Cultural Heritage and Urban Landscape in a Future European Cultural Capital – Challenges and Trends

Abstract

European countries interest for archaeological heritage, as part of the cultural landscape, was firstly expressed at the London Convention (1969), whose content was later revised by La Valetta Convention (1992). Romania joined this Convention in 2000, thus assuming the mission to protect and preserve the archaeological heritage, facing with massive economic development and urban expansion. Although we speak of a consecrated historical center, in Timisoara’s urban landscape preventive archaeology has become a reality only from 2004, when first researches were conducted. During the last few years, local infrastructure development has determined an extension of archaeological investigations over the historical area of the city, with major influences especially over public transportation (most of the times hampered, sometimes deviated, even blocked in the specific area, during archaeological research). Our approach focuses on multiple facets and implications of preventive archaeology over Timisoara’s urban landscape, from immediate, obvious issues (such as population’s satisfaction regarding archaeological investigations, their consequences (over access in the area, safety or transportation)), to long-term results (over local tourism, urban development or locals’ education for protecting and promoting cultural heritage).