for the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. The best way to preserve any archaeological site is to revive it and make a tourist attraction of it. Bringing people in to see it will protect a site from many threats, which include looting and illegal building in the area. As one of the greatest threats is a local population indifferent to heritage protection, the project aims also at raising local awareness with regard to the value of this heritage and motivating local residents to undertake further protection measures in order to enhance profitable exploitation. The range of possibilities for exploiting cultural heritage makes it one of potentially the most payable projects.

Cultural heritage can be used as a base for economic and regional development. We have chosen to use an economic model, which has already been proven as functional, profitable and financially sustainable. It is the model of Viminacium, Roman city and legionary camp. The same management, organization and education model will be implemented on all other sites that are now being developed. Visiting Viminacium is memorable because of the way in which the excavated ruins are presented, because of an attractive visit to the underworld to view frescoes (Anđelković 2012, Korać 2007) and because of animators and Roman food. In six years since the opening of the archaeological park, the number of visitors has risen from 20,000 to 100,000, and 20,000 of this arrive aboard river cruises. For the past two years Viminacium has also been a regular destination for school excursions. Organized groups are welcomed by guides and archaeological park personnel dressed in Roman garb, while the park security guards are dressed as legionaries.

International promotion and an attractive presentation of Viminacium at tourist fairs in Milan, Berlin and London have already given excellent results. The project is also present regularly at the Mediterranean Archaeological Tourism fair in Paestum (Italy).

Domus Scientiarum Viminacium

The Scientific, Research and Tourist Center Domus Scientiarum Viminacium is a multipurpose building with one wing intended to provide accommodation for researchers, another wing occupied by laboratories and offices, and two wings designed as a fully functional Roman-style hotel. The facility also includes a scientific library, archaeological museum and a restaurant. The role of the visitors’ center with hotel is to support financially the entire complex, providing extra funds for scientific research regardless of governmental funding. This center is also intended to host small congresses and to organize short Roman holidays. The most important event held so far in Viminacium was the IX International UNESCO summit in September 2011, bringing together several presidents and foreign ministers from Southeastern European countries and UNESCO officials.

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Roman holidays

Heavy competition in tourism means that in order to attract visitors a site should offer attractions not available elsewhere. Without vast expanses of excavated ruins to show, at least compared to Pompeii, we have compensated by creating an illusion. First of all, the facilities in the park all resemble Roman buildings. All the guest rooms in the hotel wing of Domus Scientiarum Viminacium are fitted with Roman furniture and visitors will find Roman clothes on their beds, if they wish to experience the full illusion. Everything in the park has to be Roman. Souvenirs for sale are replicas of original Roman objects found during excavations. Although Roman holidays are not planned

as an educational service, they certainly provide a live experience of the Roman way of life.

Roman feasts (Figures 2 and 3)

It is not common for Roman food to be served, and it is inexpensive to make, hence it can be made into something special and unusual. Roman feasts are often a grand finale for special group visits or small congresses held in Domus Scientiarum Viminacium. Food is served by waiters dressed in Roman clothes, using replicas of original dishes found only few hundred meters away. All meals are prepared according to original Roman recipes known from historical sources (Apicius etc.).

Figure 2. Roman feast at Viminacium Taberna (photo N. Mrđić).

Figure 3. Roman food prepared for visitor (photo N. Mrđić).

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Replicas and souvenirs

Replicas and souvenirs are modeled on original finds from the excavations at Viminacium. More than 800 different items are available, ranging from ceramic vessels through bronze appliqués to golden jewelry. T-shirts, CDs, multimedia and printed publications are also sold.

Reenactment

Reenactment is relatively new in Serbia and has been popular so far only among enthusiasts of mediaeval history (group called ‘Svibor’). The only Roman reenactment group is the one at the Viminacium Archaeological Park. All major events are planned and performed according to Roman custom, applying a whole gamut of stage tricks to enhance a visitor’s experience. Concerts and happenings are often preceded by Roman processions (Figure 4), legionary maneuvers, gladiatorial combats, invoking of the gods, etc.

Concerts and public events

Organizing large–scale public events in historical environments, excavation sites and archaeological parks, has always been popular. Concerts are a good way of attracting a wider public, especially people who would normally not consider coming out to an archaeological park. Different genres naturally have different target groups, but it is possible to change the genre each year and present all kinds of music, including classical, rock, folk, ethno and other. In 2006, the movie and musical ‘Tri linije ljubavi (Three Lines of Love)’ with popular Serbian rock band Van Gogh was filmed in the Viminacium archaeological park.

Setting concerts in archaeological ruins is not unthinkable ever since Pink Floyd played a special concert live at Pompeii in 1972, except that it was then performed without an audience. Viminacium has hosted several concerts in the past few years. In 2007 a concert of the rock groups Van Gogh and EKV Revised gathered 10,000 visitors on the plateau by the mausoleum. In 2008, a concert of Emma Shapplin was organized in the mausoleum itself, with more than 5000 visitors and including 600 VIP guests dressed in Roman costumes. In 2009, there was a small VIP concert performed by the Studio Alektik group.

Fashion shows are also a popular way of presenting cultural heritage. Models wearing original jewelry attracted special attention in 1996 after the discovery of a golden set in a tomb of the mother (?) of Emperor Maximinus Daia at Šarkamen.

The MissYU beauty contest in 2008 was thematically related to Roman cultural heritage with most of the promotion material and costumes coming from Viminacium Archaeological Park.

Education

The archaeological park as an educational venue is not limited to being a destination for school excursions. The laboratories in the new research center also host workshops for high school students conducting various experiments. Play workshops are organized for elementary schools, imitating archaeological excavations on specially prepared dig sites (Figure 5). Workshops dealing with pottery production and various elements of everyday life tend to break out from the fetters of orthodox school teaching and provide a completely new approach to learning history, where the common people are the object of study. Young

Figure 4. Roman procession, Viminacium 2007 (photo S. Dingarac)

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children are also educated by playing various Roman games, including games specially designed by researchers from the archaeological institutes.

Children’s board game

The Viminacium Project research team has designed for visitors to the Archaeological Park a special board game called ‘The Mystery of the Emperor’s Death’. It is a detective game set in Viminacium in the middle of the 3rd century AD and draws upon the results of scientific research and excavations at the site. Players walk around the ancient city, investigating the mysterious death of emperor Hostilianus. On their way they visit different buildings and the legionary camp collecting clues. The texts on the board are in Latin intentionally, so that players have to use the game’s guide book. In this way, children solving the mystery read about amphitheaters, baths, forums, legions and so on and actually learn about the Roman way of life. Recent experience has shown that even parents have been attracted to the game, playing it with their children and reading the guide book to them. A regular version is sold at the souvenir shop, while a large-scale game is used to play with children on the site. Parents can also leave their children to play with park animators, while they visit the archaeological remains. A special kindergarten is planned as an added attraction to the Archaeological Park in the near future.

Conclusion

Economic and educational benefits were not the only positive effects of tourism development and a steady

increase in the numbers of visitors to all sites. The high frequency of buses and private cars reaching the various sites has discouraged organized and systematic looting, which was especially prevalent in the 1990s, as well as individuals with metal detectors.3 An effort is being made to add the Serbian Danube limes to the World Heritage List, following the example of EU countries that have either finished or are in the final phases of completing this process. European intersite connections eventually will be necessary to complete this project.

The best way to preserve any archaeological site is to revive it and make a tourist attraction of it. Bringing in people protects sites from many threats, which include looting and illegal building. It also raises local awareness of the importance of cultural heritage and the need for further protection measures in order to be able to exploit it profitably. As a matter of fact, an indifferent local population is one of the greatest threats.

Further development of archaeological tourism in the whole region is of greatest importance. The Itinerarium Romanum Serbiae project is planned not as a local cultural route, but as international project linking all cultural projects and routes related to Roman archaeology and Roman emperors. Only a project planned on an ancient Roman scale can achieve a full presentation of this cultural heritage. The main project map emphasizes this aspect by showing routes to the nearest and the most important related Roman cities. The project is open to international

3 Possession of metal detectors is strictly forbidden by law in the Republic of Serbia except for authorized governmental institutions.

Figure 5. Reconstruction of archaeological excavations, children workshop (photo N. Mrđić).

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cooperation. After all, the Roman Empire was a predecessor of the European Union and, more importantly, modern state borders do not correspond to those of the Roman provinces. In view of this, projects related to the Roman age should not be observed through present–day national filters, which narrow and diminish the presentation and the overall picture of the Roman Empire and its Emperors. A full presentation of Roman heritage can be achieved only through international cooperation as proved by numerous exhibitions so far. Thematic exhibitions, such as ‘Constantine the Great’ in Trier and ‘Rome and Barbarians’ in Venice, have demonstrated that an international vision of the Empire is essential to a better understanding of our past. Organizing exhibitions for the forthcoming celebration of 1700 years of Christianity in 2013 is a great opportunity to bring Roman cultural heritage into focus nationwide. Connecting our sites (especially Sirmium and Naissus) to cities like Mediolanum, Trier and Nicomedia can present the Tetrarch Age and beginnings of Christianity in full. The richness and distribution of important Roman sites enables various subdivisions which can then be connected in ways most appropriate for the visitors and different target groups. Travel plans can be made to curry to different thematic demands. One can wish to travel along highways (Corridor 10) or along rivers (Corridor 7: Danube and Rhine), or decide to visit thematic sites (imperial cities, colonies, legionary and military camps, early Christian centers, etc.). All that can be organized.

Full presentation, preferably through the internet, could give visitors the opportunity for individual trip planning. A developed system of internal communication between stops on the route is essential. The visitor must receive all the important information about all sites at every site. Thus, even not visiting all of the sites, the visitor will have acquired a full understanding of the Roman cultural heritage. At this moment, almost all sites are facing similar organizational and financial problems. The only way to resolve that situation is to organize all sites on a similar principle. In this way the project will prove that it is cooperation, not competition, that is important in cultural tourism.

Bibliography

Anđelković, J. 2012. Fresco painted tombs from Viminacium and their presentation to the public. In this volume.

Korać, M. 2007. Slikarstvo Viminacijuma. Beograd, Centar za nove tehnologije – Viminacium.

Korać, M., Golubović, S. and Mrđić, N. 2009. Itinerarium Romanum Serbiae, Beograd, Center for New Technologies, Archaeological Institute Belgrade.

Master plan kulturno istorijske rute ‘Put rimskih careva’. Ekonomski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.

Mrđić, N., Raičković, A., Redžić, S. 2010. Itinerarium Romanum Serbiae – Putevima rimskih imperatora po Srbiji, kulturno nasleđe u službi turizma i održivog razvoja. In P. Petrović and V. Golubović (eds.),

Unapređenje turizma kao faktor razvoja privrede Republike Srbije, 444–454. Beograd, Institut za međunarodnu politiku i privredu.

Mr Nemanja MrđićArchaeological Institute BelgradeKnez Mihailova 35/IV11.000 Belgrade, Serbiae-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Roman cultural heritage as a tourist and educational resource

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