Research Axes

No fewer than nine laboratories, departments, or research centers have joined forces since 2016 to form the Research Unit in Art, Archaeology & Heritage. This collective embodies a strong commitment to fostering a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary partnership. Its scope is broad, encompassing all historical periods from Prehistory to the Contemporary Era, thus enabling long-term investigations into processes of creation, the transmission of know-how, reception, and the heritage-making of both tangible and intangible productions.

The research unit provides a space for reflection structured around five interconnected and transversal research axes:

• Axis 1: Humans, Materials, and Know-How
  This axis explores the relationship between material use and the development of techniques and technologies over time. The objective is to better understand human behavior and the processes of invention, creation, and use of objects.
• Axis 2: Individuals, Spaces, and Territories
  This research strand examines the organization of human groups within defined spaces and regions, while also investigating their interactions across larger territories. Special attention is given to understanding the evolution of organizational systems.
• Axis 3: Image, Representation, and Society
  This axis aims to analyze the act of image creation, its reception and perception by individuals or specific populations, and the ways in which images are used. The approach is extended to encompass diverse human societies from a diachronic perspective.
• Axis 4: Collection, Exhibition, and Valorization
  This line of inquiry addresses the treatment, management, and valorization of cultural heritage collections, including both movable and immovable assets.
• Axis 5: Documentation, Conservation, and Restoration
  This axis focuses on methods for gathering and developing comprehensive documentation concerning heritage objects and buildings. It also seeks to critically assess conservation and restoration procedures, proposing alternative approaches aligned with current societal debates.

The high quality of the research conducted within the various teams is reflected in their participation in numerous international and national programs. These initiatives underscore the visibility and influence of the research unit’s components, which operate within an extensive network of institutions. Several projects also benefit from European, national, or regional public funding, further attesting to the dynamism of the teams and the excellence of the research carried out within the unit.