Thesis title: Heritagization of cultural landscapes in Tunisia, M'dhilla mining landscape: Study example
In our research, we focused on the heritagization of cultural landscapes, due to the importance of reconsidering heritage as a combination of material and immaterial elements that interact, thereby elevating heritage to the status of socio-economic development leverage sectors. To do this, we chose to specify our research on mining landscapes, which, despite being evolving and dynamic, face a significant risk of disappearance simply due to the loss of function and the lack of awareness of their cultural and historical value.
This research project allows us to understand that the history of industrial areas, especially mining ones, warns us against dependence on limited natural resources and encourages us to consider alternative solutions. The cessation of mining activities poses significant socio-economic and environmental challenges that could become uncontrollable due to unemployment, poverty, and health problems related to pollution, rendering regions almost uninhabited and uninhabitable. This prompted other Western countries, notably Italy and France, to develop a new concept that defines the phase immediately following the cessation of mining operations: "post-mining".
To address the research questions of (1) whether the M'dhilla mining landscape is heritagizable and (2) whether it is possible to heritagize the M'dhilla mining landscape while it is still active, it was essential to study these past experiences to draw lessons and develop strategies adapted to the Tunisian reality, while considering local specificities and the needs of the population to ensure a successful transition to the post-mine era.
Our research is indeed a qualitative study that we conducted; therefore, we chose to highlight data collection and analysis methods that serve the intended research outcomes.
This research represents a modest reflection aiming at the heritagization of mining landscapes in Tunisia through attempts to propose adding new functions to the ongoing mining activities. The insights and outcomes, both methodological and prescriptive, provide new avenues for exploration regarding the strategies and modalities of heritagization for this type of landscape and anticipating the end of mining activity, through an effective participatory approach which contributes to the socio-economic and cultural local developpement.
Kee words : Heritagization – Cultural landscape – Mining landscape – post-mining – participatory approch – anticipated heritagization