The project

The BYZANTIUM - early ISLAM, (BYZeIS) is a multidisciplinary project aiming to bring to the fore the region’s Byzantine and Islamic cultural heritage and to modernise its ability to manage it intelligently through co-operation. This project is a golden opportunity to create the highest standards of heritage conservation and promotion in the MEDA region.

This aim coincides with the overall goal of the European Union, as outlined in the Barcelona Process (1995) to encourage political dialogue, trade and economic integration and social and cultural co-operation. In December 2004, the Euromed Heritage III Programme of the European Commission agreed to fund this project.

In order for the project to reach its objective, it is divided into four distinct, but complementary sub-projects.

 Four sub-projects

1. The further training of fifty heritage professional from Israel, Cyprus,Turkey and the Palestinian Authority

2. Research activities to be carried out by the trainees relating to the safeguarding and            

3. Three distinct but interrelated groups of inventories stemming from the research work comprising:

   Experience in restoration and conservation practices.
   Government policies relating to and affecting the heritage.
   Inventory on Byzantine and early Islamic culture and art.

4. Awareness activities including the dissemination of the project’s results over the Internet, a publication that will include the research, results, inventories and good practices on heritage management and conservation, and a conference where the project’s results will be discussed.