The EARTHERITAGE Project. Earthen Heritage in the Eastern Mediterranean between Archaeology and Sustainability

This paper presents the EARTHERITAGE Project, a two-year research programme focused on the analysis, documentation and development of preservation strategies for earthen architectural heritage in the Eastern Mediterranean, with particular attention to the island of Cyprus. The project was grounded in a synergic dialogue between archaeological, geoarchaeological and architectural approaches, involving multiscalar analyses of prehistoric earthen architectural evidence across the island. Research activities integrated archaeological and geoarchaeological investigations of prehistoric earthen building materials with detailed geomorphological and pedological studies of the natural environment of southern Cyprus, selected as the main study area. The resulting dataset supported a programme of technical experimentation on implemented earthen products, informed by ancient construction practices and local raw materials. Experimental analyses are currently ongoing and aim to contribute to the development of a research framework for evaluating the potential use of these materials as sustainable solutions for the conservation and preservation of archaeological earthen structures in Cyprus.