Cultural Routes for Territorial Interpretation and Participatory Planning of Archaeological Heritage Sites: The Olba Cultural Routes Project

The ancient Olba region possesses one of the unique cultural heritage contexts of the Mediterranean Region with high number of ancient settlements, protected historic villages and local communities based on traditional transhumance culture. The main target of the Olba Cultural Routes project is to develop a territorial heritage interpretation and management program to achieve unification of fragmented archaeological sites in the historic Olba region, located in Mersin, Türkiye. The study aims to increase public awareness about the archaeological and cultural diversity of the region, to prevent management gaps due to fragmented protection zones and to achieve participatory planning approaches while empowering local communities in management activities. 28 archaeological sites and 18 villages have been reconnected through 12 thematic destinations under the Olba Culture Routes framework. The paper presents experiences and results gained through cultural routes approach in participatory-based interpretation and planning of archaeological sites.