A seguito delle problematiche belliche ce hanno visto coinvolta la Libia e soprattutto in conseguenza elle distruzioni avvenute dopo l'Uragano Daniel del Settembre 2023, la Missione Archeologica dell'Università G.d'Annunzio di Chieti-Pescara di Chieti in collaborazione con le Missioni in Libia del CISAM (Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura del Mediterraneo) e dell'Università Carlo Bo di Urbino, hanno partecipato ad un bando competitivo internazionale per il fondo Emergency Relief Grant della Fondazione ALIPH (https://www.aliph-foundation.org/en/our-grants ). IL bando è stato vinto ed il finanziamento è finalizzato al recupero, restauro, valorizzazione, digitalizzazione, documentazione geoarcheologica e topografica e disseminazione dei Monumenti e delle Aree che hanno subito danni e perdite a causa dei recenti eventi bellici e a causa dell'Uragano Daniel e dei cambiamenti climatici. Il progetto prevede quindi una prima fase di documentazione 3D e digitalizzazione dei beni compromessi o a rischio, l'analisi diagnostica non invasiva per ciascun monumento coinvolto, la collaborazione nella ricerca, nel restauro, nella digitalizzazione con enti locali e con ditte specializzate Libiche. Inoltre parte del programma prevede programmi e corsi di capacity building e training per tecnici, studiosi e studenti locali, con particolare attenzione alle problematiche di inclusione e di parità di genere nella scelta dei partecipanti.
DETTAGLI DEL PROGETTO Project 2023-2873 Emergency Relief Grant
As a result of the landslides and waterfloods which affected these monuments, several damages are
evident, as mentioned above, as damages and collapsing of structures, heavy damages to the
architectural elements of the rock-cut tombs and of the sanctuary of Demeter for Cyrene, as well as to
the roof of the museum and storeroom in Apollonia. Therefore a first reason for the urgency is obviously
to avoid further collapsing of the structure and even partial loosing of the monuments.
Moreover, a consequential problem determining an urgency, is that in the two areas of Cyrene, the waterfloods
have brought to light new monuments, still not documented and still intact, which may be
destroyed by further heavy rains, but also, and above all, may bee heavily affected by vandalism and
looting, which is often reported for Cyrene’s necropolis and extramural sanctuary which are outside the
fences of the local Superintendence.
A third issue is that the apparent ‘abandonment’ of these damaged areas and monuments can cause in
the local population the idea that the area are now free from the monitoring of the Superintendence and
can start soon to build new houses or using part of the monuments or of the structures. Obviously the
local Superintendence at the moment is controlling the situation, but needs that the area are recovered
to sho to the residents that these monuments are still of cultural interest.
The three topics/areas (two in Cyrene and one in Apollonia)which have been chosen for the three
projects have been seriously damaged during Daniel Storm in September and are now at serious risk for
several reasons (see below). All of them are public monuments or buildings and the public ownership
belongs to the Department of Antiquities of Libya.
In detail the tree projects are concerning:
1- THE MUSEUM AND STOREROOMS OF APOLLONIA (SUSAH)
2- SANCTUARY OF DEMETER AT WADY BELGADIR AT CYRENE
3- DAMAGES IN THE NECROPOLIS AT CYRENE
All the sites are under the ownership of the Department of Antiquities and the offices responsible for the
three areas of the three projects are the Superintendences of Cyrene-Shahat and Apollonia-Susah, which
are under the control of the Department of Antiquities. The targeted archaeological and architectural monuments are three, as listed just below.
1- THE MUSEUM AND STOREROOMS OF APOLLONIA (SUSAH), which has been seriously damaged by
the heavy rain and by the waterfloods. In detail This building has been affected by heavy rainfall in the
area, and here we can summarize the main problems that the building is facing as a result of heavy
rainfall:
A. Water leakage: The heavy rainfall has caused water to seep through the roof and walls of the
museum, leading to structural damage and potential damage to the artifacts inside.
B. Flooding: The excessive rainfall has caused flooding in the surrounding area, and the museum
building is not adequately protected against water entering the premises. This poses a risk to the
Project 2023-2873 Emergency Relief Grant
Page 2 of 13
exhibits and the building's foundation.
C. Mold and mildew growth: The moisture from the heavy rainfall provides a suitable environment for the
growth of mold and mildew. This can damage the artifacts and result in health hazards for visitors and
staff.
4. Erosion of the building's foundation: The continuous exposure to heavy rain can erode the soil around
the building's foundation, weakening its structural integrity over time. For details, maps and photos see
the report in attach with the application.
2- SANCTUARY OF DEMETER AT WADY BELGADIR. The heavy rain of the Daniel storm has determined a
large amount of water, with high pressure, particularly concerning the Wadi Belgadir, along its entire
route bordering the southern side of the city of Cyrene. The exceptional weather event caused a massive
accumulation of water and a consequent movement of a considerable amount of earth and debris along
the wadi. The course of the wadi, which before Cyclone Daniel ended a few tens of meters west of the
rock-cut Theatre 5, has now moved considerably eastwards and reaches the area where there is a group
of.houses; during the storm, a further rift opened up to the road leading to Al Beyda (and which coincides
with the monumental entrance to the Sanctuary of Demeter) but was filled immediately afterward by the
Baladia as it skirted the houses mentioned above. At the same time, the enormous pressure of the water
led to the opening of an almost elliptical chasm, about 10 m deep, 20 m wide, and 50 m long,
immediately to the south, between the propylaeum of the Sanctuary and the altar of the temple. In this
chasm, ancient walls of the archaic and classical phases of the Sanctuary, sections of the road leading
to the temple, and anthropic layers rich in ceramic material have come to light. For details, maps and
photos see the report in attach with the application.
3- DAMAGES IN THE NECROPOLIS (NORTHERN NECROPOLIS AND AIN HOFRA). Two areas have been
damaged during the storm, especially for the water flooding, determining risks for the monumental areas
(as further landslides, looting of tombs and) as well as for peoples passing below the area with the
landslides still active. THE LANDSLIDE CHANNELS OF DEBRIS FLOW LOCATED IN THE NORTHERN
NECROPOLIS, ABOVE THE MNESIARCHI TOMB AND AREA OF TASSONI TOMB. Starting with the most
problematic of the two areas, it is located on the slope just above the Mnesiarchi Tomb and Tassoni
area, and along the main road from Cyrene to Apollonia. The first problem which needs to be
emphasized is how danger is at the moment the situation, because of the instability of the blocks now
dislocated along an erosive landslide channel of instable debris flow. The large ‘landslide of debris flow
channel’ created on the slope of the northern necropolis, just above the famous monument N.171, is very
dangerous both for the monument, but also for safety and security reasons, because the large blocks
moved by the heavy landslide may create problems to the road just below, especially with further
rainfalls. Moreover, the landslide and the water has brought to light new intact tombs, which are in a
great danger for looting, especially because along a main road. For the Monumental Tombs of Ain Hofra
the heavy rain of Daniel storm have determined a large amount of water, with a high pressure, which
found his way along the main road and along a small channel which was superficially excavated by a
close farmer, to drain the waters. The channel was therefore enlarged and totally excavated by the
Project 2023-2873 Emergency Relief Grant
Page 3 of 13
strongness and the pressure of the waters and now is a large huge channel just to the east of the Tomb
of the Sculptures The mound of detritus and mud which has been moved by the waters, as well as the
colluvium sloping down from the slope of the hill, just at the back (to the south of the tombs) as well as
to the east, have determined a colluvial mound which is now causing a secondary damage, both because
partially covering the southern and the eastern walls of the tombs but also because the local peoples
have started to build a new road which has been at the moment stopped but need definitive fences and
protection.
DETTAGLI DEL PROGETTO Project 2023-2873 Emergency Relief Grant
As a result of the landslides and waterfloods which affected these monuments, several damages are
evident, as mentioned above, as damages and collapsing of structures, heavy damages to the
architectural elements of the rock-cut tombs and of the sanctuary of Demeter for Cyrene, as well as to
the roof of the museum and storeroom in Apollonia. Therefore a first reason for the urgency is obviously
to avoid further collapsing of the structure and even partial loosing of the monuments.
Moreover, a consequential problem determining an urgency, is that in the two areas of Cyrene, the waterfloods
have brought to light new monuments, still not documented and still intact, which may be
destroyed by further heavy rains, but also, and above all, may bee heavily affected by vandalism and
looting, which is often reported for Cyrene’s necropolis and extramural sanctuary which are outside the
fences of the local Superintendence.
A third issue is that the apparent ‘abandonment’ of these damaged areas and monuments can cause in
the local population the idea that the area are now free from the monitoring of the Superintendence and
can start soon to build new houses or using part of the monuments or of the structures. Obviously the
local Superintendence at the moment is controlling the situation, but needs that the area are recovered
to sho to the residents that these monuments are still of cultural interest.
The three topics/areas (two in Cyrene and one in Apollonia)which have been chosen for the three
projects have been seriously damaged during Daniel Storm in September and are now at serious risk for
several reasons (see below). All of them are public monuments or buildings and the public ownership
belongs to the Department of Antiquities of Libya.
In detail the tree projects are concerning:
1- THE MUSEUM AND STOREROOMS OF APOLLONIA (SUSAH)
2- SANCTUARY OF DEMETER AT WADY BELGADIR AT CYRENE
3- DAMAGES IN THE NECROPOLIS AT CYRENE
All the sites are under the ownership of the Department of Antiquities and the offices responsible for the
three areas of the three projects are the Superintendences of Cyrene-Shahat and Apollonia-Susah, which
are under the control of the Department of Antiquities. The targeted archaeological and architectural monuments are three, as listed just below.
1- THE MUSEUM AND STOREROOMS OF APOLLONIA (SUSAH), which has been seriously damaged by
the heavy rain and by the waterfloods. In detail This building has been affected by heavy rainfall in the
area, and here we can summarize the main problems that the building is facing as a result of heavy
rainfall:
A. Water leakage: The heavy rainfall has caused water to seep through the roof and walls of the
museum, leading to structural damage and potential damage to the artifacts inside.
B. Flooding: The excessive rainfall has caused flooding in the surrounding area, and the museum
building is not adequately protected against water entering the premises. This poses a risk to the
Project 2023-2873 Emergency Relief Grant
Page 2 of 13
exhibits and the building's foundation.
C. Mold and mildew growth: The moisture from the heavy rainfall provides a suitable environment for the
growth of mold and mildew. This can damage the artifacts and result in health hazards for visitors and
staff.
4. Erosion of the building's foundation: The continuous exposure to heavy rain can erode the soil around
the building's foundation, weakening its structural integrity over time. For details, maps and photos see
the report in attach with the application.
2- SANCTUARY OF DEMETER AT WADY BELGADIR. The heavy rain of the Daniel storm has determined a
large amount of water, with high pressure, particularly concerning the Wadi Belgadir, along its entire
route bordering the southern side of the city of Cyrene. The exceptional weather event caused a massive
accumulation of water and a consequent movement of a considerable amount of earth and debris along
the wadi. The course of the wadi, which before Cyclone Daniel ended a few tens of meters west of the
rock-cut Theatre 5, has now moved considerably eastwards and reaches the area where there is a group
of.houses; during the storm, a further rift opened up to the road leading to Al Beyda (and which coincides
with the monumental entrance to the Sanctuary of Demeter) but was filled immediately afterward by the
Baladia as it skirted the houses mentioned above. At the same time, the enormous pressure of the water
led to the opening of an almost elliptical chasm, about 10 m deep, 20 m wide, and 50 m long,
immediately to the south, between the propylaeum of the Sanctuary and the altar of the temple. In this
chasm, ancient walls of the archaic and classical phases of the Sanctuary, sections of the road leading
to the temple, and anthropic layers rich in ceramic material have come to light. For details, maps and
photos see the report in attach with the application.
3- DAMAGES IN THE NECROPOLIS (NORTHERN NECROPOLIS AND AIN HOFRA). Two areas have been
damaged during the storm, especially for the water flooding, determining risks for the monumental areas
(as further landslides, looting of tombs and) as well as for peoples passing below the area with the
landslides still active. THE LANDSLIDE CHANNELS OF DEBRIS FLOW LOCATED IN THE NORTHERN
NECROPOLIS, ABOVE THE MNESIARCHI TOMB AND AREA OF TASSONI TOMB. Starting with the most
problematic of the two areas, it is located on the slope just above the Mnesiarchi Tomb and Tassoni
area, and along the main road from Cyrene to Apollonia. The first problem which needs to be
emphasized is how danger is at the moment the situation, because of the instability of the blocks now
dislocated along an erosive landslide channel of instable debris flow. The large ‘landslide of debris flow
channel’ created on the slope of the northern necropolis, just above the famous monument N.171, is very
dangerous both for the monument, but also for safety and security reasons, because the large blocks
moved by the heavy landslide may create problems to the road just below, especially with further
rainfalls. Moreover, the landslide and the water has brought to light new intact tombs, which are in a
great danger for looting, especially because along a main road. For the Monumental Tombs of Ain Hofra
the heavy rain of Daniel storm have determined a large amount of water, with a high pressure, which
found his way along the main road and along a small channel which was superficially excavated by a
close farmer, to drain the waters. The channel was therefore enlarged and totally excavated by the
Project 2023-2873 Emergency Relief Grant
Page 3 of 13
strongness and the pressure of the waters and now is a large huge channel just to the east of the Tomb
of the Sculptures The mound of detritus and mud which has been moved by the waters, as well as the
colluvium sloping down from the slope of the hill, just at the back (to the south of the tombs) as well as
to the east, have determined a colluvial mound which is now causing a secondary damage, both because
partially covering the southern and the eastern walls of the tombs but also because the local peoples
have started to build a new road which has been at the moment stopped but need definitive fences and
protection.