Skip to main content
EnglishEN
European Commission logo print header

Preservation of ancient MEDIterranean sites in terms of their ornamental and building STONE: from determining stone provenance to proposing conservation/restoration techniques

Objective

The conservation of archaeological sites around the Mediterranean basin constitutes a major challenge for the future. Hitherto, studies of archaeological sites have tended to lack sustained follow-up over time, and not interacted sufficiently with other si milar sites to enhance the results of research. Three archaeological sites two listed within UNESCO's World Heritage List, have been selected for this study. Site selection has been based on priorities for site preservation and tourism indicated by those n on-European participating partner countries where a demonstrable scientific challenges and possible breakthroughs for site preservation have been identified. The MEDISTONE approach will consist : i) identifying stones used at the selected sites and determi ning their origins in terms of geographic areas and, if possible, the former quarry sites ; at the present time, the region of origin of numerous decorative stones used in constructions dating from antiquity, both in the west and the orient (and often reus ed in the Middle Ages) remains poorly defined or even unknown ii) establishing diagnosis of the state of conservation of the stones at the sites ; whilst the causes and the mechanisms of the deterioration to stone are relatively well known for temperate Eu ropean climates, the semi-arid continental climate of the selected sites, characterised by strong thermal amplitudes, high evaporation and strong wind action, together bring about specific weathering and alteration requiring more thorough investigations ii i) providing answers to the main problems regarding stone conservation / restoration that are liable to be met at the selected sites ; it involves developing techniques for reassembling fractured and fissured stones ; this phase will be based on European k now-how and will take into account the climatic and environmental specificity, as well as the social-economic context in each Mediterranean partner country.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP6-2003-INCO-MPC-2
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

IP - Integrated Project

Coordinator

BUREAU DE RECHERCHES GÉOLOGIQUES ET MINIÈRES
EU contribution
No data
Address
39-43 quai André Citroën - Tour Mirabeau
PARIS
France

See on map
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (11)

Share this page

Download

Last update: 14 October 2010

My Booklet

Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/15245

European Union, 2024