The impact of the process of mapping the cultural heritage of marginal urban neighborhoods on the formation of community ties (the case of Kopánka in Trnava)

RESEARCH AREA: HISTORICAL SCIENCES

faculty-banner-photo

CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS OF THE UCM

The goal of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) is to strengthen inclusive communities, access to information, and participation. Documenting the memories of displaced communities (not only in the Trnava region) promotes public dialogue, understanding of the consequences of political interventions, and the building of a sense of belonging. At UCM, historical research maps cultural heritage and provides background information for museums and local governments, thereby also fulfilling SDG 4 (Quality Education) by developing cultural literacy and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by establishing partnerships between the university, communities, and cultural institutions.

Social demand	How can we preserve the memory of a community that was formed by resettlement and underwent cultural transformation in a completely new space? The Kopánka neighborhood in Trnava—known as "Execír"—was established in the 1950s when residents of the defunct village of Ústie nad Oravou were relocated here. This unique story deserves attention: not as a dry historical event, but as a living testimony to how interventions in the landscape change human destinies and urban structures.
UCM solution	Historians and ethnologists from the Faculty of Philosophy at UCM embarked on detailed research with the aim of mapping the cultural heritage of this specific part of the city. The result is the publication Trnavský Execír, which combines academic precision with the human dimension of the community's story. The book captures everyday life, traditions, changes in the area, and the power of togetherness that was born in the shadow of great change.
Social impact of the UCM solution	The research became a catalyst for social interest. The monograph encouraged the younger generation of Trnava residents and descendants of resettlers to discover their own history. It supported the building of community ties and became an inspiration for museums and cultural institutions throughout Slovakia. The publication also raised important questions about the impact of political decisions on everyday life. UCM's research in the field of historical sciences contributes to addressing social issues, including ethnic processes and cultural transformations, and mapping cultural heritage in the context of the development of modern society.
Partnerships	The project was created thanks to the cooperation between the Department of Historical Sciences and Central European Studies and the Department of Ethnology and Non-European Studies at the Faculty of Arts, UCM. Both departments have long been involved in research into cultural heritage, historical geography, and ethnic processes in Central Europe, and also act as experts in the creation of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Slovakia (UNESCO).
Contact	doc. PhDr. Martin Priečko, PhD. (martin.priecko@ucm.sk) Faculty of Philosophy Univerzita sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Trnave Nám. Jozefa Herdu 2 917 01 Trnava