News

The traditional irrigation systems of the study area of the Upper Vjosa Valley. The study consisted on tracking, mapping and analyzing the historic hydraulic structures of the study area, whether these in use or abandoned. At the same time, in collaboration with local communities we discussed on finding possible ways for recovering the historic irrigation systems.

We started the hydraulic and land use studies in Upper Vjosa Valley carried out by CeRPHAAL team during May-June 2015.

We have began interviewing local growers about the relationship between snow and the historical irrigation systems; and the ecosystemic services provided by traditional irrigation practices at Cáñar. This research activity is part of the master thesis on environmental studies of two students collaborating with MEMOLA.

We have begun the archaeological survey in the area of "Marquesado del Zenete" (‪‎Sierra Nevada‬) with our Prehistorians colleagues at the University of Granada. ‪

Cultural Heritage (CH) itself, the ways in which it is made, held, collected, curated, exhibited, or simply exists, have completely changed in the 21st century. This context of change has also transformed the roles and links between memory institutions, CH professionals, citizens, and economic and social actors at all the spheres of society.

In order to understand this context of change, the RICHES project organised a workshop at the Turkish National Library (Ankara, Turkey). Two intense days of discussion allowed the participants to discuss key questions about how these transformations are evolving, and identify the main opportunities and trends for the upcoming years.

On the 14th May the workshop explored best practices and trends on Cultural Heritage transmission in a changing world. Amalia Sabiescu (Coventry University, UK) provided insights about this context of change, particularly on the development of new skills and the preservation of traditional skills. Mayor Veysel Tiryaki, from the Ankara Municipality of Altindag (Turkey), presented the experience of Hamamonu and the transformation of physical resources. A guided tour on the afternoon allowed the participants to discover the results of the intervention at Hamamonu, which constitutes a case study in the framework of the RICHES project. Exploring the CH transmission and its impact on education and learning, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Kucuk (Hacettepe Technology Transfer Center, Turkey) presented the Global Libraries Project Turkey. Closing that session,  MEMOLA Project presented its activities on Cultural Landscapes as places to get involved.

The final session of the workshop was completely interactive and open to discussion. Participants addressed specific aspects linked to the workshop topics in three parallel discussion groups. 

Finally, the findings of the discussion sessions where reported to the global audience, and the RICHES project coordinator, Neil Forbes, concluded the event sharing the closing remarks. The event has been a successful platform to discuss key aspects linked to the RICHES project research, proving insights to continue exploring and understanding the context of change and the move from analogue to digital.

For more information visit: RICHES Workshop in Ankara (Turkey)

The theoretical and practical seminar about fruit trees grafting on traditional conservation techniques ‬has been so successful that today the ‪European Commission‬ publishes the news on their official page. Thanks to everyone who participated. ‪

Students of the Archaeology of Architecture from the University of Padova have made different ‪‎routes‬ included in the ‪fortified landscape‬ of the ‪Euganean Hills‬. In particular, have been analyzed the architectural techniques and materials used for the construction of the different phases of the castle of ‪Este‬.

The Restoration of a Historic Trail in Cañar started on May 11th. Cañar's city council, with the support of the MEMOLA team, and the financial aid of the Alpujarra Local Development Association, started the recovery of a historic route which connected the village with the higher mountains and runs through a landscape of great natural and heritage value.

Today at ‪the University of Padova, archaeobotanical‬ lesson in the laboratory with Leonor Peña Chocarro. Students have floated the soil samples taken in the excavation of the ‪Montagnon‬ castle, in ‪Colli Euganei‬

The goal is to recover this variety from Sierra Nevada and provide farmers with its seed for planting, as well as give technical support to cultivate it and to elaborate environmental guidelines to assure its conservation. The recovery process has been design to ensure market supply with three productions per cycle. This cycle starts during winter at the Coastal Plain with the seed produced in the upper mountain, it  continues with its planting in the month of February at the Middle Plain ( 600-800 meters) to conclude at the beginning of summer with its planting in Sierra Nevada, depending on the altitude, allowing obtaining a new harvest of this high quality product and the production of a new seed.

The cultivation areas to recover this local product are Nieles (Cástaras), Lugros y Cáñar. Depending on the terrain conditions the planting will be done in different periods of time and altitudes. The planting at Nieles has already started.  The work involved will be done with traditional techniques and by the local farmers. In the following months planting will start at Lugros and Cañar.

The "copo de nieve" potato is a variety of a size of 5 to 10 centimeters, rounded, with many sprouts for germination. It was cultivated in Sierra Nevada until the 18th century, thanks to its good adaptation to the terrain and weather conditions.