DRY-STONE WALLS IN APULIA AND BASILICATA. MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION ART: FROM FUNCTION TO LANGUAGE OF THE CULTURE OF SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

The dry-stone walls of Apulia and Basilicata, a UNESCO heritage site, define a cultural heritage, even before being material, in the definition of optimal paths of use and management of the environment and resources; therefore, it is of particular interest to interpret the different functions that have been attributed to these handiworks in order to adapt their typology to the specific geomorphologic, climatic and cultivation needs of the involved territorial contexts. The materials and the construction arts of these micro-architectures are analyzed in this work, considering the diversified functions of these artefacts and their contribution to the socio-environmental conservation and enhancement of traditional cultures, which have anticipated many sustainability goals such as soil conservation, hydrological optimization and groundwater recharge, perception and protection of natural and cultural landscapes.