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On a Neandertal Trail : Commerical Aspects of an Extinct Population

Among the riches of Croatian heritage are several Middle Paleolithic sites located in both the coastal and inland regions of Croatia. Sites such as Krapina and Vindija where the Neandertal remains were found are well known among scientists interested in human evolution and prehistoric archaeology. At several other sites, Mousterian tools and other items document Neandertal presence and habitation. Paleoanthropological, archaeological, zooarchaeological and lately, genetic studies have allowed an interesting insight into biocultural properties and variation (both populational and temporal) of these interesting humans. New research is providing an interesting insight into Neandertal adaptation to different local environmental and ecological zones (namely comparisons between the inland site of Vindija and Mujina Pećina on the coast). Ongoing research at various sites and regions will allow us to learn more about contact zones and patterns during the Late Pleistocene. However interesting and scientifically important these results are, one of the often neglected aspects and potentials of archaeological research is in public presentation of results and sites. Results obtained by various scientific analyses need to be transferred into an easily understandable form for non-scientists. This will add to the overall understanding of local community on the importance of the sites and make them embrace them as a part of their intellectual and cultural heritage. Furthermore, an investment in cultural preservation and presentation of these sites as a part of tourist route is of crucial importance. Cultural tourism has long been a keyword of modern economical strategy of many countries and proved to be a good investment. Recently, a collaborative project under the title “The Neandertal Trail” has been started. Its main aim is the inclusion of the aforementioned “Neandertal” sites in the local tourist offer. In fact, the project is an original thematic unit which aims at unifying and evaluating in terms of cultural tourism the archaeological heritage pertaining to Neandertals in Croatia, through the creation of a cultural route with all elements essential in the development of a comprehensive cultural-tourist product. The target audience in the narrow sense are tourists with a specific interest in archaeology and archaeological heritage, and in the wider sense, cultural tourists in general. Great care within the project has been given to the educational role, with the intention to promote the stations on the Trail as a logical choice for the sites in learning about the earliest prehistory and human evolution. An important role in the implementation of the project is reserved for the local community, but first it is necessary to make them familiar with and interested in the project, which is done in various ways. Presupposed positive financial effects will be used in part for further research and scientific valorization, but also for the physical protection of the sites themselves.

Neandertals; cultural tourism; archaeological heritage; Croatia

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