Advanced Course on Conservation and Restoration is successfully completed

The Advanced course for the restoration and conservation of underwater archaeological finds was held in Zadar in the period from 26.09.2011 to 24.12.2011. The course was organized by the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar, with support from the UNESCO office in Venice. Advanced three-month course was attended by six participants from Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean (Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain, and Croatia) and two participants from Mexico and Namibia. All participants passed the practical part of the course, which lasted for four weeks in each of the specialized workshops: for metal, ceramic/glass and organic material. With the expert guidance of experienced restorers of the Croatian Conservation Institute students were introduced with various methods restoration of underwater findings, and during the course they went through and mastered all the stages that are applied to the conservation and restoration works and their documentation. The theoretical part of the program consited of 11 lectures by the course providers, as well as distinguished visiting professors. On this occasion "Manual for the conservation of underwater archaeological finds" was published in English language. This manual served the participants as the primary literature during the course. After a three-month training, all participants passed the practical and theoretical exams. Great interest in the Advanced course of conservation and restoration of underwater archaeological finds (as many as 26 students from 15 different countries applied), will certainly encourage continued maintenance of this interesting and useful course.