Training the next generation of archaeological scientists: Interdisciplinary studies of pre-modern Plasters and Ceramics from the eastern Mediterranean

Project Information

PlaCe

Grant agreement ID: 956410

DOI

10.3030/956410

Project closed

EC signature date 26 August 2020

Start date 1 March 2021

End date 31 May 2025

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 3 868 438,32

EU contribution

€ 3 868 438,32

Coordinated by

THE CYPRUS INSTITUTE
Cyprus

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PlaCe (Training the next generation of archaeological scientists: Interdisciplinary studies of pre-modern Plasters and Ceramics from the eastern Mediterranean)

Reporting period: 2023-03-01 to 2025-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Although plasters and ceramics are the first synthetic materials produced by humankind and occur in virtually every archaeological context (ritual, domestic, industrial, funerary, or otherwise) their analytical study had remained fragmented, with each material often treated separately and their wider potential for understanding technological and societal evolution underexploited. By focusing on these materials across the eastern Mediterranean from prehistory to the post-medieval period, PlaCe set out to investigate not only their provenance, production technology, and modes of use, but also broader questions relating to technological change, the organisation of production, trade and exchange, human mobility, cultural interaction, and social and economic structures, including the role of gender.
This work is of great importance for society because it strengthens the appreciation and preservation of cultural heritage, provides new knowledge for conservation, museum interpretation, and site management, and highlights the deep historical roots of connectivity across the eastern Mediterranean, a region today marked by political and cultural fragmentation. In parallel, it contributes to European identity and cultural diplomacy by bringing forward shared traditions and histories. The overall objectives of PlaCe were to provide advanced training and support to early-stage researchers so they could meet current and future challenges in archaeological science and cultural heritage, to bring them to the forefront of research through cutting-edge methods and international collaboration, to enhance their mobility and embed them in professional networks and communities of practice, and to generate new knowledge about the evolution of plaster and ceramic technologies and their social contexts.
These objectives have been fully achieved: PlaCe created a durable European training and research ecosystem, empowered a diverse cohort of researchers, and produced high-quality scientific results that advance both archaeological science and heritage studies. By uniting research on plasters and ceramics under one programme, PlaCe has generated new insights into technological traditions and cultural connectivity, while leaving a lasting legacy of skills, methods, and networks that will continue to benefit science, cultural heritage management, and society well beyond the lifetime of the project.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Launched in March 2021, PlaCe-ITN created a pan-European research and training ecosystem dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of pre-modern plasters and ceramics in the eastern Mediterranean. Bringing together eight beneficiaries and multiple partners across five countries (Cyprus, Greece, Belgium, UK, Czech Republic), the network built a critical mass of expertise and infrastructure to deliver state-of-the-art research, advanced training, and effective knowledge transfer.
A comprehensive programme formed the backbone of PlaCe. Between 2021 and 2024, the consortium organised 22 training courses and two major scientific meetings. Training covered archaeological theory, laboratory methods (petrography, SEM-EDS, XRD/EDXRF, organic residue analysis, micro-CT), digital applications (GIS, 3D modelling, multivariate statistics), and career development. ESRs also undertook secondments, cross-supervision, and hands-on work in leading laboratories, gaining both breadth and depth while embedding themselves in international scholarly networks.
Scientifically, PlaCe advanced understanding of plaster and ceramic technology, provenance, and use from prehistoric through post-medieval contexts. ESRs investigated diverse case studies (from prehistoric to Medieval Cyprus and Greece, Bronze Age and Medieval Jordan, Hellenistic and Roman Turkey, and Late Bronze Age Egypt) producing 17 peer-reviewed publications (mostly open access) with further outputs expected as PhDs are completed.
Dissemination and outreach were central to the project. Results were shared through oral presentations, publications, and digital platforms, while nine public events in five countries engaged schoolchildren, teachers, and wider audiences. Highlights included lab open days, a field trip to the UNESCO Troodos Geopark, the “sCYence Fair 2024,” and demonstrations of traditional pottery-making, strengthening public awareness of cultural heritage.
By its conclusion, PlaCe had achieved its objectives: training a diverse cohort of ESRs, producing significant scientific contributions, and building a durable community of practice in plaster and ceramic studies. Its legacy continues through forthcoming PhDs, further publications, integration into teaching curricula, and exploring further collaborations established during the project.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

PlaCe has substantially advanced the study of premodern plasters and ceramics in the eastern Mediterranean. Its research projects generated new insights into provenance, production technology and change, function and use, while also addressing broader questions on distribution, trade and exchange, human mobility, economic and social interaction, technological evolution, production organisation, and the socioeconomic structures underlying artefact use. Collectively, these studies expand knowledge and reframe debates in archaeological science and heritage studies.
From the outset, PlaCe had a transformative impact on its ESRs, participating institutions, and the wider European Research Area. Fellows benefitted from 36- and 6-month fellowships that ensured financial stability, supervision by leading scholars, and access to world-class laboratories. Embedded in a strong international network, they gained long-term professional support and participated in a unique training programme combining archaeological theory, laboratory science, digital methods, and transferable skills—consistently praised for its exceptional quality.
Beneficiaries and their communities also gained: laboratories were strengthened or upgraded, collaborations fostered new ideas and protocols, and several training courses were opened to external participants, multiplying impact across academia. With six universities and research centres in four EU countries and two leading UK institutions, PlaCe created an unprecedented hub for training and research in archaeological sciences, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in archaeometry and heritage studies while training a new generation of scholars for academia and applied sectors.
The project’s socio-economic and societal impacts are equally notable. By producing highly trained specialists, it addressed skill gaps in archaeological science, museum work, and heritage management. Public engagement activities, including school workshops and open days raised awareness of cultural heritage and inspired young people, strengthening links between research, cultural identity, and society.
As ESRs complete their theses and continue publishing, further outputs will extend PlaCe’s scientific, educational, and societal legacy well beyond the project’s formal end.

The PlaCe ESR fellows after the end of an experimental exercise for pottery surface treatments

The PlaCe ESR fellows looking for pottery raw materials during training on Aegina, Greece

PlaCe-ITN logo