‘METALLON TOPOI’ – AT THE CROSS-ROADS OF CULTURE IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
The opening meeting of the Project ‘METALLON TOPOI’ – AT THE CROSS-ROADS OF CULTURE IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN was held at the Marianthi Simou Cultural Centre in Artemonas, Siphnos, on August 31 and September 1, 2021. The project is being implemented on the islands of Greece at Siphnos, Seriphos and Kythnos and in the Community of Asgata, Cyprus.
The main objective of the Action is the utilisation, protection, upgrading and promotion of the ancient mining-metallurgical heritage of these areas by developing their common cultural past. The ultimate goal is the tourist expansion of the selected areas and the enrichment of the tourist product through the threefold motto ‘culture-tourism-development’, aiming at their sustainable development and sustainability.
During the two-day meeting, the NCSR ‘Demokritos’ (Main Beneficiary), the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), the Municipality of Siphnos, the Research Unit of Archaeology of the University of Cyprus and the Community of Asgata of Cyprus prepared the joint actions of the Action that will contribute to the promotion and visibility of the selected areas and to the strengthening of their networking at national and cross-border levels. In particular, on the first day, the objectives of the Project, the timetable of the actions to be implemented, the method of organizing and implementing the actions were presented and the individual technical matters regarding the management and coordination of the Project were scrutinized. In addition, the role of each partner in the implementation of the deliverables and the actions it undertakes was discussed and the timetable of the actions to be implemented in the immediate future was determined (organization of workshops, design of a website, logo and information material, renovation works of premises and procurement of equipment for the creation of the Promotion Centres in Siphnos and Asgata, Cyprus, as well as the recruitment of personnel to be employed within the framework of the Project).
On the second day, a visit was made to the mines of Faros and the peninsula of Agios Sostis, Siphnos (two ancient mining/metallurgical sites that will be studied and highlighted within the framework of the Project) along selected routes/paths. The purpose of the visit was to specify the individual recording and documentation activities as well as the siting, configuration and marking of these sites and paths.
The Project ‘‘METALLON TOPOI’ – AT THE CROSS-ROADS OF CULTURE IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN was approved and is being implemented within the framework of the INTERREG V-A Cooperation Program Greece – Cyprus 2014-2020. It is co-financed by the European Union (EU) and its National Resources.
