https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/8103 2026-05-23T22:32:22Z 2026-05-23T22:32:22Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146422 2026-05-13T11:56:43Z 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Conservation in Malta : a socio-political study Abstract: Malta is a small island situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea with an approximate area of320 square kilometers (125 square miles). Its strategic position is the reason for its very rich and varied culture. The influence of this diverse cultural influence is very evident in the built environment and the Maltese language. As the research for this thesis progressed, it became evident that the strands which influenced Maltese society's perception of its past, were: Colonialism, lslandness and issues of Memory and Place. These strands will help to explain how the socio political situation in Malta also influenced society's perception and memory of its past. This in tum will help explain the development of conservation in Malta. Three different scenarios were chosen to help investigate the development of conservation in Malta: Ħagar Qim and Mnajdra, St John's co-Cathedral and Valletta in the post war period. The political climate in the three case studies is different and it is important to understand the different mechanics that indicate how the management of the interventions occurred across the different sites. The archaeological sites of Ħagar Qim and Mnajdra offer a clear example of how Colonialism and Islandness are able to influence the perception of the true value of these sites. The situation of St John's co-Cathedral presents the issue of ·an island within an island' and this thesis explores how this state influences the value attributed to heritage. It also promotes the importance of ownership in relation to the preservation and management of cultural heritage. The ownership of St John's co-Cathedral is still unclear and this creates a problem of management. The final case study focuses on Valletta, allowing an investigation of conservation in the post war period. This is an evident example of how society's allocation of value in terms of cultural heritage is not solely dependent on artistic and historic value, but indicates how associations and intangible values play a major role in the final decision making process. Description: PhD

2012-01-01T00:00:00Z Degrigny, Christian Borgarino, Paola Cefai, Shirley Hortal Muñoz, José Eloy Irbe, Ilze Leus, Maria Lu, Shu-Ling Lobovikov-Katz, Anna Marinkovic, Marko Martins, João Migliorati, Luisa Migliorini, Massimo Patias, Petros Shendova, Veronika Sylaiou, Stella Turkalj Podmanicki, Margareta Tavares, Alice Walliser Martin, Maria Luisa https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146025 2026-04-29T12:33:02Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Integration of heritage buildings and sites in their surroundings Authors: Degrigny, Christian; Borgarino, Paola; Cefai, Shirley; Hortal Muñoz, José Eloy; Irbe, Ilze; Leus, Maria; Lu, Shu-Ling; Lobovikov-Katz, Anna; Marinkovic, Marko; Martins, João; Migliorati, Luisa; Migliorini, Massimo; Patias, Petros; Shendova, Veronika; Sylaiou, Stella; Turkalj Podmanicki, Margareta; Tavares, Alice; Walliser Martin, Maria Luisa Abstract: This public report provides an overview of the problems raised by the management of heritage buildings and sites (HBs/sites) in their surroundings. A multidisciplinary team comprising conservation professionals, art historians, archaeologists, architects, biologists, civil engineers and information technology experts have joined forces within the framework of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action TD1406 - i2MHB (Innovation in Intelligent Management of Heritage Buildings) to provide their expertise and experience on the risks to which HBs/ sites are exposed (urban development, infrastructure works, demographical changes, natural and technological hazards, bio-deterioration, lack of cultural heritage education and technical knowledge and skills, etc.). Traditional and new approaches to manage the principal risks are then developed. Nine representative European HBs/sites are used to illustrate the different problems raised and to offer possible solutions. The report ends with a number of recommendations to better integrate HBs/sites in their surroundings. This report is addressed to policy makers at the local, regional and national governments; economical and industrial players; research and education stakeholders; and, the public to the preservation and valorisation of HBs/sites in their surroundings. We hope that readers will find tentative answers to their question(s) on the difficulties encountered by the management of HBs/sites in their surroundings. Further reading is available through the references and the online literature provided.

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146023 2026-04-29T11:48:39Z 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The true value of the fragment : understanding the importance and the significance of the whole Abstract: Since time immemorial individuals have been intrigued by their past. Why are populations interested in their past? This is a question that has been asked by many Civilized cultures are now well aware of the reasons why, and all understand the problem of cultural amnesia. This brief presentation deals with the meaning of fragments and how their value changes over the years, the nostalgia and curiosity they evoke and how they continue to 'live' in the present.

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z Cassar, JoAnn Cefai, Shirley Grima, Reuben Stroud, Katya https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146022 2026-04-29T11:44:21Z 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Response to rebuttal by Grima et al. elaborating on misleading conclusion in paper on “Pollution monitoring for sea salt aerosols at Hagar Qim : a pilot study” concerning salt decay after sheltering an archaeological site in Malta Authors: Cassar, JoAnn; Cefai, Shirley; Grima, Reuben; Stroud, Katya Abstract: The purpose of our review article was to give a balanced and comprehensive overview of the research con ducted to date by various contributors, regarding the shelters installed over three of the Megalithic Temples of Malta, their performance, and lessons learnt, which may be useful in other contexts where comparable challenges are being considered. We will shortly be marking the first decade since the installation of the first two shelters. We therefore consider it useful and timely to examine how far research on the evaluation of the effects of the shelters has come, what preliminary indications have been drawn, whether these stand up to scrutiny, and what gaps in the research remain to be addressed.

2018-01-01T00:00:00Z