Reconstructing Archaeology in Conflict-affected Territories: an interdisciplinary approach from Cypruscore
ReACT-Cy · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-09-01–2028-08-31
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF · scheme HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF · topic HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF-01-01. CORDIS record →
Objective
The rise of war and conflict in the 21st century highlights the need for archaeology to take a more active role in peacemaking. Acknowledging a research gap in creating regional narratives about territories inaccessible to fieldwork due to armed conflict, ReACT-Cy aims to establish a universal protocol for ethically generating archaeological knowledge under such circumstances and utilising this knowledge to foster dialogue between divided communities. For this, it uses occupied Cyprus as a ‘laboratory’ for reconstructing the social landscape and connectivity of this key area (inaccessible to fieldwork since its military occupation in 1974) during late prehistory (3000-1800 BC). Through a training plan tailored to the available material, it adopts an interdisciplinary methodology that combines archival work, geospatial analysis (GIS) and remote sensing with archaeological and scientific approaches such as ceramic petrology and elemental analysis on legacy ceramics collected before the occupation. In parallel, it puts the knowledge produced at the service of promoting dialogue between the divided Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities through targeted dissemination activities, thereby contributing to a more peaceful and sustainable future for Cyprus. Based at the University of Cyprus, with a secondment at the Fitch Laboratory of the British School at Athens, ReACT-Cy both benefits from and contributes to the expertise of each institution through the professional engagement of the fellow. The project will generate new reusable data for a crucial area and period of Cypriot prehistory, which will reshape perceptions of Cypriot society internally and beyond the sea. Ultimately, ReACT-Cy will serve as a paradigm for building and applying archaeological knowledge in contexts across the globe where fieldwork is impossible or unethical due to conflict. As a result, the project will contribute towards the building of a more inclusive world archaeology.
Beneficiaries (2)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS | CY | coordinator | €174,379 | |
| BRITISH SCHOOL AT ATHENS | UK | associatedPartner | — |
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