The project (PENEK/SUPPORT/0308/35- WOODLAND) is one of the Young Researchers Programmes of the Research Promotion Foundation which falls under Priority Area ΙΙ of DESMI 2008 the aim of which is the development of human resourcesin research.

The main object of the "WOODLAND" project is to take advantage of the means provided by the field of Environmental Archaeology within the disciplines of archaeobotany and specifically of anthracology, and apply them in the study of ancient botanical remains in an effort to understand the relationship between man and the environment in Antiquity. In particular the project seeks to investigate the economic importance of the forests in ancient Cyprus in relation with the copper industry, to record the negative effects that the over exploitation of this natural resource had on the environment and of course eventually on the economy of the island.

 

The project will be undertaken as a doctoral thesis of the young scientist Maria A. Socratous, who will be trained in the field of Anthracology.

 

Through the network of cooperation between three European universities (the University of Cyprus, the Universita´ Degli Studi di Siena and the Universita di Napoli Federico II) and one public benefit organization (Environment Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of Cyprus), the project will promote scientific and technological innovation concerning the methodological approaches and techniques applied in the field.

 

The results of the research can be used for the environmental and cultural management of the mining regions of the Troodos Mountains, which have been largely neglected since the modern mining industry closed down operations.

 

The project is funded by the Research Promotion Foundation (RPF) and the Structural Funds of the European Union