In May 2024 Dr Chiara Cecalupo will join the Department of Classics and Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, as a HORIZON EU MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow to undertake the “UndergroundMed” project. This project will trace the history of the rediscovery of ancient catacombs between the 16th and 20th centuries across the Mediterranean, in particular Italy, Malta and Tunisia, from a broad European perspective, through studies conducted on travel influx, exploration, archive and museum collections. The study will provide a systematic analysis on catacomb rediscovery, with a strong interest in museum and collection history of early Christian artefacts. More importantly, “UndergroundMed” will focus on the role played by catacomb archaeology in building a European common culture. Moreover, it will define the role which European scholars have had on the creation of an international and multicultural research-network while travelling across the shores of the Mediterranean, in search for catacombs.
Dr Chiara Cecalupo said: “This is my dream research topic, for which I have been seeking funding for many years. Thanks to the MSCA fellowship I can now pursue research whilst based in Malta, a place I have often visited and which I love dearly. I am looking forward to collaborating with my supervisor, Prof. Nicholas Vella, the various departments, professors and other professionals at the University of Malta. I am grateful and excited about the possibilities that the MSCA fellowship can offer me in broad networking and interdisciplinary research experience. I will do my best to contribute to the University of Malta’s academic life and to be deeply involved in high-quality transfer of knowledge.”
Sarah Albanozzo, Research Project Manager at the Research Support Directorate assisted the fellow researcher in the writing of the proposal. This is the second MSCA fellowship that the Department of Classics and Archaeology will be hosting.
