The awareness of values through education. „Saint Nicholas” Parish,

Câmpina (Prahova, Romania) – crucible of local cultural and spiritual

patrimony- Romanian funds (The Administration of National Cultural

Fund) for cultural education MĂDĂLINA NICOLETA FRÎNCULEASA

Department of Geography Humanities Faculty, Valahia University of Târgovişte

Bd. Regele Carol I, no. 130024, Târgovişte, DâmboviŃa ROMANIA

madalina_chitescu@yahoo.com ALIN FRÎNCULEASA

Department of Archaeology Prahova County Museum of History and Archaeology

Str. Toma. Caragiu, no. 10, Ploieşti, Prahova ROMANIA

alinfranculeasa@yahoo.com PETRU MOGA

„Saint Nicholas” Parish Câmpina Slobozia District, str. Nucilor no. 9, 105600, Câmpina, Prahova

ROMANIA

Abstract. Apart from the general importance of education, „The awareness of values through education. „Saint Nicholas” Parish, Câmpina (Prahova, Romania) - crucible of local cultural and spiritual patrimony” project pursued its transposition into a basic component found in symbiosis with spirituality and science, and together with them to create a necessary and smart tool for the formation of a public cultural consciousness. Addressing this theme is the consequence of finding a large discrepancy in Romanian educational environments, from primary school to university, between theoretical awareness of the importance of local and regional cultural heritage and the difficulties faced in their appropriation and proper use in practice. „The awareness of values through education. „Saint Nicholas” Parish, Câmpina (Prahova, Romania) - crucible of local cultural and spiritual patrimony” project was won in a competition by Valahia University of Târgovişte in partnership with Prahova County Museum of History and Archaeology and „Saint Nicholas” Parish, Câmpina, in the second funding session, July 2011, initiated by the Administration of National Cultural Fund, at the Cultural Education section. Keywords: education, culture, patrimony, spirituality, Câmpina, Romania 1. Introduction. Cultural patrimony is an important part of local identity, a source of essential values, spiritual and aesthetic experiences that must be constantly supported through educational approaches. The lack of education and cultural information of the public often leads to ignoring local cultural values and their potential for regional development. In the educational system the component of cultural consciousness is precarious and this affects the quality of society

because this component is the main propelling force when we have in mind the characteristic of individual fiber. Only through education we can place ourselves in the present time, and the present cannot be really lived if we do not value our past. The simple state of affairs of present times emphasizes without any doubt the consequences of neglecting cultural education, facing us with a society that fails to understand the real value of its patrimony. Humankind has always tended to improve knowledge, has aimed for scientific

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progress and has used as a starting point education, of which we can never have enough.

Fig. 1. Romania map – location of Câmpina city

Câmpina city, localized at 45° 7'58.82"N,

25°45'5.11"E, about 30 km North-West of Ploieşti, is placed in the sub-Carpathian area, bordered on the West side by Prahova Valley and on the East side by Doftana river. Found approximately 1km away from the confluence of Prahova and Doftana rivers, on the second terrace of Prahova (Câmpina terrace), „Saint Nicholas” Parish ensemble allows a profound study of natural and cultural (including archaeological) perspectives on the social evolution of this region.

Fig.2. Map of „Saint Nicholas” Parish Câmpina.

1. gravles; 2. redish silt; 3. natural slope of erosion; 4. artificial slope; 5. parish court; a. medieval cemetery; b. Bronz Age cemetery; c. new church; ancient church

„Saint Nicholas” Parish Câmpina represents a complex of architectural and historical elements that create, through the cultural context they offer,

multiple opportunities for the accomplishment of an educational project. The parish ensemble is constituted from: The old church „Saint Nicholas” whose present construction was preceded by a suppositional church made out of wood at the end of the XVIIth century and by a church founded by the abbot Damaschin – Dionisie around 1796; The new church The descent of the Holy Spirit, The Feast

House, The kindergarten (Waldorf method) that used to serve as hay storehouse and stable and kept incised the year of its construction (1842) on an oak beam; The parsonage, dating from 1840, that appears on the list of historical monuments from Câmpina as the oldest house in the city, kept in its authentic shape and construction.

For the remaking of the entire architectural ensemble the architect Livia CâlŃia was awarded in 2008 the National Award for Arts - Architecture.

Integrated into this space is the archaeological complex-Bronze Age necropolis, where the archaeological researches have begun in 2008, whose exceptional nature is given by the appearance of tombs dating from three distinct cultural manifestations: Tei, Monteoru and Noua, a unique situation in the Subcarpathian area. The funeral rites present are both inhumation and cremation. Inhumation graves have rectangular pits with rounded corners, for cremation tombs the bones were placed in small pits lined with stones. Above the interred individual a mound of stone and/or land was arranged, exceeding in size the dimensions of the pits. The grave inventory consisted of vessels, but also pieces of jewelry made of bone, bronze, amber, glassy paste, clay. Based on the rite, ritual, archaeological inventory, but also on absolute dating, the cemetery seems to have functioned in the Late Bronze Age, between 16th and 13th century B.C. Its proximity to a medieval and two other modern cemeteries indicates the fact that the collective memory has kept in its subconscious the sacredness of the place.

The formative valences of the cultural and natural landscape represented by „Saint Nicholas” Parish Câmpina allow the approach, in a highly accesible maner, of the understanding both of the significance and importance of patrimony, but also underline its cultural and material frailty.

The cultural dimension of this space is doubled by the educational potential it brings, by joining spiritual elements, much more present in the life of a comunity, with cultural and material elements (architectural and archaeological patrimony). This is

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one of the reasons why the educational units proposed by the project are headed especially towards cultural-material elements, which, although present, raise only tangentially the interest of the comunity.

Fig.3. Image during archaeological research It is also the case that the parish has a lifestyle

that gathers recurrently, through multiple activities – meetings, feasts a very large public with different levels of culture and provides access to a target group accustomed with „school-walks”.

2. The description of the project Structurally conceived on two axis, the

project „The awareness of values through education. „Saint Nicholas” Parish, Câmpina (Prahova, Romania) - crucible of local cultural and spiritual patrimony” pursued, on the one hand, a series of educational activities addressed to a young public (children, students) focused on the practical and applicative aspect, and on the other hand aimed at drawing attention, to the scientific and local public comunity, to efforts made for the research of the archaeological site from the parish precint.

The interregional partnership created is a solid one, based on numeorus previous connections and it covers, through the specific of the institutions involved, not only the educational aspect (Wallachia University of Târgovişte, „Saint Nicholas” Parish Câmpina), but also the scientific one (County Museum of History and Archaeology Prahova). At the same time the partners are the messengers of a

cultural perimeter that deserves to go beyond its local borders.

2.1. Objectives The purpose of this cultural project was to increase the posibilities of access to culture – the awareness

of the value of patrimony by creating instructive and

cultural products accesible to a wide range of public.

In order to achieve the main goal - to create

specific educational, cultural and scientific products

in order to assure the visibility and protection of local

patrimony and to invigorate local cultural life, a set of specific objectives were settled, so as to cover all necessary sections for the logical progression of the pursued approach. These aimed for:

� bringing the public closer to understanding the archaeological patrimony by accustoming them to the entire methodologycal process of interdisciplinary research;

� transposition of cultural and spiritual influences assimilated in a social model that recognizes cultural value;

� increasing the educational value of this area;

� presentation and organization of scientific information in an accessible manner, complemented by an explicit graphic material (drawings, graphic reconstructions, photos, etc.);

� establishing relationships between research and education institutions involved in the project and similar institutions, in order to facilitate the impact of the research on the scientific community;

� proposals for capitalization and promotion of the archaeological site and the entire worship complex as environmental reservation in the local cultural frame, according to town-planning development.

2.2. Relevance The project proved viable, necessary and relevant to the specific needs of target groups (pupils, students, local public opinion, specialists in archaeology and related interdisciplinary fields), because:

� only a well prepared public can have a positive response concerning the preservation and capitalization of patrimony and early education can lead to such a public, be it cultural tourist or member of a community

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with a rich spiritual, architectural, historical or natural patrimony;

� education is never enough;

� currently, cultural education is done mainly theoretically and in a general way, and ignores the cultural peculiarities of a complex and the power of practice in the educational process;

� „Saint Nicholas” Parish Câmpina has all the necessary human and material elements for the approaches undertaken by the project.

2.3. Activities The activities that defined the project had a consistent course of conduct, involving the elaboration of a work strategy whose scaffolding was the symbiosis between the cultural (religious architectural complex „Saint Nicholas” Câmpina, Bronze Age archaeological site, archaeological exhibition), natural (geological and morphological features of Prahova’s Subcarpathians at the confluence of Doftana and Prahova rivers) and social component (local community strongly attached to spiritual values promoted by the parish). The working methods corresponding each phase outlined a set of defining cultural landmarks for the parish perimeter and for the interdependence between components of the system represented by the area subjected to the proposed approach.

Besides preparation, monitoring and evaluation activities, the main events that gave shape to this project were:

� The workshop named „Cultural

interferencse in the Bronze Age in Wallachia’s sub-

Carpathians” held at „Saint Nicholas” Parish Câmpina, which was attended by researchers from the archaeological domaine and other inter- and transdisciplinary sciences representing partner institutions (Wallachia University of Târgovişte, County Museum of History and Archaeology Prahova) and other research and culture institutions (Buzău Museum, National Museum of Bucharest, Bucharest Institute of Archaeology, Institute of Anthropology „Francisc Rainer” Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics Bucharest). At the event were presented and discussed results of archaeological and interdisciplinary research from the Bronze Age site involved in this project, along with other information on the topic. The second part of this work was an exhibition of the most significant and impressive archaeological items offered by excavation

conducted between 2008-2011, with sketches, reconstructions and photographs.

� „A 3500-year-old puzzle” - practical application opened to public. This activity involved the accomplishment of a series of interactive experimental workshops held either on the archaeological site or in laboratories of Wallachia University and Prahova County Museum of History and Archaeology. The main goals were: for archaeology - archaeological excavation technique and methodology, for restoration - completion of archaeological material, for geology - mineralogical and petrographic determinations, classification, determination of possible source areas, anthropology - primary observations on human bone remains. The activity included a series of educational materials (games, cards, drawings) specially designed for this project in order to facilitate practical approach to research. After taking part in these workshops participants were able to establish direct contacts beyond the scientific dimension. The conduct of the event was attended by Valahia University of Târgovişte, Faculty of Humanities, Department of History and Philology, Department of Geography, Prahova County Museum of History and Archaeology, „Saint Nicholas” Parish Câmpina, Institute of Anthropology „Francisc Rainer” Bucharest, The association for promoting Waldorf pedagogy, Câmpina, Paul Bănică School from Târgovişte, Interdisciplinary research center „Prehistory, Interdisciplinary Archaeology and Cultural movable and immovable heritage conservation techniques”.

� „Journey to the spirituality of the

place”, presentation of the architectural and worship complex represented by „Saint Nicholas” Parish Câmpina.

� The seminar „The awareness of

values through education. „Saint Nicholas” Parish,

Câmpina (Prahova, Romania) - crucible of local

cultural and spiritual patrimony” held in Valahia University of Târgovişte, during which was made a final evaluation of the project and were set up future directions for institutional collaboration.

2.4. Methods of implementing the cultural project

Achieving the pursued goal by this project involved several processes proposed by an effective management that is the result of planning, organizing and coordinating human and material resources of the

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project. Thus, each activity took place in several stages, each of them with strong financial support and assigned for implementation to members with appropriate skills. Experience gained by the project team management while attending courses or other projects undertaken is the argument for the effective implementation of this project.

The specific methods chosen for this cultural project were those commonly used in education and awareness actions (demonstration, problem-solving, graphic modelling, heuristic conversation, discussion). They are effective tools for transmitting information, and for conducting exchanges of ideas and experiences that help information to be assimilated and assumed, not just perceived. The instruments were adapted to the knowledge level of the target audience in order to maximize their effect.

3. Results and cultural impact of the

project The achieved results emphasize the relevance of the project and justify the approach chosen. a) Quantitative results: - realization of a workshop and an exhibition; - making a final seminar; - publication of scientific articles and a brochure to disseminate the cultural heritage. Qualitative results: - informing and raising awareness of the public on the value of cultural patrimony from their housing area; - involvement in the project of the scientific community and the local and central administrative community; - active and effective communication between project partners during its progress. b) Cultural products of the project: - a website both in Romanian and English language, with an interactive format and multiple search capabilities; - the publication of leaflets and posters for popularization; - opening of an exhibition according to the subject.

The results and experience gained in this project can be exploited to ground other similar projects for other areas with potential for high recovery of cultural heritage.

The impact of this cultural project was felt in: - the primary cultural education of the public, especially the parishioners (in large numbers) who attend church, of the children from the parish kindergarten, from city schools and the neighboring county - DâmboviŃa, concerning the cultural value of the historical and architectural ensemble of which they are part and of the archaeological site integrated to this space; - a wider scientific visibility of archaeological and interdisciplinary scientific research conducted throughout the archaeological complex.

4. Conclusion „The awareness of values through education. „Saint

Nicholas” Parish, Câmpina (Prahova, Romania) -

crucible of local cultural and spiritual patrimony” aimed essentially at defining educational methods in light of access to culture through awareness of value and its role in social development. The innovations, unforeseen by the initiators, occurring during the course of events called for the refinement of the original objectives, for changing ways of conceptualizing the practical applications in cultural education. This highlights the limits of methodological unilateral schemes applied both in education and in the research environments. A new horizon of knowledge achieved in the project encourages us to a radical critique of these educational level methodological approaches, preceded or followed by social changes that reflect themselves, in subtle ways, in the cultural education of communities. The outline of these methodes gives us the means to initiate other interinstitutional, cultural projects, and a critical appraisal from the perspective of social evolution, of the awareness of local heritage’s value and the power of the community in terms of its capitalization.

The project also brought forward the common message that can be transmited by educational institutions that act in different paradigms, with specific tools - the church and education and research institutions (University, Museum, Research Institute) concerning the assumption of specific local cultural context.

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[1] Armaş, Iuliana, Damian, R., Şandric, I., Osaci-Costache, Gabriela, Vulnerabilitatea versanŃilor la

alunecări de teren în sectorul subcarpatic al văii

Prahova, Editura FundaŃiei România de Mâine, Bucureşti, 2003, 207p. [2] Frînculeasa, A., Soficaru, A.D., Negrea, O., Frînculeasa, Mădălina, Cultural memory of a sacred

place – from the Bronze Age to present: Câmpina

(Prahova County, Romania), European Association of Archaeologist, 17 th Anual Meeting 14th – 18th September 2011 Oslo – Norway, Abstracts, 2011, p. 239. [3] Frînculeasa, A., Soficaru, A.D., Negrea, O., Mărgărit, Monica, Frînculeasa, Mădălina, Preda, Bianca, David, C., Cimitirul din epoca bronzului de

la Câmpina (jud. Prahova), Studii de Preistorie, 8, Ed. Renaiscenses, 2011 (in press).

[4] Ghenciulescu, Şt., Ansamblul parohial Sf.

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