The Cultural Commons of Phoenice: Landscape as the natural and cultural heritage commons

Phoeniciae's development emerged through a gradual process of organizing existing residential areas, leading to its rise as the primary center and eventual capital of the Chaonia region by the mid-3rd century BC (Budina, Dh., 1986). In the Roman time, the city was primarily situated on the southern slope of the hill but eventually expanded into the surrounding wide fields, which were typically used for agriculture. The agricultural divisions of the territory, are noticed to have influenced further the maps of the early 20th century designed by the Italian architects and planners, requested at the time by the Albanian government. The fortified town on the higher parts of the hill, since its primary purpose was the protection, dominated over the open and unfortified urban expansion. This character of the town is supported by the traces of territorial divides that were recently discovered during surveys conducted around the hill. Research indicates that in the 6th century AD, the town entered a new urban phase where the city relocated to the higher section of the hill. This occurred because to the hydric instability of the area, leading churches, chapels, and medieval homes to repurpose the gigantic ruins of the Kao- nian and Roman cities (Lepore, 2016, p. 63). The regional geography shows a dispersed population that favored high areas positioned to avoid the instability of the valleys. Lepore (2016) stated that this settlement form served two main purposes: territorial control and economic growth. According to the conceptual history of landscape urbanism, it is common to view urbanism and landscape as being in opposition, or to see nature as only offering brief respite from urban life influenced by buildings and infrastructure. Some theories argue that landscape architects are the urbanists of our day due to the growing recognition of landscape as a key element in understanding modern urbanism, driven partly by environmental concerns since the early 20th century (Waldheim, 2016, p. 3). According to Waldheim Ch. 2002, the concept of "landscape as urbanism" was initially developed by landscape architect James Corner during his collaboration with Stan Allen in the mid-1990s. Corner suggests that by creatively rearranging categories in the built environment, we might break free from the limitations of postindustrial modernity and overcome the shortcomings of the planning profession. The issue of identity loss is a prevalent concern in many communities in Albania, and it is particularly prominent in the case of Phoenice. The evolution of settlements over time showcases a historical and physical continuity that has gradually weakened its association with the local identity and legacy. The historical continuity is evident in the agricultural use of the lower regions of the territory, where remnants of Roman-era drainage canals have been discovered through archaeological digs and studies. The first documented excavation in the region of Phoenice were made by Luigi Maria Ugolini, whom conducted the initial archaeological research during 1926 up to 192 The archeological excavation not only uncovered important evidence of the old settlement but also laid the stage for future investigations in the area. The primary objective of the recent archaeological expeditions, carried out collaboratively by the University of Bologna and the Albanian Institute of Archaeology, was to investigate the complex interconnection between the village and its surrounding environment. The commencement of these missions took place in the 2000s and they are currently continuing in the format of summer schools. The study and data assist in establishing a cultural and spatial continuity over three distinct timelines: (1) prehistory and antiquity, (2) late antiquity, (3) medieval ages, and (4) 1900s. To facilitate meaningful historical comparisons, the PhD student created a periodization system during the workshop. The vocation, which has evolved over ages from the Roman period to the Middle Ages and up to the present century, was the essential feature to must comprehend and honor. The challenge faced was the reduction in population and the poor quality of urban spaces, which are the two main factors that shape the urban reality in the Municipality of Finiq. The Phoenice municipality is primarily agricultural in nature and depends on the division of fields at the individual property level, as mandated by law no. 7501/19911, which pertains to agricultural land.