Horizon Europe: Stecci

Stone monument ensembles and the climate change impact STECCI

It is time to act, and we are on the forefront!

Heritage Malta recognizes the crucial role museums and heritage sites can have in amplifying awareness and promoting dialogue around climate action. 

Climate change is moving fast, and so must we. Rising sea levels, surging world temperatures and increasingly erratic weather conditions are all a major threat to cultural heritage. A holistic framework that engages scientists, conservators, citizens, creative industries and decision makers to develop and act on new, sustainable strategies to ensure a future for our heritage is urgently needed.

As the guardian of over 8,000 years of history, Heritage Malta is constantly collaborating with other entities to ensure that its mission of preserving our shared heritage for posterity, and making it accessible for everyone to experience and enjoy, is fulfilled.

Recently the agency embarked on an intriguing project with Horizon Europe, the European Union’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion, in which its cutting-edge Digitisation Unit technologies will be applied to the safeguarding of overseas heritage as well.

For the first time, the future of stećci – monumental medieval tombstones scattered across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the border parts of Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, which form part of the  UNESCO World Heritage list – and similar limestone monuments will be assessed under two high-resolution climate scenarios in three periods: 2021-2040, 2041-2060 and 2081-2100. In situ condition assessment supported by comprehensive scientific analyses will be followed by remedial conservation on selected sites to develop best practice and efficient monitoring and conservation guidelines.

Digitisation methodologies will also be explored, in which Heritage Malta’s Digitisation Unit will be applying its expertise in 3D imaging and modelling technologies. Basic and high-end techniques will be mutually compared in order to simplify and amplify the digital recording of cultural heritage in Europe. 

Furthermore, the project aims to hone the potential of necropoles to offer new opportunities and resources for socio-economic and creative entrepreneurship developments of local communities, and create strategies and models for the valorization of cultural heritage which can be implemented across Europe.

EU Project number: 101094822

Institutions participating in the project:

• University of Sarajevo, B&H;
• Heritage Malta, Malta;
• Univerzitet Donja Gorica Podgorica, Montenegro;
• Universitaet fur angewandte Kunst Wien, Austria;
• Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Germany;
• Zentrum für soziale Innovation GmbH Wien, Austria;
• Sveuciliste u Splitu, Umjetnicka akademija, Croatia;
• Faculty of Sciences University of Novi Sad, Serbia;
• Institut Mines-Telecom, France

Status in the project: Participant

Project coordinator: Nusret Drešković UNSA (UNSA)

Project manager: Saida Ibragić (UNSA)

Project call: HORIZON-CL2-2022-HERITAGE-01

Project type: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Period of realization: 2023-2027 (September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2027)