Stone Monument Ensembles and the Climate Change Impact (STECCI)

Given the fast pace of climate change there is an urgent need to address the threats it poses on cultural heritage (CH) by a holistic framework that will engage scientists, conservators, citizens, creative industries and decision-makers to develop and act on new, sustainable strategies of long-term preservation of CH.

For the first time, the future of stećci – a tangible phenomenon included on the UNESCO World Heritage list – and similar limestone monuments will be assessed under two high resolution climate scenarios in three periods: 2021 to 2040, 2041 to 2060 and 2081 to 2100.

In situ condition assessment is supported by comprehensive scientific analyses of stone material and climatic data evaluation. These analyses will be followed by remedial conservation on selected sites to develop best practice and to produce efficient monitoring and conservation guidelines coupled to economic analyses and climate scenarios. Such an output will accentuate the need of timely and appropriate interventions and facilitate the decision-making process of authorities.

Additionally, this project exlores a variety of digitization methodologies. Basic and high-end techniques will be mutually compared in order to simplify and amplify the digital recording of cultural heritage in Europe.

Funded by the European Union, STECCI illustrates a successful collaboration of previously conflicted countries aiming to reduce radicalism in Western Balkans. The project aims to turn the potential of necropoles into new opportunities and resources for socio-economic and creative entrepreneurship developments of local communities. Work on valorization of cultural heritage and social labs with a series of events on citizen science, story-telling and place-making activities will pave the way forthe development of sustainable cultural tourism strategies that can be implemented across Europe. Art, tools of creative industries and cultural values will thus be used as powerful engines of regeneration, economic growth and sustainable protection of CH in times of a rapidly changing climate.