https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/8102 Sun, 24 May 2026 06:55:57 GMT 2026-05-24T06:55:57Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146422 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 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146422 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146105 Title: Continuity and change : the curation, modification and reuse of the 15th-century choir stalls in St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina, Malta (1625 – 1725) Abstract: This dissertation investigates the curation, modification, and reuse of the 15th-century choir stalls at St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina, between 1625 and 1725. The choir was originally completed in 1490 and dismantled in 1876. Less than 10% of the original material of the fragmented stalls survives today, posing significant challenges to scholarly interpretation. Employing an interdisciplinary framework that integrates archival research, material analysis, and visual observation, this study reconstructs the evolution and treatment of the choir during the century under study which was a critical period in the life-history of this artefact. The research establishes the stalls’ completion date. A hypothesis is presented for their initial configuration, and key modifications are identified, including a previously undocumented relocation in 1626 and the addition of kneelers in 1682. Decorative interventions, such as the replacement of inlaid frames in the late 17th century and the introduction of gilding in the early 18th century, are also analysed. It is argued that the findings reflect evolving liturgical, aesthetic, and functional priorities. These transformations align with broader Counter-Reformation objectives. They also reveal sustained and deliberate efforts to integrate artefacts from the old Cathedral into the newly reconstructed structure, illustrating a nuanced balance between continuity and innovation. By exploring how successive curation decisions were shaped by the cultural, liturgical, and historical significance of the stalls, this study enriches the discourse on heritage preservation, presenting it as a dynamic negotiation of tangible and intangible values. Despite challenges posed by the stalls’ fragmented state and limited primary sources, this research underscores the efficacy of interdisciplinary approaches in reconstructing fragmented heritage. It recognises the choir stalls as enduring witnesses to Malta’s ecclesiastical and artistic evolution, offering a robust framework for future inquiry into their cultural, political, and religious contexts. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146105 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146025 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. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146025 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146023 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. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146023 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z