PREVENTIVE PROTECTION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE EMMENA REGION

ongoing

The REVITALISER's primary goal is to boost the capabilities of the ECoE to develop skills tailored for the protection of archaeological sites from illegal excavations and looting activities in the EMMENA Region. Through strategic networking activities between the ECoE and three internationally leading institutions (BSC, FBK, UM), REVITALISER aims to achieve four main objectives: • Improved excellence capacity and resources of ECoE to bridge the research and innovation divide between Cyprus and Europe in Earth Observation and Cultural Property Protection (CPP) and archaeological looting, utilizing an interdisciplinary approach encompassing archaeological aerial interpretation, AI, machine learning, law, policy, and criminology. • Raised reputation, research profile, and attractiveness of the ECoE for junior and senior qualified researchers (inwards and outwards mobility) active in CPP, together with the boosted profile of its scientific staff involved in the cultural heritage domain. • Strengthened research management capacities and administrative skills of the ECoE staff, through capacity-building activities in project management, funds acquisition, talent attraction and retention, and dissemination strategies, among others. • Improved creativity of the ECoE researchers in CPP supported by REVITALISER exploratory research project, fostering knowledge exchange, collaboration, and new avenues of research, exploiting the advanced partners' expertise and solid network. Ultimately, the ECoE, enriched by the REVITALISER Twinning experience, will become a leading institution in archaeological protection, focusing on combating cultural property crimes in the EMMENA region, making meaningful advancements in the preservation of cultural heritage.