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Background: Kosovo represents a unique hotspot of biological and cultural diversity in Europe, which allows for interesting cross-cultural ethnobotanical studies. The aims of this study were twofold: 1) to document the state of traditional knowledge related to local (esp. wild) plant uses for food, medicine, and handicrafts in south Kosovo; and 2) to examine how communities of different ethnic groups in the region (Albanians, Bosniaks/Gorani, and Turks) relate to and value wild botanical taxa in their ecosystem. Methods: Field research was conducted in 10 villages belonging to the Prizren municipality and 4 villages belonging to the Dragash municipality, located in the Sharr Mountains in the southern part of Kosovo. Snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit 139 elderly informants (61 Albanians, 32 Bosniaks/Gorani and 46 Turks), for participation in semi-structured interviews regarding the use of the local flora for medicinal, food, and handicraft purposes. Results: Overall, we recorded the local uses of 114 species were used for medicinal purposes, 29 for food (wild food plants), and 20 in handicraft activities. The most important species used for medicinal purposes were Achillea millefolium L., Sambucus nigra L., Urtica dioica L., Tilia platyphyllos Scop. Hypericum perforatum L., Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert, Thymus serpyllum L. and Vaccinium myrtillus L. Chamomilla recutita was the most highly valued of these species across the populations surveyed. Out of 114 taxa used for medicinal purposes, only 44 species are also included in the European Pharmacopoeia. The predominantly quoted botanical families were Rosaceae, Asteraceae, and Lamiaceae. Comparison of the data recorded among the Albanian, Bosniak/Gorani, and Turkish communities indicated a less herbophilic attitude of the Albanian populations, while most quoted taxa were quoted by all three communities, thus suggesting a hybrid character of the Kosovar plant knowledge. Conclusion: Cross-cultural ethnobiological studies are crucial in the Balkans not only for proposing ways of using plant natural resources, which could be exploited in sustainable local development projects (e.g. focusing on eco-tourism and small-scale trade of medicinal herbs, food niche and handicrafts products), but also for fostering collaboration and reconciliation among diverse ethnic and religious communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the traditional use of plants for handicrafts in Southeastern Europe. Handicrafts have been in use for various community activities like food preparation, and household commodities like furniture. This traditional manual technique of workmanship and artistry needs to be protected and passed on to upcoming generations.

Handcrafted practices of young designers, capable of acting as draftsman, craftsman-producers and selling agents of their own creations, are triggering the revaluation and the transformation of hand-crafted activity in Europe. The overview of the situation, which has reached the highest point in the occasion of the design week in Milan, also appears in other Mediterranean countries and in some Latin American countries, but with different distinctive features. However, it delineates a new relationship between design and handicraft, so that is convenient in an ambivalent way. This specific kind of "hand-crafted practice", defined "self-production", sometimes "new-handicraft", again "technological handicraft" or "electronic handicraft", differs from the traditional practice for its progressed or "advanced" dimension, that is enable to interpret crafts, techniques and expression changes, harking back to the union between technical skill and design, manual aptitude and creative process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main idea of this paper is to describe and compare existing situation of craft sector enterprises in Latvia as well as in other European countries. Main attention is turned to certified enterprises according with ISO standards family. Most part of craft enterprises is micro or small sized; usually these enterprises are working like artisan workshops. Presently, in Latvia are two certified craft sector enterprises (total number 115). Depending on existing situation enterprises should decide which of both approaches -- system's certification or self-assessment can give real benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the historical evidence on the structural changes to ships as a consequence of new weaving technology in the Mediterranean late bronze age in Europe. Introduction of sails for propulsion as an alternative to the mechanical forces of rowing, paddling or towing; Creation of different types of sails; Archaeological sources of the ancient marine technology.