The director general of Cultural Heritage, Ángel Miramontes, opened a meeting of experts today at the Museum of Pilgrimages and Santiago, marking the conclusion of the European Heritage Days organised by the Xunta de Galicia. This initiative is part of a collaborative programme between the Council of Europe and the European Commission, alongside national coordinators from participating countries.
Miramontes highlighted the significance of this event, aimed at professionals and students in the heritage sector, which featured four presentations. He emphasised the importance of "celebrating this occasion, showcasing our commitment and interest in Galicia towards the conservation and enhancement of heritage."
He also noted that the overarching goal of the European institutions with this initiative is to "encourage public authorities and citizens to appreciate local and European heritage, fostering intercultural dialogue."
Miramontes outlined the key themes of the programme, which included today’s session and three additional activities focused on the effects of climate on archaeological heritage and the coexistence of heritage with urban development. The agenda also addressed the "revitalisation of practices and traditions that constitute our intangible heritage."
This final event concludes an agenda that included a guided visit to the Atrio Viejo archaeological site in O Grove, a heritage discovery activity for schoolchildren related to the medieval wall of Santiago de Compostela, and a workshop on revitalising traditional Galician textiles at the Museum of Galician People, also in Santiago.
The presentations this morning included the "Centinela Project: Creating and applying tools to monitor erosive processes on cultural heritage in the Terrestrial Islands of Galicia," presented by Adolfo Fernández Fernández and Patricia Valle Abad from the University of Vigo, along with Rita González Villanueva Mariñas and Nicolás Villacieros-Robineau from the Marine Research Institute of CSIC. This was followed by a talk titled "Heritage at risk: monitoring coastal archaeological sites exposed to marine erosion," delivered by Marco Lado Liñares, Vanessa Álvarez López, and Eva Vidal Vázquez from the Aquaterra Group at the University of A Coruña.
Additionally, underwater archaeology specialist Miguel San Claudio discussed how rising sea levels, increased wave strength, and changes in currents are eroding marine environments and impacting underwater heritage. Finally, archaeologist and restorer Fernando Carrera presented his research on the impact of wildfires on rock art in Galicia, focusing on risk management and the preservation of prehistoric sites.
