The art of dry stone walling was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, it was announced on Friday, according to ANA.
The decision was taken after the enthusiastic approval of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, during its 13th General Assembly meeting that took place in Port Louis, Mauritius.
The Ministry of Culture and Sports (MCS) in Greece submitted the candidature for the art of dry stone walling along with seven other countries (Croatia, Cyprus, France, Italy, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland).
According to an statement issued by the MCS, the practice is “closely related to the way in which the productive space of traditional farmer communities is organized and also to the distinctive character of each region. They are a symbol… of the relation forged historically between man and his environment.”
This is the sixth cultural item found in Greece to be inscribed in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The previous ones were the Mediterranean diet (shared with another six countries), the know-how of cultivating mastic on the island of Chios, Tinian marble craftsmanship, the Momoeria New Year’s celebration customs in eight villages of Kozani, and Rebetiko music. Greece is also part of two more candidatures submitted to UNESCO for next year’s meeting: the art of chanting (jointly with Cyprus) and the seasonal droving of livestock along migratory routes in the Mediterranean and the Alps (jointly with Italy and Austria).
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