Projects / Programmes
Toponomastical heritage of Primorska Region
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.01.00 |
Humanities |
Historiography |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H220 |
Humanities |
Medieval history |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.01 |
Humanities |
History and Archaeology |
historical topography, toponyms, paleonyms, Medieval
history, Primorska region (Slovenian Littoral), database, Web portal, Web services
Researchers (7)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
18164 |
PhD Matjaž Bizjak |
Historiography |
Head |
2018 - 2022 |
161 |
| 2. |
50854 |
PhD Tome Eftimov |
Computer science and informatics |
Researcher |
2018 - 2019 |
233 |
| 3. |
22314 |
PhD Peter Korošec |
Computer science and informatics |
Researcher |
2018 - 2022 |
238 |
| 4. |
16316 |
PhD Mihael Kosi |
Historiography |
Researcher |
2018 - 2022 |
239 |
| 5. |
25644 |
PhD Neva Makuc |
Historiography |
Researcher |
2020 - 2022 |
264 |
| 6. |
28439 |
PhD Miha Seručnik |
Historiography |
Researcher |
2018 - 2022 |
50 |
| 7. |
09862 |
PhD Jurij Šilc |
Computer science and informatics |
Researcher |
2018 - 2022 |
359 |
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Historical topography of the territory of the Republic of Slovenia has been a desideratum of Slovenian historical science for almost a century. Identification (localization) of former place names – settlements, fallows, waters, objects, provinces, etc. – found in various written historical records of the past is of pivotal importance for historical research as well as many other scientific disciplines (geography, archaeology, ethnology, linguistics, etc.). After World War II much work has been done in this field; historical topographies of Carniola, Styria and Slovenian Carinthia, as well as Prekmurje were issued in print form, while the Littoral was to a large extent examined in manuscript. The knowledge of historical sources for the territory of Slovenia in domestic and foreign archives has drastically improved over the last decades, and publications of numerous new collections of sources only further expanded the scope of available and useful data.
With a project, successfully concluded at the Milko Kos Historical Institute of ZRC SAZU
(ZIMK) in 2015, a new series Slovene Historical Topography was established, which will in
the long-term cover the entire state territory and expand the time frame until the 19th
century. In the first phase the area of the historical province of Carniola (Kranjska) until
1500 was treated. The result is a revised, thoroughly expanded and actualized topography of Carniola which importantly updates and in many respects corrects the hitherto knowledge. It is accessible as an e-book and an interactive online presentation in connection with cartographic bases (http://topografija.zrc-sazu.si/). The online edition
allows for up-to-date upgrading and corrections with new data, and thus can constantly
gain in value. The series is conceived as a highly systematic, thorough, reliable and useful
historical topography of Slovenia intended for the scientific public and lay users alike.
The second phase of a long term plan is a historical topography of the Slovene Littoral
(Primorska region), which is the idea of the proposed project. Primorska region is the only
province that so far hasn’t received the treatment in a proper book form. Topographic
material is preserved at Historical Institute Milko Kos in the form of indexing typewritten
sheets with handwritten amendments and revisions. These will be scanned and graphic files will be processed by the program for optical character recognition. The resulting text will be prepared for the entry into an electronic relational database. In order to automate this process, an algorithm will be designed and appropriate software tools will be implemented. As an intermediate step the recording of data in a structured format in a text file will be carried out, which will allow for manual review and entry of content revisions. From the historical side of the project team a considerable amount of new topographical data has been (and will be) acquired from the primary sources: charters, land registers, notary books, town statutes and early cartographic material. The existing database will thus be thoroughly supplemented with this new material. A web service will then be developed, enabling access to the relational database from any application and an interactive web portal will be realized, providing an overview of content in connection with cartographic presentation and editing of content of the relational database.
The short-term objective of the project is thus the expanding of the Slovenian Historical
Topography with the inclusion of up-dated database for the Primorska region. The long-term objective for the future remains a reliable digital (interactive) historical topography of the entire territory of the present-day Slovenia, that will enrich the knowledge of our past and identity.
Significance for science
Results obtained during the course of the project will be original in several regards. Many
Slovenian toponyms in the existing historico-topographic handbooks have remained
unidentified or falsely identified as shown in some recent editions of collections of medieval
sources. Correct(ed) identifications will solve many historico-topographic qualms with which
experts often struggle. A major indirect value conveyed by a consistent historical
topography is derived from the establishment of possible disappearances (abandonments)
of settlements, movements to new locations or name changes that occurred throughout
centuries.
Apart from historiography, the results will also be useful for many other primarily humanity
sciences, especially those dealing with the Slovenian territory in the past: archaeology,
ethnology, (historical) geography, as well as linguistics.
By communicating the results to the broader public, the envisaged online presentation will
disseminate the knowledge of the Slovenian territory in the past and the understanding of
its identity.
Significance for the country
The project of the new historical topography of Slovenia will contribute accurate records
attested forms of place names and their genesis throughout the entire historical period.
Material dispersed in various European countries and a number of archives, on the one
hand, collected, organized and made publicly available and published texts in the form of
electronic databases, on the other hand, the expert considered and evaluated.
Toponomastics heritage will be significantly enriched and significance of these results is
certainly not negligible. This is not just a mere preservation of cultural heritage (in terms of
maintaining its contents), but for its better understanding, interpretation, and – on
consciousness level – positioning within the framework of a much more homogeneous
cultural heritage (Central) European space than we often imagine.
Direct results of the project will be a number of new data on the first mentions of Slovenian
places and forms of place names. This will significantly improve the knowledge of Slovenian
history, at local or regional levels. The results will be useful in addition to science, the local
cultural operators and tourist associations, particularly in raising awareness of the
importance of their cultural heritage and at any potential possibility of its presentation. This
can certainly be a stimulus for the development of tourism and related activities.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
