Shelters for archaeological sites: protecting heritage and enhancing visitors’ experience
Snapshot Solution
Steven Psaila © Heritage Malta
Beneath the tented structure at Mnajdra
The Prehistoric Megalithic Structures of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, part of the World Heritage site of the ‘Megalithic Temples of Malta’ is managed by Heritage Malta.
Between 2004-2006, Heritage Malta with the financial support of the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) developed a project to reduce damage caused by deterioration and structural problems of the site. Among different factors, these archaeological sites were facing issues connected to the continuous exposure weather and salt erosion, dust and pollution, humidity, solar radiation, volcanic emissions, as well as biological organisms.
The project focused on finding long term solutions for both heritage conservation and accessibility by visitors.
The project included the design and construction of shelters for the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Megalithic Structures to assist in the conservation aspect of these sites. These structures were designed with data collected from monitoring of the sites and their wider setting.
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Impacts
Shelters have led to a drastic reduction of the progressive deterioration of archaeological heritage and particularly the fragile limestone structures of the Megalithic structures. This has led to a decrease in the rate of material deterioration and an elimination of structural collapses.
Additionally, the project made allowed to improve the visitor’s experience as shelters provide repair from sun and rain and have improved the quality of lighting at the site (i.e. diffused lights below the shelters) and improved acoustics.
