PHOTO: DAVOR ROSTUHAR
The art of dry stone walling

The stone lace stretched out with the hands of hardworking people

Discover interesting facts about the modest architecture and dry stone walling as a way of making stone constructions without any binding material. This tradition was started in prehistoric times, and it is the oldest construction activity carried out in the Mediterranean.

Kilometres of these hand-built stone constructions are an invaluable heritage and one of the most important and most distinct traces of the identity of the people of Kornati. This fascinating symbol of human effort, skill and diligence was constructed through the art of dry stone walling, a specific stone building technique without the use of binding materials, which is the oldest stone building technique known from the prehistoric times and still in use today.

The art of dry stone walling

The art of dry stone walling concerns the knowhow related to making stone constructions by stacking stones upon each other, without using any other materials except sometimes dry soil. The stability of the structures is ensured through the careful selection and placement of the stones, and dry-stone structures have shaped numerous, diverse landscapes. Dry stone structures are always made in perfect harmony with the environment and the technique exemplifies a harmonious relationship between human beings and nature. The Kornat island itself boasts around 260 kilometres of dry stone walls, while in impressive 330 kilometres of dry stone walls stretch along the Kornati National Park.

The art of dry stone walling was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 29 November 2018, nominated by Cyprus, France, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland.