CONCLUSIONS
GIS technologies made typological classification much easier especially
when it comes to the analyses of the the dependence of structural and
morphological characteristics of different types of settlements in relation to
geological and pedological substrate, as well as in relation to the cultural and
historical context in which they were developed.
As result of typological classification in the study area, three basic types
and seven subtypes of rural settlements were identified. The diversity of rural
areas in the hinterland of the Bay of Boka Kotorska was created by combining
the exceptional natural values and various traditional forms of space utilization.
Rural settlements in coastal area were developed mostly on limestone,
flysch and alluvial surface, and even in some sites in the municipality of Herceg
Novi there are rural settlements on the fluvioglacial sediments and moraines. The
mere geological substrate conditioned the quality and thickness of soil suspstrates
and therefore the activity of the population and morphology of these settlements.
Settlements that were developed on slopes are of terraced settlement type.
On limestone, they are mostly traditional terraces with olive groves, while in the
settlements on the flysch and clay terrains with brown land, the quality of soil
stimulated agricultural activities and they are much more present. Rural
settlements of terraced type are very attractive because of a number of traditional
cultural elements which are, not only the specifics of buildings, but also the
elements such as the retaining walls and borders, traditional plant species (olives,
figs, vines and mulberry) and the like. On the other hand, the settlements that
developed in the plains have completely different characteristics. Here again we
have agriculture, but in this case it is a matrix consisting of fields bordered by hedges and borders. Particularly interesting are old and mostly abandoned rural
settlements in hilly areas where space is becoming practically empty.
In this climate typical agricultural activities are linked to the cultivation of
olive trees, citrus, grapes and some mixed crops in the fields. Agriculture with
mainly Mediterranean crops has created unique field patterns, thus enriching a
landscape picture of this area.
As a result of the above, it can be concluded that the most common type of
rural settlements in the Bay of Boka Kotorska is of type 1b - rural settlements
with traditional terraces on flysch terrains with brown soil.
Starting from the primary objective of this typological classification and it
is the establishing of the guidelines for the development and preservation of the
rural settlements authenticity in the Bay of Boka Kotorska, the identification of
these types of settlements has firstly acknowledged their identity characteristics
that will be drivers of their further development and that should be preserved and
valorized. Knowledge of architectural elements and traditional agricultural
patterns, origins and identity can facilitate and define principles of urban
development planning and revitalization of these models of rural settlements.
Factors that may adversely affect the preservation of spatial identity in
rural areas are depopulation, abandonment of traditional ways of farming, illegal
and uncontrolled construction and disrespect of natural characteristics and
traditional forms of construction. Due to the lack of knowledge about spatial
values, there is a risk of conversion of this areas into the urban zone with tourist
facilities and complete abandonment of villages in the hinterland as well as the
loss of agricultural land. Such a development would completely destroy the
complexity of the area and reduce the existing spatial values.
In order to provide clearer guidelines for the revitalization of the area, after
a typological classification was carried out, it is necessary to further research and
identify individual landscape elements within rural areas (built-up environment,
various agricultural patterns, systems of roads, social infrastructure elements,
etc.). It is also important to examine the effects of (non) adapting the modern
construction to the traditional structure/morphology of the rural settlements.