Cultural and landscape assessment of rural population groups: Altiplano region (Murcia/Southeast of Spain)

Rural human settlements are part of the cultural and landscape heritage of Europe, while its objective valuation is key to establish recovery and development programs, constituting the main goal of this work. With this aim, a quantitative methodology was established based on the analysis by means of weighted equations of two areas or crowns, an inner one and an outer one, which generated an overall numerical value called "cultural and landscape value". This methodology was proven in a selection of nine rural settlements located in the district of the Region of Murcia called Altiplano. The settlements that showed higher global values housed elements with greater architectural and natural values. This is the case of Fuente del Pino, which presents a traditional orchard and significant architectural elements, and Santa Ana del Monte, which is located within a protected natural enclave and has an old monastery. In contrast, Casas de Pinillos, located in a steppe with intense agricultural transformation, was the settlement with the lowest value. Therefore, this numerical approach of the cultural and landscape valuation of rural settlements allows a simple and robust determination of their developmental potential, and permits future modifications and improvements depending on the deepening required.