Conservation Science Workshops

CONSERVATION SCIENCE WORKSHOPS

The international partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) 
A programme aimed at raising awareness among the younger generation about the importance of preserving Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage.

“Our partnership with CCR alignswithour ambitions to place our community at the heart of RCU’sconservation and sustainable regeneration efforts. Through this initialprogramme, we will providethe next generation of conservation experts with the knowledge and foundationalskills they needto confidently pursue a career in conservation science, supporting our futureambitions".
Dott. Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, RCU Executive Director of Archaeology, Collections and Conservation

“Partnering with RCU is a unique opportunity to explore thecharacteristics of our different cultural,social, and organisational contexts. In this programme, the CCR provides its technical, scientific, andhumanistic expertise, through its professionals and with the involvement of lecturers from some ofthe most important Italian universities and conservation institute”.
Sara Abram, Segretario Generale del CCR

Located 1,100km from Riyadh, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years.
The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of nearly 100 well-preserved tombs with elaborate facades cut into sandstone outcrops. Current research suggests Hegra was also an important southern outpost of the Romans after conquering the Nabataeans in 106 CE.
In addition to Hegra, AlUla is home to a series of fascinating historical and archaeological sites such as: AlUla Old Town surrounded by an ancient oasis, Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms, which is considered one of the most developed 1st-millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula; thousands of ancient rock art sites and inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah; and the fascinating and secluded oasis of Kaybar, a green jewel in a sea of lava.

From 10 July 2023, 12 young Saudis from different parts of the kingdom and selected by RCU - 6 recent graduates in chemistry and biology and 6 RCU officers - are the protagonists of the pilot project with 7 workshops taking place, until February 2024, between CCR of Venaria and Alula on conservation science, materials and techniques.

Theoretical and laboratory lessons with CCR professionals are alternated with moments of autonomous development of practical projects, with a training typology of integrated and highly interactive approach to allow participants to adopt an interdisciplinary perspective in the management of the various issues related to the conservation of cultural heritage.

At the same time, the CCR, in cooperation with museum experts working on ongoing projects in the Saudi area, will set up a transversal training course to provide participants with reflections and insights on specific topics such as public engagement, education, communication and involvement of local communities in the development of cultural projects and for the orientation of young people on conservation professions.

During their stay in Venaria, the young Saudis will not only encounter the great Italian tradition of conservation: through training and cultural exchange, they will discover the city and the UNESCO heritage complex of the Reggia di Venaria, the city of Turin, and dialogue with students from the University, immersing themselves in the Italian cultural and social context on a daily basis.

The journey will end in Alula with an award ceremony open to the citizenship, which will be an opportunity to share the evolution of the project with local institutions and communities, celebrating the participants' achievements.

With this project, the CCR joins the global network of partners with which RCU is consolidating strategic alliances, as part of its plan for the sustainable development and transformation of the region, aimed at establishing ALULA as one of Saudi Arabia's most important archaeological and cultural destinations, attracting knowledge, resources and talent. For the CCR, it is an extraordinary opportunity to reaffirm its mission as an international centre for research, restoration, training and skills development for the new generations, implementing its methodology of international collaboration based on confrontation, sharing of best practices, and mutual learning in favour of the preservation of cultural heritage as a universal value.

The collaboration between RCU and CCR is in line with the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of archaeology, conservation, restoration and protection of cultural heritage, the film industry and literature signed on 19 May 2023 in Venice by the Italian Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, and the Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan AlSau.