Dates: 28 August - 22 September 2006

Place: Archaeological site of Sirmium in Serbia and Montenegro

Organization:

• ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property)
• National Museum in Belgrade through the Diana Department for Preventive Conservation

Course description
As a follow-up to the courses in archaeological conservation held in Belgrade in 2004 and Diana-Karatas in 2005, this course will focus on context analysis, documentation, and diagnosis for the conservation of archaeological sites, along with project feasibility and planning. Using a specific archaeological site as a case study, the course will initially focus on an overview of approaches to the conservation of archaeological heritage, and the characteristics, alteration, and decay of archaeological materials within structures. The course will then focus on case studies within the site, applying tools and methods for the visual analysis of weathering and the risk assessment of exposed archaeological areas, structures and decorative elements. A session of the course will be devoted to the methodology and the tools for the on-site documentation and the graphic elaboration and presentation of the data. At the end of the course, a presentation of the results of the course will be made by the participants, to which the directors of their institutions will be invited to attend.

Objectives
By the end of the course the participants will have a better understanding of the methods and techniques available for context analysis, documentation, diagnosis, and planning for conservation within archaeological sites. The participants will also produce an illustrated glossary of weathering effects for stone and related materials, as well as other documents and reports related to the course work.

Methodology
The course has an intensive programme including a combination of lectures, discussions, practical work on site, and study visits on the weekends. All the assessment process will be based on the visual macroscopic observation techniques, applicable by professionals with different backgrounds. An innovative system approach based on “object-oriented-analysis” will be presented to analyse context and weathering effects, causes and processes of decay. Specific computer techniques will be used as tools for the recording, description and presentation of weathering causes and effects during the analysis and the planning of the case studies. A small LAN (Local Area Network) will be created during the course, allowing the participants to create a team project, with the aim of producing a proposal for a conservation project.

Participants
The course is open to a maximum of 16 participants actively involved in the conservation and preservation of archaeological heritage in Southeast Europe. Backgrounds of participants could include archaeologists, architects, conservator-restorers, curators and managers actively involved in the conservation and preservation of archaeological heritage in Southeast Europe. Applications will only be accepted from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia.

Working language: English.

Scholarship
Participants form the following countries may be eligible for scholarships, covering accommodation, meals and local transportation (from Belgrade to the archaeological site, and local visits), depending on need: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro.
All other participants will be expected to cover their own expenses.

Application
ICCROM course application form and mail to the following address:

Application deadline: expired