Le Patrimoine immatériel de la foggara, essai d’identification

Abstract

The heritage identification fields henceforth take increasingly more and more important dimensions; especially since the end of the 20th century. Indeed, starting from the 1972 World Heritage Convention, the most important nomination for a given cultural property remains the international recognition by the UNESCO normative instruments. However, the procedures in force describe a space in fractions due to the multiplicity of the instruments and the restrictive nomination conditions. This underlines a need for a global and inclusive vision which would make recognizing the entire heritage aspects; especially of those having more dimensions that could be covered by a single heritage normative instrument. Water heritage develops relationships to the various aspects of the social life. It takes from the techniques and know-how to the various views of the universe. This is an example of particular properties which include both tangible and intangible aspects. Until now, those properties do not find a holistic recognition form. The Algerian foggara seems to be a key representative example. Since more than a millennium, its system sustains life and prosperity of a Saharan civilization which still nowadays preserves some of its particular features. Given their physical consistency, water heritage properties have contributed to reinforce the perception towards the identification modes of tangible aspects. However, the need is obvious regarding the identification modes of intangible aspects which can be quite as important. We intend by this work to seek how to identify the foggara intangible aspects starting from its attested tangible aspects. Beyond the foggara, we seek to what extent this identification could help to draw up a substantial evolution in the heritage nomination processes through a global approach. The context chosen for this work is the case of Amekane foggara, the oldest foggara in Timimun. As capital of the Gourara area, it has been recently appointed as a Sub- Wilaya within Adrar Wilaya (region) in the Algerian Western Sahara. The relative geographical withdrawal contributed to maintain part of Gurara social, cultural, and linguistic characters. the late deterioration according to the ruling development model is of particular interest for this search. With this intention, we define three assumptions whose order declines a complementary and evolutionary vision. Considering that intangible elements are essential to the foggara life, we do suppose that they could prove more important than the tangible ones. Additionally, given the fact that intangible elements rise of an evolution process within the socio-economic and cultural environment, we also suppose that they are to be sought in the foggara direct (cause and effect) and continuous (evolution) interaction within the oasis life. Lastly, while intangible elements are based on the various oasis aspects, we suppose that they could go ahead of what could suggest the tangible elements. In other words, the identification of the intangible side constitutes, in a more general way, a conclusive step to identify the foggara global heritage. To fix the main search issue of this thesis, and challenge the assumptions, we rely on various methods combining theoretical, historical and monographic data retrieval, and fieldwork investigation. Then, we figure out a key retrospective of the heritage field’s evolution, in both tangible and intangible sides. This helps to situate our work in the dynamic context of heritage perception. The thorough knowledge of the system in its international context with reference to the other traditional hydraulic systems in Algeria accounts for water heritage 12 characteristic, and for the foggara system importance. Furthermore, this knowledge contributes to define the foggara-oasis life interaction fields which will take to the intangible fields. The case study historical analysis with reference to the environmental context approves drawing a diachronic segmentation of the system evolution in agreement with the substantial developments occurred over the time. The cross analysis of the intangible fields through the historical segmentation thus leads to identify the intangible domains through the matrix of the direct (synchronic) and continuous (diachronic) interactions of the foggara with the oasis life. It also allows checking the intangible elements vulnerability at a time of great local changes occurring, in particular, since the end of the 20th century. The search work, in its totality, confirms the assumptions veracity. It outlines the specific character of the Algerian foggara given the strong probability of its endogenous invention process. It also emphasizes the identification limits in the intangible domains related to the 2003 Convention. Indeed, some found intangible aspects like those concerning economic and normative fields are missing from the 2003 Convention domains. This seems to be critical at a time of an international key discourse insisting on the bonds with peace and sustainable development. In addition, the search stressed the importance of intangible aspects related to the world heritage nomination criteria. This suggests that intangible elements are not the exclusive prerogative of the 2003 Convention. Hence, there is a need to reconsider the fragmentary design related to the autonomous processes in the international normative instruments. It is an argument in favour of a global view considering both tangible and intangible sides through integrated actions aiming identification and safeguard. Going ahead from this search, the interest would be more significant foggara cases studies with reference to the whole Maghreb hydraulic systems. The foggara origin issue has also to be consolidated by more comparative studies with old Libyan Fezzan cases. That would contribute to reinforce the Algerian foggara genuiness. Moreover, the implementation of a cataloguing system adapted to water heritage properties could de another interest with a perspective about how to bringing together practically the nomination procedures of both 1972 and 2003 Conventions. One of the first applications would be a global procedure for identification and nomination regarding water heritage in Algeria. A second application relates to the revision of the public aid policies to the foggara revivification programs based above all on hydraulic and physical aspects.