Last week Prof. JoAnn Cassar, Head of the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage, Faculty for the Built Environment, had the pleasure to present the recent publication on The First 55 IUGS Heritage Stones, to the Rector, Prof. Alfred Vella. This book is groundbreaking in that it highlights the first important stones designated as heritage stones by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) from all 5 continents. Heritage stones are iconic in that they have been used over long periods of time for the expression of art (sculpture and monuments) and architecture; such important stones however have not yet been given the attention deserve.
This book fills this gap by delving into the location and geology, quarries, petrography, heritage and cultural impact of these stones both locally and internationally and were selected after a rigorous peer-reviewed process determined them as having fulfilled previously establish scientific and heritage criteria. More information can be found online.
This book includes the Globigerina Limestone of Malta as one of the first designated heritage stones, having been so designated in 2018. More information about it is available online. The invited introduction to the book is written by Prof. Cassar, who is also the Voting Member for Malta on the Heritage Stone Sub-Commission of the IUGS and participates actively in the designation of new heritage stones.
It is to be recalled that both Prof. Cassar and Prof. Vella have a very long involvement with the study of this local stone, with Prof. Vella also being the Supervisor of Prof. Cassar’s PhD research on the geochemical and mineralogical characterisation of this stone.
Earlier in the week Prof. Cassar also had the pleasure of presenting copies of the book to the Hon. Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, Dr Owen Bonnici, the Permanent Secretary of the same Ministry Mr Kevin Mahoney, and the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, Mr Kurt Farrugia.
The book is available as hard copy only on order but is also available as a web-book.