La navigation du savoir project and the search of Malta’s late medieval ship-shed

Abstract

The EU-funded project Navigation du Savoir set in motion research on the first known Maltese arsenal, which according to archive records dates back to late medieval times. As part of the synergies advocated by the EU through its MEDA Heritage, in particular that of linking Navigation du Savoir project with other projects on maritime research, I participated in November 2005 in a workshop held at the historic city of Ravello, Italy, on classical and medieval arsenals and ship-sheds. At this conference, I presented the results of the Navigation du Savoir project and its intrinsic values for the maritime arsenals of the Mediterranean. It was thanks to this participation that I furthered my knowledge on Maltese arsenals, in particular, the search for Malta’s medieval arsenal. Moreover, I could compare the results of my studies and research with those of other scholars working in this field. I found that my research was in line with the various studies presented in the course of this three-day conference at Ravello. This gave me the opportunity not only to enhance my studies but to complete this paper, which is being published in this volume of proceedings of the conference on the Historic Arsenals of the Mediterranean, held in Malta in October 2004 as part of the Navigation du Savoir project.