UNESCO has organized jointly with the Department of Antiquities of Libya and the “Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione e il Restauro – IsCR” a training courses in conservation of movable property in Libya 8 June – 4 July 2013.
The training, held in famous heritage sites Leptis Magna and Villa Silin, lasted 5 weeks and brought together 35 conservators and technicians from the Department of Antiquities’ offices all across the country (Sabha, Sabratha, Tripoli, Leptis Magna, Benghazi and Shahat). Event programme addressed on site, in museum and storage collection management and conservation issues.
It also focused on five priority areas: (i) exposed mosaics; (ii) wall paintings; (iii-iv) artefacts collections (bronzes, ceramics & glass) broken/damaged by warfare; (v) stone. The training course also contributed to launch the setting-up of a conservation laboratory, which will serve the various territorial offices of the Department of Antiquities of Libya.
During the training course some of the pieces of art from the collection of Bani Walid museum, damaged during the events which followed the 17th February Revolution, have been restored. In addition, selected frescos and mosaics from the archaeological site of Villa Silin, as well as three stone reliefs masterpieces from the Septimius Severus arch in Leptis Magna since years stored in the garden of the Leptis Museum were restored.
The closing session of the training held on 2 July 2013 was opened by H.E. Dr Al Amin El Habib, the Minister of Culture of Libya, H.E. Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi, the Ambassador of Italy to Libya, Dr Abdelrahman Yakhlef, the Chairperson in charge of the Department of Antiquities of Libya, and Dr Lodovico Folin Calabi the Representative of UNESCO in Libya. Training methodology as well as the future steps for the conservation of moveable cultural property in Libya were presented and discussed.
(Source: UNSMIL)
