Approaches to the conservation of archaeological sites in the Mediterranean in the current and changing climates, with a focus on the Prehistoric Temples of Malta

Abstract This paper gives an overview of some of the current approaches to the preservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Mediterranean, represented by some of the most important archaeological remains, with a special focus on the Prehistoric Temples of Malta, and the key approaches to their conservation in the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Preserving and conserving such sites, sometimes consisting of complex arrays of materials, is a challenge and approaches over time have varied. The lead example is the group of Temples of Malta because they (1) are made of porous limestones particularly susceptible to salt weathering; (2) have been exposed to adverse (exposed, marine) climatic conditions for millennia; (3) have suffered material deterioration over time leading also occasionally to structural problems; (4) have undergone various restoration attempts over the decades, not all particularly successful; (5) have resulted in complex decision-making processes leading to their sheltering; and (6) are facing (like all other sites) climate change, where new action/s may be required. This paper will therefore take us on a journey, led by the example of these Temples, to look also at various other iconic UNESCO sites in relation to past, present, and even future threats, including climate change, as well as approaches to conservation/restoration over the years, with indications for future decision makers on actions to take after holistically understanding the risks and threats. Graphical abstract