The Revitilastion of Počtelj: A War Damaged Historic Settlement in Bosnia-Herzegovina

International publicity has highlighted the considerable destruction of built cultural heritage in the countries which together make up the former Yugoslavia. Dubrovnik received substantial attention, whilst the need to rebuild the shattered historic centre of Mostar has been prioritised. However, throughout the region smaller settlements of exceptional historic, architectural and ethnic value, targeted because of their iconographic symbolism, are in a severe condition of decay and neglect.

The need to protect and reconstruct these settlements, recreating the social and economic environment of the surrounding region, requires a new strategy for intervention. The exemplar proposed is the unique town of Poäteli, successfully nominated by the PRDU for the World Monument Fund's 100 Most Endangered Sites programme in 1996 (World Monument Watch). Funding support from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation led to the revitalisation study based on five months' research and analysis. A key to the success of the study was the involvement of the Bosnian Professor of Cultural Heritage and Conservation Studies, jekoslava Simcic. The findings and proposals have been compiled into the book
'The Revitalisation of the Historic Settlement Poätelj, published by the