What does a territory tell? Co-constructing heritage through complex social values in inner contexts

Italian inner areas are increasingly affected by depopulation, demographic ageing, and territorial fragmentation. In these contexts, cultural heritage is frequently mobilised as a resource for local development and regeneration. While heritage studies have widely recognised that heritage value is socially constructed and multidimensional, less attention has been paid to how such values are collectively produced and negotiated within local communities and how these processes may contribute to territorial development. This article examines the co-construction of heritage value in Papasidero, a small municipality in the Calabrian Apennines facing demographic decline and socio-economic fragility. The study adopts a participatory research-by-design approach combining semi-structured interviews, participant observation, GIS analysis, and participatory value mapping. The findings show that heritage value emerges through everyday practices, collective memories, social relationships, and place attachment rather than through material or economic attributes only. By making these values visible and open to discussion, the participatory process revealed the coexistence of multiple value systems, fostered collective reflection and strengthened community agency. The article contributes to debates on local development and heritage governance by demonstrating how participatory valuation can support more inclusive, place-based, and community-centred regeneration pathways in peripheral territories.