Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ED-ARCHMAT (European Doctorate in ARchaeological and Cultural Heritage MATerials science)
Reporting period: 2018-04-01 to 2020-03-31
BACKGROUND
The study and conservation of Archaeological (and Cultural Heritage) materials is a research area where the shift from a traditional multidisciplinary towards an interdisciplinary and, eventually, a trans-disciplinary approach is particularly needed. The reaching of a true, innovative transdisciplinary educational approach is at the core of the ED-ARCHMAT PhD Program rationale and of the building up of the international ED-ARCHMAT Consortium. The common goal of all ED-ARCHMAT Consortium members is to create a sustainable, interdisciplinary, inter-sectorial learning network/platform which will act as a reference point for ESRs well beyond the successful completion of their PhD project, guiding them right through the early stages of their professional careers.
WHY?
The overall ED-ARCHMAT objectives are:
a) To form a new generation of Conservation Science professionals equipped with transdisciplinary key knowledge, competences and skills from different sectors such as Physiochemical Sciences, Cultural Heritage, Conservation, Archaeology, Museology, Art History, Project Management, IT.
b) To help European policy makers, HEI and associations such as E.C.C.O and EnCORE in defining the key knowledge, competences and skills required for independent practice as a professional Conservation scientist trained at EQF level 8.
c) To re-discover, un-cover and promote the fruition also to the societal sector of archaeological and cultural heritage artifacts stored (“forgotten”) in Museums deposits worldwide through dedicated PhD level research projects that will study, diagnose, preserve and disseminate.
d) To create and promote an interdisciplinary, multisectoral and sustainable network of HEI, Museums, Research labs, SME, NGOs and CSOs active in the broad Cultural Heritage Materials sector.
e) To promote the dissemination of interdisciplinary scientific approaches applied to the study of CH within the scientific community and to disclose to the general public the new advances of science and technology applied to the cultural heritage
artifacts displayed in exhibitions and Museums.
HOW?
The ED-ARCHMAT individual Fellowship PhD projects are structured along two main research lines:´
1) Lifecycle of an archaeological/CH artifact from discovery-creation to conservation and dissemination/fruition (WP4):
2) Innovative and Non-Destructive technological approach applied to the study and conservation of archaeological/CH artifacts at riskt (WP5)
WHO
HEIs, UEVORA, UNIROMA1, BGU, POLITO, UA, UBU, 1 Research Center (CSIC) will act as beneficiaries with Research centers, Museums, SMEs, NGO,CSO and Government Institutions as partners
The study and conservation of Archaeological (and Cultural Heritage) materials is a research area where the shift from a traditional multidisciplinary towards an interdisciplinary and, eventually, a trans-disciplinary approach is particularly needed. The reaching of a true, innovative transdisciplinary educational approach is at the core of the ED-ARCHMAT PhD Program rationale and of the building up of the international ED-ARCHMAT Consortium. The common goal of all ED-ARCHMAT Consortium members is to create a sustainable, interdisciplinary, inter-sectorial learning network/platform which will act as a reference point for ESRs well beyond the successful completion of their PhD project, guiding them right through the early stages of their professional careers.
WHY?
The overall ED-ARCHMAT objectives are:
a) To form a new generation of Conservation Science professionals equipped with transdisciplinary key knowledge, competences and skills from different sectors such as Physiochemical Sciences, Cultural Heritage, Conservation, Archaeology, Museology, Art History, Project Management, IT.
b) To help European policy makers, HEI and associations such as E.C.C.O and EnCORE in defining the key knowledge, competences and skills required for independent practice as a professional Conservation scientist trained at EQF level 8.
c) To re-discover, un-cover and promote the fruition also to the societal sector of archaeological and cultural heritage artifacts stored (“forgotten”) in Museums deposits worldwide through dedicated PhD level research projects that will study, diagnose, preserve and disseminate.
d) To create and promote an interdisciplinary, multisectoral and sustainable network of HEI, Museums, Research labs, SME, NGOs and CSOs active in the broad Cultural Heritage Materials sector.
e) To promote the dissemination of interdisciplinary scientific approaches applied to the study of CH within the scientific community and to disclose to the general public the new advances of science and technology applied to the cultural heritage
artifacts displayed in exhibitions and Museums.
HOW?
The ED-ARCHMAT individual Fellowship PhD projects are structured along two main research lines:´
1) Lifecycle of an archaeological/CH artifact from discovery-creation to conservation and dissemination/fruition (WP4):
2) Innovative and Non-Destructive technological approach applied to the study and conservation of archaeological/CH artifacts at riskt (WP5)
WHO
HEIs, UEVORA, UNIROMA1, BGU, POLITO, UA, UBU, 1 Research Center (CSIC) will act as beneficiaries with Research centers, Museums, SMEs, NGO,CSO and Government Institutions as partners
The ED-ARCHMAT project is carried out by 6 WPs. Work performed and main results achieved in each WP during reporting period 1 may be summarised as follows:
WP1 Management and Quality Control. During the kick off meeting of April 2018 at UEVORA, the Management Bodies of the project were established and their members appointed. The Consortium Agreement was signed by all beneficiaries. A Data Management plan and a Project Management and Quality Control plan was prepared. The plan for the NWT events was established. The Administrative Agreements to establish double degrees for all ESRs were signed between ED-ARCHMAT HEIs delivering the double PhD degrees. At the end of June 2019, the MidTerm Meeting project check was hosted at UNIROMA1 with the participation of the Project PO, all ESRs, their respective supervisors and representatives from all Partner Institutions: each ESR presented the progress of his/her research project. Also in June a STW workshop on Etruscan civilization was held by dr. Babbi (see also WP3).
WP2 Recruitment and supervision. 13 Early Stage Researchers were selected, contracted at each respective host institution and started their PhD research projects. Each ESR prepared jointly with their supervisors a Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP) which was and is being updated periodically. Supervision and planned secondment activities were carried out as envisaged in Annex 1 - Part B of the GA. All ESR were required to prepare an annual report at the end of the first year of their Doctorate.
WP 3 Training and Transfer of Knowledge. During the Midterm Meeting held in Rome in June 2019, a NWT workshop was held which included a technical visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the "Banditaccia" Necropoli in Cerveteri and the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome, both led by the etruscologist Dr. Babbi of Mains RGZM. The NWT event Summer School 1 (SS1) "“Developing entrepreneurial, Project management and Communication transversal skills applied to the Cultural Heritage sector” was held at UEVORA in January in association with the ERIHS network and the ARCHMAT EMJMD.
WP4 Training by Research RL1. Sampling in Museums and Preliminary Physicochemical Characterization analyses on archaeomaterials envisaged in each of the ESR projects in RL1 (ESR4, ESR5, ESR6, ESR9,ESR10, ESR13) were performed.
WP5 Training by Research RL2. The experimental development of non destructive innovative techniques/methodologies and testing for cleaning, characterization and conservation was performed in each of the ESR projects in RL2: ESR1-Plasma/Laser cleaning of stone; ESR2 - biotechnological analysis of proteic compounds in art objects; ESR3-Ma-XRF scanning of paintings, ESR7-Soil and Corrosion in Metal artifacts; ESR8-Laser Cleaning of Archaeobones; ESR11-Laser Cleaning of stained glass windows; ESR12- innovative methodology for characterization of biodegradation in cave art; ESR13 Environmental Biology and Isotopes in zoo-osteological materials.
WP6 Public Engagement, Dissemination and Exploitation of Results. A Dissemination and Communication Plan and an Exploitation of Results plans were prepared. The ED-ARCHMAT website was launched with info on PhD projects research and events. The ED-ARCHMAT facebook page was launched (293 likes). 2 Articles were published. SS1 Summer school event was available in live-streaming and promoted via website, facebook and emails to Scientific Community in CH and Archaemetry mailing lists.
WP1 Management and Quality Control. During the kick off meeting of April 2018 at UEVORA, the Management Bodies of the project were established and their members appointed. The Consortium Agreement was signed by all beneficiaries. A Data Management plan and a Project Management and Quality Control plan was prepared. The plan for the NWT events was established. The Administrative Agreements to establish double degrees for all ESRs were signed between ED-ARCHMAT HEIs delivering the double PhD degrees. At the end of June 2019, the MidTerm Meeting project check was hosted at UNIROMA1 with the participation of the Project PO, all ESRs, their respective supervisors and representatives from all Partner Institutions: each ESR presented the progress of his/her research project. Also in June a STW workshop on Etruscan civilization was held by dr. Babbi (see also WP3).
WP2 Recruitment and supervision. 13 Early Stage Researchers were selected, contracted at each respective host institution and started their PhD research projects. Each ESR prepared jointly with their supervisors a Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP) which was and is being updated periodically. Supervision and planned secondment activities were carried out as envisaged in Annex 1 - Part B of the GA. All ESR were required to prepare an annual report at the end of the first year of their Doctorate.
WP 3 Training and Transfer of Knowledge. During the Midterm Meeting held in Rome in June 2019, a NWT workshop was held which included a technical visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the "Banditaccia" Necropoli in Cerveteri and the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome, both led by the etruscologist Dr. Babbi of Mains RGZM. The NWT event Summer School 1 (SS1) "“Developing entrepreneurial, Project management and Communication transversal skills applied to the Cultural Heritage sector” was held at UEVORA in January in association with the ERIHS network and the ARCHMAT EMJMD.
WP4 Training by Research RL1. Sampling in Museums and Preliminary Physicochemical Characterization analyses on archaeomaterials envisaged in each of the ESR projects in RL1 (ESR4, ESR5, ESR6, ESR9,ESR10, ESR13) were performed.
WP5 Training by Research RL2. The experimental development of non destructive innovative techniques/methodologies and testing for cleaning, characterization and conservation was performed in each of the ESR projects in RL2: ESR1-Plasma/Laser cleaning of stone; ESR2 - biotechnological analysis of proteic compounds in art objects; ESR3-Ma-XRF scanning of paintings, ESR7-Soil and Corrosion in Metal artifacts; ESR8-Laser Cleaning of Archaeobones; ESR11-Laser Cleaning of stained glass windows; ESR12- innovative methodology for characterization of biodegradation in cave art; ESR13 Environmental Biology and Isotopes in zoo-osteological materials.
WP6 Public Engagement, Dissemination and Exploitation of Results. A Dissemination and Communication Plan and an Exploitation of Results plans were prepared. The ED-ARCHMAT website was launched with info on PhD projects research and events. The ED-ARCHMAT facebook page was launched (293 likes). 2 Articles were published. SS1 Summer school event was available in live-streaming and promoted via website, facebook and emails to Scientific Community in CH and Archaemetry mailing lists.
Progress and Expected Results
- Training a new generation of Conservation Scientists with transferable multidisciplinary skills and competences.
- Development of Innovative techniques in Conservation Science and Cultural Heritage.
- Contributing to the ongoing debate on setting skills, competences and knowledge needed to embark in the profession of for Conservation Scientists. This is extremely important in expanding employment opportunities in the CH sector inasmuch as there are many graduates at Master and Doctoral level exiting University courses with a degree in Conservation Science.
Potential Impacts
- Help European policy makers, HEI and associations such as E.C.C.O and EnCORE in shaping and defining the key knowledge, skills and competences needed for independent practice as a fully professional figure of Conservation Scientist trained at EQF level 8
- Produce cutting edge science, innovation in new materials/scientific methodologies for the study of the material culture of the human recent and ancient past
- Creating a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, intersectoral sustainable network of academic and non academic experts in the CH/Archaeometry/Conservation science sector
- Produce high level Scientific publications/ Scientific Congress Communications
- Training a new generation of Conservation Scientists with transferable multidisciplinary skills and competences.
- Development of Innovative techniques in Conservation Science and Cultural Heritage.
- Contributing to the ongoing debate on setting skills, competences and knowledge needed to embark in the profession of for Conservation Scientists. This is extremely important in expanding employment opportunities in the CH sector inasmuch as there are many graduates at Master and Doctoral level exiting University courses with a degree in Conservation Science.
Potential Impacts
- Help European policy makers, HEI and associations such as E.C.C.O and EnCORE in shaping and defining the key knowledge, skills and competences needed for independent practice as a fully professional figure of Conservation Scientist trained at EQF level 8
- Produce cutting edge science, innovation in new materials/scientific methodologies for the study of the material culture of the human recent and ancient past
- Creating a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, intersectoral sustainable network of academic and non academic experts in the CH/Archaeometry/Conservation science sector
- Produce high level Scientific publications/ Scientific Congress Communications