Aim: To identify documented materials (clay, stone, marble etc.) that provide the core evidence of human activity throughout the period 1500-1900.
Project outline: Tracing and Mapping Heritage Materials in archival holdings. The Pillar aims to support Heritage Institutions and the other Pillars of the project (mainly Pillar 6) to identify documented materials (clay, stone, marble etc.) that provide the core evidence of human activity throughout the period 1500-1900. The aim is to carry out research in a variety of sources (published material, archives, and other cultural heritage collections) in order to map the identification, use, export or import of raw materials such as clay, stone and marble.
Pillar coordinator: Dr Joan Abela (Department of History)
Pillar members: Dr Simone Azzopardi, Prof. Emanuel Buttigieg, Dr Roberta De Angelis, Rev. Dr Nicholas Doublet, Dr Charles Farrugia, Ms. Jennifer Porter, Dr Valeria Vanesio.
Aim: To promote a deeper understanding of the ever-changing landscape of the Maltese Islands by studying archival documentary material.
Project outline: Pillar 2 focuses on contributing to the setting up of a searchable engine through the detailed mapping of former holdings of ecclesiastical property in Malta through the study of unexplored series within the Diocesan archive that contain detailed information on such holdings and their development through the passage of time from the modern to the contemporary era. Such detailed inventories could link up to holdings in state and notarial archives and will aim to promote a deeper understanding of the ever-changing landscape of the Maltese islands.
Pillar coordinator: Rev. Dr Nicholas Doublet (Department of Church History, Patrology and Paleo-Christian Archaeology)
Aim: Research on Heritage and related materials, also to build up searchable databases, primarily on the micro and meso scales.
Project outline: Pillar 3 focuses on Heritage Materials (inorganic, particularly stone), and will build on the excellent track record of the participants in the areas of the local stone (including reconstituted stone), encompassing the subthemes of composition and properties, and weathering, with new research as well as with an additional aim of building up searchable databases. The primary approach, competence and focus will be on materials composition and properties, and weathering, with new research as well as with an additional aim of building up searchable databases, primarily on the micro and meso scale. The theme is also closed related to the themes envisioned for Pillar 4 (Heritage and Environment) and Pillar 5 (Digital Models), with whom Pillar 3 shares an RSOII, and therefore will also create a common overarching focus.
Pillar coordinator: Prof. JoAnn Cassar (Department of Conservation and Built Heritage)
Pillar members: Prof. Ulrich Baisch, Dr Sophie Briffa, Prof. Spiridione Buhagiar, Dr Shirley Cefai, Dr Roberta De Angelis, Ms Jennifer Porter, Prof. Daniel Vella.
Aim: Characterisation of the environmental conditions to provide accurate environmental conditions prediction to understand stone deterioration.
Project outline: Pillar 4 is concerned with the characterisation of the environmental conditions impacting heritage artefacts. Focus will be placed on the case of the Mnajdra temples. The scales at which research will be performed range from macro scale climatic measurements down to the micro-scale close to or on the surface of the stone. The impacts of climate change on the arising micro-climate in the temple will also be investigated. The ultimate purpose is to provide accurate environmental conditions prediction so as to feed in other pillars such as Pillar 3 - Heritage Materials. Future degradation scenarios will also be studied using AI techniques (a partner on the Pillar is from the Department of Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Information and Communication Technology).
Pillar coordinator: Prof. Charles Galdies (Institute of Earth Systems)
Pillar members: Prof. Joel Azzopardi, Prof. Spiridione Buhagiar, Prof. JoAnn Cassar, Prof. Daniel Micallef.
Aim: To generate and use digital models, and digital twins, on scales from landscapes to individual objects.
Project outline: Pillar 5 will research in depth non-invasive prospection, the generation and use of digital models on a range of scales from landscapes to sites to individual objects, digital twins in direct collaboration with the other Pillars of the Heritage Research Cluster. Specific research projects will be developed progressively as the Research Cluster matures and specific research questions emerge and will include multiscale 3D modelling of cultural heritage elements. The main drivers will be the domain experts who can define the data used and the problem/s that need to be solved.
Pillar coordinator: Prof. Sebastiano D’Amico (Department of Geosciences)
Pillar members: Dr John Betts, Dr Joseph Bonello, Dr Peter Xuereb.
Aim: To study and research traditional materials ranging from clay to stone, to materials harvested from plant and animal sources, primarily on a macro scale.
Project outline: Pillar 6 focuses on traditional materials extracted from the Maltese landscape, ranging from clay to stone, to materials harvested from plant and animal sources, primarily on a macro scale. The primary approach, competence and focus will be on the cultural exploitation of the landscape and the cultural use of materials extracted from that environment. This will closely complement the efforts led by other pillars, and will also focus on traditional materials that needed to be imported from outside the Maltese archipelago, ranging from polychrome marbles to timber beams and pigments for painting. A primary focus for Pillar 6 will be the period from 1500 to 1900, because of the wealth of archival documentation available for that period, which will be mined in close collaboration with Pillars 1 and 2.
Pillar coordinator: Prof. Reuben Grima (Department of Conservation and Built Heritage)
Pillar members: Dr Gianmarco Alberti, Dr John Betts, Dr Shirley Cefai, Dr Huw Groucutt, Prof. Nicholas Vella.
