News archive


2010 Annual meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists

During the 1st – 5th of September 2010, the FoAP project participated in the 16th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists, which this year was held in the city of The Hague in the Netherlands.
The FoAP project presented a paper in the session “Instruments for quality management in archaeological research and heritage management” - a session which gathered various examples from different parts of the archaeological community dealing with managing the quality of various aspects of the archaeological work. In this session Ardit Miti presented a paper titled “Virtualizing archaeological and cultural heritage data: from physical evidence and paper archive to the creation of a DBMS”, which discussed FoAP’s work in tracing, mapping, documenting and analyzing the archaeological and historical sites of Albania. Examples were also presented demonstrating how the database system and the GIS map already enabled the project to enhance the quality of information relating to archaeological sites, their correct spatial positioning and of the prediction of new site locations. The conference provided the opportunity to meet with the large international network of heritage professionals and to discuss and exchanged ideas and opinions on different aspects of archaeology and heritage. Fore more information click at the conference web page http://www.eaa2010.nl

FoAP participation in the annual conference of the Computer Applications and quantitative methods in Archaeology, CAA 2010: Fusion of Cultures

The CAA 2010 conference was held during the 5th and the 9th of April in the historical city of Granada, Spain. http://www.caa2010.org The development of FoAP project was presented in two papers at two different sessions of the conference. One of the papers titled: “Ongoing development of the National Sites and Monuments recording system in Albania” was presented in the session on Databases and Information Management. The main issues discussed in the paper were the structural development of the database and GIS platform, the results obtained through the application of this system in the country and also the problems that face the future sustainability of the project. The use of FoAP system has highlighted various research and political issues within the archaeological heritage data, which require urgent solutions.
The second paper titled “Delivering sites and monument data using web-GIS: An open source approach” was presented in the session New Technologies and Open Source in Archaeology Higher Education. The paper discussed the methodology followed in the construction of a web-GIS project, which allows archaeological sites and monuments data from the FoAP digital archive to be displayed spatially as a series of interactive maps over the internet, providing straightforward access to the countries archaeological digital records for academics and educational use. Both papers were welcomed by participants of the conference, who showed their interest in the methodology applied and the development and the sustainability of the project.

The presentation of the archaeological dictionary in Prishtina, Kosovo

 On the 29th January 2010, the new publication, of the “Dictionary of Archaeological Terms” was also presented in Prishtina, Kosovo. This landmark book, written by Ardit Miti and Eglantina Serjani, was very well received by attendant specialists in archaeology, history and cultural heritage, and also by the wider public. The event was held in the exhibition hall of the Archaeological Museum of Prishtina, where participants included specialists from the Institute of Archaeology, the Institute of Monuments, Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage, the University of Prishtina, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, the Institute of Albanology and the Ministry of Education. A series of warm and enthusiastic opening speeches were presented by the, Director of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, Director of the Department of Culture, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, Director of the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo and the representative of Albanian Embassy in Kosovo. The closing speech was given by the archaeologist Kemajl Luci, who expressed optimism for the future and for further institutional collaborations between Prishtina and Tirana.

Archaeological dictionary book launch, Tirana 2009

On Wednesday the 14th October 2009, a book launching ceremony took place at the Albanian Academy of Sciences, about the Dictionary of Archaeology, a book by Ardit Miti and Eglantina Serjani. The book is a publication of the Albanian Heritage Foundation, enabled with the financial support of the Packard Humanities Institute and the assistance of the scientific director of the foundation, Professor Richard Hodges. Also, an important contribution on this publication, has given Prof. Neritan Ceka, who conducted the scientific editing of the book. This book marks the first initiative on the publication of a dictionary of terms in Albanian archaeology. It will be a useful instrument for the students and the young archaeologist as well as for the people who are interested in archaeology and cultural heritage, which through this book will easily understand and get to know the terminology. Please click for further information.

SEE Heritage meeting, Berat 2008

Between the 21st and 23rd of June 2008 the Albanian Heritage Foundation organized in the historical city of Berat, the regular conference meeting with the topic “Cultural Heritage Tourism as a Tool for Sustainable Development”. FoAP project participated in the conference with a paper, titled “Transmitting the Cultural Heritage in the future through the preservation of the past”. In this presentation was brought up FoAP experience in finding the best practices to apply in the process of recording and preserving the past as an appropriate approach to its future.

Annual meeting of the CAA 2007 conference: Layer of Perceptions

The annual meeting of the CAA conference (Computer Applications and Quantitative methods in Archaeology) for the year 2007 was held in Berlin, Germany, between the 2nd and the 6th of April. The FoAP project participated in the conference by presenting a paper in the session "Digital National Monuments Records – What for? Where to?" The paper titled “Future of Albania’s Past” was an introduction of the FoAP sites and monuments digital archive to the international colleagues who work in the same field. This presentation introduced the audience to history and present situation in the management of the archaeological and the historical data in Albania, and the circumstances which lead to the establishment of the FoAP digital system. Moreover, in this session was presented the technical structure of the database system, the standards and methodology applied by FoAP in the process of recording and managing the archaeological sites and monuments data.

Annual meeting of the Albanian Institute of Archaeology, 17 December 2006, Tiranë

The annual meeting of the Albanian Archaeological Institute of the year 2007 was held in the environment of the library of the archaeological institute. FoAP project participated in meeting by presenting the latest field survey results from the district of Berat and Skrapar. In the meeting were also discussed amongst colleagues the critical situation of the archaeological sites and monuments of the area and the immediate need for their protection and restorations. The colleagues were also introduced to the first digital archaeological map of the region.

Workshop organized by FoAP in the Historical city of Berat, at the 4-th of December 2006

FoAP project in collaboration with Regional Directory of Monuments of Culture of Berat, at the 4th of December 2006, in the city of Berat, organized a wide scale workshop with the topic: “Region of Berat, possibilities and perspectives on the development, protection and promotion of the archaeological and cultural values of the city” The aim of this meeting was to promote the archaeological and cultural resources of the historical city of Berat, along with the presentation of the new archaeological map of the city. Please click for more information.

FoAP meeting at the University of "Eqerem Çabej", Gjirokastër, 25-th of May 2006

On the 25th of May 2006, FoAP project organized a working meeting with students and lecturers from the University of "Eqerem Çabej", in the historical city of Gjirokastër. A seminar organized with students of history-geography, inteded to introduce to the participants the FoAP sites and monuments digital archive system, by emphasizing its importance in the management of the countries archaeological and heritage data. In this seminar was also discussed about the problematic and difficult situation of Albanian cultural heritage values, in particular the debate was focused on the archaeological sites and historical monuments of the areas of Saranda, Gjirokastra and Tepelena, and how student can help and contribute on the protection and management of these recourses, as important values in the development of cultural tourism of the area.

The presentation of FoAP project in the annual meeting of the Albanian Institute of Archaeology, 14 December 2005

This presentation, was held on the 14-th of December 2005, in the annual meeting of the Albanian Institute of Archaeology. The presentation launched in an open archaeological environment the just created "Future of Albania’s Past” project. The major issues discussed in the meeting were the social – political - economical conditions of the country and the critical situation of the archaeological heritage, as the main factors that lead to toward the creation of the FoAP digital archive. The audience was introduced to the technical structure of the database and the importance of this system as a research and education instrument. The future developments and objectives of the project were also presented at this meeting.