The project will trace the nature and extent of the traditional lime manufacturing in the geographic and historical area of Epirus shared between Albania and Greece.The Albanian region of Epirus preserves the tradition of producing lime by the use of pre-industrial kilns, i.e. ephemeral or permanent stone structures fed with wood and fired for several days. Material vestiges and scarce examples of this practice are still detected in the Greek region of Epirus as well, despite the fact that the country’s lime production has been subsumed by the industrial process.
The objective is to unveil the knowledge and craftsmanship nuances of the traditional lime making, as well as the socioeconomic dimension in the border region of two countries in a diachronic exchange of materials and people. The research team will employ diverse documentation means; architectural drawings, photographs, developing a map where key locations will be depicted, interviews with key-informants and a film with the actual process of lime kiln preparation and operation in Albania. The project evokes the interest on traditional lime manufacturing and its modern implications for natural resources management and architectural heritage.
PI:
Ioanna Ntoutsi
Collaborators:
Anisa Lloja
Ignat Basha
Faidon Moudopoulos Athanasiou
Location of Research:
southern Albania and northern Greece
Host Institution:
N.P.O. Boulouki-Itinerant Workshop on Traditional Building Techniques
